Hopeful Hearts

by Diann Hunt

  Adelaide broke through his thoughts as they stepped past the wharf and onto the street dotted with a couple of shops. “Were you surprised some of the men didn’t want to stop here?”

  “You know, I was. I thought they’d like a break. But once a man gets whaling in his blood, it’s hard to let it go. There’s always that gnawing need to catch another. Just the same, I think we all needed the time here. I hope to do a little trading as well.” He looked at her and smiled.

  “It seems odd to have such hot weather near the end of December. Back home, we’d be bundled in heavy layers of wool by now.”

  Josiah cast a sideways glance at Adelaide as she patted a handkerchief against her forehead, just under the brim of her bonnet. “It is, indeed, warm. Would you like to stop here?” Josiah asked, pointing toward a cozy little dress shop.

  “Oh, could we?”

  How could he refuse when he saw that sparkle in her eyes? “Of course.”

  Inside, the room smelled sharp like the sea. Colorful bolts of cloth lined overhead shelves. Laces and ribbons of assorted shapes and sizes were arranged to entice the simplest of tastes. A small gathering of stylish hats and gloves stood in a corner. Oriental silks lined a table.

  Adelaide walked over to the material and began to browse, feeling her way through each fabric.

  Josiah watched the scene, an unfamiliar stir running through him. He meandered through the store then turned to see Adelaide admiring a light blue gown and matching bonnet fringed with ruffles. He imagined Adelaide in such a gown and bonnet and decided she must have them.

  He waited patiently as she looked around. Each time she seemed interested in an item, upon finding the price, she graciously declined. No doubt she didn’t feel she could ask him for the money—probably because she knew they were only pretending at a marriage. Would she ever want it to be more?

  Suddenly the bell rang on the front door, and Josiah turned to see Adam Bowman entering. Though Josiah fought against it, his muscles grew tense. He glanced at Adelaide, who hadn’t yet noticed Adam.

  Adam spotted Adelaide, but Josiah stayed somewhat hidden behind merchandise.

  “Why, Adam, what are you doing in here?”

  Josiah could hear the teasing in Adelaide’s voice. He swallowed hard.

  “I just thought I’d see if I could find something for my girl.” He grinned. “I’ve been saving money for quite some time, so I have a little.”

  Adelaide smiled at him as if they shared a secret.

  Josiah felt raw nerves. Who did that man think he was? Had he no respect for the fact Adelaide was married? Or maybe she had explained it was a marriage of convenience. Did they have plans for a future together? Josiah clenched his fists. He took a deep breath and released his fingers, noticing his white knuckles.

  Suddenly his heart felt heavy. The light of the day seemed to grow dim as his thoughts took a different direction. Adelaide and Adam continued in small talk, but Josiah turned away. He could hear no more.

  “Josiah.” Adelaide walked up behind him and touched his arm. “I’m ready to go if you are.” Her words were soft and tender, somewhat soothing his angry heart.

  Josiah glanced over his shoulder to see Adam watching them. Josiah gave him a curt nod and led Adelaide out of the shop.

  They walked down the street a little; then Josiah made an excuse to get away for a moment.

  Once Adelaide was safely shopping in another store, he went back to the first shop. He would not be outdone by Adam Bowman! Josiah stepped into the shop, and before he could change his mind, he purchased the gown and bonnet for Adelaide. Adam was nowhere in sight.

  Later that evening, Josiah wondered if he had done the right thing in purchasing the dress and hat. Maybe Adelaide would think it too much. Perhaps she didn’t want such a gift from him. Yes, he had gone too far. Such extravagance. But they were out to sea now. He could hardly take them back. Did he have the courage to give them to her?

  He needed time to think about it. But where could he store the presents while he thought through the problem? He might have Adam keep them till the morning. Although it grated him to do it, Josiah knew he could trust Adam with the dress and bonnet. The captain wasn’t so sure about anyone else aboard the ship.

  Yes, he decided, that’s what he’d do. Adam could hold it in his room. Josiah would explain they had little space with Adelaide’s things in their rooms. They’d clear something out that night, and Josiah would fetch it in the morning after he decided what to do.

