He heard a door open behind him. Nick turned and found Captain Wright gazing across the room at his daughter. “Morning, Elise. How goes it with you?”
“The waves are rocking the boat pretty good, so I’m fighting for balance, but other than that, I’m doing well, Papa.” She went to kiss him, still holding the spatula in hand. “Hot cakes and sausages in fifteen minutes.” She glanced at the clock. “Make that fourteen.”
“Sounds delicious. I’ll be there.” He looked at Nick. “Ready for a new day and port?”
“I am. I’ve only sailed up this way a time or two. They didn’t have their new canal in Duluth yet last time I was here, so I came in by way of Superior, Wisconsin.”
“The new canal makes it very nice. It hasn’t come about without issues, to be sure. The rivalry between those two towns goes way back and probably won’t ever be set aside. Everyone wants to see their own city succeed and the other fail. I say there’s plenty of land and sea for everyone.” The captain pulled on his billed cap. “I’ll be checking a few things out, Elise, and then I’ll be back in . . . twelve minutes.”
She laughed. “See to it. When the bells ring, don’t be late, or I’m afraid Nick might very well eat your share.”
Her father chuckled as he headed out. “That will be the day.”
Duluth Harbor welcomed the Mary Elise as it did all ships—grateful for the product she brought and happy to have trade increased. Elise secured her kitchen and found Sam. As second mate, he was responsible for the ship’s inventory and shopping unless otherwise informed, as she had done in Oswego.
“Sam, here’s my list. Papa said it will be morning before we’ll head out with the grain shipment. You might talk to him to see what time we’ll set sail. Could be you can wait to secure these things until tomorrow.”
“Thanks, Miss Elise. I’ll talk to him. Do you have anything else you wanted me to pick up?”
She shook her head. “I have need of some sewing supplies, but I’ll fetch those. I know exactly where to find them and what I need.” She smiled. “But thanks for asking.”
She headed for the gangplank and heard her father talking to Nick. “Come on to the house later, if you like. I’m sure Elise won’t mind one more for supper.”
“That’s all right. I’m happy to stay aboard the Mary Elise.”
“Tired of my cooking already?” Elise asked.
Nick looked horrified. “Not at all. I . . . well, I don’t want to intrude on your time alone. I know your father is very important to you.”
She laughed. “It’s all right, Nick. I wasn’t serious. But Papa’s right, you are very welcome to eat with us.”
“I have watch tonight, so I’ll have to decline. But maybe another time.”
Elise found herself wanting to push back the lock of brown hair that had fallen across his left eye. Instead, she continued to the docks. “I’ll see you at the house, Papa.”
Duluth appeared no different from when she’d been here in early June. The trip took twelve to fifteen days, depending on the weather and other issues, to get from Oswego to Duluth, so with the return trip, it was nearly a month. They could usually count on eight to ten round trips each year, but this came at the mercy of the weather and the lake herself.
Elise made her way to the small cottage her father had purchased for their family. She saw her neighbor Mina Osbourne hanging clothes on a clothesline and waved.
“Welcome back,” Mina declared, fighting against the wind to pin up her wet sheets.
Elise put down her bag and came to the rescue. “Here, let me help.”
“Thanks so much. I love to hang the laundry out when it’s this windy because by the time I put up the last piece, the first one is dry.” Mina laughed and finished pinning the sheet to the line. “How about some coffee?”
“Let me set my things in the house, and I’ll come join you for a cup. Thanks.”
Elise hurried to their cottage next door and slipped the key into the lock. Everything was as it had been well over a month ago. She put her bag in her bedroom, then came out to the kitchen stove and began the process of starting a fire. Once she had plenty of fuel and a good blaze going, Elise headed next door.
“It seems like you’ve been gone for so long,” Mina declared.
“Well, I was. We went to my sister’s wedding, and then an accident caused me further delay.”
“I want to hear everything. It just isn’t as exciting with you gone.”
