MANIFEST DESTINY Chapter 14.1

Chapter 14

         Gareth and David were together in the captain’s cabin aboard Destiny’s Promise.  They had finalized plans for the voyage ahead and the new designs for the ships they intended to build once the new shipyard was a reality.  Gareth rolled up the designs and set them to one side as he broached another subject that lay close to his heart.  “Have you heard from your family about what I outlined to you?”

         “Yes.  Mother was very much in favor of it.  You know she was very proud of me the day I got my captain’s papers, and the ship Liberty.  She was sad Captain Lewis was no longer alive, but very happy I had some years with Captain Edwards.  He only just retired.  In his seventies now, I think.  Anyway yes, we will talk more about that when we reach Rhode Island Colony.”

         “When are you planning to sail?”

         “I will be ready to sail with the tide tomorrow.  I am loading the rest of the cargo aboard tonight.”

         “Good, then I will see you in Rhode Island Colony in about a week?”

         “Yes.  I have a surprise for you when we get there.”

         “Lucy said yes?”

         David stood to his feet.  “She has, but that’s not the surprise.”

         “I want hot water for my bath right away.”  Ainsley was about to enter the cabin and nearly collided with David.  “David, I dinnaee see ye there, good to see thee.  I hope ye are well?”

         David took in her very wet appearance.  “Yes, ma’am.”

         “This weather is so foul, I will be glad when we have some sun again.”  Ainsley stepped past him into the cabin.  “I hope everything has gone well?”

         “Yes, it has.”  A smile touched the corners of David’s lips as he left the cabin.

         “I’m sorry I’m so late.  I was going to wait until it stopped raining, but thought better of it.  It may never stop.  I much prefer the snow it’s not so soaking.  How can it rain so when there’s still so much snow on the ground?  I tried to hurry as fast as I could, but I was delayed so many times.  I thought for sure at several points that I missed the sailing, and I know you would not like that.”  Ainsley looked up at a very amused Gareth.  “I know you heard me ask Jedidiah for hot water for a bath, I’m simply chilled in these wet clothes, and I fear they are ruined, and I really wanted to look nice when I joined you.  I was hoping to be here in time to see Captain Alexander.  He’s looking remarkably well.  Did he get a favorable answer from Lucinda?”  Ainsley paused for breath, as she took off the heavy cloak, and handed it to Gareth’s outstretched hands.

         “My dear, what has come over you?”

         “I guess I’m just excited about this trip.”  Ainsley sneezed several times.  “I see the trunk is already here, I really must get out of these wet clothes.”  Ainsley hurried into the bathing chamber, and then out again as she realized the water had not arrived.

         “Get into a warm wrapper and get into the bunk while you wait for the water.  I would hate to have you sick before we start on this trip.”  Gareth grabbed the warmest wrapper she had as she sneezed several more times before she hurried into the bathing chamber again.

         Gareth had Ainsley wrapped under blanket on the bunk when Jedidiah returned with the water for her bath.  She shivered at times, and her teeth chattered as she pulled the blankets around her.

         Ainsley rushed into the bathing chamber as soon as Gareth filled the tub with the hot water, and sunk deep into its warm depths.  She soaked in the warmth until she could feel warmth return to her bones.  She wished there was a way to keep the water hot all the time.  The water was tepid when she rose from it and toweled dry, and put on her warmest nightgown and went to bed.

         Gareth was at the desk when she emerged from the bathing chamber, surprised to see her ready for bed so early in the day.  “You are not well?”  He looked with concern at her as he sat on the edge of the bunk.  “I expected you to join me on deck as we left port.”

         “I am not catching my death, because of that rain out there.”  She sneezed again as she huddled deeper into the bunk, and chills threatened to engulf her again.  “I am so cold.”

         “I will get more blankets.”  Gareth put a hand to her brow, and found it feverish, which accounted for the chilled state she was in from the rain.

         “I know you want me on deck as we sail, but please forgive me, I will not get myself soaked again.”  She looked up as Gareth put another blanket over her.  “Besides my cloak is drenched and I dinnae ha’e another.”

