Convictions (21 page)

“I understand you are in need of surgical supplies,” said the captain, not unkindly.

“Yes, sir,” she said, glancing up at him, then quickly at the floor.

“You can look at me, my dear,” he said, taking a draught from his mug.

She raised her eyes to his amused ones. His face was rugged and a bit weathered. His smile reminded her of her father’s and she relaxed a little.

“That’s better.” He swept his hand toward a closed cabinet. “There is where you’ll probably find what you require. Take what you need.”

“Yes, sir,” she said, inspecting the collection of apothecary items and medical instruments.

Within moments she’d spied the needle and suturing materials. She selected some and draped bandage strips over her forearm. As she did so, her eyes fastened on a small, intricately designed wooden box about the size of a thick Bible, just above the supply shelf. She glanced over at the captain. He was still engaged with his work.

She ran her hand over the carved box momentarily, then dropped her hand. The box had a tiny keyhole with key. Her father had crafted a trinket box like it for her mother’s scant bit of jewellery and locks of hair from all her children. Her mother had added a curl from her husband’s fair head after he’d died. Jennie thought longingly of her family.

“Anything else then?” the captain asked, peering at her.

She started guiltily and showed him what she’d chosen. “All I need now are the bowls, the spoon and hot water,” she answered.

“Yes, yes,” he said, impatiently draining the contents of his mug. “The cabin boy will have those for you shortly.” He wiped his arm across his mouth and turned back to his writing. “Bring back what you don’t use, please, lass, even if I’m not here.”

“I will. Thank you, sir,” she said, dipping into a little curtsy. “And thank you too, for rescuing Kate.”

“We’ll see how you do with stitching her and making her well,” he said. He scribbled for a moment, then paused with his pen and gave her a swift glance. “For a young girl, not to mention an English one at that, you may be worth your salt, after all.”

“I hope so sir,” she said. She waited for him to speak again, but he’d already gone back to his entries.

“Were the things from the rafts useful, sir?” she dared to ask.

“I’m unaware of such as you speak. I haven’t seen anything yet.” He scowled into his papers, his shaggy hair falling into his eyes. “But I’m sure time will tell.”

As she scurried out of the cabin and closed the door, Jennie blew out a breath of embarrassment. She hadn’t seen the salvaged items either, but she hoped they were useful, since she’d spouted off to the captain in an effort to make herself and her companions look worthy. For all she knew, everything the men had found was only good for the rubbish bin.

Except for maybe what Red Bull had stashed away. As she hurried back to Kate and Alice, her mind flicked over the red-headed brute stuffing his pockets. She scowled, determined to find out what he’d taken. But where had he hidden it?

All at once, Nate fell into step with her.

“Something amiss?” he asked.

Jennie was taken aback for a moment, but here was her chance to tell Nate what she suspected about Red Bull.

“A bit.” She glanced about. Red Bull was deep in conversation with Davis down the deck by the jolly boat. No one else lingered nearby.

“Well, I’m not sure exactly, but I thought you should know, even though it may mean nothing.” A breath caught in her throat.

“Go on.” His gentle smile dazzled her. She found herself tongue-tied for a moment. But she recovered and told him of Red Bull’s actions while searching the wreckage. When she was done, Nate flicked a speculative glance toward Red Bull. Jennie felt apprehensive.

“Probably making off with something valuable,” Nate agreed. “I’ll see what I can find out and handle it,” he said, heading off without another word in the direction of Red Bull. Jennie groaned. She hadn’t wanted Nate to confront Red Bull, only to keep watch.

Jennie rushed back to Kate and Alice. Alice sat next to a steaming bowl of water, swabbing Kate’s body sores. Kate was still unresponsive. Jennie knelt to begin making the poultice.

She and Alice worked quietly together for a time, and then Alice began whistling softly. Jennie started humming to the tune to help pass the time, and was soon whistling along.

Suddenly, Davis was before them, shouting. “Halt your whistling, you heathen lasses! Don’t you bleeding well know not to whistle on a ship?”

Stunned to silence, Alice froze. Jennie stopped drawing a suture mid-stitch.

He bent right into their faces and cursed at them. Spittle flew from the first mate’s mouth as he yelled. Sailors nearby crossed themselves.

Meadows and Nate hurried over from where they’d been speaking with Red Bull.

“They’re sorry, Lieutenant.” Meadows guided the officer by the shoulder away from Jennie and Alice. “They
didn’t
know any better. But now they
do
. I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

Davis brushed Meadow’s hand off roughly. “See that it doesn’t,” he snarled, clenching his fists. “We don’t need you barmy bunch of English halfwits invoking another adverse wind,” he railed on. “We don’t need no more harm to the ship or to the crew.”

“Lieutenant Davis, stand down.” Captain MacGregor said calmly, appearing at his side.

The lieutenant flashed a glance of reproach at the captain, a menacing glare at Jennie and Alice and a look of hatred at Nate. Then he stomped off. The captain glowered at the rest of his crew, and they scuttled back to their tasks.

Tears had formed in Alice’s eyes. Jennie hugged her, saying, “It’s all right. I don’t know why whistling is bad, but we didn’t mean any harm.”

Nate crouched beside them. “Tradition is that you must never whistle on a ship for fear it brings bad luck,” he explained, as if he was trying hard not to sound too exasperated. “Seems they’ve been having nothing but bad luck their whole trip out.”

He nodded to Angus. “Isn’t that right?”

Angus shrugged and departed.

“But why do they think that about whistling?” asked Jennie.

“It’s what all sailors believe – a longstanding superstition that whistling on a ship will summon gale force winds,” Nate said.

Alice gulped. “I won’t ever do it again.”

