New York Bride

by Christine Sterling

  “Women’s steerage to the left, men’s steerage to the right,” another sailor said, pointing the passengers to their respective steerage.

  “Pardon me,” Shay called to the man directing the passengers. “Families aren’t staying together?”

  The man moved closer, pressing his chest out as he towered over Shay and Finn. “You are gunna get what you get. If you have a problem with that you can get off the ship but remember that you will still hafta pay for the fare.”

  “Even if we dunna take the trip?” Finn asked.

  The man raised his hand as if to strike. Shay quickly moved to protect her brother. She turned her head and closed her eyes tightly as she braced for the impact of the man’s opened palm. When it didn’t come, she opened her eyes.

  There was the man from the dock. He had such a grasp on the man’s arm that Shay could see the fabric of the sailor’s shirt bunch under his fingers. “Don’t make me speak to the captain about this. If he learns you have harmed a passenger, it will be twenty lashes, if you are lucky.”

  The man pulled his hand free. “T’ain’t no problem, Mr. Mac.” The man turned back to Shay. “Women to the left; men and boys to the right,” he said gritting his teeth. Spittle formed at the corners of his mouth. Shay shuddered before she straightened her back and moved past the man, pulling Finn behind her.

  “Thank you,” she said stopping in front of the man called Mr. Mac. “I dunna mean to cause trouble.”

  The man looked at her with soft brown eyes. His skin was tanned, a stark comparison to his light-colored hands. He must spend quite a bit of time on the water. She could see that his jacket was made from very fine material, and not a stitch could be seen along the seams. His pants appeared to be of fine linen, and just as Shay predicted, the hems were already showing signs of dirt.

  She wondered why he would be at the lower class of the ship if he boarded on the first-class gangway. Before she could ask, he smiled at her with such a smile, that Shay took a step back.

  “There is plenty of trouble to be had on a boat, miss. Just watch yourself,” he said giving her a wink. He tipped his hat to Finn. “I’ll be seeing you, Finn,” said with a light laugh and made his way further down the deck to join his companions, his boots thudding against the wood with every step.

  “What did he mean he’ll be seeing you?”

  Finn shrugged his shoulders and moved his bag from one hand to the other. “He asked if I’d be willing to do errands for him on the ship.”

  “Finn…,” Shay warned.

  “It’s alright, Shay. I just wanna get us a few extra coins before we arrive in America.”

  Before Shay had a chance to respond, she was pushed forward. “You gonna stand there all day, or are you gonna get a moving?” Shay turned to see a woman dressed in clothes that resembled rags pushing her forward.

  Looking at the state of the woman’s clothes, Shay didn’t feel so bad about her own fraying dress. There is always someone worse off than you are, she thought.

  The voice boomed once more. “Women to the left, men to the right. Keep going, we have a schedule to keep!”

  They trudged along towards the opposing doorways that led to the underbelly of the ship.

  “I dun wanna be separated, Shay,” Finn whispered, holding tight to her arm.

  Shay shook her head, bringing her attention back to her brother and not the excitement building around them. “Let’s just get settled, and then I’ll find you. I can’t imagine why they have separate rooms for all these people.” She gave her brother a hug. “Find your room and then we’ll meet on the other side of the deck before supper, alright?”

  Finn nodded and picked up his bag, following the line of men to a set of stairs leading below. Shay lifted her skirt slightly and followed two women who were headed to another door that led to the steerage below.

  She entered through the door into a dark hallway that reeked of bodies, waste and rotten food. Shay grimaced as she moved past the oil lamps that were barely lit. It was just enough to guide her down the hallway to the second set of steps leading further into the belly of the ship.

  She stepped off the last step into an open room where women were milling around. Shay stopped and a slight gasp escaped her lips. It was one large room with several bunks lined up. There didn’t appear to be enough beds for all the women. The walls were damp and there wasn’t a door to be found. Before she could voice her thoughts, she felt a hand on her back, pushing her into the room.

  A man in the same white shirt and brown breeches walked past her and stood among the beds.

