by Diann Hunt
Josiah felt his blood run cold. “What is it, man? Out with it!”
The whaleman tried to straighten himself. “Overboard” was all he could manage.
Before the word had left the man’s tongue, alarm bolted Josiah halfway across the rolling deck. Men shouted and pointed starboard side. Josiah rushed to a crowd just as a sailor lifted Adelaide onto the ship.
Dripping from their clothes, seawater pooled onto the deck. The man carefully laid her down. He saw Josiah and stepped aside.
Rushing to Adelaide, Josiah’s heart felt like a block of ice. “Adelaide.” He turned her, trying to push the water from her lungs. She laid there for what seemed an eternity, then finally coughed out the water and began to breathe. It was then he realized he had been holding his own breath. He took great swigs of air.
Adelaide appeared dazed. Josiah looked up. “Everyone back to your post. She’ll be fine.” He looked over to the man who had rescued Adelaide.
Josiah lifted his face to him. “I would like to thank you for—” His words froze in his throat. Only then did he realize it was Adam Bowman. The look on Adam’s face made Josiah’s heart stop. Concern etched the young man’s visage, but it was more than that. Perhaps fear of losing the woman they loved gripped them both. A sinking feeling balled in the pit of Josiah’s stomach. Before he could say a word to Adam, Adelaide spoke up.
“Who …?”
Josiah swallowed hard and stepped away, pointing toward Adam. “Looks like the first mate came to your rescue.”
She reached her hand out to Adam. “Thank you,” she managed to say with a weak smile. The look between them said more than Josiah could bear.
In all his days at sea, Josiah had never felt more alone than at that very moment.
Josiah took Adelaide back to their room. She put on dry clothes and went to bed. He told her the crew would handle the meals for the rest of the day. She needed to rest. He couldn’t make sense out of how she had fallen overboard. Seemed she wasn’t quite sure herself; it had all happened so fast.
“You’ll be all right, then?”
“I’ll be fine.”
He turned to go.
“Josiah?”
“Yes?”
“Thank you.”
“No need to thank me. I did nothing. I was nowhere around when you needed me. If left to me, you would have drowned.” He knew his words sounded harsh, but so be it. Something flickered across her eyes. Most likely sympathy. She felt sorry for him. Sorry that he had failed. They both knew it. The mighty captain couldn’t save his own wife. Ah, but the first mate—well, he always stood a stone’s throw away, ready to help the lady in distress.
“You’re here now.”
Her words were barely audible, but they shook him from his self-pity. He grunted. Before he could comment, her eyes closed.
Josiah turned and slipped quietly from their room and latched the door behind him.
Ebenezer met Josiah as he walked up the stairs toward the deck. “Is Mrs. Buchanan all right, Captain?”
Something in Ebenezer’s eyes made Josiah want to tell him to mind his own business, but instead he replied, “She’s going to be fine.”
“Glad to hear it.” Ebenezer scratched the whiskers on his chin. “Sure was a good thing Mate Bowman was nearby to save her. Who knows what might have happened.” His gaze probed Josiah’s eyes, as if he wanted Josiah to read more into his comment. “But then again, guess he’s always nearby, isn’t he?”
Josiah stared at him.
Ebenezer shrugged. “One can’t do without a first mate, that’s for sure. Right-hand man, that’s what he is. Takes care of business, right down to saving the captain’s wife, if need be.”
Just then Josiah noticed a few other crewmen nearby listening in. Was this some staged event thought up by this evil man? Did Ebenezer want Josiah to take a swipe at him and give the men an excuse to fight? No, Josiah wouldn’t fall for that. He was a captain. He would conduct himself in such a manner.
“Yes, that’s right, Ebenezer. A captain can’t do without his first mate. I’m thankful to have such a great man for the job.” Josiah made himself say the words, though his teeth rebelled at letting them through.
Surprise registered across the crusty sailor’s face, and Josiah headed up the stairs, his shoulders relaxing a bit. Once Josiah looked toward the other men, they scattered.
