LIAM HAD HEARD the rumors. He and Sean owed their lives to these men, after David. No one would openly acknowledge it, but Rob had told him it had been whispered about that the Captain was within seconds of giving the order to make sail. Would have, too, if David hadn’t reached them just when he had.
He understood. It was the man’s duty to weigh one, or as the case may be, three, lives against a hundred and fifty. A ship can’t hove to in weather like that without great risk. And if the crew hadn’t been quick about towing them back and hoisting them up, they would have been left.
And if that didn’t leave a rock of terror low in one’s gut, nothing would.
So he’d clean when the captain gave the order to clean.
A crew of women organized the effort, sending men up on deck with buckets of grime and orders to replace it with sea water. Over and over. Those staying below were put to task scrubbing and repairing, taking care not to use so much water that it leaked into the cargo hold below and incited the Captain’s temper. Not a one of them balked. The hold was days past the point of becoming unbearable.
And he’d help with the crew’s quarters as well, something the Captain hadn’t ordered.
Some had realized early on that helping the sailors with domestic chores got them small favors in return. Extra fires for cooking . . . sweeter water for a sick child . . .
Sometimes even a hand up from a roiling black sea.
UNCLE JOHN HAD MOVED him to the forecastle so he could sleep during the cleanup. But he’d had his fill of sleeping, he needed some air. And it looked as if the sun might be shining. He rolled out of the hammock, stretching his hands high above his head, then down to the floor. He looked up as Liam walked in with a passel of women, toting an armful of supplies.
“Liam, good, you’re here. Have ye had breakfast? I’m near famished.”
“Hmmph. ‘Bout time ye got out of that bed. Breakfast was hours ago. I notice ye waited till just after the cleaning was done, nothing wrong with your senses.”
The women patted him about the head and shoulders, speaking quickly amongst themselves in German. He’d picked up enough of the language to understand the gist of what they were saying and smiled, thanking them for their concern before turning back to Liam.
“Can ye grab something and meet me on deck, Liam? I canna face another minute ‘tweendecks, even to find grub.”
“Ye need to face another twenty minutes. Sit back down till we’re done. This willna take long.”
Hell, he was hungry. He glared at Liam.
“I can make ye, easily enough,” Liam said, shrugging.
That might be true. At the moment, anyway. He hesitated.
“I’m helping these women David, so dinna make me worry after ye.”
David lay back in the hammock, hands behind his head. “By all means, Ma. This I have to see anyway.”
HE BLINKED SEVERAL times against the brightness, steadying himself at the top of the ladder.
“David!”
Sean broke from Mr. Oliver’s hold and ran, vaulting up into David’s arms, careening him backwards into Liam, throwing his arms tightly around David’s neck. Laughing, Liam came around and grabbed Sean.
“Here now, squirrel, ye dinna wanna be choking the life out of him, d’ye? He just got it back inta him.”
“David,” Mr. Oliver said solemnly, taking his hand. “I am more grateful than you can ever know.” He threw his arms around David in a strong, brief embrace.
Somewhat uncomfortable, he returned the man’s embrace, mumbling a reply before sliding down against a crate.
“How have ye been keeping busy, Sean? Think ye can best me in chips yet?” he asked. He glanced at Liam, who gave a mock salute before heading back below toward the provisions.
“It’s been awful without ye, David. Liam won’t play, so I canna practice as good. Rob doesna spin the yarns Liam does, and we had to stay below for days while the ship was tossing. I got to sleep with you, only ye didna know so it didna really count . . .”
On and on Sean went. David leaned back, grateful to feel the sun on his face and the boy in his lap.
“The water was awful cold, wasn’t it David? I was really scared,” Sean said, his voice dropping to a near whisper, the change rousing David.
“It was the coldest I have ever been, Sean, and I was really scared, too.”
“You were?” The lad’s eyes searched his face, his blue eyes squinting in disbelief. “I’m not going to do that again, go near the rail without Rob or Liam or Mr. Ol’ver or you. Mr. O don’t believe me, I think, but I’m not, I promise. I’m sorry I made ye and Liam come in with me and that ye got so awful sick.”
David looked at the boy, his tears threatening to spill over freckles as he gave the speech he’d obviously been thinking over for days. He grabbed him close and murmured, “We’re all fine now, Sean, dinna fash over it. It was only an accident, it wasna your fault.” Sean held on tight, shoulders shaking as he nodded.
