“That’s incredible,” a familiar voice said above the others.
Daniel had gotten to the front of the group. He examined the patch closely, his left hand hooked on the pocket of his breeches. “My uncle will be pleased. You’ve probably earned your passage to the Americas with this one repair.”
So much for staying invisible.
“Where did you learn to do this?” George asked.
“My grandmother. She’s a gifted needle worker. I studied her techniques figuring they would apply to sails as well.”
“Looks as if you were right,” Daniel said. “It’s finely crafted.”
“Thank you.” It pleased me that he approved. He examined me for a long moment, and sweat drizzled down my temple from under Benjamin’s cap.
“What’s going on over here? Why is everyone standing around?” Captain Finley approached, and Daniel made room for his uncle to step up and view my repair work. The captain stared at the embossed seagull for what seemed like endless moments.
“Who did this?” Though his facial expression was soft, his voice still sounded rough and full of authority.
“I did, sir,” I said.
“A useful asset indeed.” Captain Finley rubbed his bearded chin. “Glad I took you on Charlie Hamden.” He cuffed me on the neck and walked away.
“Not an idiot, indeed,” Daniel said before turning to follow his uncle.
An idiot? No.
A liar? Maybe.
****
After several less impressive sail repairs, my second task was to venture into town with Daniel and gather supplies. I wasn’t eager to mix back in with local folk, but figured if I kept my cap low and my eyes down, I’d manage to go undetected. I also didn’t want to say no to the captain’s orders. That’d be a good way to get kicked off the crew and watch my opportunity literally sail away.
Daniel stashed the coins his uncle gave him in the pocket of his breeches and motioned for me to follow him. We traversed across the beach and hopped up onto the docks. I had never seen Southampton’s port so crowded. Sailors were everywhere. I had trouble looking at everything at once. Keeping an eye on where Daniel was headed was almost impossible. Was it his intention to lose me in the sea of bodies?
“Wait!” I called after weaving between a thick throng of men and boys.
Daniel stopped and turned around to face me, along with several other local sailors. I caught up to him, trying to evade the glances of men my brothers and father knew. Men that knew me as Charlotte.
“If you’re tryin—” I started, pointing an accusing finger at Daniel.
“Sorry.” He swatted my finger away. “I’m used to going on these errands alone.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “You’re not trying to lose me on purpose?”
He laughed and my anger abated. This was a developing pattern.
“No.” He jingled the coins in his pocket and threw a glance out over the busy dock. “Look, I haven’t had much practice at having… friends.” He hesitated over the word. “I was young when my parents died. Since then I’ve been around sailors much older than me. They’re more like fathers to me than friends, you know? You get the difference?”
“Trust me, I know. I only have one friend. Why do you think I’m willing to shove off and explore the world?”
“Right. No ties to the land. It’s the sailor’s way.” He started to walk again, this time staying only a few feet in front of me. He threw a quick glance over his shoulder every now and then, making an effort not to lose me in the crowd. He led me to Watkins’s Post.
“This place is the best stocked,” I said, pulling open the door. As soon as I stepped inside, Benjamin glanced up from the counter. Odd to come into the store as a customer. A male customer, no less.
Benjamin’s face brightened and I angled my head toward Daniel, indicating I was not alone. The smile faded from Benjamin’s lips as he looked Daniel over. His green gaze slid back to me and worry skittered across his face.
“Hey, Charlie,” he said, his eyes unnaturally wide. Benjamin was a terrible liar.
“Benjamin. This is Daniel Connor,” I said.
Benjamin nodded toward Daniel.
“You two know each other?” Daniel said.
“Since forever,” Benjamin and I answered at the same time. The smirk was back on Benjamin’s lips and I sported a matching one. Cripes, I was going to miss him.
“This would be the one friend I mentioned earlier,” I said.
“What can I get you fellows?” Benjamin’s voice cracked on the word fellows.
“We’ve got a list.” Daniel dug it out from his pocket.