  Suddenly, it became very important to Josiah that Adelaide like the gown and matching bonnet. Very important, indeed.

  Sticking the last pin in her hair, Adelaide turned with a start when a knock sounded at the door. She knew Josiah wouldn’t knock, so she wondered if there was trouble on deck. Quickly, she pulled on her bonnet and went to answer the door. Adelaide opened it and looked up to see Adam holding a box.

  “Why, Adam, is everything all right?”

  A wide grin stretched across his face. “We caught some more blackfish.” Then, as if just remembering the package in his hands, he added, “Oh, here. I thought I’d save you a trip and bring these to you. I hope you have room for them now.” Adam stretched his arms out with the packages.

  Adelaide puzzled at his comments but took them from him. She didn’t know Adam would purchase such a large gift for Esther. In her heart, she was convinced the young man loved her sister. Curiosity got the better of Adelaide. She had to see the gifts. “All right if I look at them?”

  Adam’s face registered surprise. He shrugged. “I suppose so—”

  Just then a voice called behind him. “Captain needs you on deck, sir.”

  Adam nodded then turned to Adelaide. He tipped his hat. “See you later, Mrs. Buchanan.” With a smile, he turned on his heels and left her staring after him.

  Adelaide looked at the boxes, giddy with excitement for her sister. Quickly, she closed the door behind her. She couldn’t get to the sofa fast enough and pull open the packages.

  She lifted the lid and peeled back the papers on the smaller box first. “Oh!” She slipped a bonnet from the box. The bonnet she had seen in the dress shop the day before. She removed her bonnet and pulled the new one ever so gently onto her head.

  Then with eager fingers, she opened the next box and gasped, staring in disbelief. Adelaide had admired that dress in the shop. Oh, my, to have such a gown! She swallowed hard and lifted the garment ever so gently, allowing its folds to ripple to the ground. Draping it in front of her, she suddenly imagined herself at the most wondrous of balls with Josiah at her side. She curtsied before him, lifting her arms in a dancing gesture, and began to take a few steps in the cramped quarters. So lost was she in her imaginations, she didn’t hear the door when it opened.

  She turned to see Josiah standing in the entrance, a scowl on his face. “Josiah!” She stopped in her tracks. “Isn’t this beautiful? Adam brought it down this morning and—”

  “We don’t have time for such foolishness, Adelaide. There’s blackfish on deck, and you need to get to the cookhouse to prepare it.”

  All her dreamy notions flew away like a flock of birds, leaving embarrassment behind. What had gotten into her? She had a job to do, and she was behaving foolishly.

  “Of course,” she answered, humiliation knotting her throat.

  Josiah opened his mouth to say something then seemed to think better of it and turned to go, closing the door behind him.

  Large teardrops spilled from her cheeks as Adelaide carefully folded the dress back in place and put the lid on the box. How could she have been so silly? And for Josiah to catch her behaving in such a manner was more than she could bear. For the first time since their trip began, she truly wanted to go home. The sea in all its splendor filled her head with romantic notions. She had to get hold of herself and forget such nonsense. She was on the ship to do a job, and that’s precisely what she would do. Nothing more, nothing less. Josiah would get his cook. She would get her life
on the sea. That’s all each of them wanted, anyway. So what was the problem?

  As far as Adelaide was concerned, there was no problem. No problem at all. She brushed aside another tear, ignoring the cries of her heart. Pulling herself up, she washed her face and headed for the door.

  Time to cook some blackfish.

  Chapter 10

  Josiah felt cross and worked with a vengeance to get the blackfish on the ship and ready for Adelaide to prepare for lunch. Why had Adam brought that dress to Adelaide? Maybe Josiah hadn’t made it clear he wanted to pick it up himself. He gritted his teeth. Now Adelaide thought the gift was from Adam. The worst of it was that she appeared absolutely delighted with the idea.

  The whole thing was a big mistake. Marrying Adelaide, bringing her aboard the ship. For what? So he could have a good cook for his crew? Most captains and crews frowned upon allowing a woman on the ship, let alone putting her in charge of the meals. But who could argue with his success? His voyages brought in endless casks brimming with oil and, from the sperm whale he gathered in abundance, spermaceti, the purest of all oils, and ambergris, a substance used in making expensive perfumes, so no one dared oppose his decision to have Adelaide be the cook.

