No, common sense told him they needed to wait for spring. By then the baby would have arrived, he would be a father, responsible for one more person. Could he convince Maybe to travel back with a newborn? She’d have her sister with her, so it wouldn’t be so awful.
It would be dangerous for a newborn to travel across the ocean, though. Would the money hold out that long? If they sailed now, he had enough for the passage. If they must live on the money for six months… Willie shook his head.
The money situation aside, what if Eliza didn’t want to leave Ireland? What then? What would Maybe say? That was the real question, and there was only one way to learn that answer.
* * *
“Yer very deep in thought.” She found him, right where she’d figured he’d be. Maybe crested the bluff on her crutch, hoping to find a boulder on which to rest before the return trip.
Willie startled at her voice. “How’d you get here? You didn’t climb by yourself, did you?”
“Ye worry too much, Willie. I took me time, I was careful. So what brought ye here?”
He returned to the view of the bay. “I just needed to work on some things.”
“Are ye worried about something?”
“Nothing more than usual.” He flashed her a smile over his shoulder before resuming bay-gazing.
“Then are ye fearful of something?” When Willie pulled away to be alone, something was wrong or he needed to sort things in his head. Now that they were married, shouldn’t he be sharing this with her?
She saw his shoulders droop. This was something unpleasant.
He guided her to a large rock near an oak and lifted her up on it. “Too bad we can’t go climbing. We always seem to have our best talks up in a tree.”
“Do we need to have a talk?”
He nodded. “Aye.”
“Then, spit it out, Willie. The not knowin’ is making me crazy.”
“Maybe, it is nothing bad. I love you, and I am so grateful you married this oaf. But…” He paused, and she wanted to shake him. “I miss my family. You understand, you’ve missed your sister so much. I’m… nervous, anxious about becoming a father. I’d like to ask my father questions.” He grew silent, kicking at a stone on the ground.
“Ye want to go back?”
“Aye. I want to go home.”
Home? This was home, with her sister, not that faraway place where Daniel O’Malley sold her to someone who still looked for her. “I dunna ken what to say.”
“I know, I’ve sprung this on you. You need not worry. I’ve counted the cost. We would bring Eliza with us. You’ll never be separated again. We’ve enough money for three passages now, but it might be too late. As much as I love the stories of it, I don’t want our baby born at sea like me. That leaves spring, right after the baby comes. If we are careful, we might stretch the money until March. Our baby born in Ireland and your sister with you the whole way, what do you say, Maybe? Could we go back?”
“Yer forgetting the reason we left. What about Eleazar Ferguson?”
“You’d not be going back as yourself. You are now Mistress Maybe Crockett. Who can say where we met or when we married? You’ll be a mother and wife. No one will make the connection.”
She had to admit. He had a point. She’d be relatively safe. And she’d have him to protect her. “May I think on it?”
“Of course, love. And talk it over with Eliza. See what she says. Perhaps she wants to get away.”
She chuckled. He had no idea. “We talked some before her employer made her go back to work. After we sailed, Eliza got better, but then the letter from our stepfather arrived saying both Mama and I were dead, the money ran out, and the couple we’d left her with both became ill and died. Then she found this job. I don’t believe she is treated kindly, so we must get her away from that position.”
“So you’ll speak with her? You’ll think about it?”
He’d done so much for her. “Aye, I will ask her. But I want to stay until the baby comes. I want our baby born on Irish soil.”
He stepped and then turned. “You know, this spot is special in our family. See those ruins over there?”
She nodded.
“My father built that house. Pirates destroyed it. My mother and brothers were safe in the tower house behind you. She helped fight them off.”
Stories Maybe had heard as a child began to dance in her memory. She’d been told of a family who once lived in a fine house where the ruins now stood. They’d left for the colonies. “That was your family?”
“Aye. My father came home to find nothing but rubble. He didn’t know what had happened to her or my brothers. He pounded on the door of the tower house, panicked, and found everyone safe. I understand it was soon after that they left for the colonies. I could have had my start here on this bluff.” He chuckled.
