Sail With Me (A Discovery Series Book) (14 page)

 “Rocks ahead, sir.” I stood before the captain and quartermaster.

“That’ll do it for the
Rose,
men,” Captain Finley announced. “Furl
the sails. Lower the anchors and prep the dory.”

My throat was exceptionally dry as nearby crewmen jumped to carry out the
captain’s orders. I was moments away from my one goal being achieved.

“Where’s Daniel?” the captain asked.

“Below, I think.” I was still overwhelmed by the thought that land was so
near. “Either in the galley or in the hold with Russ.”

“Well, fetch him, Charlie,” Captain Finley said with a robust smile. “You
boys are coming with me. You ready to take your first steps in the Americas?”

“Yes, sir. I’ve been ready since before we left England. Since forever.”

The captain let out a hearty laugh and cuffed me on the shoulder. “That’s
why you’re part of the scouting group, Charlie.”

I ran to the ladder and fled down the steps. Daniel was not in the galley
so I hurried to the hold.

“Daniel?”

“He’s over there.” Russ pointed to the starboard bow. “What’s got you so
fired up?”

“We’re anchoring now. It’s time to row out to shore.”

“This be your first time on foreign soil, eh?”

“Yes, sir.” I toned down my excitement. I must have seemed like an
inexperienced child to these men that had been on countless expeditions.

“No need to be frowning, boy. Setting foot in a new land for the first
time ever
is
something to get riled up about.”

Daniel had heard my voice apparently for when I turned to go to the
starboard bow I rammed right into him. “Umph… easy there, Charlie,” he said,
but his hand gave my upper arm a little squeeze.

I swallowed my enthusiasm—or at least a fraction of it—and tugged on his
arm. “Captain Finley said we’re to go on the scouting party.”

“Let’s go then.” Daniel passed me and headed for the ladder.

I followed him and had to bite back a yelp when, in the darkness of the
passage leading from the hold to the next level of the
Rose
, Daniel
turned around abruptly. He slid his arm around my waist and drew me close.

“A kiss?” he asked. “For luck as we make landfall.”

“You don’t have to give me a reason, Daniel. I’d kiss you just for the
heck of it.” I whispered before his lips teased mine with the softest of
kisses.

“Wonderful.” He took my hand in his. “Stay close to me, all right?”

“Are you afraid of natives?”

“Cautious, not afraid,” he clarified. “We don’t want anyone getting hurt
by mistake or anything. Promise me you’ll stay close.” The intensity in his
eyes penetrated my skin. He considered me valuable. It had been so long since
someone had considered me valuable.

I reached my hand up and stroked his cheek. “I’ll stay close.” That
wouldn’t be a hard promise to keep.

****

Twelve of us piled into the oversized dory that was lowered over the side
of the
Rose
. Amazing how the same ocean that lapped at the shores of
Southampton could look so different here in the Americas, so crystal clear. At
home in England, I could wade out into the rocky-bottomed sea and after a few
steps my feet were lost in the cloudy water. Here, I could see every grain of
sand that lined the ocean floor.

“Raise the signal if you are in distress,” Walter said as he leaned over
the starboard side of the ship. Should anything happen to our party, Walter, as
quartermaster, had been instructed to captain the
Rose
.

“Aye, Walter,” Captain Finley replied. With that, we were released from
the lines that tethered us to the ship. 

“Bye, Charlie!” Timmy hollered from the starboard rail. He held Ghost
against his chest as the cat squirmed to get free. I had put Ghost in Timmy’s
charge before I left, delighting the boy and disappointing the cat.

We began rowing toward the thin strip of land before us. I sat next to
Daniel, who rowed along with the rest of us. To be so close and not be able to
touch him was difficult. He shot me a sideways glance as if to confirm he felt
the same way. I smiled back then focused on the approaching shore.

The colors I had seen through the captain’s spyglass sharpened as we drew
nearer. Deep shades of green cloaked the wide, strange-looking leaves that
flopped open at the tops of thin, curved tree trunks. Bunches of round,
hairy-looking spheres gathered at the bases of some of the leaves.

