[Yukon Quest 01] - Treasures Of The North (14 page)

‘‘And what of the other women on board? Are you locking them up as well?’’ Karen asked snidely. ‘‘Are we all to be prisoners merely because we wear petticoats?’’

Grace could see the captain had reached the end of his patience. ‘‘Perhaps we will feel better after some rest,’’ she said, putting her hand on Karen’s other arm. With Doris on one side and Grace on the other, it rather looked as if they were holding Karen back. Perhaps they were, for Grace could clearly sense her friend’s desire for a verbal boxing match.

‘‘I believe Miss Hawkins is right,’’ Doris said, nodding enthusiastically. ‘‘A nap would be a proper thing for all of us.’’

Grace exchanged a look with Peter and gave him the tiniest smile. He seemed like a nice enough man. Pity that he and Karen had to be so constantly at odds.

To her surprise, the captain’s expression softened, and he bowed before her and then nodded to Karen and Doris. ‘‘As I said, we will shortly be underway.’’ He took his leave without so much as another word or look. Grace was almost relieved when he closed the door to their very plain cabin.

Releasing her hold on Karen, she wasn’t at all surprised when Karen flew to the door and opened it as if to call out some further retort. Pausing, however, she seemed to realize how brazen she’d become. Slamming the door, Karen slid the lock in place.

‘‘Have you ever known such an ill-mannered oaf? I cannot abide that man’s company, even in moderation.’’

‘‘So we’ve noticed,’’ Doris said, smiling patiently. ‘‘He does seem to have an easy time of setting you off.’’

‘‘It’s his entire manner. He believes us to be subservient and incapable of tending to our own welfare. He thinks us scandalous for our unescorted travel—and he called us ‘trouble’!’’

‘‘No, dear, I believe he called you, in particular, ‘trouble,’ ’’ Doris replied.

‘‘Exactly. He’s hateful and mean-spirited.’’ Karen pulled out her hat pin and jabbed it at the air. ‘‘That’s what I’d like to give you, Captain Colton.’’

Grace couldn’t help but smile. Her friend’s rage at the man was a most uncommon reaction. Generally Karen held her tongue and her temper. She knew what was expected of a lady, and she had been schooled in genteel manners and acceptable decorum. Grace had never seen her overstep those bounds— until now.

‘‘I believe the captain is merely trying to attend to our safety,’’ Grace said, smoothing down the windblown collar of her brown-and cream-colored afternoon dress.

‘‘And we did not exactly endear ourselves to him with our additional luggage and goods,’’ Doris reminded her.

‘‘Everyone is shipping an exaggerated amount of goods. It’s required of them,’’ Karen replied. ‘‘Ours should be no different. Besides, I heard it said that one of those women of ill repute was even bringing a sewing machine. How necessary is that?’’

‘‘Well, perhaps she’s in the process of changing occupations,’’ Doris suggested with a pondering look that made Grace giggle. ‘‘Either way, it’s not of any further concern. Dear me, five days from now you will never have to lay eyes on the man again.’’

‘‘Thank the Lord for that,’’ Karen stated, giving her hat a toss to the tiny wooden table.

‘‘We should thank God for a great deal more,’’ Grace interjected. ‘‘Did you see the thousands lining the docks, just pleading to be allowed passage? Why, I heard the captain say that some men even jumped off the docks and tried to swim out after the ship and sneak aboard.’’

‘‘Gold fever will make a man do ridiculous things,’’ Doris agreed. ‘‘And yes, we should thank God for our passage and our safety. I believe Captain Colton will work hard to ensure our welfare. He seems a most conscientious young man.’’

‘‘Well, he gets no such kind word from me,’’ Karen replied. ‘‘He’s given us a cabin hardly bigger than a wash closet and insisted that it be our cell for the next five days. There is no privacy whatsoever here. A person cannot even tend to their needs without an audience.’’

‘‘We’ll make do,’’ Doris replied. ‘‘Mercy, if we can’t figure out how to afford ourselves that much consideration, we are not half the women I believe us to be.’’

‘‘What do you suggest?’’ Karen questioned. ‘‘I mean, just look at this place.’’

Grace followed the sweep of Karen’s arm with her own scrutinizing gaze. It was indeed a small cabin, probably only eight by eight. Two bunks had been built against the wall. One butted up against the other to make an
L
shape. Other than this, the only furnishing was a small crudely fashioned table and two chairs over which a lantern hung to provide their only light. The entire cabin, including the beds, table, and chairs had been whitewashed. Grace supposed it also helped to make the windowless room seem brighter.