“Give it here.” Benjamin held out his hand. He read the list over, nodding every few seconds. “You’re in luck. We’ve got all of these things.” He gave Daniel another glance, his gaze sweeping over Daniel’s empty right sleeve. “Charlie, you want to help me get some of it… in the back?”
“Sure.” I hopped around the counter then turned toward Daniel. “Be right back.”
“All right.” He wandered away from the counter to get some of the other things on the list.
Alone with Benjamin in the storeroom, I suddenly felt awkward dressed as a boy. Foolish. I had spent an entire childhood acting like a boy with him. Why should this be strange?
“There’s so many sailors here today,” I said, trying to fill the silence.
“Charlotte.” Benjamin grabbed onto my arms. “Five ships came into port early this morning. Two from the Americas and three back from merchant runs ’round Africa to India. One of them is—”
“My father’s,” I finished.
A knot formed in my stomach as I peered out the storeroom window. I adjusted my cap lower to hide my face more. Sure enough, at the mouth of the bay, the Emily bobbed in the waves. Scanning the docks now, I located the dory my father used to ferry between his ship and the mainland. I recognized several crewmembers from the Emily.
“I didn’t expect him to come home now. What am I going to do?” I turned back to Benjamin. The storeroom seemed ridiculously small. Nowhere to hide.
“You’re going to get your supplies and get back to the Rose before anyone sees you.” Benjamin had gathered the items on the list.
“Have you seen my father yet?”
Benjamin shook his head. “No, but Riley was in first thing this morning. Asked all sorts of questions about you. I was vague in my answering, but he knew I was hiding something. I know you wanted me to tell them where you’d gone off to, but I figured you wanted to be actually gone first.”
“If I’m not, they’ll try to stop me.”
Benjamin quickened his pace. “You have to get out of here. I want you to stay, but if you’re going to do this, you’ve got to go.” He pressed a loaded sack into my hands and ushered me out into the main store.
Daniel was back at the counter with the items he had collected. Other sailors had crowded into the store, and I pulled my cap down low. Keeping my back to them, I drummed my fingers on the counter as Benjamin finished up the sale.
“Impatient?” Daniel asked.
“What?”
“You’re ready to bolt out of here.” He hefted one of the filled sacks under his left arm.
“We’ve been gone a while,” I said. “We should hurry back.” I grabbed the other sack. “See you around, Benjamin.”
I didn’t wait for him to reply, but whirled around, ready to make for the door.
“Lewiston, come with me. I want to check on my estate,” a voice boomed over the other sailors.
I froze, wishing I could somehow make myself invisible.
My father stood mere paces away from me, looking like the impressive giant of a man he always resembled. The sack I carried slid out of my grip and thudded to the floor.
“Oh…” I let out a puff of breath as I took a couple steps back.
“Do you know who that is?” Daniel’s voice was full of awe.
“Who?” I was careful not to glance my father’s wa
y for too long.
“Captain Denham.” Daniel gestured with his chin toward my father. He said the name as if it were a holy one. “I’ve heard the stories about him. He’s a favorite of the queen and a fantastic captain. Everyone who’s been a part of his crew loves the man like a father.”
Fresh beads of sweat lined the rim of my cap. Maybe I’d melt into a puddle that Benjamin could mop away. That would be good right now.
“I know many sailors,” Daniel whispered. “Not one of them has anything bad to say about Captain Denham. They all say he’s an expert when it comes to bargaining with natives and other merchants.”
I tugged on Daniel’s sleeve. “We’d better get these supplies back to camp.”
Daniel tore his gaze away from my father. As we started back on our errand, a broad hand clamped down on my shoulder. I nearly shrieked, but managed a short squeak instead.
“Captain Denham wants to see you two,” a big, burly sailor said. Heath was his name if I remembered correctly.
An enormous smile raced across Daniel’s face. “Really?”
“Really,” Heath said, grunting at Daniel’s eagerness. “This way.”
