Sail With Me (A Discovery Series Book) (8 page)

“… you can still hear her calling…”

“AIDAN!” All at once, every crewmember, men and boys alike aside from me,
screamed Aidan’s name.

I shrieked at their yell and Daniel’s simultaneous poke to my ribs. My
heart shot up into my throat and beat like a wild drum. Fortunately, my shout
was drowned by the boisterous laughter of all the crew. Daniel laughed so hard
he had tears streaming down his face.

My first instinct was to be angry at their trick, but that emotion
fizzled as I looked around at their smiling faces.

“Welcome, Charlie,” Captain Finley managed around gasps of his own
laughter.

“We tells that story to all the new fishies,” Timmy screeched as he held
his sides and doubled over for another fit of giggling. “Remember when you got
me, Jonah?”

“Charlie, you screamed louder than any of us ever did.” Daniel wiped at
his eyes with his shirt. “It’s how you become one of us.”

“I’m sure there’s an easier way than giving a chap an awful fright.” My
heartbeat returned to its regular rhythm. 

Daniel slung his arm around my shoulders. “I’m sure there is, but it
wouldn’t be nearly as fun.”

As I lay in my corner of the tent, I listened to the breathing of the
others all asleep and dreaming by now. I rolled to my side to get more
comfortable, but a foul and pungent odor invaded my nostrils. This afternoon’s
work sanding the hull boards plus the scorching sun and my soaked tunic created
a scent I’d never smelled on myself. I had to do something. There would be no
sleeping with this vulgar aroma wafting about me. I wasn’t accustomed to stinking.

I would have to visit the shore. Right now. Under the cover of night. Rolling
up an extra tunic and breeches from my sack, I rose to my feet. I brushed aside
the tent’s door flap and slithered into the darkness of a moonlit night.

I scurried along the sand until my feet hit the cool water of the ocean.
After glancing around and finding no one, I backed up out of the ankle deep
water and slipped off my soiled breeches and tunic. Dropping them into a small
pile on the sand separate from my fresh garments, I pulled the pillow off as
well and tossed that with Eric’s clothing. The main source of my unpleasant
odor emanated from the pillow, and I was glad to be rid of it.

With another glance back to camp, I dove into the ocean. The refreshing
water caressed my warm skin as it licked away the grime, sawdust, and stench of
the day’s work. I swam for several seconds under the surface and let the water
surround me. I enjoyed being female if only for a few moments as I cut lithely
through the water. This adventure would be unfolding differently if I were
allowed to participate in it as a girl. 

What would Daniel’s reaction be to me as Charlotte? Would he still think
me Captain Denham’s absolutely breathtaking daughter?

I resurfaced and pictured Daniel, dressed in finer clothes, asking me to
dance at some fancy ball. Not that I particularly liked fancy balls. Pure
silliness, but something about the image brought a smile to my face. I had
pictured Benjamin and me in a similar situation once or twice before, just for fun,
but it was hard to imagine us being like that. 

Standing in waist deep water now, I crouched and leaned my head back to
resoak my cropped hair. Though I didn’t fancy my short cut, it did have its
comfortable advantages. Running my fingers through it now, it was practically
dry by the time my hands reached the ends.

Boys had it so simple.

Grabbing a smooth stone under the water with my foot and bringing it up
to my hands, I rubbed the stone along my skin in an attempt to further remove
two days of sailoring if only on land as of yet. Generally, I hadn’t thought
much of my appearance. I never went out of my way primping and fussing like
some of Southampton’s young misses. Most of the time I wore my hair in a long,
simple braid that fell down my back. My clothes weren’t adorned with jewels and
lace. Simple dresses made of practical, durable fabrics were what I usually
wore when working for Lady Elizabeth. I had fine dresses, most from my mother’s
collection. I never had occasion to wear them, though. Never wanted to see my
father’s face as he looked at me in the clothes my mother had worn.

Reluctantly, I dropped the stone and waded out of the cloaked comfort of
the sea. Giving my hair another rustle, I shook the water out of it. I donned
my clean tunic and breeches. Dragging my dirty clothes to the water, I gave
them a vigorous washing. Soap was definitely needed but alas unavailable. A
thorough rinsing had to be better than nothing. I squeezed out the excess water
and still dripping on the sand, walked back to the misshapen pillow lying on
the ground. I picked it up and could not tolerate its odor. Making a quick
decision, I jogged back and plunged the pillow into the ocean. I could always
stuff some of Eric’s extra clothing I had brought under my tunic in place of
the pillow until it dried.

