Kathleen E. Woodiwiss(231)
The man did not wait for thanks but turned and slid down the hill again. Ruark contemplated the thing in his hands, trying to see some shape in it, then lifted his gaze to Shanna, and his eyes gleamed with humor.
“I could be a free man now were it not for the cost of new hats,” he quipped.
Chapter 24
THE DAYS BEGAN TO RUN TOGETHER as the Hampstead and the Tempest took on supplies and goods to barter. Attila and the mare would be taken along, and provision was made for them on the deck of the Tempest, this time under Ruark’s direction and with padded stalls to protect the beasts. The rush and furor of preparations filled the dwindling days with activity. Hergus scurried in and out of Shanna’s chambers like one possessed; once she paused in the hall under Ruark’s amused smile, her arms laden with woolen capes and furs.
“Put the winter clothes away. Take the winter clothes out,” she said breathlessly. “Seems it’ll never stop.”
Then the days were gone, and all was aboard the ships which rode at anchor out in the small bay. Amid final shouts and farewells the passengers stepped into the lighters and were rowed out to spend the first night on board to await the first breezes of early dawn.
And the dawn came. The sails creaked aloft to slap and sag until the wind freshened. The anchors were raised as the first sail billowed full and, though motion was difficult to detect, soon a curl of white foam formed beneath the prows, and they were underway. The masts heaved with a loud creaking as the Hampstead rose on the first swell clear of the cove. A shot echoed from the island, and Shanna watched the cloud of smoke drift away from signal hill. The Hampstead answered the farewell salute with her stern chaser, and a moment later the Tempest followed suit.
Los Camellos was only a smudge on the horizon when Shanna finally went below, piqued that Ruark had not seen fit to visit her at the departure. At the morning hour there were only her father and Pitney to greet her at the table with Captain Dundas, a squarish man, much like her father, large and heavy but a bit leaner and more solid from his years on the quarterdeck. Over the meal the conversation was mostly about what raw materials might be found for the mills in England. In fact, Shanna rather gathered from listening to the men that the colonies were full of palisaded forts and crude log cabins. Her imagination failed as she tried to conjure painted, half-naked savages roaming the wilderness. She missed the rich voice of Ruark, and his absence from the table made the morning seem somehow lacking. It puzzled her that her father had not asked him to join them.
Strolling on the main deck moments later, she still saw no sign of him and grew petulant, because she could not go below in search. She felt neglected that he hadn’t even taken time to share his company with her. She set herself by the quarterdeck rail where she could survey the entire ship, and it was some time later when she felt a presence by her side and turned hopefully, only to find Pitney regarding her, an expression close to pity in his eyes. Shanna nodded briefly and came to the point.
“I’ve seen naught of Mister Ruark as yet. What is he about?”
Pitney squinted into the distance. “About two miles, I’d say, give or take a quarter.”
Shanna frowned her bemusement, for she could find no sense in his words. Then Pitney inclined his head and pointed. She followed the direction of his arm to where the Tempest stood off the starboard beam. It was a long, bewildered moment before the truth sank in. Shanna slowly regained Pitney’s gaze, her eyes wide in stunned realization.
“Aye,” he answered her unspoken question. “ ‘Twas Ralston’s idea that he be near the horses, but Hergus and I agreed.” Pitney ignored her outraged gasp. “ ’Twill avoid much temptation.”
Shanna jerked her shawl tighter about her shoulders with an irritated shrug, and her eyes took on a chilling hue as she glared at him. She left, her lips moving with mumbled words that Pitney was relieved not to hear. Angrily she stamped her way below, and a moment later the large man flinched as he heard a cabin door slam.
It was well into the mid-watch of the afternoon when Shanna was seen out of her cabin again. Most of the seamen were old acquaintances, and she exchanged light greetings when she met an old friend. However, when Pitney or Hergus came near, Shanna’s eyes took on a decidedly flinty hardness, and her lips stiffened slightly.
The day wore on, and even with so many friends and family about, Shanna was completely beset with loneliness. Her gaze was ever drawn to the small, white-sailed schooner that plunged along beside the Hampstead. Night eased her plight, though the bunk was narrow, hard, and cold. Another day followed, and Hergus found herself with nothing to do, for Shanna combed her own hair and would not allow the woman in the cabin. The Tempest was sighted at dawn, hull down on the horizon, only her white sail showing, but as the day lagged by she drew nearer to take up her station abeam again.