  “Welcome onboard the Sea Odyssey. This will be your home for the next few weeks. You will remain on levels two and three. You are not to go past level three as that is for the first-class passengers. Your dining room is on the far end of the third deck. The privy is on the second level.”

  “We don’t have a loo in here?” a voice called from the back of the room.

  “If you use the corners, that is at your discretion,” the man said. “But think you want to take your chances walking in the dark, that is on you.” He walked around the room, eyeing up the women. When he stopped in front of Shay, he paused. Shay quickly looked down at her feet until she saw he moved away. “Again, the privy is on the second deck. For your safety, do not venture towards the men’s steerage.”

  “There ain’t a door,” a different voice called.

  “Where are we suppose’den to sleep?” another one asked. “There ain’t enough beds.”

  “You will sleep three to a bunk.”

  “How do you expect us to do that? It is barely big enough for one person.”

  The man silenced the woman with a glare. Shay saw the woman cross her arms over her chest and glare back.

  “You will figure it out. A breakfast of cold porridge will be served at six o’clock in the morning. You may purchase biscuits or apples if you wish. Your hot meal will be served at four o’clock promptly. If you are not through the line by five o’clock you will have to wait until the following day.” He cleared his throat. “Do I make myself clear?”

  Murmurs came up from the crowd. When the man left, Shay moved further in the crowd to find an empty bunk. Women were already fighting over where they were going to sleep.

  “Daft, this is,” one woman said. “I don’t know how they expect us to all cram in here together.”

  “We might have to sleep across the bed instead of along it,” Shay offered.

  “Our heads and feet will be hanging off.”

  Shay shrugged. “I can’t think of any other way to do it.”

  “Ain’t you a pretty little thing,” a pale woman in a shortened dress said, approaching her. She reached over and picked up one of Shay’s curls that escaped beneath her bonnet. “I’m sure you will become one of the men’s favorites.” She cackled and looked around the room. “Listen up. The nicer you are to the men, the nicer your voyage will be.” The woman gave a little yank on Shay’s hair, jerking Shay’s head to the side. “I’m sure you will have a very nice voyage.”

  Shay shrugged off the woman’s hand. “I’ll be no one’s favorite.”

  “Just you wait. Within a month you’ll be wanting something other than stale crackers and watery broth.”

  “Let her be, Molly,” another voice called. A larger woman pushed between the crowd and grabbed Shay’s arm. “Don’t you mind her, love,” the woman said gently. “You can come and stay closer to us. I’m Etain. Me daughter is right over here.”

  Shay looked at the woman. Etain was older than Shay and Shay could see the red lines covering her cheeks and nose. Her hair was a dullish brown and hung limply down her back. Even though she was heavier than most passengers, Etain was a tall woman. She was definitely a few inches taller than Shay, and Shay thought herself as tall. Etain carried her weight, as though she were royalty.

  Shay followed Etain as she held her bag tight against her chest. Somehow her ragged tapestry bag would protect her from the women crowding ar
ound. She brushed against several women as she weaved between them to follow Etain further into the dank room.

  “Pardon me,” Shay said as she brushed past them.

  Etain led her further into the dank room where she stopped in front of a bunk where a young girl, no more than ten years old held a doll and rocked back and forth on the thin mattress.

  The girl was thin and wore a cotton dress that was frayed on the sleeves and hem. Shay noticed there was a hole in her shoe and a socked toe peeked out. She had dark hair that almost matched the dark streaks on the girl’s pale skin.

  “Mariah, move over love,” Etain said. The girl scooted over and Etain sat down on the bed. “This is my daughter, Mariah. She doesn’t speak much, but she is a hard worker.”

  “Hmmm,” Shay responded thoughtfully. “Do you have work in America?”

  Etain nodded. “We are going to work in one of the clothing companies. We was hired by a Mr. Ward, we was. My husband is over in the men’s steerage.”

  “I can’t believe they separated us,” Shay said.

  “Do you have a man over there?”

  Shay shook her head. “No. Just my brother.”

