“Yes, but that was only because they didn’tunderstand that Jesus was in control. Remember, He got upand told the storm—”
“Peace. Be still,”Caroline interrupted as she always did.
Elise smiled at the memory. “Peace. Be still,” she murmured.
Such thoughts easily led her to wonder how her sister mightbe. Was she enjoying her tour of Europe? Had she purchased her great wardrobe and received beautiful jewels from her husband?
The ship shifted to port, nearly dumping Elise out of her bed. At least there wasn’t any thunder or lightning. Just the wind and rain, which was plenty bad enough.
She imagined her father in his oiled canvas coat, barking out orders, fighting the wind and the waves to get theMary Eliseto some safe cove. Gradually things calmed, and the terrible rocking ceased. She knew the worst of the storm had passed, but she could still hear the rain pummeling them. After another ten minutes, even that stopped, however. She rose from her bed and went to the galley. Everything was in good order. All had been secured prior to the storm and remained in its place. The boat, however, was listing to starboard.
Before long, Sam reappeared to light the lamps. “Captain says it’s all clear, but the load must be trimmed. The boys are already at work on it.”
“I’d best get back to my work,” Elise admitted as if nothing had happened.
“We’ll be headin’ for the Soo Locks,” Sam informed her.
Elise lit the stove to get it warming up. “I’ll put fresh coffee on. It’ll take a while to get hot, but let the boys know. I’ll have a snack for them too.”
“Aye, Miss Elise.”
She loaded wood into the stove and soon had it lighted. She put on the coffeepot before going back to her laundry. The baskets had fallen over, splaying clothes everywhere. Oh well, better now when they were dirty than later when they were clean. Elise put a big pot of water on the stove to heat up along with the coffee. Next, she started putting together ham sandwiches. Theboys would have to work hard to put the ship right and deserved something heartier than cookies. After that was completed, she went back to the laundry and waited for the ship to be righted.
There was only a half hour of light left when they had their turn at the locks. Elise walked the deck, watching the entire process as they waited for the water to go down twenty-one feet so they could enter the St. Mary’s River.
“You’re looking mighty fine, Miss Elise,” Booker Duran stated as he came toward her carrying a shovel.
She bristled at his comment but decided not to take offense. “Are we trim now, Mr. Duran?”
“Aye. Fit and trim.” He grinned. “Just like yourself.”
She eyed him for signs of injury, but there were none. “I thought maybe I’d find you in stitches, Mr. Duran.”
He looked at her oddly. “Why would that be?”
“I’m doing laundry today. Your shirt was covered in blood.”
He gave a hearty laugh. “You should see the other fella.”
“You got into a fight?”
“The whole tavern was fighting. It was just a good time. No harm done.”
She looked at his face. There wasn’t even a bruise. “Well, you seemed to have come out of it without a mark.”
“I always do. I’m taller than most, so they can’t reach my beautiful face.” He laughed again and threw the shovel over his shoulder. “I’m touched that you’re worried about me.”
“Well, when you see that much blood on a man’s shirt, you figure the worst.”
He leaned closer. “Never fear for me, Miss Elise. I’ll be just fine. I’m good at taking care of myself and them that belong to me.” He gave her a wink and moved on.
Elise felt rather fouled by his nearness and familiarity, but she drew a deep breath and pushed her ill feelings aside. At least he wasn’t injured in a way that would interfere with his duties and cause problems for her father and the crew.
Supper waited that night until nearly eight. Meals were usually delayed when something like the locks passage was on the agenda. The men ate as if they were starving, and everyone seemed to grab for everything at the same time. Elise had made a huge pot of beef stew. She’d also baked biscuits and served them with honey. There wasn’t so much as a scrap left of anything after she served the dessert of lemon cream cake.
After supper, the men on duty went to their jobs while the others went to bed. Elise washed dishes and put the kitchen in order, then resumed her time on deck. She loved it when the evening was quiet and the world seemed to slip by in the soft wash of the river.
She stared out over the rail and marveled at how long the light lasted. During the summer it stayed light well into the evening and left one with the feeling of eternal summer. But September was nearing, and each completed trip was a marker against time that seemed to be slipping by much too quickly.