Daniel was focused on the shore, this being his first time to the New
World. How did it compare to what he had seen in his travels with his uncle? To
me, it all looked amazing. More magical than I had imagined on all those nights
I’d stolen precious moments aboard the ships docked in Southampton.

“Head for that inlet there,” Captain Finley said.

With some effort, the dory cut through the calm Atlantic. The butterflies
in my stomach swirled around at full speed now. With muscles straining as I
rowed, I cast a glance over my shoulder at the
Rose
bobbing lazily over
the low, rippling waves. Though I was eager to relieve myself of the confines
of that vessel, it did offer a sense of security. Heading toward unknown
terrain—with only small daggers for defense—seemed reckless, but I suppose it
was what separated the true explorers from ordinary folk.

Taking in a deep breath, I decided I was a true explorer.

I pushed my arms to their limit as my biceps burned. I had grown fitter
over the course of the journey, but this rowing was a constant repetitive
motion that tired my muscles. Beads of perspiration dotted Daniel’s brow. How
did he fare so well with one less limb than the rest of us? He didn’t complain,
however, nor did he show signs of slowing down. He, too, was a true explorer.

“Easy now, men,” Captain Finley said. “Let’s scope it all out for a
moment.”

We hauled the oars out of the water and rested them along the rim of the
dory while the captain pulled out his spyglass and scanned the coast.

“Do you see anyone, Uncle Samuel?” Daniel asked.

“Yes.” Captain Finley said the word with little emotion. “There is a
small party to the left of the inlet.”

“Do they have weapons, Cap’n?” one of the crewmen asked.

“Spears, it looks like.” 

My heart jumped in my chest, but Daniel nudged me with his shoulder.

“It’s going to be all right.” He offered me an encouraging smile. Hard to
stay leery looking into his soft, blue eyes. I let his face calm me, but cast a
tentative eye back to the shore. We were close enough now that I could see the
natives myself.

“What should we do, Cap’n?” another crewman asked.

I studied the captain’s face as he considered our options. Daniel had
gotten his regal features from his uncle. Even after a four-month journey,
Captain Finley did not appear worn out. His handsome features and bright eyes
faced the shore as the sea breeze ruffled through his mane of brown hair.

“We’ve come a long way, men,” Captain Finley began, rubbing at his beard.
“I’m not turning back. If anyone wishes to return to the
Rose,
speak up
now.”

Silence.

No one was going to back out of this adventure.

“A fine crew. A fine crew indeed.” Captain Finley rested one hand on my
shoulder and the other on Daniel’s. “All right then. Put the oars down and make
way for that inlet.”

With several splashes, we lowered the oars and strained to navigate the
dory toward the inlet. A fleeting thought of my family entered my mind as we
pushed forward. My mother watched over me and would be proud of my gumption in
carrying out this plan of mine. Eric and Riley would probably get a good laugh
out of me in their clothing, posing as a boy, to come to the Americas.

But my father? Try as I may, I couldn’t imagine a reaction from him. I no
longer knew him well enough to predict his thoughts. That empty feeling Daniel
had filled so nicely during the voyage echoed inside of me for a long moment.

A shudder worked its way along my spine causing Daniel to tap me with his
shoulder again. I shook my head and focused on my rowing.  

The Americas were but a boat length away. My dream was about to come
true.

****

As the tip of the dory slid onto the sandy shore, we all hopped out and
pulled the rowboat out of the water. After securing the boat, Captain Finley
motioned for us to circle around him before stepping any closer to the waiting
natives.

“We move slowly. Let them see our hands at all times. Keep daggers
sheathed. No sudden movements.” He looked us each in the eye to make sure we
all understood his order then turned around to lead our party forward.

Daniel and I were in the middle of the group, the older crewmen around
the perimeter forming a protective barrier. I stepped closer to Daniel, probably
too close, but my fears were getting difficult to tame.

“Easy, Charlie,” he whispered.