  “How old is he?”

  “Just turned sixteen.”

  “I’ll ask me Ian to look out for him. What’s the lad’s name?”

  “F-finn. Thank you.”

  “What’s your name, love?”

  “Shay. You can call me Shay.”

  “Slide your bag below the bunk, Shay, and take a seat on the other side of Mariah.”

  Shay sat down on the bunk, keeping her bag on her lap. “Hello Mariah,” Shay said softly. “What’s your dolly’s name?”

  “Bet,” the child answered, looking up at her with eyes the color of the blue skies.

  “Beth?”

  Mariah shook her head. “No. Bet. Her name is Bet.”

  “Well, then,” Shay said, reaching out to take the doll’s hand. “It is very nice to meet you, Bet.”

  The girl giggled. “She can’t talk.”

  “I know. I was just pretending.” Shay looked up at Etain. “How do you know Molly?”

  “She’s a girl from our village. This is her third voyage, I think.”

  “Third? Why would she do this three times?”

  “Each time she arrived; they would send her back.” Etain leaned over her daughter. “They musta realized just how batty she actually is.” Etain leaned back and stole a glance over to Molly. “She really is harmless. Don’t you fret none.” Etain sighed. “She just wants a better life. We all do.”

  Shay thought about the woman’s words. Three times! She didn’t know what she would do if she was sent back after arriving.

  Her thoughts were interrupted by a woman swinging her bag as she turned around in the small quarters. “Pardon me, love. This spot taken?”

  Shay looked at the woman who placed her bag on the bed across from them. “I don’t know,” Shay said softly.

  “You can sleep there,” Etain chimed in. “Aoife and her sister Cara put their bags under the bed.”

  “Ta,” the woman said as she started to unfasten the cape around her throat. “I’m Neem.” She dropped the cloak on the bed, and took off her bonnet, shaking her dark curls free. Neem tossed her bonnet on top of her cloak and then turned and looked around at the women still pushing into the room. “They have us in like cattle, don’t they?”

  Shay nodded. That was a good way to describe it. Cattle. She only hoped that Finn’s quarters weren’t as crowded.

  “It will thin out as the trip progresses,” Etain volunteered.

  “How do you know?” Shay asked.

  “Because one-third of these women won’t make it to see America. They will die on the way.”

  Chapter 3

  Three weeks later

  Shay gripped the ship’s railing as she stood on the bottom rail. Her knuckles were white as she closed her eyes and leaned slightly forward.

  She inhaled the salty air and sighed. The water’s spray hit her face with its cool mist and tickled her nostrils. If she opened her mouth, she could taste the ocean as it crashed against the ship’s hull.

  The wind was invigorating. The water cooling her skin, which was warmed from the steerage below. The windswept spray, however, did little to remove the stench clinging to her clothes.

  What she would give for a pail of water and a bar of soap! Her soap, however, along with most of her belongings, and her pride were stolen shortly after climbing onboard the Sea Odyssey.

  “’Tis like flyin’, ain’t it?”

  Shay opened her eyes and stepped from the railing back onto the deck of the ship. The vessel tilted slightly, and Shay quickly grabbed the rail for support.

  Aoife. Aoife shared the bunk with her sister, Cara and a woman from Belfast called Neem. Shay looked at the young woman. With her deep red hair and bright green eyes, there was no doubting her heritage.

  Shay pulled on her own dull brown hair, which was duller because she hadn’t been able to wash it since being on board. Shay turned around and looked back at the water passing swiftly next to the ship. “Aye,” she said. “It is.”

  Aofie stepped on the bottom rail and leaned over, holding tight to the handrail as Shay had done moments before. “Doesn’t smell like Ireland,” she laughed. “At least it is fresher than being down in that dungeon.”

  Shay snorted. “Not a truer statement was ever heard, Aofie.” Shay drew out the syllables of Aofie’s name – ahhhh fey. “What are you gunna miss most about home?”

  “Nary a thing.”

  Shay looked at Aofie who was busy studying the water below. “Why not?”