  Without question, he had been a fool. What could he do about it now? Approach her with the option of leaving the ship? He knew Adelaide to be a woman of faith, and most likely, she would not consider such a thing. How could he help her escape the dreadful life into which he had entangled her?

  “So, what did he get you?” Adam asked Adelaide as he passed her on the way to his cabin.

  “Who?”

  “Who? Captain, that’s who. What was in the boxes?”

  She felt her mouth gape and promptly closed it shut. “I–I thought …”

  “What?” His puzzled expression met hers.

  “Well, you were getting something for Esther in the dress shop, and I assumed …”

  Understanding lit his eyes. He whistled and shook his head. “I’m afraid I don’t have that kind of money.” He shrugged. “I bought her a necklace holding a stone from the island.”

  Adelaide could hardly contain herself. She could almost kiss Esther’s friend. “Oh, how wonderful, Adam. She will love it.” She barely noticed him scratching his head as she whisked past him.

  Was it possible Josiah had purchased the gown and bonnet for her? Did she dare presume, dare hope? She practically ran up the steps, breathless with excitement. No matter how foolish it seemed, she had to reach him, thank him for his kindness. No wonder he was cross. He realized she had thought the gift was from Adam. But what he didn’t know was she thought it was for Esther. Oh, things could get so tangled. But how wonderful she felt.

  At last, she found him at the bow of the deck. The crew had just finished with the blackfish, taking it to the cookhouse for her preparation. “Josiah, might I speak with you a moment?”

  He threw her a stern look. “I’m rather busy right now, Adelaide.” He rinsed his hands in a bucket of water and wiped them with a cloth.

  “I know about the dress and bonnet.”

  His hands stopped midair as he looked at her.

  Her voice softened. “I know you bought them for me, and I want to thank you. It is by far the finest garment and bonnet I have ever owned.”

  “It was foolishness,” he said, though his eyes searched her face for more encouragement.

  “Foolishness or no, it is beautiful, and I am deeply grateful for your kindness.” She touched his arm in a tender gesture then turned and walked away. Her heart felt giddy with the idea of leaving the mighty sea captain speechless. Besides, she had a new dress and bonnet to try on. Perhaps she would wear it if they went gamming on another ship. She could hardly wait for that to happen. Visiting with other ships brought relief to the lonely days at sea.

  Dumbfounded, Josiah stared after Adelaide as she walked across the deck. What had happened, he wasn’t sure, but he liked the idea she wanted to keep his gifts. Before he could get too puffed up in his thinking, though, he reminded himself of the look on her face when he had entered their cabin. She was just as happy with the gifts when she thought Adam had purchased them for her. It was the dress and bonnet she wanted, not Josiah.

  His clenched jaw relaxed. This was a start, after all. She liked his presents. With any luck, her feelings would eventually grow for him.

  The next morning after breakfast, Josiah poked his head in the cabin. “Looks like a whaler close by, Adelaide. The Majestic. We shall perhaps have company by evening.”

  “Wonderful!” Adelaide clapped her hands together. She hoped the captain’s wife was on board. She so missed the company of women.

  “Good, then. We’ll plan on that.” With that, he closed the door.

  Adelaide could hardly wait. Josiah kept a large tub and a pounding barrel in the house on deck where Adelaide did her laundry for most of the day. Once the starching and ironing was done, she made her way back to the cookhouse for dinner preparations. After dinner, she would clean up for gamming. The excitement of it all carried her through the tiring day.

  “I’ve sent word to the Majestic, and they are expecting us within the hour,” Josiah said to Adelaide in their room after dinner. “Can you be ready?”

  Barely able to contain her joy, she smiled.

  “Fine,” Josiah said, rising from his chair. “I’ll be back to get you in, say, half an hour?”

  “Thank you, Josiah.”

