Elias shrugged. “I wish that were true, but I grew up hearing the jeers and taunts from others about my ugly red mark, and no woman has ever shown me more than a passing interest. I’ve come to accept the fact that true love will probably never happen for me.”
“That’s ridiculous. If you’d just relax and let your charming and sensitive personality shine through, you could win any woman’s heart.”
“Ya can’t be charmin’ or sensitive and be a boatman,” Ned said, stepping up to them. “A boatman’s gotta be tough as nails.”
“Like you?” Elias asked with a grin.
Ned lifted his bearded chin. “Yep, just like me.”
Elias rolled his eyes, and Carolyn snickered quietly. Then she tapped Elias on the shoulder and said, “I’m going below to make some soup for lunch. Should I bring you up a cup when it’s ready?”
“That’d be fine. Ned can take over steering the boat while I eat lunch, and then I’ll take over leading the mules so Bobby can come aboard and eat.”
“Okay.” Carolyn turned and hurried away.
Ned looked at Elias and frowned. “When do I get to eat?”
“You can either eat before I do, or wait until Bobby is done.”
“Guess I’ll go first. I work better when my belly’s full.”
“I would have suggested that we tie the boat up for a while and all eat together,” Elias said, “but we’ve lost enough time these last few weeks.”
“That’s for sure.” Ned leaned over the boat and spit a wad of chewing tobacco into the canal. “You never shoulda bought that stupid mule from the blacksmith in Walnutport.”
“If you’ll recall, there were no other mules available,” Elias reminded. “And as I’m sure you must have noticed, Wilma seems to be behaving herself much better now.”
“Yeah, I guess.” Ned spat another hunk of tobacco into the water. “At least for now, she is.”
“I think she just needed to get used to walking with Dolly and learn what she’s supposed to do.”
Ned opened his mouth like he was about to respond, when a bloodcurdling scream from below caused them both to jump. Elias turned the tiller over to Ned and raced down the stairs.
Chapter 23
What’s wrong?” Elias called as he rushed into the galley.
Carolyn turned from the stove and held up her left hand. “I burned myself on the stove,” she said tearfully. “It hurts so bad I can barely stand the pain.”
Elias stepped closer and examined her hand. Several ugly blisters had already formed, and all of her fingers looked red and swollen. “We’d better stop in Walnutport, after all,” he said. “I think you need to be seen by a doctor. In the meantime, you’d better take a seat at the table and put your hand in some cold water to help with the pain.”
“I’m so sorry about this.” Carolyn’s chin trembled and her eyes filled with tears.
Elias shook his head. “You have nothing to be sorry for. It was an accident, plain and simple.”
“But if you stop in Walnutport so I can see the doctor, you’ll be losing more time, which is exactly what you didn’t want to do.”
“Your needs come before my schedule, so stop worrying about it and take a seat at the table.”
She sighed deeply and did as he asked. When he set a pan of cold water in front of her, she plunged her hand in and gasped. “It still hurts, Elias. It hurts so much!”
“I’m sure it does, but you’d better keep it there until we reach Walnutport.”
Elias turned and hurried back to the main deck. He knew it was important for Carolyn to see the doctor, and right now it didn’t matter how long it took to make his coal delivery.
By the time Sarah got around to eating her lunch, the children had finished and gone over to Mike and Kelly’s to play with their cousins. When she stepped into the kitchen, she was surprised to see that Patrick was still there, sitting at the table with Hortence and drinking coffee.
“I didn’t realize you were still here,” Sarah said to Patrick. “I figured by now you’d be back working in your blacksmith shop.”
He shook his head. “I was waiting for you. I wanted to ask if you—”
Wo–o–o–o! Wo–o–o–o! “It sounds like another boat’s coming through.” Sarah groaned. “At this rate, I’ll never get to eat my sandwich.”
“I wish you’d let me help you outside,” Patrick said. “We could get the job done twice as fast with the two of us working.”