David pulled back and tapped Sean’s nose with his forefinger. “Look, there’s Liam, and he’s brought some oatcakes. Grab some for me, will ye, ‘fore he claims them all?”
“Take a break, Mr. O, will ye? Find Rob for us and send him over,” Liam said.
“I’ll bring Sean when I head below,” Wilson said.
Mr. Oliver glanced at Sean, who was hanging tightly to David’s leg, and nodded. “Aye, then I will.”
Minutes later Rob limped up on deck. “Finally, man, ye gave us all a scare.”
“Did ye bring the chips?” David asked before Rob could think to coddle him as well. “Well then, toss ‘em, man; let’s play ‘fore Sean forgets all I taught him. Will ye join in, Uncle?”
He did, surprising them again with his luck as he beat them handily.
“Just another example of experience gentlemen, winning out over the enthusiasm of youth,” he said, standing to take his leave, reaching for Sean’s hand.
“I don’t wanna go, Rev’rend Wilson,” Sean said, his arm still wrapped around David’s leg.
Wilson bent to whisper something in his ear, and Sean glanced at David. David winked at him, and Sean tightened his lips rebelliously but didn’t protest further as he rose and followed.
One game was enough. David leaned his head back, closing his eyes as he raised his face to the sun.
“I’m well enough Liam, just enjoying the gift of the sun and fresh air. Leave me be,” he said, before Liam could ask.
He listened idly as Liam and Rob rambled on about the virtues of one of the lassies Rob had fancied back home, and he himself daydreamed about the virtues of a lass on board this ship. He must have drifted to sleep, as he started a bit at the sound of Liam’s voice.
“Good afternoon, Elisabeth. It’s a fine day to be up on deck. How’s your father faring?”
He opened his eyes as Elisabeth sat next to him, a spot Rob must have vacated.
“Papa is fine, thank you for asking, Liam. He rose this morning feeling much like himself again and made his way to the Captain’s cabin for the afternoon.”
“So, ye’ll be having the afternoon free to spend with the likes of us, then?”
“Yes, I do. Have you anything entertaining planned?”
“Nay, and the truth of it is, David’s tiring of my entertainment these past days.”
David snorted. “Liam, sounds like Elisabeth will act as nursemaid now. You can take some time off.”
“I don’t need time off, David. Ye’re no’ a chore.”
“Go find Annie, or Eliza, or what about the lass yesterday, the one who offered—”
Liam quickly stood. “Stop, Davey, no’ in front of Lisbeth. Ye’ll have her telling tales out of school. I’ll be back in a bit. Behave yourselves, now.”
He left, and David turned to Elisabeth. “Ye don’t have to stay if ye’ve things need doing. I know you’ve been nursing both your da and me the past few days. Ye’re likely weary. I didn’t mean to volunteer your time without asking. Just that L
iam wouldn’t have left otherwise, and he needs to. And I don’t need a nursemaid.” He paused. Maybe that sounded ungrateful. “Not anymore, that is. I didn’t mean to imply I don’t appreciate all that ye did. I do. Appreciate it, that is.”
Hell, maybe it was better when he lost his tongue.
“Do you want me to go?”
“Not unless ye need to.”
“All right,” she said, looking at him uncertainly.
Ah hell. His fingers found hers, and he grasped her hand tightly. “Stay. Please.”
She looked at him and smiled. “I’d like to.”
He spent the rest of afternoon listening to her talk of home, contributing to the conversation now and then, dozing off now and again. He was glad of her company. Glad she didn’t seem to expect much else. He kept ahold of her hand, all the while stroking the base of her thumb with his own in a slow rhythm until the sun was low in the sky.
“Papa will begin to wonder where I am soon. David?”
“Hmmm?” He stood, helping her to her feet. He looked at her face, waiting.
“David, I want you to know I’ll always treasure this afternoon. I’ll always remember it.” She looked around quickly, then rose on her toes, her mouth aimed for his cheek.
He wasn’t one to make the same mistake twice. With lightning quickness, his hand cupped her chin, moving her face so that her mouth met his lips instead of his cheek. He’d meant it to be a quick kiss, and he was prepared for ‘nice.’ Maybe something a bit more; after all, just touching the lass was beyond nice.
