“There are a few more who have reported fevers. When smallpox rears its head, there’s no stopping it.”
Jack leaned forward, his voice low. “One more example of God’s wrath toward these passengers.”
“I agree with Flynn, for once. The passengers are cursed.” Crenshaw grunted.
Will glanced behind him. The other three men either shrugged or held their hands up, not willing to join in the fray.
The captain lifted his gaze from his desk, a low exhale punctuating the room. “Do they seem like the disreputable type to you, Flynn?”
“Not in the least, sir. But these storms, and now—now smallpox?”
Will could tell by the way his friend could barely verbalize the last word that he was scared.
“What do you propose I do?” asked the captain.
“I dunno, sir. Ye could ask them to stop their worshippin’. Forbid them from any religious activity at all.”
The captain stared at him for a long moment, then turned his head, and said, “Do you agree, Crenshaw?”
Crenshaw was very quiet, and Will watched his beady eyes grow even darker. “No one likes a Jonah, sir,” the second mate said. “The sailors are starting to talk. They’re feeling uneasy.”
“Is that your opinion, Boyd?”
All eyes turned on him, and with effort he stilled his countenance. Were the religious passengers cursing the voyage? Or was it just chance? “I ... do not presume to know what God thinks, sir.”
“Always so diplomatic,” Jack called out, rolling his eyes. “Ye’ve seen the men. We can’t have the sailors distracted, gettin’ jittery.” Jack usually didn’t challenge him in front of others, but his tone was sharp, his words passionate.
Crenshaw threw up his hand. “It’s true they’ve been unfocused, Mr. Boyd. Admit it, they are scared.”
Will narrowed his eyes. “They just need more drill practice.”
“Or more follow-through with discipline,” Crenshaw challenged.
Will clenched his fists under the table. His head felt tight after the long day and night of watches and then this early morning call. He opened his mouth to refute his words—
“Stop your bickering,” said the captain. “None of the passengers have done anything egregious.” He heaved a sigh. “I daresay you all are making it worse. As a consequence to your unbridled tongues, I want all of you to attend their next Sunday sermon.”
“But, sir,” Jack retorted, “that’s ridiculous. That will make it seem like we endorse ’em—”
“It’s an order.” The captain pounded one fist on the desk. “And, Flynn, you especially need to keep your mouth shut.” The captain stood up from his desk, placing his large, gnarled knuckles on the top to brace himself. “Besides, if we try to silence them without first listening, they may turn against us, and they outnumber the crew more than ten to one.”
Will had always liked Fairfield. He was logical and even-keeled, two invaluable traits for a captain, especially when surrounded by so many hotheaded sailors. If he required them to listen to the sermon, they would do it.
The captain dismissed them all, but as they walked together through the quiet galley and up through the hatch, Jack kept whispering. “Ye were quite unbiased in there, Will, but don’t forget the captain’s main rule.” He glanced over his shoulder. Will knew what he was getting at before he said it. “I know ye don’t have a problem with the drink, ever. But with women, I think ye are finally slipping.”
Will drew his eyebrows together and shook his head.
Jack pushed his shoulder. “Oh, come now. I know the reason ye won’t say the ship is cursed is because ye’ve taken to talking to that pretty lass, Miss Fowles. And ... I think it will bring bad luck on ye.”
He thought back on his discussion with her in the vestibule outside the cabins. On no other voyage had he had so many one-on-one conversations with a female. But it didn’t mean anything. Even though hehadenjoyedtheir biscuits together. He’d realized it was too much and turned in, just like he should have.
Jack was still staring at him, so Will cleared his throat. “She has happened to have a few mishaps while on board, you know the type. Some people get in more trouble than others. I happened to be there to assist her. It is my duty to see to the safety of those on board.”
“But is it yer duty to talk so much with one of them?”
Had it been that obvious to others? Or only Jack, who noticed more than most about his friend? A few of his interactions with Ann had been out of sight of most people. More likely, Jack’s overimaginative, storyteller brain just wanted to see something in Will’s few conversations with the young lady.
Will stared at his friend. “Mr. Flynn, as your commanding officer I am ordering you to quit your surmises and see about the sails of this vessel. I assure you, you have put things out of proportion.”