Elise smiled. “Well, the wedding was everything Caroline hoped it to be. She wore a lovely gown of lace and satin. There was ruching on the bodice and sleeves. Oh, and it had a very long train and veil. She looked beautiful.”
“And the groom?” Mina handed Elise a cup of coffee and nodded to a small pitcher of cream and the sugar bowl. “Was he dashing?”
“I suppose he was handsome enough. We really know very little about him. He’s wealthy and manages several of his father’s factories that make tools. Although I seriously doubt he knows anything about the manufacturing aspect. Caroline says he has a college education and is very well off due to his grandfather leaving him his fortune. Or, at least, the fortune was to come to him upon his marriage to Caroline.”
“So, was it a love match, then?” Mina asked.
“It seemed to be. Caroline was quite content, and Nelson—that’s her husband’s name, Nelson Worthington—seemed equally happy.” Elise poured a little cream in her coffee.
“I thought maybe your uncle had arranged it.”
“Well, he did bring them together, with Aunt Martha’s help. I’m sure Aunt Martha had planned it out for some time. She tried to marry me off while I was there.”
Mina giggled. She was five years Elise’s senior but acted more like a teenager. “And was there someone you fancied?”
Elise immediately thought of Nick. “Not that Aunt Martha introduced, but I did meet an intriguing young man when he saved my life.”
“What?” Mina came to the table with a plate of cookies and sat down. “I must have you tell me everything. What happened?”
“A freight wagon got away from its owner and careened into my uncle’s carriage. I was sitting outside of our first mate’s house when it happened. Father was inside visiting Joe, and out of nowhere this wagon appeared, and the next thing I know, I’m waking up in the street. When I looked up, I found the most beautiful blue eyes gazing down at me.”
“Do tell.”
Elise sampled the coffee and added a bit more cream. Mina’s coffee was always strong and bitter. “There isn’t too much to tell about the accident. I had a slight concussion and thought at first I’d broken my back. The doctor looked me over and ordered me to stay in bed for two weeks. I recovered much more quickly, however.”
“And the gentleman who saved you?”
“Nicodemus Clark. Father learned he had been a ship’s captain and hired him on as first mate.”
“How lucky for him that Mr. Clark came along.”
Elise grinned. “I thought it rather lucky for all of us.”
Mina giggled again. “What does he look like?”
Elise thought for a moment. Nick’s image was never far from her thoughts. “He has brown hair that looks sun-kissed. His eyes are blue, and his lips are full. He often offers the sweetest smile. He’s muscular and tall, with broad shoulders.”
“Sounds very much like my Carter,” Mina declared. “Did he take to life on the Mary Elise?”
“Very much so. He’s a good leader, and the men like him. He’s a godly man with an even temper and certain devotion to the people in his care.”
“And were you one of those people?” Mina raised her eyebrows. “Have you kissed him?”
Elise nearly choked on her coffee. “Certainly not. I hardly know him.”
Mina leaned back in her chair. “I thought it sounded like you knew him very well.”
“No.” Elise paused a moment, then offered Mina a sly smile. “But I would like to know him better.”
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“Well, maybe the accident was God’s way of bringing the two of you together.”
Elise shook her head. “I’d like to think God could have brought us together in a less painful way, but nevertheless Nick has been well received on the Mary Elise and knows the job well.” She figured it was best to get back to her sister’s wedding. “Speaking of my sister, Caroline had a lovely reception in my uncle and aunt’s garden.”
“We weren’t talking about your sister, but that’s all right. I want to hear about everything.” Mina laughed. “Were there lots of flowers?”
“There were flowers everywhere, and the guests seemed quite pleased. What the garden didn’t grow, the staff rounded up and wove into the scene. I tell you no lie, they actually bound additional flowers to the rosebushes to make them look three times as full.”
“Oh my. Can you imagine the expense?”
Elise laughed and then sobered almost as quickly. “Before we left, I was in the garden picking herbs to take with me on the ship. One of my cousin’s friends thought I was a housemaid and accosted me. Can you imagine? He had his hands all over me. I was appalled. In all my years among the seamen and rowdies on the dock, I’ve never been attacked.”
