“I do.” She pressed her lips into a tight line. “Maybe He knew if He came to other, older or more learned people, they may not have listened.” Will’s eyes went wide, but she continued. “Perhaps you ought not criticize it until you read it.”
“I haven’t time for such a thing,” he said gruffly. Then he offered a wan smile. “But a pleasure seeing you as always.”
His dismissiveness hurt more since it was compounded by his kind words and that smile that would make any girl swoon.
“Likewise,” was all she managed as she flung open the door and hurried toward her cabin.
Chapter 25
March 27, 1854
34 days at sea
The sun was settingas Will finished his dogwatch. He’d had a devil of a time sleeping after that sermon. He’d promised God he’d learn more about him, and hadn’t listening to President Garn, the few other men, and Mrs. Brower been enough?
Yet still their words taunted him, throwing him into a foul mood. His head felt fuzzy, and his jacket felt hot, most likely because of his poor night of sleep. His healing burn itched a little, but he told himself he was lucky it wasn’t infected.
He’d thought President Garn well-spoken, but he wasn’t sure he could believe. Christ in America? The power of God on earth? That man named Joseph Smith? He wanted to dismiss it all as rubbish, but the concepts kept whirling around in his head.
For at least the tenth time, he let his eyes wander toward the young men and women who had gathered around the deck. Another man, not Mr. Wheatley, had taken up fiddling once again. Instead, Mr. Wheatley called out a dance and pulled Miss Cherry into the center.
“Join us,” he cried to the surrounding people, and four other gentlemen hastily found ladies as their partners. A lucky, dark-haired gentleman secured Ann as his partner, and Will immediately envied him.
“That sail is luffing,” he barked at Scotty Rollins. The boy still needed training, though his skills had improved since his carelessness with the lantern. That was what the punishment of oakum picking and practicing extra drills would do for a sailor. “Don’t make me tell you twice to tighten the sail. Why didn’t you see it?”
“I—I got no fimble famble, sir.” he said. The boy worked rapidly to fix his mistake.
“He’s improving,” said Mr. Haddock, coming up from behind Will. “Never heard you be so stern with him though.”
“We need every ounce of wind we can gather, Mr. Haddock, and you know that.”
Will pulled at his collar, which still felt tight and hot. He made the mistake of looking toward the dancers once more, and Haddock followed his gaze. “Oh, you are upset you haven’t claimed a dance with her, aren’t you?”
Will made no movement in the affirmative.
“Your watch is over, Mr. Boyd. It wouldn’t hurt to ask her for a dance.” He stared expectantly. “I saw her look in this direction when you weren’t looking.”
Will glanced at the carpenter, toward the dancers, and back again.
“It isn’t unheard of that the crew occasionally mingles with the passengers.”
Will shook his head, though the idea was appealing.
Mr. Haddock absently swung his hammer by the leather strap at the end and cleared his throat. “Might I remind you that, besides the captain, you are in charge here, and you can do what you ruddy well please.”
“Point taken,” Will answered, standing taller. He liked this carpenter, who was far more skilled than his title accounted for, which was why he essentially functioned as an upper crewman. “Thank you, Mr. Haddock,” he said in a more formal tone. “The watch is yours.”
Haddock saluted, and Will made his way down the ladder to the main deck. It surprised him how warm it felt on the lower deck, but he wondered if some of the heat came because of his nerves. As the song ended and Ann moved away from her previous dance partner, Will pushed away thoughts of uncertainty and strode up to her.
“Miss Fowles, may I have the next dance?”
She whirled around, her face wide with shock. She glanced around the ship. Her mouth erupted into a smile, but her brows pulled down quickly. “The first mate of the ship dances with the passengers?”
He spoke loud enough for others to hear his reasoning. “I just finished my watch and wanted a little bit of exercise. Do you care to dance?”
To his utter worry, she didn’t answer him right away. Again he felt warm, and his head pounded as he waited for the answer. It was the first time he’d realized that perhaps publiclyshedidn’t want to be associated withhim.That was humbling.
She took his measure for one more moment before she finally nodded. “I’ll grant you a trial period, depending on your dance skill.”