Sarah flapped her hand. “Tending the lock is my responsibility, and it really doesn’t take that long. The problem today has been that too many boats have come through in such a short time.” She started for the door, but turned back. “Please don’t let me keep you from whatever work you might have in your shop.”
“Guess you’re right. I really oughta get back. I’ll be by to see you again in a few days.” He stood and moved toward the door, and she hurried out behind him.
Just as Sarah approached the lock gate, she spotted Elias’s boat, which was almost at the lock. “I have a few loaves of bread left if you want any today,” she called.
He shook his head. “Not this time, but we do need to stop. Carolyn burned her hand real bad, and she needs to see the doctor.”
“Oh no! I’m sorry to hear that.”
When Elias’s boat had gone through the lock, she pointed to a post on the other side of it. “You can tie up here, if you like.”
“Thanks.”
Elias had no more than docked his boat when another boat came through. As much as Sarah wanted to see how badly Carolyn had been burned, she knew she had a job to do.
“When you get done at the doctor’s, stop by and let me know how Carolyn’s doing,” she called to Elias.
“All right, we will.”
Sarah whispered a prayer on behalf of Elias’s sister and hurried to do her job.
“I really don’t think it’s necessary for me to stay here in Walnutport,” Carolyn said as she and Elias left the doctor’s office later. “I can stay on the boat with you and change my own bandage every day.”
Elias shook his head. “That’s not a good idea. What if infection sets in? If you don’t want to stay in Walnutport, then when we get to Easton, I should drop you off at Mother and Father’s.”
“No way! Father didn’t want me to join you on the boat, so if he knew about my hand, he’d give me a hard time and probably blame you for it, saying that the conditions on your boat are crude and unsafe.” She cringed at the remembrance of her father’s earlier words. “And Mother would hover around me all day and treat me as if I’m a little girl. I think the best thing we can do is go over to the boardinghouse Dr. McGrath recommended and see if they have room for me to stay there.”
“I suppose we could do that, but I think I might have a better idea.”
“What’s that?”
“We could see if Sarah would be willing to let you stay at her place. I heard that Sarah’s mother-in-law used to live with her, so I’m sure she has the room.”
“I don’t know if that’s such a good idea. Sarah has enough on her hands, tending the lock and taking care of her three children. She doesn’t need me to look after.”
“I’m not suggesting that she look after you, because I’m sure you can manage to look after yourself,” Elias said. “What I was thinking was that I’d be willing to pay Sarah for your room and board, and since I’m sure she could use the extra money…”
“Ah, I see now. You’re concerned about Sarah and are looking for some way to help her out.”
His face turned red as he slowly nodded. “She has a lot of responsibility on her shoulders. I also know that she doesn’t make a lot of money tending the lock, and I’m sure that selling bread to the boatmen doesn’t bring in much either.”
“I understand your concerns, but what if Sarah would rather not have a near-stranger staying with her?”
Elias shrugged. “Well, we won’t know until we ask, and if she says no, then you can rest on the boat while I
head over to the boardinghouse and see about getting you a room.”
Carolyn contemplated the idea and finally nodded. If she had her preference, it would be to stay with Sarah.
Chapter 24
I can’t thank you enough for letting me stay here with you,” Carolyn told Sarah several days later as they cleared the dishes from the breakfast table. She lifted her left hand, still wrapped in a gauze bandage. “The salve and herbs Dr. McGrath gave me for the burn are working quite well, and I’ve enjoyed being here with you and the children.”
Sarah smiled as she pushed a wayward strand of hair away from her face. “We’ve enjoyed having you here and will miss you when you join Elias again.”
Carolyn set the dirty plates in the sink. “I hope things are going okay for him. From all that he’s told me, it seems as if he’s had nothing but trouble since he took over our grandfather’s boat. If Father knew about everything that had gone wrong, he’d say to Elias, ‘I told you so, son.’ ”
“A lot of things can go wrong for the boatmen, as well as those who live and work along the canal.” Sarah slowly shook her head. “I can’t begin to tell you about all the accidents that have occurred over the past few years, just along the stretch of canal that runs by Walnutport.”
