“Even after he took your son and wife?”
“Turns out I needed Him even more when that happened.”
Cadan stared at an empty bottle of rum.“I must still be besotted, for I can make no sense of your ramblings.”
Pell approached and laid a hand on Cadan’s shoulder, bringing his gaze up to his.Gone was the usual sullen despondency.In its place, joy and peace flooded his eyes, his very demeanor.
“Revenge will kill you, Cadan.This revenge on Damien and now on Gabrielle.’Tis a cancer that rots a man’s soul.Let it go.”
Cadan stiffened his jaw but did not respond.How could he?He could never let Damien go free.He must pay for what he’d done.
“I’ll have Omphile brew that tea that aids your rum-induced affliction.”Pell started away.“Then you are needed above, Captain.We are making good speed toward Saint-Domingue and should encounter Allard soon.”
???
“You finally gave your life to de Laud?”Omphile’s tight embrace was accompanied by tears of joy streaming down her ebony skin.
Returning her hug, Gabrielle couldn’t help but smile, though she’d been doing no smiling during the long night.In truth, she’d shed so many tears, she doubted she could produce a single drop moving forward.
Omphile released her and backed away, gesturing toward the tray of food she’d brought to break Gabrielle’s fast.“Sit, eat, an’ tell me all about it.”
Gabrielle pressed a hand over her stomach.“I fear I’m not hungry, but I thank you for the food.”
“What’s de matter, Child?”Taking her hand, she led Gabrielle to sit on the cot.“I’s mean ’sides you missin’ your babe, but we’s gonna get him back real soon.”
Gabrielle studied her friend.She’d told her once that Gabrielle would see Matthew again, and it had come true.“Did the Lord tell you that?”
Omphile sat on the chair beside the bed.“Not in so many words.It’s jist more o’ a sense.”
Nodding, Gabrielle clasped her hands together, studying the beam of sunlight oscillating over the bulkhead.“You were right, Omphile.I never really knew God.I followed His rules and did everything right because of my parents.Now I know He’s real.”She looked up and pressed one hand over her heart.“I sense Him in here, and He spoke to me!”
Omphile clapped her hands together.“Then all will be well now, you’ll see.”
Gabrielle shook her head.“But ever since I gave myself to Him, everything has gotten so much worse!Cadan hates me now, and I still don’t have my baby…my poor baby.”Apparently, she was not out of tears after all, for more filled her eyes.“All I ever wanted was to get married and have a family, and that dream seems farther out of my reach than ever.”
“Nothin’ is impossible wit’ God, Child, nothin’.Mebbe He jist wants you to trust Him, even when dere seems no hope.”She took Gabrielle’s hand in hers.“You put Him at de helm o’ your ship, now best t’ let Him take you where He thinks is best.”
“A sail!A sail!”The unmistakable shout filtered down from above.
Gabrielle glanced up, every sense alerted, her heart daring to pick itself out of the mire of despair and crawl onto hope.
Leaping to her feet, she opened the door and darted from the cabin before Omphile could protest.
She emerged from the companionway to a gush of salty wind that tore her hair from her pins, the rays of a hot sun, and an excitement buzzing over the ship that sent pirates darting about.Commands to raise and adjust sail bellowed from the quarterdeck where a quick glance told her Cadan stood beside Pell.
Their eyes met briefly, but she quickly turned away, not wanting to renew the pain in her heart.Moving toward the railing, she gripped the damp wood, leaned over it toward the sea, and attempted to see the ship they were chasing.’Twas too far away to tell if it was Damien.
Shielding her eyes from the sun, Gabrielle watched as the topmen scrambled across yards to unfurl topsails.Soon the canvas dropped, flapping impotently before it caught the wind in a thunderous snap.TheResolutelisted to starboard, and Gabrielle tightened her grip on the railing as the ship, under a mountain of snowy canvas, rippled through the sea.
Wind blasted over her, and she closed her eyes and lifted up a prayer for the safety of the crew and for Matthew to soon be in her arms unharmed.
Would God answer her prayers now that she knew Him?She couldn’t say.And at the moment, all she could do was hope.
Omphile appeared at her side and laid her hand atop Gabrielle’s.Minutes passed like hours as theResolutebucked over the waves like a wild stallion, flinging salty spray back over her.Squalls of foamy water swept past her feet before heading out the scuppers back to sea.
Finally, when she could stand it no longer, she glanced up at Cadan, his boots spread apart on the heaving deck, his white Holland shirt flapping in the wind and his eye pressed to the scope.
He lowered it and bellowed a command that sent hands to trim the sails for maximum efficiency.Olin relayed further orders to the crew, sending them aloft once again.