  Adelaide cleared the dishes from the top of her trunk while Josiah went back on deck. Her heart thumped hard against her ribs. She wasn’t sure precisely what one would wear for such an occasion, but she certainly wanted to look her best and knew just the dress and bonnet she would wear. She opened her trunk and pulled out the gifts she had so carefully placed there. She scurried about to get ready. By the time she was finished, she had a few minutes to spare, so she decided to go on deck and meet Josiah.

  She could feel the heat rise to her cheeks as she stepped across the deck and felt the admiring gazes of the crew upon her. But when her eyes met Josiah’s, her heart took wings.

  “Adelaide—” He stopped abruptly.

  She looked at him, waiting for him to continue.

  He kept staring at her, and she felt a bit awkward with the moment, noticing the crew was watching the two of them. Josiah cleared his throat. “Well, shall we lift you into the gamming chair and lower you to the whaleboat?”

  She smiled and nodded. Something told her Josiah was pleased with her appearance, and that thought thrilled her. The crew helped to get Adelaide lowered and settled into the whaleboat, where Josiah joined her. A few of the crewmen accompanied them, while members of the Majestic’s crew came from their boat to visit the Courage.

  Though Adelaide was disappointed there were no women aboard the Majestic, she enjoyed the visit with Captain Winifred and Josiah. Captain Winifred presented daguerreotypes of his wife and children for them to look at, which Adelaide greatly enjoyed.

  As they departed, Captain Winifred gave them two dozen nice oranges. Also, Adelaide left him with some letters to send home as he was going to port before them. She hoped the letters would reach her family soon.

  The weather had been uncomfortably warm, the seas calm, which made for bad whaling. Earlier in the day, they saw whales from the masthead, but before the crew could reach them, the whales had disappeared.

  After lunch, Adelaide freshened up in her room, cooling her face with water from the pitcher. She heard another call of a whale sighting. Quickly, she dabbed once more at her face and made her way up the steps to the deck.

  Very soon, she saw the sea creature blow and turn flukes, as they called it, or dive toward the ocean bottom. She thought him a formidable creature.

  The two mates went off in their boats. Then Josiah went with his boat’s crew. The ship received word one of the boats had fastened. The whale continued to spout.

  The crews returned in low spirits. Several boats were stoven, and they had to cut from the
whale. Adelaide thought they should at least find that whale and make it pay for their boats.

  Adelaide watched as the men boarded the ship from the whaleboats. Ebenezer brushed past her mumbling some obscenity, caring nothing about using such language in the presence of a woman. The man infuriated and frightened her. She thought him capable of almost anything. Presently, he walked toward a corner where a few other men were gathered.

  What he was up to, she didn’t know, but it bothered her. She’d talk to Josiah about it, though she knew Josiah had his own suspicions about Ebenezer Fallon.

  Adelaide felt sure they would soon find out more than she wanted to know. She wanted to pray for Ebenezer, but she couldn’t push away the feeling of distaste she had for the man. The farther she could stay away from him, the better. He was up to no good. No other way to say it.

  Ebenezer Fallon meant trouble.

  Chapter 11

  Though blackfish and porpoise provided some oil along the way, Josiah wondered at the lack of whales thus far.

  Standing at the stern, he looked out to sea. A slight breeze barely lifted the mast. The Courage inched its way toward the shores of Rio de la Plata, traveling at three or four knots an hour. Known as good whaling ground, the area raised Josiah’s hopes that they would be able to get a few barrels of whale oil.

  Breathing in deep of the sea air, Josiah thought about a life on land. How could he ever stop sailing? He shook his head. What would make him ask such a question? A vision of Adelaide popped into his mind. Her delicate features, her gentleness looked so foreign on the likes of a whaling ship. Yet she had her stubborn side—how well he knew. He couldn’t help but smile. Deep down, he supposed that’s one thing that drew him to her. He liked a woman with a little spirit.

  All at once, the breeze kicked up, causing the snap of sails as the wind caught the rigging. The noise temporarily muffled the cry of the crew. Finally, a whaleman approached Josiah. “Captain Buchanan, sir …” Panic, coupled with running to the stern, caused his words to squeeze between chokes and great gulps of air. “Your wife—”