“I understand that your husband was killed in an accident involving the canal.”
Sarah blinked against unwanted tears. She always felt weepy when she thought about Sam’s untimely death. “He was crushed between a boat and the lock,” she murmured. “I’m just grateful Sam found the Lord before he died, because I have the assurance that he’s in heaven now and someday we’ll be reunited.”
“As Christians, we do have that consolation,” Carolyn agreed. “It makes me wonder how those who haven’t had a personal relationship with Christ deal with death and other tragedies that occur in their lives.”
Sarah stared out the window, watching a pair of geese floating on the canal. “Several of the boatmen have come to know the Lord after attending one of the services Pastor William holds along the canal, but there are many others who are still deeply rooted in their sinful way of life.”
Carolyn nodded. “I think Elias’s helper is one of those. From what I’ve seen, Ned has several nasty habits, and he sometimes uses foul language and even takes the Lord’s name in vain. It makes me wonder why Elias puts up with him and his crude ways.”
“I understand that Ned used to work for your grandfather, so maybe Elias feels a sense of responsibility toward Ned.”
“I believe you’re right about that. I also think Elias believes that in time Ned will see his need to change and give his heart to the Lord.”
“With Elias setting the example of Christianity, maybe Ned will become a Christian someday.” Sarah took a sack of flour down from the cupboard. “Would you like me to teach you my secret for making light and airy bread?”
“Yes, I would. I’d like to learn how to make the dough dab bread you fixed to go with the stew we had for supper last night, too.”
Sarah slipped her apron over her head. “I’d be happy to teach you to make dough dab. Hopefully, the boats coming through the lock today will be far enough apart that we’ll have time to get lots of baking done.”
“With your baking skills, I’m wondering… Have you ever considered opening a bakery?”
“The idea has crossed my mind,” Sarah replied, “but I’m sure the rent on a building in town would be expensive, so I doubt that I’d ever be able to afford it.”
“Well, it’s always nice to have a goal and something to plan for.”
“Yes, and if I owned my own bakery I could give up lock tending.”
The sound of giggling coming from the parlor could be heard, and Sarah smiled. “Since Hortence has been coming to help out, she keeps my kids well entertained, which helps me get more done. Before, even when Maria was here to help, the kids always seemed to be competing for my attention.”
“It’s good that she’s such a big help with the children.”
A knock sounded on the door, interrupting their conversation. “I’ll get that!” Hortence called from the other room over Bristle Face’s frantic barking.
A few seconds later, she entered the kitchen with Patrick at her side and Bristle Face nipping at his heels.
“Stop it, Bristle Face,” Sarah scolded. “Sammy, come get your dog!”
Sammy rushed into the room and swept Bristle Face into his arms. “Sorry, Mama. He got away from me when Hortence went to answer the door.”
“Just make sure you keep that stupid mutt away from me,” Patrick said roughly. “I’m gettin’ sick of him yappin’ and snappin’ every time I come around.”
Sammy’s eyes narrowed. “Bristle Face ain’t stupid, and he only barks at people he don’t like.”
Sarah frowned. “That’ll be enough, Sammy. Just take the dog outside for a walk.”
“He was outside awhile ago, so I don’t think he’s gotta go again.”
Sarah pointed to the door. “Just do as I said.”
Sammy ambled out the door mumbling under his breath.
Sarah turned to Patrick and smiled. “Sorry about that. I don’t know why Bristle Face is so testy around you.”
“You heard what the boy said. The dog doesn’t like me, though I can’t figure out why. I’ve never done nothin’ to make him mad.”
“Some dogs are temperamental,” Carolyn spoke up. “They pick out certain people to bark at for no particular reason.”
Patrick swung his gaze from Sarah to Carolyn. “Don’t think I’ve met you before. Are you new to the area?”
