Sail With Me (A Discovery Series Book) (5 page)

When morning came, I woke to a dull throbbing in my arms. Hefting buckets
of water had exhausted more muscles than I had expected. My neck was sore as
well from sleeping in an awkward position on the ground in my corner of the
tent. A rock jabbed my side for most of the night. Such was the inconvenience
of being a sailor. At least I had been spared waking up to a mouthful of sand.

I sat up and found I was the only one still in the tent. Looking down to
my chest, I fluffed the pillow hidden beneath my tunic and sweater. It had
served me well yesterday and now faced another full day ahead. I smoothed my
cropped hair. A low groan escaped from my lips. How long would it take my hair
to grow back?

“Charlie?” Daniel’s voice startled me, and I almost jumped out of my
skin. His head peeked into the tent. “Skittish chap, aren’t you?”

“When you keep sneaking up on me, yes, I’m skittish.” I looked around the
empty tent. “Where is everyone?”

“Working.” He stepped into the tent, two biscuits in his left hand and a
small cask of water under his arm. “Breakfast. Be quick about it, though. Uncle
Samuel will be along to see that everyone’s doing something productive. We’re
on a tight schedule.”

I spent a full, silent minute looking at Daniel. He had brought me
breakfast and was trying to keep me from getting in trouble with the captain.
Could changing his mood toward me have been as simple as making a few jokes?

“You haven’t got all day, Charlie. Hurry up now.”

Snapping out of my musings, I took the biscuits and water. After taking
an unlady-like chomp out of one of the biscuits, I chased it down with a swig
from the cask. It was as if I hadn’t eaten in days.

“What will I be doing today?” I asked around a mouthful.

“Did you tell my uncle you could repair sails?”

“I did.” I took a long swallow of the water, wincing when my lip bumped
into the rim of the cask. I ran my tongue over the split and felt the crusted
scab.   

“We have some worn out sails. Hopefully you can accomplish something
other crewmembers haven’t been able to and maintain my growing belief that you
are not an idiot.”

He was definitely friendlier today, but the scorn was there, lurking
under the surface. I was still on trial as far as he was concerned. I didn’t
like having to prove myself to him.

“I told you I’m not an idiot.” I finished the last crumbs of biscuit and
downed the rest of the water. “Watch closely, and if you don’t believe me by
the end of the day, perhaps
you’re
the idiot.” I opened the tent flap
and stepped outside. The flap rustled behind me.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Daniel grabbed my bicep. His hold was
tight, but not painfully so. That crease was back between his eyebrows.

“It means point me to the sails, and I’ll show you what I can do.” I
locked my eyes on his in a silent challenge. My intent was to be the last one
to look away, but his eyes were so blue, the exact color of the sky on this
crisp morning. The intensity was overpowering. I broke the eye contact first
and looked toward the water. The sea, as always, calmed me.                 

Nudging me away from the water, Daniel pointed to the upper portion of
the beach. Wide sheets of white canvas lay sprawled across the sand, and a few
crewmembers were on their knees atop the sails.

“I’ll be up to inspect your work later.” He gave my shoulder a light
shove. I’d seen my brothers exchange similiar pushes.   

“Yes. Later. All right.” I was distracted by the task of repairing the
sails, eager to work on them.

Daniel nodded once and sauntered off to his own tasks. I jogged up the
beach, confident I could move like a charging rhinoceros as most boys did. When
I reached the outspread sails, a white-haired sailor with leathery skin and
gnarled hands looked up at me. His eyes were scrunched against the brightness
of the sun.

“Hello,” I said. “I’m here to help mend the sails.”

“Thank the heavens,” he cried. “These tired, old eyes can’t see a darned
thing. I don’t even know what I’m repairing anymore. I’m all shot, boy. Shot.”

“Let me have a go at it, sir.” I kneeled down next to the man, taking the
needle and twine from his hands.

“Help yourself, lad. You a new fish?”

“Yes, sir.” I cringed at the unfavorable term.

“What’s your name?”

“Charlie Hamden.”

“Well, hello, Charlie. George Fairwell.”

“Nice to meet you.” We shook hands. 

As I felt around the canvas, George watched closely. My fingers ran
across a weak spot in one of the mainsails. I threaded the twine through the
needle and set to work. George busied himself on something else but stayed
nearby. In about an hour’s time, I had a solid patch over the weak area of the
sail. George came over to stand behind me.

“Why, that patch looks like a seagull,” he said. Some of the other men in
the area stopped their chores and came to observe as well.

Mumbles rose from those that had gathered to see what I had sewn. I
didn’t start out with the intention to make a seagull, but as soon as the
needle and thread were in my hand, it was no different than working on Lady
Elizabeth’s coverlet.

Soon a small crowd of people stood behind us, all admiring my adeptness.
I received several pats on the back and a couple of shoulder jabs.

“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 way 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.”