He knew he’d warded off another possible confrontation. He also knew one day soon things would not be so easily smoothed over.
One thought plagued him. Did Ebenezer have something to do with Adelaide’s fall? She wasn’t sure what had happened. Josiah pounded his right fist into his left palm. If he found out that man had tried to hurt Adelaide …
When Adelaide woke up, a black sea sloshed against the hull. A dark sky shadowed the porthole. She couldn’t imagine the time. How long had she been in bed? Lifting her head, she raised herself to a sitting position, trying to acclimate herself to what was going on. Her right arm automatically reached down the back of her leg as she remembered hitting it on something just before she had fallen into the water.
She thought back. As she had picked up her washing from a line on deck, a gust of wind had carried a garment from her, and she’d gone to retrieve it. The cloth landed on the railing. She didn’t think it that risky to climb up and get it, so she did. The ship suddenly pitched. In her horror, she had tried to balance herself and screamed for help from the nearby sailor. He’d stood motionless and watched her drama unfold. The last thing she saw before being engulfed into the cold, dark sea was the look of pleasure that lit the face of Ebenezer Fallon.
The next thing she knew, she shivered in layers of wet clothes, lying on the hard surface of the ship’s deck.
Why hadn’t Ebenezer helped her? Could any man be that evil? That inhuman?
Who had helped her? A flash of remembrance came to her. Adam. He stood before her, hair drenched tight to his head, anguish written on his face. Where was Josiah? Oh, yes, he had been there, too. But the look on his face was one of—what? Disgust? Frustration? She couldn’t decide.
Then it hit her. She, no doubt, had embarrassed him. After all, she was the captain’s wife. What kind of example did she set by falling off the ship? Humiliation washed over her. She had failed poor Josiah. Again.
How could she make it right? How he must regret bringing her with him. Right at this very moment, he probably dreamed of being able to take back those words he had uttered on the shore during the church social.
Her heart ached. How she wanted to make him proud of her. She wanted him to hold her and love her. Be her true husband.
She laid back in her bed, willing herself to forget her responsibilities, her endless chores, her aching heart, everything. Perhaps her dreams would take her to a different life, a life where love prevailed.
Several weeks of snow and hail squalls plagued the Courage as it rounded Cape Horn. When the calms came, Adelaide used the time to catch up on her washing, mending, and ironing. She tried to stay out of Josiah’s way.
With those chores finished, she wondered what to do with herself. She decided to have one of the men kill a hog from their livestock so she could make sausage meat. Once the killing was done, Adelaide prepared the meat and filled eight good-sized bags.
Her back ached and her body felt sore from her recent chores. She made her way to their cabin. Josiah caught her on deck.
“There’s a ship close by, Adelaide. Maybe we can visit with them tonight.”
Though she felt tired, she could hardly wait to enjoy the company of the captain and hopefully his wife. “I’d like that.”
“Good. You rest for a while, and I’ll let you know when we’re close enough.”
She nodded and decided to do that very thing.
The next couple of nights, Adelaide and Josiah enjoyed gamming with the Victory’s captain and wife, sharing meals together and talking of life on the seas.
A few days later, they parted company, each head
ing in different directions with little hope of reconnecting in the near future.
Adelaide hated to see them leave. The distance between Josiah and her had greatly lengthened since her dip in the ocean. She knew without a doubt she had failed him. On the one hand, shame filled her for her stupidity in falling off the ship, but anger also filled her because he had so harshly judged her. People made mistakes. She didn’t know perfection was a qualifying factor to be Mrs. Josiah Buchanan.
No doubt Catherine Buchanan had been perfect in every way. Not a clumsy fool. Adelaide sat on her chair in their room and pulled a needle through the material a little too fast. She poked her finger. “Oh!” She pulled her hand free and instinctively sucked on her finger. The pinprick did little to encourage her spirits.
