“Oh, Mr. Boyd,” said Mrs. Brower in her warm, thick-accented voice. Tucked securely under one arm was her little leather book. “I knew you’d come around. I guessed it weeks ago! Welcome to the fold.” She shuffled her goods to one side and slapped him squarely on the shoulder with her free hand. “God gives us the wind to move great things, and it’s up to us to know how to capture it.”
Will’s eyes went wide as he remembered their encounter so many weeks ago, and he couldn’t help but smile and shake his head. “Youareright, after all! And my belief started with you wanting me to receive a blessing, Mrs. Brower. When I am baptized tomorrow, you can count me as your convert!”
As he said it, he squeezed Ann’s hand.
Ann chuckled. “Glad you two finally became friends,” she said. A few more passengers passed, and Elizabeth came and hugged Ann.
“So, the baptism is tomorrow morning,” Elizabeth said, sending a quick glance toward him, “and then the wedding is in three days? I just can’t wait! I love weddings!”
“Yes,” said Ann, grasping her friend’s arms. “Just before we all head out on the next leg of our journey to Zion.”
A line had started to pile up behind them, and Elizabeth gave Ann a quick embrace before backing away. “Right, well, I should be going, but let me know what I can do to help!”
Dr. Rowley came next, hefting a large bag of supplies. He stopped in front of Will and offered a greeting. “Scotty has turned a corner and is through the worst of it, though he still needs to quarantine. As far as I can tell, in three or four more days, he should be well enough to go about his normal life.”
“I’m so glad to hear it,” Ann said. “I will bring him some provisions once we are settled.”
“Thank you, Dr. Rowley,” Will said as he gripped the man’s arm. “You’ve had a tough go of it this trip, and I can’t thank you enough for your service.”
“It is what we do,” he said simply, and continued off the boat.
There was a lull in the steady stream of people, and Will noticed a sail being furled next to him and glanced over his shoulder.
“That’s the last of ’em,” Jack said to a few of the seamen. He jumped down from one of the yards and crossed in front of Will to Ann.
“I thank ye for helping this one,” he said to Ann while tapping Will’s shoulder. “Since he met ye he’s been out of his right mind, but now that ye’ve said yes to marryin’ the bloke, I have hopes he’ll turn out all right. Just watch over him, will ye, with this new ... belief ... and all?” He scratched under his hat.
“You have my word, Mr. Flynn,” Ann said. Will knew his friend didn’t approve of his choices, but at least he’d been amicable enough to say a goodbye.
A group of people he didn’t know well passed by, and then Ann’s family came toward them. Will and Ann had spoken with Mrs. Fowles this morning, and Adelaide and Job Smith had also been there. They’d heartily given consent, but this time Ann’s mother was teary as she approached.
“It just makes me so happy to see you so happy.” She sighed and gave Ann a hug, followed by a long, tight hug for Will. “I’m glad I’ve had so many weeks to observe you so I know that you really are worthy of her.”
“I’m excited to have a few days with my family now that we can move about more freely,” Ann said. She tousled little Cyrus’s hair.
Will nodded. “And I’ll come find you at the boardinghouses when my duties are finished later this evening.”
She smiled and kissed him on the cheek. Little Cyrus nearly gagged, and Adelaide just beamed. She looked healthier than he’d seen her all voyage.
As Ann walked away, the thought that had been circling Will’s head all day was officially confirmed:
He was the luckiest man in all of Christendom.
April 26, 1854
Ann could hardly believe she was standing beside her soon-to-be husband. She and Will were in the vestibule of the lodging house preparing to enter the main hall to be married.
President Garn approached them. “Before we start the ceremony, can I have a word?”
Ann agreed at the same time as Will, and President Garn continued. “I know you both planned to go west with the Saints, but it has been made known to me that you are needed for a different purpose.”
Ann’s gaze flicked to Will’s, and his widened eyes mirrored her shock before they both brought their attention back to President Garn.
“The Lord wants you to continue to captain this ship, Mr. Boyd, for a few more voyages, and bring another group of Saints across the sea.”
“But, sir,” Will said, “I have already turned down my captaincy with Captain Fairfield.”
“Ah, well,” President Garn said. “I have spoken with him, and he has agreed to let you captain the ship again. He was relieved to hear it, truth be told.”
