Convictions (24 page)

The old sailor gave a nod of compliance, but kept his head averted, stepping aside when Davis strode toward the ladder.

“I didn’t steal the coins,” she shouted after him in a last effort of appeal. She didn’t want to be left alone in the dark. “You have to find the real thief.”

He ignored her, stomped up the ladder and slammed the hatch lid down. The sudden draft of air extinguished the first lantern and she was left in the semi-darkness. She sagged against her shackles, too weary to fight anymore.

She’d forgotten Old Ruddick’s presence until he cleared his throat next to her. She jerked her head around and took in his leathery face, now shadowed with compassion.

“I didn’t steal the coins,” she whimpered.

“I know you didn’t, lass,” he said, looking steadily at her.

“I don’t know why someone…” Jennie stopped. Had she just heard him right? She refocused. “What did you say?”

“I know you didn’t, but I can’t prove it, more’s the pity.” He looked at her steadily.

“But what do you know?” Jennie grasped at the thin shred of hope.

“Just that there is some conspiracy afoot. Beyond that I cannot discern.”

“But even that is something. Can you tell it to Nate? Please,” she pleaded.

He pursed his lips without commenting on her request.

“I have to go now. The dark won’t be so bad, if you look to
ward the hatch. I’ll not shut it tight. There’ll be a tiny crack of light that may bring you comfort, lass.”

Down the passageway, he extinguished the last lantern and eased his unsteady limbs up the ladder. As promised, he closed the hatch gently after he’d passed through.

The creaking of the ship was more eerie than ever. Jennie’s breath came in short gasps as her fear of being left alone in the dark returned. It would be hours before the watch would change and sailors would switch places, coming back and forth to the hold, allowing in the light and some fresh air. There might be sailors sleeping somewhere down there with her, but she couldn’t see or hear them. She could only hear the rustling of the livestock and the ship’s creaking.

It seemed to take forever before her eyes adjusted. Old Ruddick was right though. Seeing the crack of light around the edge of the hatch lid did help. The stench below was overpowering, yet her stomach ached too. She’d only had the biscuit and some water the day before. She’d expected cooked oatmeal or something more substantial for breakfast, now that they had some food supplies. But that was no longer possible.

Suddenly she felt a nibble at her bare foot. She kicked it away.
Ugh!!
A rat! How had any of the women endured lying down here on the floor the night before?

Without being able to see or move, Jennie was stuck with no defences against more rats or bugs and other crawling, biting things. She swallowed hard and tried to imagine it was nighttime and that the crack of light from the hatch was the moon and the stars peeking out of the sky.

She closed her eyes and thought of home; her mother and sisters, safe and warm, sitting by their window in early evening watching the stars emerge. The first bright one that came out shortly after sunset – the evening star – was the one upon which each of them made their wishes.

Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight, I wish I may, I wish
I might, have the wish, I wish tonight,
played through her mind. Jen
nie wished hard to be back home again, forever free.

The minutes dragged, and the hours passed. She swooned from lack of food and water. She no longer had any saliva to brush her tongue over her lips. Her throat was closing up, her breathing was laboured. Then she knew no more.

Chapter Nineteen

“She’s fainted.
Get her some water.”

Muffled voices reached Jennie’s ears from somewhere far off. She sensed subdued light, a voice calling her, but she could not will herself to respond.

Sometime later a damp cloth patted her face and pressed against her cracked lips. She tried to rouse herself, but the stupor had her in its grip. It wasn’t until she felt a trickle of water running awkwardly into the side of her mouth, held painfully open by a man’s rough hand, that she became somewhat wakeful. Through blurry eyes she looked into Nate’s worried face for a moment, but it wobbled and faded.

She heard Meadows’ muted shout, “Fetch the keys from the captain!”

There were hurried footsteps up the ladder and someone’s strong arms held her upright.

“We should have checked on her sooner,” Nate chided.

“And not allowed Davis the upper hand,” agreed Meadows.

A damp cloth swabbed at her face again.

Voices were clearer now, though she felt distant and disconnected. She opened her eyes. Closed them again. A rattling of keys, the loosening of chains, then she sagged against a man’s warm body. Strong arms encircled her; she nestled in, unable to stand, unwilling to let go of safety and solace.

After a time, she looked up groggily to find Nate’s concerned face above her again. She pulled away with an effort, realizing how close their bodies were. He pressed a cup to her lips and helped her drink.

Gradually, her senses returned. Her eyes skimmed Meadows hovering with Alice at his side.

“I was so worried about you,” Alice said. She seemed unsure whether to go to Jennie or not.

“Thank you, Alice,” Jennie murmured. Suddenly awash with gratitude, she held out her arms. Alice raced into them, clutching her tightly.

“Thank heavens Alice fretted so, or we’d have never known what state they’d left you in,” said Nate, helping to keep her standing straight.

“It was Angus who helped me. He asked Old Ruddick,” she whispered, half afraid she would get them into trouble.

Jennie noticed Angus standing by the ladder, clutching the captain’s keys.

She smiled at him. “Thank you, Angus.”

He nodded and clambered back through the hatch.

Jennie let her chin rest on the top of Alice’s head, feeling the soft warmth of the young girl’s trembling body. She allowed herself to collapse into Alice’s embrace for some moments, much like she’d held her youngest sister, Anne, close the day the coppers had plucked her from her family and home. She was as afraid to let go of the warm affection as she had been that day.

She heard Meadows again. “Can the two of you manage to bring her on deck? I am going to have a harsh word or two with Captain MacGregor.”

“Yes, sir,” said Nate.

“Oh, yes,” said Alice, looking at Jennie with a tear-streaked face.

