“Indeed,” she said, and patted her canvas. “I’ve been blessed with exceptional hearing.”
Ann winced.
“And this ship needs Mr. Boyd. Haven’t seen a sailor with that much aplomb since I started sailing with my own husband years ago.”
Ann tried for a smile. She knew exactly how Mr. Boyd felt about the older woman. How funny that their opinions of each other did not match up in the slightest.
Mrs. Brower cleared her throat and looked decidedly at Ann. “I think you should get your brother-in-law to give him a blessing of healing. Seems to me we’ve witnessed some miracles already and another ought to be Mr. Boyd returning to health.”
Ann looked down at her sewing. She knew others had received blessings, but they were passengers, members of her faith. A few had made it through the course of the sickness unharmed. But so many remained in some stageof the disease. Ann hadn’t heard Will express any more interest in their religion since he’d listened to the sermon. He might not like strange passengers laying their hands on him and trying to heal him.
Elizabeth echoed Ann’s thoughts. “Are you going to ask him then? Mr. Boyd isn’t part of our church.”
Mrs. Brower rapped a hand on Elizabeth’s bundle of canvas. “Oh, you think God only wants to help those who have been baptized? It wasn’t requisite in Christ’s time, and it surely isn’t now.” She tipped her head. “Back home I saw the elders heal a woman who hadn’t joined the Church yet.”
Ann leaned forward, not sure if her faith was strong enough to hope. “But do you think he’d allow it? Think he’d want that?” And whether he would approve or not, why hadn’t she at least thought of using the power of the priesthood for him before now?
Sister Brower squared her shoulders. “I intend to find out.” The woman set down her bundle next to Elizabeth and headed to the hatchway nearest the sick bay.
Doubt gripped Ann. It was very possible William Boyd thought everything the Saints believed to be nothing but hogwash. That was the sentiment she’d gathered from many of the sailors as she’d overheard a conversation here or there.
And Mrs. Brower—of all the people he’d likely not wish to hear it from—was going to ask him.
Ann had not even finished one sail seam, but she cast her sewing aside. She should have been the one to think about him receiving a blessing. She should have had faith enough to remember the power there.
But she hadn’t.
Now he was sure to reject Mrs. Brower. Ann stood and walked to the hatchway, but Mrs. Brower had already disappeared.
Will needed her, and more than he needed her, he needed God.
Please, God, help Will to listen.
Chapter 29
April 2, 1854
40 days at sea
Will couldn’t tell ifhe was getting more delusional or simply drawing closer to the next life. So when he felt a warm hand on his cheek, he wondered if he were in a dream.
“Mr. Boyd,” said a female voice. It was deeper than he remembered Ann’s voice, but it sounded real. “Are you able to hear me?”
What was it about Ann’s voice that seemed different?
“Nod, sir, if you can.”
His head ached, and his eyes felt too heavy to lift, but with everything he had, he attempted to pull his chin down.
He heard her sigh. “I know you aren’t of our faith, but we need you on this boat. You are more skilled than all the able-bodied sailors combined. And Crenshaw, well, you wouldn’t like how he’s directing things.”
Since when did Ann have such opinions on the sailors? This didn’t seem like something she would say, and come to think of it, it wasn’t her accent either. And now that he was more aware, the hand that had since left his cheek felt coarser and larger than hers had.
“I know I was a bit hard on you at the beginning, but I’ve been watching you, and I take it all back,” said the female voice. “Right smart you are, and we need you healed. So whether or not you think us all a lot of mad religionists, I think you ought to let Job Smith of our company give you a blessing of healing.”
Will’s mind reeled. This wasn’t Ann at all. He felt so hot, so fuzzy—but with all the strength he had, he cracked one eye open.
Mrs. Brower? Of all the people—