Mina looked properly shocked. “What happened?”
Elise laughed and grabbed a cookie. “I did that flip Papa taught me. The poor man looked absolutely dumbfounded. I had screamed in surprise when the man grabbed me, and Nick heard me screaming and came to my aid. I think he was surprised to see I could take care of myself so well.”
“What was Nick doing at your uncle’s house?”
“He’d come with Papa. He needed to write a letter home, and Aunt Martha helped him out with stationery, then invited him to stay for dinner.”
“He was refined enough for your aunt’s requirements?”
“Yes, he grew up in Boston in a well-off family. They were textile people, and Nick found he didn’t care for such factory work.” Elise imagined him as a young man longing for the sea.
Mina chuckled. “I think this Nick is someone to be observed. Seems to me he comes up in conversation often.”
Elise hadn’t meant to refocus their discussion on Nick, but he was quite prevalent in her thoughts. She nibbled the cookie, wondering what, if anything, that meant.
Chapter 10
Elise finished making supper and called her father to join her at the table. He waited for her to take her chair before taking his own. He looked tired.
“Are you going to get some extra rest—maybe sleep late tomorrow—since you found out they can’t load the grain until later in the day?” she asked.
“I might. Sleeping in sounds good, although I don’t know if this old body of mine will let me. It seems my clock is set to chime at four each morning.” He smiled. “There was talk of even further delays, so we might not get out of here tomorrow.”
“Well, I think the rest would do you good. The men could do any work on the Mary Elise that you need, or you could just give everyone an extra day off. They’d love you for that.”
He chuckled. “Everyone loves you when you’re givin’ what they want. Let me offer grace, and we can eat.” He bowed his head and said a simple prayer. Even his voice betrayed his weariness.
“Amen,” he concluded.
“Amen.” Elise looked up. “I hope you enjoy it.”
“I always enjoy your food. You cook just like your mother.” He dug into the casserole of homemade egg noodles and chicken in cream sauce.
Elise passed him hot bread she’d just taken out of the oven. “Mina gave us some fresh butter. I thought it’d be perfect for the bread. Plus, there’s plum jam that she canned.”
“The Osbournes are good neighbors. We need to do something special for them.”
“Maybe I can bake them a pie or a cake.” Elise slathered butter on a chunk of bread and popped a piece in her mouth. It was wonderful.
“I think you ought to take Nick a big portion of this for his supper. He’s got the evening watch, and I don’t know if he had time to arrange something for his dinner.”
“I’ll do it as soon as we’re finished. I’ll even let the dishes keep.” She smiled. “I think you did well in hiring him, Papa. I like him.”
“I’ve noticed. He likes you too.”
She laughed. “It’s nothing. He’s just the friendly sort. He’s also very intelligent.”
“He is. I like him very much, just as you do.”
Elise decided to press the matter. “You could give him more responsibility. I’m concerned about your health, Papa. You haven’t been the same since losing Mama, and I’m worried about you.”
“It’s hard to go on without her. I thought maybe time would ease the pain, but, if anything, it feels more acute. I keep expecting her to walk through the door, and when she doesn’t . . . it feels like losing her all over again.”
“You two had such a wonderful love. I envied it, and I pray I can find one like it someday.”
“You would be blessed if you found a love even half as deep,” her father replied. He stared past her as if seeing something else.
Elise wondered if he would ever feel whole again without her mother. She couldn’t help but worry about him. He wasn’t that old, yet he’d aged so much in the last year. No matter how much she tried to cheer him up, his sorrow kept a tight grip. Having never been married, much less in love, Elise knew she couldn’t begin to comprehend what he felt. She was smart enough to know, however, that a child couldn’t take the place of a beloved spouse.
After supper she grabbed a plate and heaped a large helping of the casserole onto it. She added a piece of buttered bread, as well as another plate of apple cobbler. It was a favorite of Papa’s, but he’d hardly touched it. After putting both plates on a tray, Elise covered them with a dish towel.
