The Ghosts of Aquinnah (8 page)

“
I think it was from hanging on the rigging. I remember the cords cutting into my hand.”

The gash was deep and oozing pus, and the skin around the wound was red and hot to the touch. Stella washed the wound and cleaned Christopher’s hand, then reached for a small bottle of iodine on the dresser.

“
This will sting,” she said as she put the orange liquid on the gaping wound.

“
I don’t mind,” Christopher said. “Compared to the arm, it’s nothing.”

Stella smiled and placed the medicine bottle back on the table. “Let me bandage this up again now.”

She expertly wrapped the clean bandages around the wound and patted Christopher’s hand when she had finished. She glanced back up at him and blushed again from the intensity of his stare.

“
You’re staring at me, Mr. Casey,” she said.

Now it was Christopher’s turn to blush. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m just grateful to you is all. For helping me.”

She smiled again and got up from the bed. “Just one more thing to do.” She picked up the fresh sling and folded it into a triangle.

“
We need to keep that arm tight to your chest.” She placed the sling around Christopher’s arm and tied it around his neck. “How’s that feel?”

“
Much better,” Christopher said. “Thank you.”

Stella glanced down at the tattered trousers Christopher still wore. “I can help you wash…”

Christopher cleared his throat. “No, no, I can do it, thank you.” He raised his right arm. “I’ve still got one arm and hand to use.”

Stella nodded and stood up from the bed. “I’ll give you your privacy then. Once you’re finished, you should try to get some more rest. Mrs. Mayhew or I will bring you your lunch later. And I’ll get to the mending too.”

“
Thank you.”

Christopher watched Stella leave the room and could feel his cheeks burning as he remembered her running the warm cloth over his chest. He couldn’t deny that he hoped Mrs. Mayhew would not be the one to bring him his lunch.

****

“
The snow looks to be done now,” Mrs. Mayhew said as she set a plate of fish and a bowl of bread on the table. “Josiah should be able to get back up here soon I imagine.”

“
I hope so,” Stella said, plastering a smile on her face that she hoped didn’t betray her real feelings. She was grateful for every hour that passed before her husband made his inevitable return.

“
Where’s Mr. Mayhew today, ma’am?” Christopher asked as he took a slice of hot bread from the bowl. With Stella’s help, he’d managed to come to the kitchen for lunch. It was a thrill to finally be out of bed and moving again. And it was a relief to be wearing his own clothes again since Stella had finished mending them that morning.

“
He’s over at the lighthouse cleaning the windows. No point having such a powerful lens if the windows are dirty.” Mrs. Mayhew sat down next to Stella and took a piece of fish for herself. “How’s your arm feeling, boy?”

“
Much better, thank you.” Christopher smiled across the table at Stella. “Although I’d hate to think how it would feel without Mrs. Winslow’s laudanum.”

Stella blushed and focused her attention on the food in front of her. “You’ll have to thank my husband for that.”

“
Thank your husband for what?”

Stella jumped at the sound of Josiah’s voice and looked up to see him standing in the doorway of the Mayhew kitchen. She got up from her chair and quickly walked towards him.

“
Josiah! We didn’t hear you come in.”

Mrs. Mayhew also got up from the table. “I didn’t know if you’d be able to make it up yet, Josiah.”

“
Of course I could. The snow stopped a good 24 hours ago.”

Christopher stood up next to his chair.

“
It’s good to see you, Dr. Winslow.”

“
You look a grand sight better than the last time I saw you, boy.”

“
Yes sir. Your wife is a very good nurse.”

Josiah nodded. “That she is. What’s your name then?”

“
Christopher Casey, sir.”

Christopher thought he saw a sneer on Josiah’s face as he said his Irish surname. But surely he would have noticed his brogue beforehand. His nationality couldn’t be a surprise.

“
An immigrant, then.”

“
Yes sir.”

Christopher was certain now of the sneer.

“
Josiah, you must be hungry after coming all that way in the cold,” Mrs. Mayhew said. “Sit yourself down and I’ll get you a plate.”

“
That’s kind of you, Mrs. Mayhew.”

Christopher watched as Josiah sat down in the seat recently vacated by their host. Stella did not return to her chair beside him. Instead, she walked to the stove and poured a cup of coffee, which she then set down in front of Josiah. He drank the hot beverage without looking at her.

“
I’ll want to take a look at that arm and hand of yours once we’ve finished eating, Casey,” Josiah said. “Make sure my wife really has been a good nurse.”

“
Sit down, Christopher,” Mrs. Mayhew said. “You only just got out of bed, and we don’t want to send you back to it. You need to eat to get your strength back.”

Christopher returned to his seat and felt Josiah’s eyes watching him as he sat down. It was hard to believe he was still in the same kitchen he had been in before Josiah's entrance. What had been a warm and comfortable atmosphere just minutes ago was now filled with a tension so thick it was suffocating.

“
What about you, Mrs. Winslow?” Christopher said. “Don’t you want to finish your lunch?”

“
Don’t you worry about my wife,” Josiah said. “She’ll eat when she’s finished fixing my plate.”

