Aboard Providence Page 12

  Marian glanced back at Jonah then returned her gaze to Olivia. “I can easily imagine a life with him. Of course, after witnessing my mother endure pregnancy on a ship, I know better than to marry before we are securely settled somewhere. But someday… maybe we could be happy together.”

  “Someday maybe?”

  Marian looked out to the horizon. Splinters of sunlight reflected off the waves, causing her to blink and look away. “I don’t know if I could get myself to take another voyage. We’ll find land soon, and once we do, I honestly might not be willing to leave it.”

  Chapter Twelve

  The brass eyepiece of the ship’s telescope felt cool against Jonah’s skin as he peered into the night sky. The luminous beauty of the Milky Way captivated him and he stared longer than he intended. Captain Frakes paced behind Jonah on the sterncastle’s deck and tapped him on the shoulder, anxious to get the telescope back.

  Mr. Weathermon yelled from the captain’s cabin below. “Spence, are you going to relay more measurements or not?”

  Captain Frakes pulled Jonah’s elbow. “Come off it or everyone else will want to have a look.”

  Jonah blinked and the image of the stars blurred. He moved away from the telescope and rocked back on his heels, looking up at the Southern Hemisphere’s magnificent sky. “The stars crowd the sky so densely there is little need for the moon to shine. To think we’ve probably been under these stars for weeks and God has only now let us see them.”

  Captain Frakes chortled. “You’re starting to sound like the rest of these men. Weathermon will have a good laugh if he hears you spouting religious sentiment. I thought you were a man of science, not faith.”

  “I am a man of both.” Jonah’s neck began to cramp from holding his head back, but he didn’t mind. At the moment he didn’t care if Mr. Weathermon laughed or what the captain thought or what the woman in Philadelphia accused him of. Being in love gave him a spirit of grace. It lent a degree of apathy to his rigid logic—a degree so slight most men would not sense it, but to him it was as foreign as the stars that lit the sky.

  Captain Frakes had once warned him that the sea would captivate him, but the captain was wrong; it was the stars that mesmerized him. They made him feel so completely small as if nothing he did or thought or achieved could ever matter, and yet the God who made those stars had also made him and that meant everything should matter. At present, he only saw stars—thousands and thousands of stars. He wanted to share the moment with Marian, but he was afraid to leave the sterncastle’s deck and go get her because such a freeing feeling could not last. The brain was not designed physiologically to allow such euphoric wonder to last. So long as he lived on earth and earth had gravity such a moment of complete weightlessness would surely be fleeting.

  “Jonah!” Doctor Ashton called to him from the deck. “Come down for the meeting.”

  Jonah regretfully peeled his gaze from the sky. He rubbed the back of his neck as he descended the steps from the sterncastle deck and joined the eight elders on the main deck. He wasn’t an elder, but his father had been calling him into more meetings as the voyage progressed. None of the other men objected, and he found the plans for the settlement interesting.

  At first he’d felt awkward in their meetings. He hadn’t been in on the planning of the journey and didn’t feel like he belonged. But he was beginning to admire the men more each day and often wanted to be a part of the new settlement. Still, no matter how fascinating he found their ideas, he furtively planned to part ways with them at the first opportunity.

  Captain Frakes left the telescope and went into his cabin. The door squeaked as it closed behind him. While the captain and Mr. Weathermon were attempting to determine the ship’s location on earth, the elders were speaking of their confidence that God would guide them to land.

  Jonah sat on a crate beside his father and glanced at the other men. He tried to pay attention, but his eyes drifted upward as if refusing to let go of his first glimpse of the Southern Hemisphere’s sky.

  “Teddy must still be in the hold,” Reverend Colburn said to no one in particular. “We will wait for him to come up before we begin discussing business.”

  Doctor Ashton shifted on the crate and crossed his legs at the ankle, propping his bad foot atop the other. Jonah leaned close to his father. “Has your toe healed?”

  “It will be fine.”

  “I wish you’d let me take another look at it.”

  Doctor Ashton shook his head once.