The hot sweat that had started beneath my cap shot through the rest of me. I wrestled with the notion of running back to the Rose, but Daniel gave me a look that said I’d better follow him.
Within moments we were standing before my father. He had his left hand on his gray and black beard and his right arm crossed his chest. He appeared to be considering something important, and the wait for him to turn around to talk to us made my heart pound erratically.
Daniel let the sack he carried slide down his leg and rest on the floor. His fingers then tightened on my arm. Was it really this exciting to be close to my father, the mighty Captain Denham? Was this why I missed him so much myself?
“Ah, yes,” my father said as he regarded the two of us with his sharp green eyes. “Saw you two chaps by the counter and wondered if you’re looking for work. I’ve got two spots to—”
He stopped as his gaze rested on Daniel’s empty half-sleeve. His brows furrowed together then he focused his eyes on me. “I’ve got one spot that needs filling and you, boy, seem like a sturdy one.”
The muscles in Daniel’s jaw tensed up again. I had the silly urge to defend him against my father’s words, but stopped myself. It was not as if my father had insulted Benjamin whom I’d been friends with for a lifetime. I barely knew Daniel. Besides, the less I talked, the better.
“Sorry, Captain, but I have me a job. We both do. Thank you.” I shifted the sack I carried and nudged Daniel.
“Do you know who I am?” my father said before we could gain any distance from him.
“Yes, I know who you are, Captain Denham.” Did he know who I was?
“Haven’t you heard the stories of my great adventures, my wealth?”
“I have.”
“And yet you still refuse my offer?”
“I do.”
I looked my father square in the eye. Foolish. He stared back and angled his head. Everything in my logical brain said to break the stare. To leave. Before my secret was discovered. I was held transfixed, however, in this silent battle of wills. He wanted me to cower and look away first.
I would not.
I loved my father, but he had kept me land bound. He had stood in my way of being who I wanted to be. I had deferred to his wishes long enough. I was leaving Southampton and he wasn’t going to stop me.
My father took two steps closer and lifted the brim of Benjamin’s cap so it came off entirely. My heart stopped beating for a single second as he studied my face.
“What is your name?” He narrowed his eyes but still wouldn’t break the contact.
“Charlie.” I forced my legs into a wider stance so as to look more masculine. I hugged the sack to my chest and held my breath.
“You sure you don’t want to join my crew?” He wasn’t accustomed to people saying no to him or to asking something more than once.
“I’m quite happy with my current employment.” I boldly arched out my pillowed gut against the sack.
He handed back my hat. I took it and plopped it on my head, pulling it low once more.
With one final look up at my father, I bowed and walked toward Daniel. We disappeared into the crowd of sailors outside Watkins’s Post. I stored the details of my father’s face in some part of my mind for it would be a long time before I’d see him again.
If I saw him again.
Chapter Seven
Daniel had not said one word and had not acknowledged my presence as we walked back to the Rose. Guilt about my father’s reaction to him swirled around inside me.
“Daniel?”
“Hmm,” he replied, still not looking at me.
“Are you all right?”
He stopped walking at the edge of the dock and focused his gaze on a point somewhere on the water.
“I’m fine,” he began in a quiet voice. “I just don’t need the reminder that I’m… not like everyone else. I know the only reason I’m part of the Rose’s crew is because my uncle is the captain.” He shrugged his left shoulder. His brows furrowed now not in the contempt I had first witnessed yesterday, but with genuine hurt. A hurt my father had caused. “Captain Denham was right not to want me.”
“He most certainly was not.”
Daniel jumped at the bite in my voice.
“He doesn’t know anything at all. He’s used to everyone doing whatever he says and having everything be exactly how he wants it all the time. He doesn’t consider what other people want, what they need.”
Daniel’s eyes opened wide, and the corner of his mouth turned up. “Easy there, Charlie. You seem more offended than I am.”
I took in a deep breath, set my sack down at my feet, and rubbed my hands across my face. Raising my voice was a good way to attract attention I didn’t need.