Maybe didn’t chuckle, though she tried to give him a smile. Instead she wondered if all this were possibly true.
* * *
Willie helped Maybe off the rock, and they trudged back to the village together. Near to the house, Willie heard a shout.
“Ho, Willie boy, Maybe!”
Mr. Cox waved, coming from the pier.
Willie waved and trotted to the man. “So, you have yet to sail.”
The man clapped Willie on the back as if he hadn’t seen him in ages. “Aye, the boatswain said we’re starting fresh this trip, so we might as well stretch our pins on land. Unloaded the last of the cargo here at Bare Haven, so we’re not going to England. We’ll sail tomorrow for Bermuda and then Charlestown.”
Maybe hobbled up. Mr. Cox viewed her with new eyes. “Maybe, you really are a girl. And a pretty one at that.”
That brought a smile to his wife’s face.
“Aye, she’s that.”
Now she peeked up at Willie, a sweet blush climbing her cheeks. She smacked his arm.
“Only stating the obvious, and I’m not alone in my opinion, wife.”
“Go on with ye, then. I’ll leave you lads to yer tall tales and wait for ye back at the room, Willie. It was grand to see ye again, Mr. Cox and have the chance to say thank you.” She hesitated a moment then gave the man a quick hug before hobbling off toward the village.
Mr. Cox stood, a surprised expression etched on his face.
Willie burst out laughing. “Once you see the girl, it’s hard to miss.”
“Aye. You’ve got someone pretty special. So what are your plans?”
“Well, our first plan was to find Maybe’s sister. We did that within hours of arriving. So, I guess we wait for the baby to arrive and then go back home to Beaufort come spring.”
“You’re going to take a new mother and child on one of those fetid passenger ships?”
Willie registered the concern in his friend’s voice, but was he overreacting? “My mother gave birth to me on the trip over. I just don’t want Maybe to be on board during her confinement. She wants the baby to be born here.”
The man sighed. “I understand, but you don’t know how bad those tubs are. Boatswain Johnson and the master keep a ship with a very high standard. It is clean, the water fresh from each port, and they expect the crew to keep things clean as well. On those other ships, if the water doesn’t make you sick, the maggots in the food or the lice in your bed will. The Frances Pearl isn’t perfect, but she’s so much cleaner than the others, you are in for a shock.”
Shock was the word. Willie couldn’t find his voice. Instead he shook his head.
Mr. Cox clapped him on the shoulder. “Not what you hoped, I can tell.”
“No, no it isn’t. What do I do? I need to get them home, and I can’t put them in that kind of danger.”
Mr. Cox grew quiet and then snapped his fingers. “I know, let’s go talk with the boatswain. He might know a good ship.”
Willie let the man guide him toward the Frances Pearl. There was something familiar yet weird about returning aboard. He’d spent so much time there, but never imagined he’d be aboard again.
Boatswain Johnson met him at the top of the gangplank. “Ho, Mr. Stewart, er, Mr. Crockett. I thought we’d gotten rid of you.” The man’s smile and handshake took any sting from his words.
“I thought you had as well, but Mr. Cox said you might be of help. I’ve a bit of a dilemma.” Willie explained what he needed to do and what Mr. Cox had shared. “So, what do you think?”
The boatswain scratched his head. “I have an idea. Wait here a minute.”
Willie shrugged, not sure what to say. He glanced at Mr. Cox who sported a grin. What were they plotting?
Five minutes later the boatswain returned. “I needed to get the master’s approval, it was but a formality. Your family will sail with us on the morrow. The ladies will take my cabin. You and I will bunk with the crew. If you want to work, I can pay you. I have yet to replace you on the roll. Won’t let Maybe, rather Elizabeth, work, though, or her sister for that matter.” He stated a price for the fare far below what Willie had heard other ships advertise. They would still have part of their money when they arrived home.
