Chapter 25
They were freezing to death. The water wouldn’t take them down to its depths, but the icy cold would claim their lives if they weren’t able to get to shelter. Elise didn’t want to leave, however. She felt certain her father would join them. He couldn’t die like this.
The storm had passed, leaving a gloomy red horizon as the sun came up. Below the rocks, the still-smoldering remnants of theMary Elisesat broken and battered. Just pieces of her former glory. Papa had been so proud of that ship.
Elise tried to reconcile herself to the idea that he was gone. Nick had braved a journey down the rocks to theMary Eliseto search for her father but found nothing. He salvaged the ship’s log and a photograph of Elise’s mother and returned to confirm what Elise already feared must be true.
“We’re gonna walk to find help. The walking will keep us from freezing further,” Nick told her. He put his arm around her as she gazed out on the lake.
“I can’t believe he’s gone.”
“I know, but the last thing he would want is for you to freeze to death. Come on. We have to seek refuge.”
“But what if...”
Nick shook his head. “Elise, he’s gone.”
“But you didn’t see Booker Duran or Seamus or Russ. Maybe they got off the ship.”
“And went where? The only way was up. We would have met up with them.” He touched her frozen face. “Come on. The men are waiting.”
As they began to walk in hopes of finding a house or a nearby town, Elise could hardly feel her feet or hands, but her heart most assuredly ached.
Papa would have told her to stop feeling bad, for he had died just as he lived. The lake, he had always said, would be his death, and he was all right with that because it had also been his life. Elise, however, couldn’t imagine how she would tell Caroline or Uncle James or even Carter and Mina in Duluth.
The sun rose higher but offered little warmth. Nick said the temperatures to be no more than twenty degrees, if that.
It was nearly noon before one of the men spotted smoke rising in the air. They pressed on toward the place and found a single cabin. The owner welcomed them readily and put more wood on the fire. The old man had little to offer them, but what he did, he gave freely.
Tom and Ollie volunteered to go on to the small town some two miles away and bring back more help. The old man gave them the use of his large draft horse along with explicit directions.
Elise was so tired and cold that she couldn’t stop shaking.
The old man came to her with a mug of hot coffee. “Drink this down. It’ll warm your insides.”
She did as he suggested, grimacing at the bitter taste. Papa had always had his coffee black, and she’d teased him about the awful flavor. How she wished he were here now.
By the time the sun was setting again, Tom and Ollie were back with several townsfolk and a couple of wagons with blankets, food, and dry clothes. The crew of theMary Elisewas fed and clothed, then driven back to town, where it had already been decided they would be allowed to sleep in the church for the night before pressing on for the next town and the railroad.
Elise lost track of the time and slept. She rallied only briefly in the night at the sound of the wind. Apparently, another storm was upon them. Exhaustion kept her from dreaming, and when she awoke the next day, her body didn’t hurt nearly so much as it had.
Before they were to head out on two sleighs, the town’s doctor came to see to their needs. He looked over the men first, then came to Elise. “How are you feeling?”
“I believe I’m starting to thaw.” She gave him a smile. “Thank you for what you’ve done for the crew. I know my father would have appreciated it.”
“Your father was the captain? One of the men lost?”
“Yes.” Elise let him examine her hands.
“Let me see your feet.”
She unfastened the leg bands of the bloomers, then unrolled her stockings.
“Mr. Clark said everyone warmed their hands and feet gradually after rescue. That was wise. You’ll have some pain for a while, but I don’t think you’ll lose any toes. You’re fortunate.”
“What about the crew?”
“A man or two might yet lose toes. It’s hard to say. I’ve instructedthem on what to do and to see a doctor as soon as they reach the city. You’re all very lucky.”