Meadows headed off. With Nate on one side and Alice on the other, Jennie stumbled to the ladder. In the end Nate half-carried her up. Sarah was there to grab her as she emerged through the hatch.

“Oh, you poor lamb,” said Sarah, as she helped Jennie settle onto a nest of blankets. “Angus, some food for her, if you please.”

The cabin boy reached into his pocket and drew out a piece of hardtack. Brushing it off with his grubby hands, he handed it to Jennie.

She took it from him gratefully, and began gnawing at it. Her stomach was so empty it ached.

“I’ll get something more,” he said, and scampered off to the galley.

“We’ll get you better than that filthy bit,” said Sarah, reaching to take it away.

Jennie brushed her hand off gently. “I am so hungry, this tastes like a feast,” she said.

Alice knelt beside her, holding a cup of water. Sarah clucked about, trying to make Jennie more comfortable.

“I can see you are in good hands,” said Nate with a brief smile, before he disappeared.

She’d forgotten he was still there. Jennie watched his long confident strides. She now owed him for rescuing her several times over. She blushed to think that he’d held her in his arms just a short time ago and how much she’d liked the sensation.

Fanny and Hildy rushed to Jennie and began to examine her. Jennie groaned when Hildy touched her hip.

Fanny bent over to look at Jennie’s face.

“Where’s her leather pouch?” she asked. “We need a poultice for her swollen face.”

“I have it hidden,” said Alice, setting down the cup and dashing off.

“Which lout smacked you?” she asked. “You have a right good bruise.”

“Davis,” Jennie whispered, sinking into the blankets. All the muscles in her body hurt at once.

“I’d like to get that evil brute back,” fumed Fanny.

“You’d only end up treated like her,” reminded Hildy.

“Yeah, but at least I’d have some satisfaction,” Fanny retorted. She turned her attention back to Jennie. “Now how are we going to fix you up? Will a poultice help?”

“It’ll have to do,” Sarah said.

“Use the yarrow,” Jennie mumbled. “There should be some salve.”

“There isn’t so awful much left,” Alice apologized when she returned and opened the pouch. “Angus and I gathered up as much as we could after your pouch got dumped. Some of it got kind of muddled up, and some was wasted.”

“That’s all right, dearie,” said Sarah, patting her cheek. “There’s enough here for now. Saves us from mixing it.”

“Good,” murmured Jennie.

She closed her eyes and let the women fuss over her. The coolness of the poultice soothed her face. As they spread the cream mixture on her other bruises, she relaxed.

“I’ve brought you some broth,” said Angus some minutes later. “Cook says that’s best for a body who hasn’t had anything much to eat in a while.”

“Cook’s a smart man,” said Sarah, taking it from him. “And a kind one. Please tell him thank you.”

“I will,” said Angus.

“I’m grateful for all that you’ve done for me too,” Jennie added.

Angus looked pleased as he sauntered off.

Accepting a spoonful of broth from Fanny, Jennie felt the soothing hot liquid dribble down her throat all the way to her stomach. After a few more satisfying spoonfuls, Jennie took the bowl and sipped quickly from the edge.

“Not too fast,” warned Sarah.

Jennie drained the last drop and lay back down on the blankets. Alice and the women tucked her in and sat beside her, chatting.

From a little farther down the deck raised voices caught Jennie’s attention. She lifted her head and saw Captain MacGregor berating Davis for his treatment of Jennie. Meadows and Nate stood beside the captain, glaring at the angry-faced sailor. Red Bull stood a few steps to the side of Davis, his jaw clenched.

“But she’s a thief!” he protested.

“You certainly had no right to treat her so poorly,” the captain berated him.

“Besides, she didn’t steal the coins,” Nate challenged.

“You saw the evidence yourself,” Davis snarled back. “We found the coins in her possession.”

“You found them in a leather pouch she’d been using,” corrected Meadows. “Anyone could have put them there. Even you!”

“And I charge that someone else did,” Nate said.

“As well, not all of the gold coins were retrieved,” Captain MacGregor interrupted. “Do you have any ideas about that?”

Davis flicked a glance at Red Bull, almost too quick to be discernible, but Jennie saw it. And so did Nate.

Nate whirled around and confronted Red Bull.

“What do you know about the missing coins?” Nate pressed.

Red Bull took a step back. “Why would I know anything?”

“I saw him pick up a coin,” Jennie called out in a weak voice. She tried to rise, and although the women around her tried to hold her back, she persisted. “This is about me. I need to go.”

They helped Jennie up and she hobbled over to the group of men.

“I saw him stuff one of the coins into his shirt yesterday,” she said, staring down Red Bull. “And I’m sure he must have taken others.”

Nate and Meadows advanced on Red Bull. He continued backing up until he was against the bulwark.

“It’s not right that you take the word of a common thief over me.”

“I want this man searched.” Meadows ordered. “Coombs, Edwards, hold him. Nate you do the honours.”

Surprisingly, Red Bull relaxed a little. Coombs and Edwards pinned his arms as Nate searched his clothing and patted him down. Captain MacGregor observed, sombre-faced.

Jennie watched in growing amazement as Red Bull succumbed to a thorough search with a faint hint of a smirk. Davis looked
alarmed. Jennie scrutinized him closer. Was he in on it too?

Nate splayed his hands in exasperation when he couldn’t find anything. With a thoughtful expression, Meadows ordered Coombs and Edwards to release him.

Jennie was disappointed, but then reasoned Red Bull was probably smart enough not to hide the coins on his person. Maybe he’d given them to Davis. She made a small clearing noise in her throat loud enough to attract Meadows’ attention and pointedly glanced at Davis.

Meadows eyed her and then Davis. “Captain, may I have your permission to search Davis?”

“Aye,” Captain MacGregor assented.

“I protest,” Davis sputtered, but to no avail.