Willie choked on his emotions. “I cannot thank you enough.”
“Remember we leave tomorrow. Be here by nine in the morning.”
“Aye, sir. Thank you, sir.” Willie shook the boatswain’s hand and Mr. Cox’s hand and then shook each man’s hand again. “I’d better go tell Maybe.” Maybe! Oh, what was he going to tell her?
* * *
Maybe listened one more time to his words, not believing he would break his promise so quickly.
“I’m sorry you think I’m breaking my word, but if you’d heard what I did, you’d realize this is the best solution. I can’t put you and the baby in danger. There’s a surgeon on board the Frances Pearl who knows you and can take care of you. Plus, you will have Eliza with you and the two of you will have your own cabin. I can work and earn more money for us—”
“Is that what it is, Willie? The money? Or the chance to sail again?”
He stared at her as if she’d spoken in another language, then shook his head. “Why can’t you just believe I’m doing the best I can for you and the baby? Back home we’ll have my family for support, to help us raise this baby the right way. The Frances Pearl will get us there in a safer, healthier way. You will have your sister, away from unkind treatment and with you. I don’t understand.”
What he said was true. But all that glared back was his broken promise. The baby was to be born here in her homeland. Couldn’t he understand that was important to her? And he didn’t even discuss it. He just made the plans. No discussing it. How could she trust what he said to her anymore? What if… no, oh no. A lead weight dropped into her stomach. She sank to the floor. “How can I ever trust your word, Willie?”
He stooped in front of her and tried to pull her up.
She batted him away. The last person she wanted to see right now was William Crockett the Lying Oaf.
He stood. “I’ll tell them downstairs that Eliza is leaving with us in the morning and make sure she gets paid.”
“Going after her money too?” She knew it was too much the instant the words were out of her mouth. Willie would never take money that wasn’t his.
He slammed the door before she could take it back.
She jumped at the jolt. She’d never seen him this angry, and it was her fault. He was right. It would be safer to sail with the Frances Pearl. But her dreams—of her baby being born here in her homeland, a place she never thought she’d see again—lay broken and shattered about her like shards of sparkling glass. They sliced up her heart into thin ribbons.
And even if he did it for her good, he broke his promise to do it. Would she ever trust him again? Her head told her she overreacted and tried to remind her of all the times he had come through for her even when it cost him. But her battered heart screamed her fears over the quiet common sense that should be her guide.
Maybe rolled into a ball on the floor and cried herself to dreamless sleep. The next thing she knew, she was scooped up. She tried to fight until she realized Willie carried her to the bed. She kept her eyes closed.
Gently placing her on the sheets, he covered her with a blanket, kissed her forehead and went back out.
Why did he do that? She wanted to stay angry with him. And here he was kind to her. Again. She brushed her hand over her eyes and pulled the blanket to her chin. With so much right in her life—the baby, finding her sister safe, and a good man like Willie as her husband—she should be elated, or at least grateful. Instead she was curled in a ball feeling sorry for herself.
Well, no more. She threw the blanket off and hobbled for her crutch, stopping long enough to find the mirror. The girl blinking back was a mess, but at least her eyes showed a spark of intelligence. She tucked a wayward strand of hair beneath her cap and headed out to find her husband.
He was downstairs in the dining room, having a cup of tea and a biscuit. Eliza stood next to him, laughing.
“Willie?”
He turned her way.
She didn’t know if he was happy to see her or too hurt to want to. She tried to smile. “Willie, what time should we be ready tomorrow?”
Chapter Twenty
The chill from the ocean breeze made Sarah pull her shawl a tad closer. She hated sealing up the house for winter too soon, but November brought an extra chill. She entered the boys’ room, not sure why she bothered. Jason was the only one to sleep there now, what with John newly married and James still at school and William— She felt the familiar catch in her heart when she thought of her Willie—where was he now? Was he warm and well fed? Did he want for anything? Was he safe?