I nearly dropped all my soaked but freshened belongings, when a voice
behind me said, “Charlie?”

My head snapped up, my throat forgetting how to swallow for a moment.

“Did you go for a swim?” Daniel emerged from the shadows of the trees.

I didn’t have Benjamin’s cap to hide beneath. How long had Daniel been
watching? How much of me—the real me—had he seen?

“I… uh… wanted to rinse off,” I stammered. “I told you I don’t swim.”

“Why didn’t you take a dunk when we were all out here?” He came a bit
closer. “The water’s not always safe at night. Creatures and such.”

“I’m not afraid of creatures.” I held my dripping clothes and pillow in a
tight ball at my chest, doing my best to cover myself.

“I don’t suppose you are.” He stared at me, and I wished he would go
away.

“Why are
you
out here?”

“I never sleep more than an hour at a time. More like cat naps throughout
the night.”

I would have to remember this little tidbit about Daniel if I planned to
do any more sneaking around.

“You never seem tired.” I edged past him, trying to be on my way without
being rude.

“Cats are always ready for action.” He flashed a crooked smile at me.

“I see. Well, good night.” I turned around and walked toward our tent.

“Night, Charlie.”

I glanced once over my shoulder to see Daniel lower himself to the sand.
He suddenly seemed small. Vulnerable.

A cold chill rippled down my spine as a light breeze blew through the
camp. I tried to shake it off, but the feeling stayed with me all the way back
to our tent. I hung my wet clothes to dry on the low branches of a nearby
sapling and climbed into the tent. Settling in my corner, I closed my eyes but
sleep did not come.

Instead, Daniel, alone with the vastness of the ocean stretching before
him, lingered in my mind. I had sat like that myself on many occasions.

****

The next morning after I had done some additional sail repair and sanding
of hull boards, I was assigned to go fishing with Timmy and Jonah. Daniel was
sent into town to acquire some special food items. The captain had announced
that tonight, on the eve of our departure, we would feast, for the food on our
long voyage would be rationed and plain.

I was a little perturbed at not getting to go with Daniel. I was also a
little perturbed about being perturbed. The excitement Timmy and Jonah showed
about fishing with me, however, quickly put my mind on other things.

“We know a great spot.” Timmy toted a fishing net.

“We always catch HUGE fish at that spot.” Jonah carried an empty pail in
one hand and a stick with fishing line tied to it in the other.

Timmy, seven years old, had a round, cherub-like face dotted with two
deep blue eyes and topped with a mess of white-blond curls. Jonah, who I
discovered last night was his older brother by three years, was the complete
opposite in appearance. Taller than Timmy and much skinnier, Jonah had an
angular face, soot-colored eyes, and straight black hair that was always in
perfect order. Their father was the quartermaster, Walter Leaven, and when
their mother allowed it, the boys went on these adventures with their father.
Apparently, their mother had her hands full with twin baby girls at home and
appreciated the break from the boys every now and again.

The boys enjoyed the break as well. I had never seen two children so
excited over something as mundane as fishing. I had fished with Benjamin on
many occasions and never thought much of it.

“This way, Charlie.” Timmy pulled me along.

He hopped up on the docks and maneuvered through the crowds as only a
small boy could. I had trouble hanging onto his hand, and Jonah was getting
lost behind me among the men as well. With a few elbow jabs and foot stumbles,
we finally emerged on the other end of the docks, thankfully not running into
my father or brothers. Timmy jumped down into the tall sea grasses and waited
for us to catch up.

As I was jogging through the swaying grasses, movement on the water
caught my attention.

The
Emily
. Sailing back out into the open ocean. Regal and
graceful much like my mother after whom she was named.

I paused, transfixed by the image of my father’s impressive vessel
gliding downwind with sails like massive, white butterfly wings. I could have
been aboard her with my father. Working for him as I had wanted to. That time
had passed, however, and here I was now, making my dreams come true by my own
hand. A hand I owned at least in body if not in gender at the moment.

“Let’s go, Charlie,” Jonah called as he ran after Timmy.

I pulled my gaze away from the
Emily
with a heavy sigh and a silent
prayer to keep my father and brothers safe on their voyage. An odd ache
throbbed in my heart. He hadn’t come looking for me. Hadn’t stormed onto the
beach to question Captain Finley or search the camp. My absence had not
deterred him from conducting his business wherever he was headed. I did not
want to interfere in his work, but a small piece of me had been sure he would
have at least come looking for his only daughter.