  “There ain’t no life for me back there.”

  “Of course, there is. Did your family come with you?” Shay bit her finger. “My Da is still in Dunmore. Prettiest village ever.” She sighed and leaned against the rail, her back to the water. “It sits on the clearest water. Not at all like this.” She tilted her chin over her shoulder.

  “Hmmm,” Aofie said thoughtfully. “Belfast has the tallest buildings I’ve ever seen. And plenty of factories.”

  “Then why are you going to America to work?”

  “My Da was sacked from the butter factory. Hadn’t been able to find work for months. I’m one of twelve children.”

  “Twelve?”

  “Ya. Me, Cara and me younger brother, Doyle are going over to America to work. I hear there is a lot of work in New York.” Aofie looked at Shay, studying her with those deep green eyes. “I’m hoping that we can send some money back home to Da and Mam.”

  Shay hadn’t thought about what she would do with the money she earned. She heard her father speak on prosperous wages, large apartments, and all the food that one could eat. Everything was included as part of her salary.

  “I’d like for my Da to come over,” she whispered under her breath. That is what she would do. She would save every penny to bring her father over to live.

  “I hate the water,” Aofie suddenly said. She jumped back from the railing. “I didn’t realize how much I disliked it until now. If we don’t get there soon, I swear I’m going to throw myself into the murky waters below.” Shay didn’t respond. “What do you suppose they are doing up there?” Shay looked at her companion. Aofie had turned around and was leaning against the rail. She pointed to the deck above. The one where the first- and second-class passengers were living.

  “I don’t know. Probably the same as us. Waiting for the time to pass.”

  “I heard they have very fancy accommodations. Why are they better than us?”

  “Aofie.” Shay clicked her tongue. “They probably paid a dearer price for those accommodations. We should be thankful that our new employers paid for our travel at all.”

  Aofie snorted. “Well, our employers are going to get every measly cent out of our hides when we get there. I heard that by the time they take everything out of your check you only have a pauper wage to live on.”

  “Where are you he
aring this?”

  Aofie smiled. “I hear quite a bit on my travels around the ship.” She gave a little laugh.

  “What else have you heard?” Shay asked, grinning.

  “I hear they even have a bathhouse up there.”

  Shay’s eyes flew open. “Really? I long for a bath.” She pulled a strand of hair under her nose and grimaced. “I would love to wash my hair.”

  “Do ye wanna?” Aofie had a large grin on her face.

  “Do what?” Shay knew the answer.

  “We can go up there later tonight while everyone is at dinner.”

  “We aren’t supposed to go above this level.”

  “Why not? We have a right to bathe as everyone else.”

  “I don’t have soap.”

  “I’s heard that everything you need is already there.”

  “Really?” Shay’s interest was piqued. “I wouldn’t want to get caught. I heard that sailor say that the captain doesn’t refrain from using the whip.”

  Aofie wiggled her eyebrows. “That is only if you get caught.”

  “Don’t even think about it.” Shay looked around to see if anyone was listening. “And certainly, don’t talk about it.”

  “Well, I’m gonna go up there after sundown. I can sneak up there and then sneak right back down.”

  Before Shay could respond, she heard her brother call her name.

  “Shay! Shay!”

  Aofie and Shay turned to see Finn running towards them. He stopped in front of them and leaned over, placing his hands on his knees. Once he could catch his breath he stood and looked at his sister.

  “Ye’ere runnin’ like Cuchulainn was after ye,” Aofie said.

  Cuchulainn was an Irish folk-legend. He was a Celtic warrior who found success in many battles and even rescued his bride from a tower where she was sequestered away!

  “I just came back from the second level. They are throwing people over the side of the boat.”

  “What?” both Shay and Aofie said at the same time.

  “Where is this happening?”

  “At the aft.”

  Shay pushed herself up and headed to the back of the ship. Since the lower deck stuck out further than the deck they were standing on, she could see that Finn was correct. Two men were swinging a body wrapped in sheets and they released it into the murky water below.