“Yes, well, he didn’t need to be so judgmental,” I said. “I guess he’s not about giving people chances.”
“You know,” Daniel began, “you could have taken a job with Captain Denham. He wanted you.”
I ground my teeth at the thought of sailing with my father on the Emily. Boys’ clothes and chopped hair had fooled him. My own father. What did that say about how well he knew me? We had no ties, no bond.
I had absolutely no desire to sail with him. Ever.
“I meant what I told Captain Denham. I. Have. A. Job.” I said the words slowly, deliberately.
“Glad you didn’t let me scare you off yesterday, Charlie.” Still somewhat amused, Daniel continued, “Looks like I’ll never get to meet Captain Denham’s daughter now. Oh, well.”
My hands that had still been rubbing my face stopped at my bruised jaw. “What did you say?”
“Captain Denham has two sons, twins I think, and one daughter whom I’m told is absolutely breathtaking.” A grin wiped across his face. “Supposed to have long blonde hair and ocean blue eyes. Just what I like.” Daniel elbowed me in the side and winked.
I choked on my next breath and let out a cough. Absolutely breathtaking? I doubled over, and my whole body shook with amusement. I fell to my knees and stretched my palms out onto the dock. I couldn’t catch my breath. The laughter overtook me.
“What?” Daniel said. “Do you think Miss Denham would not like me?”
I squelched my laughing and kneeled back on my heels. “No, no. I think she’d like you just fine, Daniel.”
He gave me a solid shove, and I surprised myself by not rolling off the dock.
“What about you? You got a girl somewhere?” he said.
I stood and picked up my sack. “No.” I wasn’t sure what to say next. What would a boy say? “I hear there are pretty girls in the Americas. Why do you think I’m headed that way?”
Daniel chuckled. “A very good plan.” He jumped off the dock and landed in the sand. “We’ve got to dump these things off and get back to work if we’re to leave on schedule.”
&
nbsp; I hopped after him, not wanting to hold up our departure date.
I couldn’t exactly hide the grin on my face. Charlie Hamden might be an ordinary boy, but Charlotte Denham was “absolutely breathtaking” at least by someone’s standards.
That, I had to admit, was nice to know.
****
The noontime sun blazed high in the sky when we reached the camp. I was hit with the sight of several crewmembers working on the Rose bared to the waist, their tunics cast aside in the heat.
I slowed my step, and Daniel noticed. “What’s the matter?” Dots of perspiration glistened on his forehead.
“Nothing.” I jogged to catch up with him.
He hoisted his sack of purchases onto his left shoulder and walked, somewhat off balance, to a group of men shaping wooden hull boards. I followed, hauling my own sack, and trying not to stare at all the bare male skin around me. My own tunic was moist under my sweater, and the pillow resting against my stomach made the heat unbearable. My short hair was wet with sweat underneath Benjamin’s cap. With each step through the sand, my breeches stuck to my legs, making me feel hotter and hotter. Wearing a corset wasn’t as uncomfortable as this. Why did it have to be unseasonably warm on this September day?
We delivered all of the materials and hiked up to Captain Finley’s tent. The shelter was solidly constructed and up on a hill so as to keep any rainwater from dribbling inside.
“Uncle?” Daniel called out.
“Come in.”
Daniel pulled aside the tent flap and hunched down as he cleared the doorway. I walked in behind him, ducking as well.
“All the materials have been purchased and delivered.” Daniel reached into his pocket and returned the leftover coins.
Captain Finley dropped the money into his own pocket. “Excellent. Repairs are nearly complete. Hull, masts, sails. Sails look great thanks to Charlie here.”
I bowed my head toward him, glad he had approved of my handiwork. “Will we be leaving soon, Captain?”
Captain Finley smiled. A smile like Daniel’s. “That is my hope, boy. The journey across the Atlantic is about three months long, assuming we don’t run into any problems.
Sail With Me (A Discovery Series Book) Page 5