At least it appears clean,
Grace thought.
We could be stuck
in a dirty steerage area where everyone lives atop everyone else
. Here the room might seem understated, but it was their own hiding place.

‘‘There aren’t even enough chairs for us to all sit around the table together.’’

‘‘I suppose that will do away with any plans for a game of cards,’’ Doris teased.

The things they had deemed necessary for the trip had been packed together into two steamer trunks and positioned against the wall. The sight of them gave Grace an idea. ‘‘We could use one of the trunks for a third seat. It’s very nearly the same height as the chairs and that way we could all eat together.’’

‘‘I suppose for five days we can endure most anything,’’ Karen muttered. ‘‘And as long as we keep the door bolted, we won’t have to endure Captain Colton’s attention.’’

‘‘He is a dashing young man,’’ Doris said with a smile.

Grace felt her cheeks flush, for she’d already thought the same thing. Turning toward the trunk, she hid her face for fear of being questioned.

‘‘Too bad he doesn’t have a decent personality to go along with those dashing looks,’’ Karen remarked. ‘‘Perhaps God thought giving him both would rob a more deserving man of at least a positive personality.’’

Grace said nothing, but even hours later when the walls of the cabin began to close in on her, she was still considering Karen’s words.

I think him to have a rather nice personality. He’s stern, true
enough, but there is something about him that appeals to me.
Mr. Paxton is stern and demanding as well, but there is a cruelty
in his actions that is lacking in Captain Colton’s demeanor
.

Thinking of Martin Paxton, Grace couldn’t help but worry after her parents. Were they safe? Had he hurt them? She tried not to let the thoughts give way to fears, but inevitably images of Paxton had a way of tearing apart her confidence.

Tossing back and forth in the rock-hard berth, Grace finally gave up trying to sleep. Pushing back the covers, she slipped over the side of the berth and climbed down from the upper bunk. Fully clothed for fear of the ship springing a leak and requiring them to make some midnight escape, Grace tiptoed to the door. She had to have some fresh air. Even if she only opened the door for a moment.

Catching her toe against one of the chairs, Grace covered her mouth with her hand to keep from crying out. Pain shot up her leg for a moment, but she ignored it as best she could. She glanced over her shoulders to make certain she hadn’t awakened Karen or Doris, but in the darkness, it was impossible to see.

Such blackness,
she thought. It was rather like a tomb. The feeling caused the hairs on the back of her neck to prickle. The stale salt air, combined with the moaning and shifting of the ship, left Grace in an alarming state of discomfort.

Just a little fresh air
. That can’t possibly hurt anyone. She slid back the lock and opened the door ever so slowly. Dim light flooded the room to her surprise. Outside in the narrow passage a wall fixture had been lit, much to Grace’s delight. To her disappointment, however, the air inside the enclosed passageway was just as heavy as that of the cabin. Dare she go up to the deck?

She considered Captain Colton’s words of warning—his orders were to be followed under penalty of expulsion. Surely he would understand. Beneath his gruff exterior, he seemed like a reasonable man.

Quietly, she pulled the cabin door closed behind her and decided to risk it. The feeling of being sealed in her own grave was much too great. It didn’t help to have the snarling face of Martin Paxton haunting her sleep. The nightmares that concerned him were of no matter to anyone else, but Grace instinctively knew that this man would not give up without a fight. She felt certain inside her heart that he would seek to cause her family great harm.

Just thinking of the man caused Grace’s pulse to race. What if he had already exacted his revenge? What if he had ruined her family and they were even now penniless and destitute? Her breathing quickened as she picked up her pace. As if Paxton himself were chasing her, Grace hurried up the steps and flung open the passageway door.

Cold damp air rushed over her face and body. It had a sort of calming effect that caused Grace to lean back against the frame, panting. Closing her eyes, Grace tried to settle her spirit. Prayer seemed difficult.

‘‘Lord, I want to trust you. I want to believe I’m doing the right thing,’’ she whispered.

‘‘What are you doing out here?’’ Captain Colton’s voice growled out, demanding an answer.

Opening her eyes slowly, Grace swallowed the lump of fear in her throat. She could see the displeasure in his face. His jaw was set firm and his eyes narrowed in a menacing way.

‘‘I couldn’t breathe,’’ she said softly. ‘‘The air was so heavy and the room began to close in on me. I didn’t seek to be disobedient. Please don’t be angry.’’