         He sat by her side.  “How does that feel?”

         “Like heaven.”  She closed her eyes and let sleep envelop her.

         She opened her eyes surprised to find it very dark, enveloped in her husband’s embrace.  She turned to face him, and he woke, and looked into her eyes as a smile curved his lips as he kissed her.

         “You’re awake.”

         “And hungry.  Just tell me this is the day we set sail?”

         Gareth held her close.  “It is.  By the way the rain stopped.”

         “I hope the rest of this voyage goes well.”  She pushed the covers back and headed for the bathing chamber.  “Please find out if there is any food available, I’m starving.”

         “I will cook it for you myself, if I have to.”  Gareth dressed before he left the cabin in search of food.  He had been worried about her all day.  As soon as he had gotten the ship out of the harbor, he had returned to the cabin, and kept the stove hot.  He had added another blanket, because she still shivered.

         Ainsley was back in bed covered to the chin when he entered with food.  “It’s not much, but it is something to eat.  Do you want to eat at the table or there in bed?”

         She eyed what he brought.  “What is it?”

         Gareth took the items from his pockets.  “I found some bread, cheese, and apples.”

         “I’ll come there.  I’m not particularly fond of crumbs in bed.  Are you going to eat also?”

         He cut some bread and cheese for her.  “I thought I would.  I waited all day to eat with you.”

         She took a bite of the bread, and nearly choked on it.  “Is there something to put on the bread?  It’s dry, or at least something to drink with it.”

         He produced the jar from an inside pocket.  “I brought a jar of preserves that I found in the galley.”

         “You brought the food in your pockets?  Why dinnae you use a plate or something to carry it in?”

         “Madam, I am the captain of this vessel, not the cook.  I dinnae, do not know where all the servers are in the galley, and the cook is in bed for the night.  Now you have me talking like you.”  He grinned as he gave her a light kiss.  “Be happy I was able to come away with what I did.”

         “I’m sorry.  I am grateful, truly I am.  Do you have something to drink stashed in one of your pockets?”

         “As a matter of fact I do.”  Gareth reached into another pocket and produced a covered jar of water.  “I’m sorry it’s not tea, this will just have to do.”

         “Thank you.”

         She soon had the bread and cheese gone along with an apple and the water.  Gareth was surprised with her appetite.  “Did you have anything to eat before you left the homestead this morning?”

         Satisfied, she looked up at him a smile on her face.  “I dinnae ha’e time, I was too busy making sure we dinnae leave anything behind we wanted in our new home.”

         He went to sit on the window seat and faced her.  “You are happy about this voyage?”

         “Yes I am.  I’m going home to Scotland, if only for a little while.”

         “We will meet Captain Alexander in Rhode Island Colony in a week’s time.”

         “That’s wonderful.  He has agreed to be your partner?”

         “I am sure he has.  He has not said as much, but we discussed ship designs at some length before you arrived.  He did say he has a surprise for me when we get there.  He comes from a family of shipbuilders you know.”

         “I dinnae know.  I know he look over your designs.”

         “Yes, his grandfather was a shipbuilder before he died in a terrible accident.  His mother inherited the shipyard, but David took it over, and made it a thriving business again.”  After a moment he asked, “Are you tired?  Would you like to go back to bed?”

         “I think I will.  I’m not real tired, but I do like the feel of you holding me close.”  She shed the wrapper and climbed back in bed.  She left the extra blankets.  She still felt chilled, which she knew Gareth would take care of as soon as was beside her.

         Morning.  She opened her eyes and studied her husband’s features in the dim morning light.  Then on impulse, she brought her lips to his, to find instant reaction from him.

         “Feeling better this morning?”

         “Much.  I hope it’s nicer today.  I dinnae want a repeat of yesterday.”  Gareth twined himself with her, as he nibbled on an ear and made his way to her lips.

         “Ye are very tempting to an innocent maid such as me.”  She had an impish grin on her face, which caused him to chuckle.