“I’m sure you won’t,” Nate said, patting her head. “Whistling women and crowing hens are neither fit for God nor men.” Nate quoted a saying Jennie hadn’t heard before. “They’re already feeling jumpy with all you women on board – also considered a bad omen.”

“What about the bosun’s whistle then?” Alice asked shyly.

“That’s not the same as a person whistling a tune,” Nate explained. “It’s actually a pipe used to give commands because its high pitch can be heard over the sounds of the sea and bad weather.”

Alice thought about it for a minute. “And for emergencies like when we needed to be rescued.”

“Indeed.”

She gave Nate a brief smile and turned back to spread the poultice on Kate’s injuries.

Jennie stood to face him. “Do you believe it?”

He gave her a puzzled expression. “What? About crowing hens, or whistling women?”

Jennie frowned. “No, about whistling on a ship bringing bad luck.”

“Maybe I would if I were a sailor.” He shrugged and walked away.

As she turned back to nursing Kate, Jennie mulled their
conversation over, but couldn’t really make any sense of Nate’s answer. True, he worked as a guard, but he definitely had the ability to work on water.

At last, satisfied she’d done all she could for her friend, Jennie headed to the captain’s cabin to return the unused supplies.

The heavy door was open when she arrived. She knocked tentatively, but there was no response. She stepped inside quickly and deposited the supplies back on the shelf below the small, carved box. With a quick glance, she noted the captain had removed the key. Stepping back outside, she saw him walking back to his cabin and dipped her head in thanks. At the same time, Nate passed her with a smile.

“Wait,” Jennie called after him.

He stopped mid-stride.

“Can I ask you something?” Jennie looked around to see if anyone else was listening. “In private.”

He raised an eyebrow.

“Do you know where we’re going for sure?” she asked.

“To Tenerife,” he said.

“That is good news.” Jennie felt relieved to know at least that much had been decided.

“I think the captain has had enough of whistling and of women,” said Nate with a teasing lilt to his voice. “He doesn’t want to keep any of us any longer than he has to, and southern Africa would be too far.”

Jennie grimaced and felt the heat rise in her face. “Do you know what happens to us after that?”

Nate shook his head. “It may depend on what ships are there when we arrive.”

“Can you tell me what the captain knows about us?”

“He knows you’re all convicts, if that’s what you mean.”

Jennie had already known that, but still it was hard to hear it from Nate’s lips. What must he think of her?

“Will he put us on another convict ship for Van Diemen’s Land, do you think, or maybe send us back to jail in England?”

“The captain hasn’t decided yet, and it could take some time to learn what ships are en route.” Nate’s eyes showed compassion. “I’m sorry I can’t tell you more.”

Jennie couldn’t say anything, as Nate looked at her steadily. Her mouth didn’t seem to work.

“He knows his duty,” Nate added gently.

Jennie dropped her chin to her chest and fiddled with the cloth in her hand.

Nate added, “But he’s also not overly fond of us Brits and would like to stick it to us, including our legal system, apparently.”

Her head bounced back up. Maybe there was a spark of hope. Then she recalled that Scottish and British people had similar laws.

Nate answered her question without her asking. “Anything to thwart English legal authorities, I’d guess.” He had a grim smile. “Though he wouldn’t want to lose his commission. I don’t know what the outcome will be.”

“What did Meadows say?”

“Meadows is a fair man, but it’s naught to do with him. It’s Captain MacGregor’s responsibility to work out with the authorities.” He looked out to sea.

Jennie twisted the cloth in her hands. Did she dare ask Nate how he personally felt?

Before she could ask, Nate said, “Meadows and I spoke to Chilcott – your Red Bull – about what you saw on the rafts.”

“And?” Jennie sucked in her breath.

“He denied finding or hiding anything he hasn’t shared.”

Jennie scowled. “He would then, wouldn’t he? I know he took something for himself.”

“Chilcott offered to let Meadows search him, but it was plain he had nothing hidden on him.” Nate shrugged. “We’ll have to let it go.”

Jennie heaved a sigh.

“At least for now,” Nate added.

She glanced around to locate Red Bull. He and some sailors were moving barrels and crates from the jolly boat to the area around the mainmast.

“Now he’ll have it in even worse for me.”

She wished Meadows and Nate hadn’t said anything to Red Bull, just somehow caught him, instead. She was sure Red Bull had been doing what he ought not to be.

Nate touched her shoulder.

“We said
we’d
seen him, but watch yourself, Jennie,” he warned. “I think he suspects you’re the one who saw him.”

“What did he say?”

Nate shrugged with a mild shake to his head. “Nothing you want to hear. But he did accuse you of spying on him in his usual unpleasant way. He may retaliate.”

Jennie nodded solemnly. “I’ll be careful.”

“Good. He’s a cruel bastard. We’ll all have to watch our backs.” Nate squeezed her shoulder and was gone.

Jennie stood for some moments, feeling the warmth on her shoulder where Nate’s hand had been and contemplating how to stay out of Red Bull’s way.

“Jennie, look!” Alice called. “Kate’s stirring.”

Jennie rushed back. Bewildered, the Irish girl looked at Jennie and Alice. Jennie dropped down beside her. “Kate. Oh, I’m so glad to see you’ve come awake.”

“What’s happened?” she asked.

“We’ve been shipwrecked,” Alice said. “Don’t you remember?”

She groaned. “Ooh, my head. It hurts something fearful.”

“You’ve been coshed,” Alice explained.

Kate tried to lift her arm and groaned again. “It won’t move. I have no use of my limb,” she fretted.

“It’s all right, Kate. You’re hurt, and you need to rest.” Jennie eased her back down.

“You must lie still,” said Alice, softly stroking Kate’s forehead.

“But where are we?” she repeated. The fear had not left her eyes.

“We’ve been rescued by another ship, the
Lady Margaret
,” Jennie said.