What he wasn’t prepared for was the slow spinning sensation that enveloped him as everything about them receded, leaving nothing but her: the sweet taste of her mouth, the warmth of her body as she pressed against him, the softness of her skin under his fingers as he caressed her face. Her scent marked him, filled him, drowning out all others.
“Ahem. Hello? David?” Liam tapped his shoulder. “David!”
He drew back slowly, his eyes searching her face.
“Elisabeth, thanks for watching over the lad. Mr. Ritcher says your da is looking for ye. I told him if I saw you, I’d send ye directly.”
He couldn’t believe it; he’d forgotten where they were. Completely, utterly forgotten. The bump on his head, it must have lingering effects. Except she had felt it as well, he could see the confusion in her eyes as her fingers went to her lips. She nodded without speaking and pulled away, walking quickly in the direction of her cabin.
No sooner than she was out of earshot did Liam begin his tirade.
“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, David, what if I had been her da? Or one of the captain’s men who reports to her da? Are ye mad, man? Isna one near-death experience in a week enough for ye? Where’s your sense? I know I haven’t known ye long, but I had ye figured for the cautious, careful type. Ne’er the type to grab a lass whose da disapproves of the likes of ye and kiss her like she was your next meal, in broad daylight no less, for all to see. What were ye thinking, man?”
It was clearly far from ‘broad’ daylight. David grinned as he faced the sea and made a point of watching the sun disappear.
“Well, it’s light enough that all but a blind man can see, and her da is no blind man, ye can be sure of that.”
David laughed. “What am I thinking? Aside from the fact that ye’re making a lot of fuss over a wee peck? Aye, well . . . I’m thinking here’s a bonny lass, one I happen to fancy no less, standing in front of me, one who clearly willna mind being kissed. And I’m thinking who knows what the next minute will bring.” He looked past Liam. Something had caught his eye in the gathering dusk. Squinting, he raised a hand and pointed.
“Mayhap that monster over there will swallow this ship, and I’ll have missed my chance to kiss the bonny lass I happen to fancy, for sake of prudence. And what little comfort that will be as I wallow in the belly of that monster fish.”
Liam lowered his head, shaking it from side to side in mock disgust and resignation. David grabbed him by the shoulders and turned him to face the sea, just as the whale rose alongside the ship with an audible snort. Liam jumped back, knocking the both of them off their feet.
“Oggh.” David grumbled and pushed. “Ye weigh more than a boll of wet oats. Don't forget I’m but barely an invalid.”
“Invalid, my arse.” Liam said. But he moved off and over, never taking his eyes off the monster fish.
“It’s a whale. At least I think it is,” David said. “I don’t believe it’ll harm us. I just said those things to make my point.”
The whale kept pace with the ship, its bulk dwarfing the Industry.
“Point taken,” Liam said slowly, his eyes still locked on the whale. “Ye know Davey; there’s never been a dull moment with ye.”
“Me? I thought it be you. My life was steady ‘fore I met you on that quay.”
Then, with no more noise or warning than it had given upon its arrival, the whale submerged.
“Ye don’t think it’ll come up under and capsize us, do ye?” David asked.
“Nay, it’s no’ our time to die quite yet.”
David looked hard at him. “Really now, is that so? Well then, I ask ye give me fair warning when you determine the time has arrived.”
Liam laughed. “I don’t think so, no’ and have the responsibility of the virtue of the lass that may be within arm’s reach of ye.”
“Hmmph.” David braced himself against the crate and stood. “Let’s find some supper. It’s been a fair while since I’ve eaten. Looks like Mrs. Andrews is taking a turn at the fire already. Maybe I’ll share with ye.”
“Mr. O’s a bachelor as well, dinna ken why she couldn’t have offered an exchange with him. He’s as harmless as the Reverend.”
“Mr. O comes packaged with a wild black rascal like you, as opposed to a sweet, angelic youth like me.”
“Mr. O’s saddled with three lads as opposed to one. She can figure that out quick enough,” Liam countered. “Though she probably didna count on ye eating as much as three.”
November 30, 1783—Rob says we are on track to arrive in about six weeks, having lost some time due to weather. He spends a good amount of time with the seamen talking about navigation, ship routes, and such. We suffered through a terrible gale, and I lacked the opportunity to write, but all is well now.
11
December 1783