Stella had returned to the stove, where she was filling a plate with the fish and bread Mrs. Mayhew had removed from the oven. She took the utensils Mrs. Mayhew offered her and walked back to the table, where she set the food down in front of her husband.

“
Here you are, Josiah,” she said.

Stella took her husband’s now empty coffee cup and returned to the stove, where she poured him a fresh cup. She gave him the coffee and sat back down in her chair. Christopher watched as she pushed the now cold food around her plate and kept her eyes downcast.

Noises from the entrance to the home interrupted the tension of the kitchen. Mrs. Mayhew wiped her hands on her apron and looked towards the doorway.

“
Sounds like William is back,” she said. “But I wasn’t expecting him to bring company.”

Before she could leave the room, her husband appeared with a young man in tow.

“
Abigail, do we have lunch for one more?”

“
I’m afraid not just now, William. But I’ll get something prepared.”

The newcomer held up his hand. “Don’t trouble yourself, ma’am,” he said. “I’ve just come to talk to you all about the
Columbus
.”

Christopher froze at the mention of the ship that had nearly taken his life. “You want to talk about the shipwreck?” he said.

“
That he does,” Mr. Mayhew said. “This is Arthur Chesham from the Boston Globe. He’s been on the island and over in New Bedford learning about the wreck, but he hadn’t been able to get up here to us until now.”

Josiah got to his feet and strode towards the reporter. “Good to meet you, Mr. Chesham,” he said, extending his hand. “I’m Dr. Josiah Winslow.”

“
Good to meet you as well, Doctor. I assume you helped treat the survivors?”

“
You assume right, but it was just this one boy here,” Josiah said, pointing at Christopher, who rose from his chair. “We didn’t get anyone else.”

“
There were other survivors?” Christopher asked.

The reporter nodded. “The cutter Dexter picked them up and took them to New Bedford. And one of the lifeboats from the Columbus came ashore on the beach in Lobsterville. Three of the crew members were on it and they’re staying with some folks there. But as far as I know you’re the only survivor here in Gay Head.”

“
There was someone else in the boat with me. When I was rescued.”

“
That man died in the boat, Christopher,” Mr. Mayhew said. “He was dead when we pulled you out.”

Christopher lowered his head. “God help him.”

“
More than 100 dead is what we’re hearing,” Chesham said. “Bodies are still washing up and many have already been taken to the meeting house so their families can claim ‘em.” He glanced at Christopher. “You’re a lucky one, sir.”

“
His name’s Casey,” Josiah said. “Christopher Casey.”

Chesham nodded. “Then you’re a lucky one, Mr. Casey.” The reporter cleared his throat. “Let me explain why I’m here. I met with the Gay Headers who manned the boat and took some photographs of them. I’d like to do the same with you folks.”

“
A picture of us?” Stella asked. “Why?”

Chesham bowed slightly. “Pleased to make your acquaintance, ma’am. And you are?”

“
She’s my wife, Stella. And I’d like to know the answer to her question, too.”

“
Of course,” Chesham said. “I’m writing a story about the attempts to rescue survivors when the
Columbus
went down. I’d like to include your care of Mr. Casey here. Frankly, I think you all deserve to be recognized. My readers will want to know about your efforts.”

Stella pushed a wayward strand of hair behind her ears. “I’ve never had a photograph taken,” she said. “I think it sounds like fun. What do you think, Josiah?”

“
I don’t see any harm in it.”

Chesham smiled. “Great. I’ll need you all to come outside. I know it’s cold but I’d like to have the lighthouse as our background.”

“
I’ll stay here and make you all some fresh coffee for when you get done,” Mrs. Mayhew said.

Christopher stayed next to his chair as the others started to follow the reporter.

“
Aren’t you coming, Casey?” Josiah said.

“
I don’t think so, sir.”

“
Oh, please do, Mr. Casey,” Chesham said, walking back into the kitchen. “My readers will be so curious about you. You’re one of the only survivors of this tragedy.”

Christopher’s mind flashed back to his night on the rigging and the chatter of his companions in the Mayhew kitchen instantly faded to nothing. The sounds of dying men screaming for help and begging for mercy from the churning waters filled his head.

“
It doesn’t seem right is all, sir,” he said, shaking his head in order to force the screams from his mind. “Seeing as how so many died that night.”

“
Please, Mr. Casey,” Stella said. “I’d like for you to be in our picture too.”

Christopher could feel the eyes of Josiah Winslow boring into him. He ignored the glares and smiled at Stella.

“
It's hard to refuse a request from my nurse, but I'm afraid I have to. I'd rather just watch you all. And to tell you the truth, I don’t think I have the strength to do it yet. Like Mrs. Mayhew said, I’ve only just managed to get out of bed.”

“
Suit yourself, sir,” Chesham said, rubbing his hands together and once again leading the way outside the house.

Christopher pulled the coat Mr. Mayhew had given him from the rack in the hallway and draped it over his shoulders as he followed behind the group.

When they got outside, Stella noticed one of the rescue boats sitting in front of the lighthouse.

“
I’d like for you all to stand in front of the boat,” Chesham said.