I shuffled forward with the rest of the crew. My boots sunk into New
World sand for the first time and, though my heart raced at the sight of the
native group waiting for us, I was proud of myself. I had devised a plan and
carried it through to achieve my goal. It hadn’t gone exactly as I had planned—I
never would have guessed I’d meet someone like Daniel—but it had the same end
result.

I was in the Americas. Finally.

As we trudged up a small hill to where the native group stood, I detected
some small movements as they widened their formation and tightened their grips
on their spears. They had skin much darker than anyone’s in our party, and
straight, jet-black hair flowed down from atop their heads. Several of the
foremost natives wore feather-covered coats and helmets of wood fashioned to
look like the heads of animals. They looked like warriors and along with their
spears, they carried shields of woven reeds encircled by brightly colored
feathers. All of the natives were jeweled with shining collars, bracelets, and
earrings. Basic sandals adorned their feet.

The nearer we got, the more defensive the warriors’ stances in the front
line became.

“We should have brought bigger weapons, Cap’n,” one of the crewmen said
in a hushed tone. “And more of them.”

Captain Finley shot the sailor a sharp look and continued leading us
forward. When we were a stone’s throw away, the front warriors kneeled down in
one fluid movement and pointed their spears toward us. Behind them a second row
of warriors, bows drawn back, arrows perched, stood ready. The natives
outnumbered us, and they were packed together in a dense bunch forming an
impenetrable wall.

More shifting among the natives occurred as one of them maneuvered
through the bodies standing shoulder to shoulder. I held my breath as my pulse
ran wild.

The native who paused behind the second contingent of warriors caught my
attention. He stood a full head over the others, his golden, tiger-like eyes swimming
over our party. When those unusual eyes connected with mine, their uninhibited
stare froze me. Courtesy would dictate that I lower my own gaze, but I could
not.

I had never seen anyone like him. He slipped like a shadow between the
arrow-bearing warriors and stood next to one of the spear-wielding natives in
the front row. His skin was dark like the others, the same black hair spilled
across his forehead and down behind his ears to his shoulders. The eyes,
however, made him stand out. Their honey color was so striking compared to the
dark black-brown of all the others.

Forcing my gaze away from his, I noticed a band of tan cloth around his
waist, trimmed with red feathers that hung to his muscled thighs. Resting
between his sandaled feet was the end of a huge spear that he carried, its
point glinting above his head in the sun. Light also reflected off a shiny hoop
earring stuck in his left upper ear and a wide silver band around his left
bicep. At his right bicep was a jagged slash—a light beige scar that marred his
otherwise smooth, brown skin.

I returned my gaze to his and found him still staring at me. Some of the
men in our party in front of Daniel and me had dispersed a bit, clearing more
of my line of view.

And the native’s.

He left the barrier of spear warriors and approached our group. He moved
like a sleek cat, effortlessly and well balanced, his eyes never leaving mine.

Captain Finley broke away from the group to greet him, but the native
shook his head and walked toward me. My breath got caught in my throat as he
motioned for the few men in front of me to clear a path. When they did, I was completely
exposed to him. His tiger eyes canvassed over me, and my cheeks caught fire.
His earthy, natural fragrance filled the air.  

He made a move to take a step closer, but Daniel maneuvered himself
between us.

The native shifted his gaze to Daniel for only a moment, and while I
peered around Daniel’s shoulder, the tiger eyes connected with mine again. The
corner of the native’s lips tugged upward, and I swear my heart stopped beating
in my chest.

The native pulled his gaze away from me and looked back at Captain
Finley.

“You travel with a female?” he said in English laced with an accent.

“No,” Captain Finley said, looking over the crew. “We’re all men here.”

I could barely swallow for my throat was so tight and dry. This wasn’t
the way it was supposed to happen. I had gone four months with only Daniel
discovering what I was, and now this native had it figured out in mere seconds
without talking to me or touching me.

“Not all are men,” he said.

Daniel edged me back a bit when the native took another step around to
regard me.

“We’re all men.” Daniel set his jaw and narrowed his eyes at the native.

“As you wish.” A slow grin creased the native’s face.

He backed up a few steps and laid his spear down in the sand. The two
lines of warriors did the same with their weapons.