She threw the material down and paced the tiny room. “Why should I feel bad? It’s not as though I planned to fall.” She took three steps, turned, and headed in the opposite direction. “It’s not as though he never made a mistake,” she said, shaking her hands in the air—though it made her mad to know she couldn’t think offhand of any mistakes he had made.
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Who did he think he was, bringing her on this dirty ship to feed a crew of burly seamen? And to have the nerve to pretend he was doing her a favor at that! Oh, sure she had wanted to sail the seas, but like this? He had played on her emotions, that’s what. She paced some more, each new footstep hitting the plank harder than the last.
Her chin pointed heavenward. Well, she needn’t feel embarrassed. So she had fallen. Wouldn’t be the first time someone had fallen into the ocean and most certainly wouldn’t be the last. She would not let him make her feel stupid or small. From what she knew of other captain’s wives, she felt herself just as qualified.
Oh, the more she thought about the whole affair, the angrier she got. She could hardly wait for Josiah to come to their cabin. She’d let him know in no uncertain terms she was just as good a captain’s wife as any of the other wives. Including his precious Catherine. And furthermore, if he didn’t like how she conducted herself, why, he could let her off at the next port and she’d get herself home somehow. She was tired of feeling used and unappreciated.
Self-pity engulfed her, and she didn’t care. She was tired and spent. Did the men appreciate all her hard work? Clearly, Josiah did not. She could have been a crewman for all he cared. He noticed nothing about her except her cooking. Though she knew that wasn’t entirely true in recent days, she refused to go soft.
A voice went off inside her head. Isn’t that what the agreement was? You would cook and get to sail the seas. Adelaide kicked her boot across the floor. “I hate the agreement. I never wanted that agreement. I wanted … Josiah.”
Before the tears could flood her eyes, their door swung open. A flushed Josiah stood at the entrance. “Adelaide.” He stopped, licked his lips, and looked at her again. “I don’t feel so—”
His words were cut short as his body hit the floor in a crumpled heap.
Chapter 12
We have to stop at Pequeno Island, Adam.” Adelaide wrenched her hands together. “Josiah is sick. Very sick. I think he contracted something from the last ship with which we made contact.”
Adam looked at her thoughtfully. “Have you been able to discuss this with Josiah?” Adam’s eyes held worry.
Adelaide shook her head. “He’s feverish, doesn’t have a clear thought. We will get to help.”
“How long will we need to be at Pequeno?”
“However long it takes Josiah to get well,” she said with a voice that let him know he dare not challenge her.
“The men won’t like it.”
“Doesn’t matter. It’s what we’re going to do.” She surprised herself at the authority in her voice.
“All right, Adelaide. We’ll stop. Should get there tomorrow by nightfall.”
Adelaide took a deep breath. “Thank you.” She walked away and immediately made a mental note of the things she would do once they reached port.
The next night after the ship anchored, Adelaide and Adam made their way into town in search of someone to help them. Once they located a doctor, he quickly followed them and came on board the ship.
Adelaide took him to their room and sat in the corner while the stranger went to work. He pulled open his bag, lifting various instruments with which to poke, prod, and stick her husband.
Round spectacles circled his beady eyes, giving him a doctorly appearance. He said very little as he worked with his patient. Josiah lay very still. The fever had subsided, but his skin looked pale as muslin. Fear held Adelaide’s breath in place. She was afraid to move until the doctor spoke, letting her know Josiah’s condition.
Before long, the doctor began to stuff his things back into the bag; then he stood to look at her.
“Can’t say what it is for sure, but most likely the tropical fever that’s been going around. I’ve seen more than one ship come in of late with men groaning of the fever. He’ll be all right, but it will take several days to work it out of his system. Makes a fellow weak, though. Most important thing is that he has to rest. If he doesn’t rest, it can go into something far worse, so you have to keep him still no matter what. Hopefully, no one else will get it.”
Her mind raced for answers. How could she keep a busy sea captain down? Especially one with a restless crew?
“How long?”