Sighing, I caught up to the brothers. Timmy had indeed found us a lovely
spot to fish. Cat-o’-nine-tails guarded the cove and a few seagulls bobbed in
the water. Timmy loaded the fishing net into a small dory wedged on the shore,
and Jonah passed him the bucket and the stick. Together the two of them pushed
the small rowboat off the sand and into the water.

“Hop in!” Timmy squealed as he jumped in himself, followed by Jonah.

I splashed into the water to about my knees and leaped into the boat,
rocking it slightly. I took the oars Jonah handed to me.

“You row and we’ll hold out the net. If we don’t catch anything that way,
we’ll row out farther and fish with the pole,” Jonah said.

As I rowed us away from the shore, I looked past the cat-o’-nine-tails
and picked out the tall stone Bargate, the main entrance into Southampton. The
centerpiece in the walled fortification that surrounded the town towered above
the other structures in Southampton.

Keeping my eyes focused on that landmark, I rowed while Jonah and Timmy
unrolled the fishing net. Jonah tossed it in the water and signaled to me to keep
going. I didn’t mind at all for the day was turning out to be a beautiful one.
The sun was stretching its golden arms across the blue morning sky, and the
temperature was cooler than yesterday. I was quite comfortable in my tunic,
sleeves rolled up to the elbows, and an extra tunic balled up beneath my bosom
was a much better alternative to the pillow.

The three of us were quiet, the gentle gurgle of the water as we passed
was the only noise we made. Again, I found myself taking mental pictures of my
surroundings. Now that the time for departure had been set and my father’s boat
was back out to sea, there was a real possibility I was going to pull this
whole escapade off. Other than missing Benjamin, I was ready to go.

After several moments, Jonah held up a hand to stop my rowing. I pulled
the oars in, and the dory slowed. The two brothers hauled in the net.

My eyes sprang open at the overloaded net filled with good-sized fish.

“That’s the way to do it,” Jonah said proudly.

“This spot never lets us down,” Timmy added.

“I guess not.” I helped Jonah tie the ends of the net together for the
trip back to shore.

“I’ll row this time,” Jonah said.

I handed him the oars and sat in the middle of the dory with Timmy and
the full net.

“I see the one I’m going to eat.” Timmy clapped his hands together.

“It better not be the one I want.”

Timmy’s face stopped looking so jovial for the first time this morning.
Then two deep dimples popped onto his cheeks. “You’re funning with me,
Charlie.”

“Which one do you want? I’ll tell you if it’s the same one I’ve picked
out.”

“I’m not telling you,” Timmy squeaked. “You’re not stealing my fish.” He
giggled as the front of the dory slid onto the shore.

I hopped out and pulled the rowboat the rest of the way out of the water.
Timmy and Jonah disembarked, and the three of us maneuvered the full net out of
the dory.

“This isn’t going to be easy to carry back to camp.” Jonah hefted the
weight of the net to a more comfortable position, but wavered a couple steps as
he did so.

“Wait here.” I jogged over to the line of trees beyond the cove where we
had fished. Rummaging around on the ground, I unearthed a discarded dock board.
Coming back to where Jonah and Timmy waited, I strung the board through the top
of the net.

“You two carry the front. I’ll carry the back end.” I took my place, as
did Jonah and Timmy.

When we returned to camp, Daniel was back with the supplies.

“Wow,” he said. “We’ll eat like kings with all that.”

“Our bellies will be good and full if only for tonight,” I said. Jonah
and I dropped the net onto the sand by the cook fire.

“Timmy, Jonah,” their father called. “If you’re done fishing, I’ve got
some other jobs for you both.”

“Yes, sir,” they answered together.

“See you, Charlie.” Jonah ran off to his father.

“Bye.”

“Don’t eat my fish,” Timmy said with a giggle as he scurried after Jonah.

I turned around and found Daniel studying me. “What?”

“Nothing.” Daniel sat on a stump and picked up a carrot.

“No.” I sat across from him. “There’s something.”

“You’re good with Timmy and Jonah, that’s all.” Daniel wedged the carrot
between his knees and peeled it with quick strokes. “Those two are the youngest
of us and particular about who they talk to. They don’t
have
to talk to
anyone because they’ve got each other, but they genuinely seem to like you.”

“Why is that so difficult to understand?” I picked up a dagger and
started peeling another carrot.

“It isn’t actually.” Daniel paused to look over at me. He’d already
finished three carrots. “I saw your friend, Benjamin, at Watkins’s Post this
morning. He said you’re the truest friend he’s ever had. That I ought to watch
out for you.”