  Jonah studied his father’s starlit profile and wondered if his father blamed him for the bones’ slow healing. He would have known more and would have been able to provide better care if he had earned his degree. Surely his father knew that. Surely his father would understand when he told him he had to return to America for that very purpose. Surely his father wouldn’t react to his divergent plan the way his grandfather had reacted to his father. The memory of watching his grandfather turn on his father, yell his disapproval, and sever ties made Jonah feel like he was still a helpless little boy who only wanted to keep his family together. His palms began to sweat and he wiped them on his trousers.

  Mr. Cotter came up from below deck. “My rifle is missing,” he announced to the group.

  Reverend Colburn drummed his fingers on the cover of his Bible. “Teddy, guns do not go missing.”

  Mr. Cotter lifted the brim of his hat and scratched his wrinkled forehead. “When I was tucking my youngest into bed, I noticed my rifle case sticking out from under the berth. When I went to move the case, it felt light, so I opened it and sure enough, it was empty. I searched our bunk area and even went down to the hold and searched best I could in the dark.”

  Reverend Colburn patted the air as if to allay Mr. Cotter’s worry. “I’m sure it is somewhere in the hold. Have a seat, Teddy. We will search the ship in the morning. For tonight, we have a sky full of stars and this providential wind. As Captain Frakes and Mr. Weathermon sort out our location and chart a course for South America, we must discuss our rations for the—”

  “Mine too,” Mr. McIntosh interrupted. “My Colt Dragoon revolver went missing earlier this week. I didn’t want to say anything or accuse anybody, but I’ve searched everywhere.”

  “Well, I don’t share your timidity!” Mr. Cotter huffed. “If we have a thief among us, we need to root him out!”

  “Teddy.” Reverend Colburn attempted to quell Mr. Cotter’s rising anger. “It might be a simple misplacement. It is very dark in the decks below and difficult to find things sometimes.”

  “I don’t mean any disrespect… just the opposite in fact. If we’re truly going to build a peaceful society, we can’t have someone stealing our weapons. We have to be able to trust one another. We must address this right now. Who did it?”

  The men glanced at each other, some with obvious suspicion, some with pity. No one said a word and the air began to feel heavy.

  Reverend Colburn motioned with the Bible in his hand. “Teddy, I do not believe there is a thief among these men. I know every one of you and would trust you with my life.”

  Mr. Cotter raised an eyebrow. “How about with your gun? Is your gun missing?”

  “I do not own a gun.”

  “Then was it you? Are you taking our guns away?”

  The instant the accusation left Mr. Cotter’s lips, the rest of the men snapped their heads toward him. He put up both hands in resignation. “I’m sorry, Reverend. I know you wouldn’t do that.”

  “No, I would not,” the reverend said, emphatically. “Nor would any of these men.”

  Mr. Cotter pointed his thumb toward the sterncastle. “Maybe it was Mr. Weathermon or the captain.”

  Doctor Ashton shook his head. “Charles Weathermon is a very rich man and could buy any manner of weapon he desired. He gave us the use of this ship so that we could take this voyage and we’d do well to remember his generosity.”

  “But he doesn’t share our values,” Mr. Cotter balked.

  “T
hat’s not true.” Doctor Ashton straightened his posture. “Charles is my friend. He might not share our faith, but he has moral integrity. Instead of disrespecting him with undue suspicion, we should focus on setting an example that might lead him to the Savior.”

  Mr. Cotter finally sat, humbled. “Then maybe one of them took away our guns fearing we’d turn on them for getting us lost at sea. They might have started out helping us, but we could all die out here and if we did, it’d be their fault. Maybe they know and it’s making them nervous.”

  Reverend Colburn stood. “Gentlemen, this conjecture has no place coming out of our mouths. With fifty-eight people on a ship for three months, things are going to get misplaced. My wife spent half the morning yesterday searching for one of our daughter’s shoes. Things get tipped and rolled and pushed from one side to the other. We have more children aboard the ship than adults. Dogs and cats roam the decks. Things go missing. This is part of life at sea.”

  “Dogs don’t open gun cases,” Mr. Cotter muttered.