Sarah introduced Carolyn to Patrick and explained that she was Elias’s sister. Then she told Carolyn that Patrick was the town’s blacksmith.
Carolyn smiled and explained why she was staying with Sarah.
“It’s nice of Sarah to take you in.” He glanced back at Sarah and grinned. “ ‘Course she’s always been kind to others.”
Sarah felt the heat of a blush creep up her neck and cascade over her cheeks. “It’s a Christian’s duty to help others, and with Carolyn staying here, the two of us have become good friends.”
Carolyn nodded. “Sarah’s going to teach me the secret of making good bread.”
Patrick smacked his lips. “Well, you’ve got a good teacher, ‘cause nobody bakes bread any tastier than Sarah’s.”
Sarah’s cheeks grew hotter. “I don’t think my bread’s anything special.”
“You’re wrong about that; your bread’s the best I’ve ever had.” Patrick took a step closer to Sarah. “I was wonderin’ if I could talk to you alone for a few minutes.”
“I guess so.” Sarah motioned to the door. “Should we go outside?”
“Sure, that’d be fine.”
“I’ll be right back,” Sarah said to Carolyn. “You can fix yourself a cup of tea while I’m gone if you like.”
“I might just do that.” Carolyn smiled at Patrick. “It was nice meeting you.”
“Same here,” Patrick said as he went out the door.
Sarah stepped out behind him. “What was it you wanted to talk to me about?”
Patrick cleared his throat a few times and glanced around as though he was afraid someone might hear their conversation, which Sarah thought was silly. Sammy was way down the towpath with Bristle Face, and no one else was around.
“I…uh…was wondering if you’d go on a picnic with me this Sunday,” he said in a near whisper.
Sarah shook her head. “I’ve told you before, Patrick. We always go to church on Sundays.”
“I know that,” he said with an exasperated groan. “I was talkin’ about after church.”
“I won’t be free in the afternoon because Pastor William will be holding another preaching service along the canal after the service in town. He plans to baptize several people in the canal.”
“Are you gettin’ baptized, Sarah?”
“No, I’ve already been baptized.”
“Then there’s no
need for you to go.”
“Yes, there is. I know several of the folks who are getting baptized, so I want to attend the service to offer my support and approval.”
“I see.” Patrick pursed his lips as he tapped his foot. “It makes it kinda hard for us to court when you have to be here to let boats through the lock six days a week, and then on Sundays you always seem to have other plans.”
Sarah’s mouth fell open. “You—you think we’re courting?”
He shrugged. “I guess not officially, but I’d like for us to be. Fact is, I’ve cared for you ever since we were kids, and—”
She held up her hand. “You’re a nice man, Patrick, but I really can’t think about being courted by anyone right now.”
“How come?”
“I have a job to do, three kids to raise, and as you mentioned, very little free time.”
“Then why don’t we skip the courtin’ part and just get married?”
“Wh–what?”
“I said why don’t we—”
“I heard what you said. I’m just shocked that you said it.”
“But I’ve been interested in you since we were kids. Fact is, if you hadn’t run off with Sam when you did, I’d planned to court you.”
Sarah leaned against the porch railing, feeling the need for some support. She’d had no idea Patrick felt that way about her when they were children. Although in the last few months, she’d suspected he was interested in her now. But the thought of marrying him hadn’t even entered her mind.
Wo–o–o–o! Wo–o–o–o! The sound of a conch shell pulled Sarah’s thoughts aside. “A boat’s coming. I’ll need to get the lock opened, so I’m afraid I can’t talk any longer.”
She started to move away, but he reached out and touched her arm. “Would you at least think about what I said and let me know when you have an answer?”
She gave a brief nod and hurried off to open the lock.
“Sure am glad we’re not far from Walnutport,” Ned said, joining Elias at the bow of the boat. “I’m out of chewin’ tobacco again and need to stop at the store.”
Sarah's Choice Page 12