“I definitely appreciate it myself. Especially when one sees the falls at Niagara.”
“Oh, indeed. I stand in awe at the handiwork of God there. Papa took us there to see it when I was nearly fifteen. All I could think of was how mighty God truly was, and how awesome it was that He’s given men minds to figure out an alternative way around obstacles.”
They fell silent, and Elise watched as the water leveled out and they prepared to open the gates.
“I enjoyed lunch. It was wonderful, and I didn’t get a chance to thank you.”
“I’m glad you liked it. I wasn’t even sure I would be on this trip.”
“Why is that?”
She kept her gaze fixed on the lock gate. “My sister Caroline is in trouble, and she wanted me to stay in Oswego with her. I was torn but couldn’t abandon all of you.”
“What seems to be the trouble now?”
Elise sighed and turned to face him. “Oh, Nick. She truly wants to end her marriage. She still won’t really say why, except that her husband allowed some emergency to cancel their wedding trip. I’ve never known her to be so shallow-minded and selfish. I mean, she’s always been willful and liked nice things, butthis was different. She’s never been one to embarrass herself by causing a scandal. Scandal is something she’s avoided at all costs.”
“I am sorry.” His frown deepened. “I think, however, it’s best not to come between married folks.”
“I agree, but I can’t help worrying.” Elise shook her head. “She’s never been in a situation like this, and I couldn’t help soothe her. I’m not a wife. I wish our mother was alive. She’d know best how to handle the matter.”
“I’m sorry. You must be very grieved over her situation.”
“I am. My father is angry because Nelson wouldn’t even speak to him. Papa went to his house, but Nelson wouldn’t receive him. Nor would he see my uncle and, well, Uncle James is the one who helped to make this match and paid a large dowry. He promised Papa he’d see that the problem was resolved, but I’m not sure I understand what that means. Caroline wouldn’t even be honest about the problem. I know her well enough to know she’s holding back the truth.”
“Again, it’s not good for others to insert themselves into problems between a husband and wife.”
“Did your parents fight? Ours rarely even disagreed.”
“They had their issues, to be sure. My father was too often away with work, and my mother longed for him to be at home. I never understood that, however, for I saw my father as mean and temperamental when he was with us. My mother endured a lot for the sake of her marriage and children.”
Elise watched as the gate began to open. “Caroline’s changed so much. I’m very concerned about her.”
“Of course you are. You love her.” Nick’s words momentarily soothed her.
She continued to ponder her conversation with Caroline. “Ifeel responsible for her in so many ways since Mama is gone. I made promises to our mother that I would take care of her—that I’d always be there for her. But I can do nothing.”
“Sometimes we make promises we have no right or calling to make. Sometimes you can only stand by and watch as life plays out.”
Elise thought of his shipwreck. “Is that how it was on thePolaris?” she asked before considering how the question might make him feel.
Nick’s brows rose, and he looked away. For a long moment he said nothing. Finally, he nodded. “Yes. It was exactly that way. It was like I was chained to the mast. I needed desperately to save the ship but couldn’t. It was like everything had been taken out of my hands. I was nothing more than a puppet—controlled by someone else.”
The ropes used to keep theMary Elisefrom bouncing around in the lock were released from the bollards. The canal men used horses in this section to move theMary Eliseto the next lock not far away.
“Tell me what happened ... please.” Elise turned to face him. “I want to know for myself.”
Nick seemed to consider for a moment. He seemed so apprehensive that Elise immediately regretted her request.
“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”
“We were running late,” he began. “I saw the storm building to the southwest, but it appeared to be heading northeast and away from us. I figured we might have a bumpy ride from higher waves, but I wasn’t overly worried. We were carrying crated goods and wouldn’t suffer from the load shifting much, so I thought there was little reason to fear. I dismissed the stormfrom my mind and got caught up with my bookwork. By the time I realized the storm had back-built and shifted directions, it was too late.
“I could see the storm approaching and thought I could outrun it, but of course I couldn’t. I finally sought a place to ride it out, but the storm was too fierce and powerful. It slammed us from side to side and tried to drown us. When I knew we were breaking apart, I tried to get us near enough to shore, but the water was too powerful and threw us against the rocks. The boat fell apart beneath our feet, and even as I tried to rescue the men, they were swept away. I managed to save two, but the other eight were lost.”
His face bore the look of a tormented man. “I still dream about them ... about the storm. It torments me to know my pride caused their death. If I’d kept a better watch—if I hadn’t thought I knew best—it might have been a different story.”
“It seems to me you judged correctly, but things changed.”