He stepped forward and Grace cowered back, flinching as if he might hit her. Her action stopped him in midstep.

‘‘I won’t hurt you, if that’s what you think.’’ His expression softened. ‘‘I would never strike a woman. Let me escort you out on the deck.’’ He extended his hand and Grace hesitated. ‘‘What is it?’’ he asked softly.

‘‘I don’t wish to cause you any trouble. You were so reluctant to take us on board, I won’t have it said that I caused your disapproval,’’ Grace replied. ‘‘I’ll just go back to our cabin.’’

‘‘Nonsense,’’ he said, reaching for her. His grip was firm but gentle. ‘‘I promise not to say a single word about this to anyone. You will not bear any punishment from this on my part.’’

‘‘I have your word?’’

His lips curved into a smile and his eyes fairly sparkled. ‘‘You, Miss Hawkins, may have my word.’’

Grace allowed him to lead her to the deck rail. An invigorating breeze blew across her face and Grace breathed deeply and felt instantly refreshed.

‘‘You are a puzzle to me, Miss Hawkins. I am usually a decent judge of character, but you have me completely stumped. You are nothing like your friend, Miss Pierce.’’

Grace smiled. ‘‘Karen has spent the last ten years as my governess. It’s a wonder that I am not more like her. I always admired her spirit and tried to imitate her.’’

Peter shook his head. ‘‘Do not continue with that line of study. It would do you a grave injustice.’’

‘‘You like her so little?’’

‘‘I find her annoying and troublesome.’’

Grace smiled, for her father had once said the same thing—or nearly so. ‘‘She is spirited and driven. Men seem to find that annoying in a woman.’’

Peter’s brow raised. ‘‘So have you given yourself to the league of women who believe themselves to be poorly used by men?’’

Grace could only think of Martin Paxton and the smile left her face. ‘‘Perhaps only by some men.’’

‘‘Perhaps this is only true for some women,’’ Peter countered.

Grace looked out at the black water, unable to discern much of anything. ‘‘I have myself been the victim of cruelty, Captain Colton. I did nothing to premeditate the action, but because I am a woman, I had no say in the matter.’’

‘‘So you are running away?’’ he asked, then added, ‘‘I don’t believe I would have thought you capable of such an action. No doubt your companions have influenced your choice.’’

‘‘My companions have saved my life.’’

He turned and the collar of his shirt fluttered in the breeze, widening the opening at the neck. Grace watched in fascination as the wind toyed with his shirt and hair. In spite of the travelers who walked about the ship’s deck, she suddenly felt very alone with this man.

‘‘I should go,’’ she said.

‘‘No, stay a bit longer. I must know what you are running from.’’

Grace wondered if it could hurt to tell him the truth. Surely now that they were on their way to Alaska she could honestly explain her circumstance and not expect him to put her off at the next port. Her heart told her she could trust this man, and there rose up a longing inside of her to talk about her escape.

‘‘I’m afraid you would simply find it unacceptable,’’ she began. ‘‘A dishonoring of my father’s wishes is where it all begins.’’

‘‘Oh,’’ he said, leaning casually against the rail. ‘‘How so?’’

‘‘My father arranged a marriage for me to one of his many business partners. The man was considerably older and I had never met him. When we did meet, I was still troubled by the arrangement but was willing to give it my best.’’

‘‘I suppose he was ugly and fat?’’

‘‘Not at all,’’ Grace replied, shuddering as she remembered the severely handsome face of Martin Paxton.

‘‘Then what caused you to flee?’’

A steel band seemed to tighten around Grace’s chest, making breathing difficult. She hated even thinking about Paxton and his angry words to her the night of their engagement.

‘‘He was unkind,’’ she said softly, not wishing to go into the details of that event.

‘‘Unkind?’’ Peter questioned.

He studied her for a moment, then reached out to touch her cheek. She flinched and moved away. He frowned, then a look of understanding came into his eyes. Grace flushed at his expression. He knew.

‘‘He struck you.’’ He said the words matter-of-factly, not expecting any admission on her part. ‘‘The brute. What was his supposed justification for hitting you?’’

Grace licked her lips, tasting the salty air. She looked once again to the water. ‘‘He attempted liberties with me and I struck him first. This angered him and he hit me quite hard. It knocked me down and left a horrid bruise. Afterward, he gripped me tightly and shook me, promising worse if I refused him in any way or ever laid a hand to him again.’’ Her voice broke. ‘‘I wanted to do what my father asked of me, but I could not. I could not marry that man.’’