Was he alive?
Yes, until she knew for sure otherwise, Willie was alive. She sat on the edge of the bed he had shared with James until he got it to himself, for that short bit of time. It brought her peace. It was how she coped. Joseph walked to the docks every day, asking anyone who might answer if they’d seen Willie somewhere in their travels. The answer was always no. Yet he never gave up. It was where he was now. He always came home trying to put a brave face on it for her. But the disappointment took a toll.
“Mama! Mama! Come look!” Janie grabbed her by the hand, pulling her to the girls’ room. The window in there viewed the ocean. “Over there, Mama! Do you see?”
“Who is with your da… OH!”
Sarah ran from the room, down the stairs, out the front door. She ran along the walkway to the lane, toward her husband, running as she had as a girl in Donegal. She ran without stopping until she wrapped her arms around her tall son with the wild red mane and a full beard.
“Willie!”
He picked her up and spun her around, just as Joseph used to do. “Mama! Oh, it is good to see you.” He squeezed her as tight as she squeezed him and then set her on her feet.
That was when she noticed they were not alone. Two young women stood just behind him, huddled together, eyeing the exuberance.
Willie reached for the arm of one of the girls, who was… Oh! Obviously with child. “Mama, I want you to meet Maybe. My wife. Maybe, this is my mother, Sarah Crockett.”
So much to take in. Sarah’s brain froze until she realized she stared. “Oh, married.” She blinked a few times and took a breath. “Maybe is it? That’s an unusual name.” She wiped her hands on her apron. “Oh, this is silly. Welcome to the family Maybe!” Sarah pulled the girl into an embrace.
She could tell it caught Maybe off guard, as she felt the tension in the girl’s arms. It must be strange for her too.
“Please come in.” She glanced at the other girl who remained behind, a trembling smile beneath wide eyes. “And you are—”
“Oh, this is Maybe’s sister, Eliza. Ladies, we are home. And you’ve just started to meet the family.” Willie linked his arm with Maybe’s and his other with her. “What is for dinner, Mama? I have missed your cooking.” He gave her a peck on the cheek.
But it did nothing to sort out the crazy emotions coursing through her brain.
Just as she thought she might go mad, a small voice in her heart whispered. He’s home. Willie is home. He’s alive, and he is home. The rest will work out. He is home.
Joseph caught her hand and held her back, while Willie led the girls to the house. She could hear the squeals of his sisters, each wanting to greet him and welcome him home. Joseph pulled her into an embrace. “He’s home. Our prayers have been answered.”
Sarah lay her ear against his chest, listening to the faithful beat of his heart. “Yer right, my love. Our boy is home. But I think he is a boy no longer.”
* * *
“Jason, I need to speak with ye.” This could prove to be a difficult conversation. Jason must move into the tiny guest room, adjacent the girls’ room, and give his room to Willie and Maybe. Eliza could sleep with the girls, though that room was getting crowded now with two additions and no one leaving. Of course, the girls were too young to be leaving. Sarah’s mind jumped from one thing to the next. “Jason!”
“Aye, Mama, what do you need?”
Sarah jumped. “Oh, I dinna hear ye come in, love.” She took a breath. “I’m sorry, but I canna think of another way. Ye need to move into the guest room.”
“I figured that would be the case. My things are in there already.”
“Already?” She grew misty-eyed. How sweet and understanding this boy had become. She grabbed him in a quick hug and kissed his cheek.
“Aww, Mama. Please don’t make a spectacle. It only made sense.”
“Well, I thank ye anyway.”
“And Mama, I am glad Willie is home. I missed him.”
She smiled. “I know, love.” One less worry. Now to discover the answers to her other prayers.
* * *
Willie led Maybe upstairs to their room. The brother—Jason, if she remembered right—helped his father move a bed out of the room into another.
“They need another bed in the girls’ room, and we won’t need it.”
The Crockett Chronicles- The Complete Collection Page 77