  “Nor is any man here a thief.” The reverend raised a finger. “We must put these accusations out of our hearts and minds to maintain peace. The captain is predicting a clear sky for tomorrow. We will use the sunlight to organize the family bunk areas and search for any missing items. Do your best to keep the nature of the search to yourself. You see what tension this speculation brought us. We do not want to pass this to our wives and children. Then we would surely have strife.”

  * * *

  Marian let her fingers trail along the deck railing as she strolled around the ship. The warm light of the sun, the steady breeze, and the hope of soon finding land kept her heart joyful even though the men were tense over the disappearance of several guns. Cecelia had told her Peggy Cotter said that while the families spent the morning cleaning up their bunk areas, all that was discovered was more missing weapons. No one was supposed to say anything, but everyone knew, and a sense of suspicion prevailed.

  As she neared the ship’s sterncastle, Jonah stepped out of the captain’s cabin. He had a textbook in one hand and a sullen expression that immediately brightened when his eyes met hers. “Marian.”

  Her stomach fluttered when he said her name. That was all it took; one word from him and her every thought congealed. She tried to think of something, anything, remotely intelligent to say, but could only smile. If this were love, its power to turn a rational woman into an imbecile was borderline evil.

  Jonah shifted his textbook into the crook of his arm and tilted his head. “May I walk with you?”

  She nodded and Jonah came beside her. The wind, now at her back, blew stray strands of hair around her face. She tucked it behind her ears. “I heard Captain Frakes decided to hold course due west.”

  “Yes.” Jonah gave a half-smile and courteously positioned himself between her and the rail as they strolled toward the ship’s bow at the slowest pace possible. “Mr. Weathermon says we are in the middle of the South Atlantic Ocean, but with this wind, Captain Frakes expects to make landfall within the week.”

  “I’m glad to hear it.” She was glad to hear anything Jonah said, but kept that to herself. “I’m ready to be on dry land.”

  He didn’t immediately respond, but turned his face toward the sea. “I’ve come up here late every night, hoping to see you again, but you haven’t come.”

  “I’m sorry. I’ve been helping Mother with the baby at night… and thinking.”

  He looked down at her with a furrowed brow. “Have you given my request any thought?”

  “I have thought of little else.”

  He stopped walking as they neared the bow. “And have you come to a decision?”

  She wished she could boldly say she would leave her family behind and return to America with him, but that meant enduring another journey at sea and giving up her dream of forging a new life in the new land. It would take more than giddy infatuation to separate from the people she loved, change her plans, and sail again. She shook her head. “I’m sorry I cannot give you an answer yet.”

  Jonah squinted slightly from the sunlight. He took her hand in his. “I want you to go with me, but I won’t rush your decision. Time will do that for us. Captain Frakes is as anxious to get to a port as I am. He’ll want to sail as soon as the group is on shore and the cargo is unloaded. He won’t wait and I have to go with him.”

  “I understand,” Marian said while feeling desperate for Jonah to speak of his admiration for her instead of his plans. She wanted to hear that she was beautiful, beguiling, the only woman he had ever and would ever love, but he was resolutely practical, which might be virtuous for a physician, but it was a hindrance to romance.

  His hand felt wide and warm over hers, and she let her fingers entwine with his. She almost asked him why he wanted her in his life, hoping it would prompt him to confess undying love, but as she opened her mouth, something behind her caught Jonah’s eye. His expression darkened and he let go of her hand.

  She turned to follow his line of sight and there stood Ben tossing something overboard. “Ben!” she began to scold, believing it to be sticks that he had throw into the sea, but Jonah was already charging toward her young brother. She dashed to follow.

  “What do you think you are doing?” Jonah asked Ben. “Those guns did not belong to you. If the men find out what you’ve been doing they will have your hide.”

  Ben didn’t reply and Mr. Weathermon rushed over. “What’s this then? Was this scoundrel throwing a gun overboard?”

  Jonah stepped in front of Ben. “Mr. Weathermon, I’m sure whatever he was doing, he had a good reason.”