         “I’m glad you are feeling so chipper this morning.  Would you like a stroll around the deck after we eat?”

         “Yes, that would be lovely.  Hopefully my cloak will be dry.”

         He gave her his redingote since hers was still very damp.  He gave it to Jedidiah when he served them breakfast, which he should have done the day before, but he had been more concerned about her than he had been about her cloak.

         “At least the sun is shining today.  After the last week I dinnae ken I would ever see the sun again.”

         “It’s still cold though, which it will be for a few more months yet.”  Gareth held her hand in the crook of his arm as they strolled about the deck.

         Ian came up to them and joined them in their morning stroll.  “Ainsley me sweet, Gareth telt me ye came on board with a chill.  How are ye this morn?”

         “Fine Papa.  Jedidiah did his best to hurry me along yesterday, but I fear he was as wet and cold as I when we arrived.”

         “He’s used to it.  He’s been on board a ship most of his life.  The wet and cold do not bother him,” Gareth said.

         “I suppose when ye are in it all the time, but I’m not.”  She walked with her father by her side, very happy that she was on her way back to Scotland.

         “Stubborn.  I dinnae ken why you dinnae just come with us when we left yesterday morn,” Ian said.

         “I wanted to make sure we dinnae leave anything behind Papa.  We are not coming back you know.”

         “Jist like your mother.  Her stubbornness caused her daith.”

         She stopped and looked at her father, as his words caused her features to turn pale.  “Ye niver telt me what caused mother’s daith.”  She knew her mother had not been well for some time, but it had been only in her chest.  She believed fresh air would soon put things to rights.

         “Your mother, God rest her soul, was sicker than she let on.  She would not admit it.  Even to herself.  When some of the women from the village would give her some herbs for the wheezing in her chest, she telt them it wasna necessary, she would soon be rid of the chest problems.  The fact is she got worse.  When you were at lessons with the vicar, she died.  I wouldna leave her.  I knew she wouldna be getting well.  But she made me promise not to worry ye, and let ye go to the vicar’s for yer lessons.  She was so proud of ye.  Ye done something she niver did in learning to read.”

         “I dinnae ken.”  The revelation shook.  “She always said she was getting better.”

         “I ken.  And ye ha’e her stubborn nature.  I pray it will not be the daith of ye either.”  Ian had a look of tenderness on his face as he looked upon his only child.

         “I will not let it,” said Gareth a look of firm resolve on his face.

         “I will be getting back to me duties then,” Ian said.

         “I saw some very interesting things go into the chest when we left your home.  Was that part of your studies with the vicar?”  Gareth looked down at her a twinkle in his eyes as he remembered the various objects, which found their way there.

         “Not exactly.”  She hesitated, before she laughed.  “I wondered how long it would be before ye asked me about that.”

         “Well?”

         “I had a lot of questions for the vicar that he couldna answer.  Then there was the experimentation.”  Ainsley looked up to see his interested expression.

         “Experimentation?”

         “Yes.  I wanted to know how to use a slingshot like David did.  I made it myself.  I was good at it.  But there wasna any practical use for it.  And I wondered how hot a furnace could get when I read the story about the three men in the fiery furnace.  I went to the town baker, but it just couldna get as hot as I hoped.  The baker was curious about why I wanted to know about ovens.  Things like that.”

         He stared at her.  “So you are pretty good with a slingshot.”

         “Would you like to see me?”

         “Not at the moment.  Maybe someday.  I suppose you are going to teach our children what you learned?”

         She looked up into his eyes, which shone with his mirth.  “Why not?  All children are very curious.  Or at least I was.  I dinnae ken about ye.”

         “I am afraid that I missed that chapter in my education.”

         “You should try it sometime.  I will teach ye if ye like.  It’s real easy to use.  Unfortunately, I had nothing to aim at, though there were a few boys around I would have loved to use the slingshot on, but there’s this law that says it’s against the law to kill someone, especially without justification.  I thought I had it several times, but mother just told me to ignore them, and that someday they would be eating their words.”

