“But that might be the only answer. What the hell am I supposed to do with a ship? I have a business to run. I can’t and won’t sail her myself. With all those ships available, do you really think I could find someone who wants her?”
“You’re right, but Jan loved theSea Haven.”
“I know that, but if I can get a good enough price for her, even as salvage, then I can add that to the cargo sales, and the future of Jan’s children will be set,” Kit said. It made sense to him. He’d get rid of the burden of owning the ship and make some money for Hallie and the children.
“Are you going to tell Hallie?” Lee asked.
“Of course. Why would she care about the ship? She’s a woman.”
At that instant a supply wagon filled with iron mining tools rattled past. The ringing racket of metal scraping against metal echoed through the narrow street, completely drowning out Lee’s groan.
As Hallie pushed hardon the heavy oak door, the swollen doorframe protested, emitting a deep sound like a groan.
I’ve got to get Da to fix that.
Then she remembered.
She untied her bonnet and hung it on a hook near the door. Unbuttoning her short cape, she flung it in the vicinity of an old corner chair and missed. She bent to pick up the cape and spotted a small, milky-colored object. It was a scrimshaw lion.
Hallie put the cape on the chair and looked at the whalebone animal. It was one of a pair that went with the toy ark. Each stroke of her father’s carving knife had carefully detailed a feature of the lion. Two little nicks in the nose were nostrils, curved slashes formed the slanted eyes, and wide, deep, liquid strokes formed the animal’s flowing mane. It must have taken her father hours to carve it.
After every voyage he would bring the twins another set of animals, one male and one female. His homecomings always seemed a bit like Christmas, what with the whole family together laughing, opening gifts, and listening to Da’s stories of the sea. Her fingers closed tightly around the lion and she sat there.
The sound of voices from the front parlor reminded her that the Treadwells were still there. Hallie put the lion in her dress pocket and went to join the others.
Not more than fifteen minutes later Hallie was sorry she wasn’t the fainting type. If she had to listen to Agnes Treadwell’s profusions of sympathy and advice for one more minute, she would scream. Dagny had gone to the kitchen to make some more tea, and judging by the amount of time she’d been gone, Hallie expected they’d have enough tea to flood the British parliament. A yawning Liv sat on a chair behind the woman, and every time Hallie looked at her youngest sister, she had to stifle her own yawning reflex.
Agnes paused and looked across the room where the twins were showing her husband their ark. “You know, my dear, Pastor Treadwell and I will be happy to have the young ones, and little Liv, spend some time with us. They’re such fine children, especially Liv.” She turned and smiled at the young girl, who had just finished her latest yawn. “She’s so well-behaved. We would just love to have them come for a nice long visit.”
Liv began to crack her knuckles, loudly.
Agnes looked around. “What is that sound?”
Hallie tried to get Liv’s attention, but Liv ignored her and started cracking her left hand, Hallie tried to cover the obnoxious sound by answering in a loud voice, “What sound? I don’t hear anything. Do you, Liv?” She narrowed her eyes at Liv in an unspoken warning.
Liv stopped. But when she began to purposely swallow big gulps of air, an act Hallie knew Liv would do just to make herself burp, Hallie stood up and walked to her sister. She pulled her out of the chair. “Liv, please go see what’s keeping Duggie. Now.” Hallie pushed Liv from the room. Just as she started to sit down again, a huge belch echoed from the hall.
I’ll kill her!
Agnes Treadwell looked shocked. “Now, Hallie, don’t tell me you didn’t hear that! What on earth was it?”
“Oh that. Uh... sometimes... the water pump sticks and... and the air makes that horrid sound when it escapes the pipe.”
“My, but that is horrid.”
“I can’t imagine what’s keeping Dagny.” Hallie stood up. “I think I’ll go see.”
The pastor stopped her. “That’s not necessary, my dear. We must be going. I’ve got to write tomorrow’s sermon. Hallie, you and the children should get some rest.”
He turned and helped Agnes up. Hallie walked them to the door. “I’m sorry about that tea. It shouldn’t have taken Dagny so long. I should have gotten it myself. Duggie’s been hit hard by this.”
“Don’t apologize. This is a terrible thing for all of you. Just remember that if you need anything, come to us.” They gave Hallie’s hand a pat of reassurance and walked the short, foggy distance to their carriage.
Hallie closed the door and headed for the kitchen...and her sisters. As she passed the parlor, she poked her head in to check on the twins, but the room was empty. She pushed open the kitchen door and there they sat: Duggie, with Gunnar on her lap; Lee Prescott, holding Knut in his; Kit Howland, with that obnoxious pipe crammed between his teeth; and Liv, reenacting her deafening burp.
Their laughter stopped when they saw Hallie. No one said a word. They looked at her, and at that moment she felt more alone than ever.
9