  “Is it true, young man?” Sweat dripped from Mr. Weathermon’s forehead as he ignored Jonah’s defense and pelted Ben with questions. “Do you know how much trouble you’ve caused among the men? How could you be so senseless?”

  Ben looked terrified with his eyes wide and his chin quivering. He seemed pitifully small for a ten-year-old boy.

  Marian was glad Jonah was trying to defend him, but as more elders gathered, she moved beside Ben, afraid for him. “I’m sure this is all a misunderstanding.” Her words were ignored as the men questioned Ben.

  Reverend Colburn stepped into the crowd. “What is going on here?”

  Mr. Weathermon raised his already loud voice. “This little scoundrel is our gun thief. Jonah saw him throw a gun off the ship’s bow.”

  As the men’s voices layered blame on her little brother, Marian put her hand to Ben’s back. “Tell them you didn’t do it.”

  His face only reddened.

  She hoped he would take the chance to deny it, but he did not. “Is that what you’ve been throwing overboard? Guns?”

  Again, no answer.

  Though embarrassed by her brother’s mischievous actions, she wanted to protect him. She pulled him toward her and looked at Jonah. “Please, do something.”

  “Jonah,” the reverend raise a hand, “is this true? Did you see him throw a gun overboard?”

  “Yes, but I’m sure he had a reason—”

  Mr. Weathermon stabbed the air with his finger. “This boy’s mischief has caused a lot of trouble for everyone. He needs to explain himself. Don’t try to defend him, Jonah.”

  Mr. Weathermon’s severity jolted Marian’s insides. She looked him in the eye, begging for mercy. “Ben is only a child.”

  Mr. Weathermon shook his head. “He is a child who can’t enjoy himself unless he’s making others miserable.”

  “That’s not true,” Marian cried.

  Jonah looked at Mr. Weathermon. “Try not to be so angry with him.”

  Mr. Weathermon turned his harsh gaze to Marian. “Everyone aboard this ship has behaved properly despite our circumstances, except this fool of a boy. Your father has failed to hold him accountable, so I will.”

  While Mr. Weathermon spat his rebuke of Marian’s family at her, Reverend Colburn wedged between them and ushered Ben away. “Come with me, young man, and we’ll get to the bottom of this. Teddy
, go down to the hold and get Benjamin’s father. Tell everyone else to come on deck too. I want this settled once and for all.”

  Jonah stayed close to Ben as the group marched him toward the sterncastle. Marian wanted to walk with them, but her body wouldn’t move. She stood shocked and alone at the ship’s bow. Maybe Ben’s actions had left them without guns, but they were a peaceful people seeking to build a peaceful society. Their weapons were not intended for warfare. Maybe a gun aided in hunting and slaughtering livestock for food, but they had other devices. Mr. Weathermon’s reaction seemed fueled by anger rather than a desire for justice. And his denigration of her father left her insulted and embarrassed. Her father was one of two men responsible for the livestock of the entire settlement. He was a hard worker. Besides, Ben had been devious in sneaking around the ship. How could her father have known what the boy was doing? This was not about missing guns or about a naughty boy; this was a misaimed release of four months of mounting tension.

  Reverend Colburn walked Ben to the ship’s wheel and told the men to give them space. Jonah moved away from her brother, and Marian wanted desperately for him to go back to Ben’s side. Her mouth felt dry as she stepped behind the crowd.

  The rest of the passengers came on deck, asking what was happening, and when her mother came up the stairs, holding baby Asher, Marian rushed to her. “Ben is the one who took the guns. He’s been throwing them overboard. The men want him punished.”

  “Surely not,” Catherine said, as she passed the baby to Marian. There was no chance to relay the details, before Catherine hurried to Ben.

  Marian stayed behind the crowd, holding the baby, and remained standing even as Reverend Colburn told them all to be seated. The baby started to whimper, so she bounced him lightly and tried to listen to Reverend Colburn.

  “Please hold your accusations,” the reverend said, raising his volume over the complaining men. “I understand you are all upset, but this is no way to treat a member of our body, let alone a child.” He looked at Ben. “Did you steal the men’s guns and toss them overboard?”