“I’m going to clean up when I get back,” she told Papa.
He looked up and smiled. “Sounds good. I’ll walk you partway to the Mary Elise and then come back and get ready for bed. You wait at the ship until Nick’s off his watch and ask him to walk you home. I don’t want to worry about you encountering any rowdies. Especially not that Duran.”
Elise appreciated his concern for her well-being and happily agreed.
While the afternoon in Duluth had been warm, the evening air was a bit chilly, so she pulled on her jacket. The moon was beautiful, and she knew her father would much rather be on the lake. Hopefully the delays would be short and they’d get back on the water tomorrow.
“It’s such a beautiful evening,” Elise murmured as they walked. The winds had calmed, and the reflection of the moonlight on Lake Superior was romantic. She wondered if Nick had noticed and appreciated the scene.
“Well, I think I’ll go check in with a couple of the other captains and see what’s being said about the grain loading,” her father declared halfway to the harbor. “Then I’ll head home and see you there.” He kissed the top of her head. “It’s early, so I figure most of the boys are still enjoying their evening. Hopefully you won’t be bothered.”
“I never have been before.” Elise didn’t mention that a lot of first-time problems had occurred over the last few weeks. Still, she wasn’t afraid.
She continued along the docks toward the Mary Elise at the far end and had nearly reached it when Booker Duran appeared out of the shadows.
“Well, well.” He smiled. “Imagine meeting like this under the moonlight.”
“Good evening, Mr. Duran.”
He frowned. “Oh, come now. You aren’t still mad at me, are you?”
“I have no feelings for you one way or the other, Mr. Duran. And furthermore, I really have no time to stop and talk.” She started past him, but Duran caught her arm.
She gave him a hard stare. “You won’t have a job tomorrow if you touch me again. Now, let me go.”
He dropped his hold, his eyes narrowing as he took a step back. “I just want to get to know you better. I don’t mean any harm.”
“Forcing yourself upon a woman is no way to get to know her better.”
“I’ll admit my manners do suffer. My mother died when I was just a boy. I’ve had no one to teach me properly. Surely you won’t hold that against me. I think you’re quite charming, and I think having a conversation with you would be pleasant.”
Elise felt her resolve soften. That he would share such an intimate detail of his life touched her. Still, she had no desire to encourage him. “I’m busy right now. If you’ll excuse me, I need to take Nick his dinner.”
“You should forget about that one,” Duran declared. “He’s cursed. Everybody knows it. He knows it himself.”
“Cursed?” She shook her head, amused. “I don’t believe Christians can be cursed, Mr. Duran. Nick is a man of deep faith and therefore cannot be cursed. Jesus already took on all of that for him. Read your Bible, Mr. Duran. Particularly Galatians, chapter three.” She paused and forced a smile. “I never thought to ask. Do you have a relationship with God, Mr. Duran?”
He laughed. “Hardly. I’ve never seen any sense in it. I keep my own rules and order.”
“And has that blessed you with a quality life?” She fixed him with a questioning look. “Has it comforted you in times of trial and trouble?”
“As much as any pretense at the existence of God would. I’m a contented man, Miss Elise. I think you’d enjoy my company.”
She studied him a moment longer, then shook her head. “I’m afraid that would never work, Mr. Duran. Now, as I said, I’m busy. Good evening.” Elise hurried away before he could suggest she do otherwise.
Once on board the Mary Elise, she called out, “Mr. Clark, permission to come aboard.” She smiled, knowing it would amuse him.
“Well, this is a pleasant surprise.” Nick came from the bow of the ship. “What have you got there?” He nodded toward the covered tray.
“Your supper. Papa and I weren’t sure you had time to eat before your watch, so I wanted to make sure you got a hot meal. Although, I was delayed in getting here, so I’m not sure how hot it will be.”
“No problem—permission is definitely granted.” Nick took the tray from her. “Can you stay a bit?”
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