         He paused at the rail and stared at her again.

         She looked up at him and saw his expression.  “I am not shy or timid.”

         “I know.  It is going to be very interesting to see what kind of children we have.”

         “They willna be shy.”

         “I doubt they will.”  He left her at their cabin and went back to his duties.  He chuckled to himself about the things he had learned about his not so shy wife.  Then his thoughts turned to other matters, ships and cargoes.  He would like to claim the whole cargo as his, but he would bide his time.  As soon as he had more ships built, those cargos would be his.

         It was early evening when Ainsley set her Bible aside, a smile on her face when he entered their cabin.  “At last.  I thought I wouldna see ye till morning.”

         He watched her put the Bible away in her trunk.  “A man must sleep sometime, and have a proper meal.  Jedidiah is bringing it now.  I am sorry I could not have lunch with you, but the seas have a heavy roll to them, and I had to make sure the sails were secure.  I would hate to have the ship sink this close to the completion of our plans.”

         Jedidiah entered with their dinner, and Ainsley was grateful it was more than she had the previous night.

         “You have had a large appetite lately.”

         “It’s all this fresh air, no doubt.  I know that as a child I always ate more after I had been on the moors.  Then too, it could be the excitement of the voyage.  I always eat a lot when I’m excited.”

         “You also talk a lot when you are excited.”

         “I canna help it.  But if ye prefer me to be quieter, I will endeavor to do so.”

         “No it is fine.  I like knowing what is on your mind.  As long as I can understand what you are saying.”

         “That’s not what I perceived when I first came aboard your ship.”

         Gareth sat back and sipped at his coffee, while Ainsley drank her tea, their meal finished.  “That was almost a year ago.  A lot has taken place in that time.”

         Ainsley was quiet as she thought about all that had happened.  She looked over at the window seat then back at him.  “You dinnae ken David is right do you, and we have been targeted by a group of pirates?”

         “I do not know.  I talked with other captains and they have not seen any trouble, where we have been threatened twice.”

         “If I were a betting man like me faither, I’d wager that Mr. Greenfield is somehow connected with all this.  Look at the way he wouldna give you the shipyard and business.”

         “David was right.  The contract said that I must be married and have produced a child by the end of seven years.  The fact that you lost the child made the contract null and void.  And even if it had proven true that you were pregnant when we returned from the second voyage, it would not have mattered.  I still had not gotten a child in the allotted time.”

         “Are you disappointed I am not pregnant?  I know we both thought there was the possibility.”  Ainsley looked over to him a thoughtful look on her face.

         “No, I am not disappointed.  It was much too soon for you to be pregnant.  I did not want to put you in your grave.”

         Ainsley finished with her tea, and stood to look out the windows at the vast ocean before them.  “Wind is high.”  She noted the large waves, and realized for the first time the heavy roll of the ship.

         He went to stand behind her his hands on her shoulders as he looked out.  “Yes.  I worked hard to keep the sails in good condition.  Though this wind will push us along at a greater speed, and we should reach our destination sooner.”

         Ainsley looked down at the window seat, and up into his face.  “Do you want children?”

         “Yes.”  He brought his lips down to hers, as a knock sounded on the door.

         She sat on the window seat, while Gareth turned at the sound and called, “Enter”.

         She watched as Jedidiah came in to clear away the meal they just finished.  “I think I am going to turn in.”

         “I will join you soon.  I need to enter the day’s log.”  He watched as she took up her nightgown and went into the bathing chamber.  “Would you like me to unbutton you?”

         “Yes please.”

         He followed her into the bathing chamber and soon had the buttons unfastened.  His fingers lingered on her silky skin and brushed a light kiss on her lips before he went to work on the log entries for the day.

         He watched as she emerged from the bathing chamber, crossed the cabin to the bunk, and plummeted beneath the covers to stay warm.

         He finished with the logs, and blew out the lamp.  With the cabin in darkness, he shed his clothes and climbed in beside her.  Ainsley turned as he joined her.