“Week, two weeks. Depends.” The man shrugged. “I don’t know your husband’s condition before the fever. That makes a difference on the recuperation period.” He walked toward the door. “Keep him sponged off with cool water. I’ve left you some medicine packets,” he added, pointing toward the table. “Just to make sure it is the fever, you’d better not leave for a couple of days. I’ll be back and check on him then.”
Before she could say another word, he was out the door. Adelaide sighed. She stood in place, trying to decide which way to turn next. First, she would inform the crew. But how could she leave Josiah, even if only for a short time? What if he needed her? What if he woke up delirious? She bit her lip. Seemed she could always think better that way.
Fortunately, she didn’t have to think too long. Another knock sounded at the door.
“Yes?”
“Adelaide—I mean, Mrs. Buchanan?”
Adelaide recognized Adam’s voice and opened the door. “Come in, Adam.”
He stepped in and took off his hat. “How’s he doing?”
Adelaide explained what the doctor had told her. Adam looked worried. “What is it?”
He shook his head as he heard her explanation. “The crew is mighty restless. I shouldn’t say it, but I don’t trust Ebenezer Fallon.”
She blew out a sigh of understanding. “It’s all right. We feel the same way.” She turned a worried look to Josiah. “Let’s give him a couple of days and see how he does. Maybe by then, Josiah can tell me how he wants to proceed.” She turned back to Adam. “We must stay near help for a couple of days to get through the worst of it. I will not risk his life, not even for the entire ship.”
Adam nodded. “I’ll try to keep them calm. We’ll get through this. I’ll be praying.”
“Thank you, Adam.”
He closed the door behind him, and Adelaide stood staring. She hadn’t had a chance to think about praying until now. Quietly, she eased onto her knees beside her trunk.
She didn’t know how long she had prayed, but sometime later, with aching legs, she rose to her feet, her face wet with tears, but her heart feeling much lighter. She knew God had heard her prayer and would help them through. Just how, she didn’t know, but she knew they were not alone.
The next morning, Adelaide awoke as Josiah was groaning and speaking unintelligible words. She got up and went to him. His face burned with fever. A rush of alarm spread through her. The doctor said he should be getting better with rest. What had happened? Maybe it was more than what the doctor had suspected.
She quickly ran to the pitc
her of water, grabbed a rag, and went to Josiah. She bathed his face over and over until the cloth itself felt warm from his body heat. Bringing a cup to his lips, she tried to get him to drink, but he couldn’t. She didn’t know where the doctor lived, and it was too early for him to be in his office. A glance at her timepiece told her it was almost four o’clock.
What could she do? She hurried to the pitcher, dipped the cloth, wrung it out, then went back to his bed and continued to bathe him.
“Catherine.”
Adelaide’s hand froze midair. She held her breath and waited for him to say more.
“Why?” Josiah’s head turned back and forth, back and forth. Agonizing groans escaped him.
Adelaide shook his arms to free him from his painful memories. “Josiah, it’s Adelaide. Josiah.” He never opened his eyes, but his head stopped turning, and his groans grew silent.
When his fever had somewhat subsided, Adelaide walked over, exhausted, to her own bed. The light of day had dawned, and she could hear the sleepy town rising to greet it. She collapsed in her blankets with one agonizing thought. Josiah still loved Catherine.
Five days later, Josiah woke up with a start. What had happened? His eyes adjusted to the morning light that filtered in through the porthole. The ship didn’t feel right. Must be in another calm. Why was he in bed? Were they in port? If so, who had given the orders to pull into port? He rubbed his head. It hurt. Questions rushed through his mind, but he couldn’t work through the tangled maze. He had to get up. He attempted to lift himself from the bed, but his elbows were too weak. He fell back. Something stirred in Adelaide’s bed. She lay sleeping and hadn’t drawn the curtain between them.
Obviously, she wanted to watch him. Why? He saw the chair near his bed, the rag, the pitcher of water. The medicine. Had he been sick? The throbbing in his head and the weakness in his limbs answered his question.
