21. Twenty-One
Not good. Daniel handed another bucket of water to Finn, who handed it off to Buck. The crack in the hull continued to seep, letting in water faster than they could dip it out. There’d need to be some repairs before they could hope to get the Alma May off the sandbar.
Camilla had taken Solomon, and the two of them used a skimmer to examine the outer hull while the others dipped the leaking water. Daniel lacked knowledge in boat repair, but even he could tell the old vessel would need more than a patch and some tar.
Cracks in the iron frame and fissures along the hull indicated it might need to dry dock for an extended time. What would that mean for Camilla and her crew? They were already struggling to stay afloat—so to speak—and repairs had to be costly. Not to mention she wouldn’t be able to carry cargo any time soon.
If he didn’t find the treasure, what would she do?
Another worry to add to those already pressing against the back of his skull and pounding into every waking thought. He had too many people counting on him, and he felt helpless to shoulder the need. Where was God when life crumbled around the edges? He’d always been a man of faith, and God had rewarded his efforts with a good job, a stable life, and peace. Had he sinned or misstepped in some way that brought all these trials upon him? Had he unwittingly earned God’s wrath?
Finn paused with the next bucket. “We could do this all day, and it ain’t going to help.”
Buck winced. “You gonna be the one to tell Captain?”
“Ain’t my place.” Finn pinned Daniel with a meaningful look.
He rocked back on his heels. “What? You want me to tell her?”
Finn shared a look with Buck, who didn’t offer an argument. They both stared at him.
“You’re her crew. It should come from you. Besides, I doubt anyone will need to say anything.” Why tell Camilla her boat had suffered a fatal blow? A tragedy she would clearly be able to see on her own. “Does this usually happen when a boat hits a sandbar?”
Finn rubbed his neck. “Don’t think so. ’Least, not this bad. But Alma May here has seen better days. Might also have been a boulder or something else on that bar we couldn’t see. Happens like that sometimes. You never know what’s in the depths.”
Which was why Camilla valued her father’s notes on the river so highly. Knowing where hidden dangers lurked saved lives and property. Problem was, she’d known the bar was here but hadn’t been able to avoid it. Not without crashing into the larger steamer barreling around the bend.
Finn handed his pail to Buck and waited for Daniel to fill the next. “We’ll stay at this until she says otherwise. Keep busy and the like. Good surge might be able to get us off this bar, but with the damage, we won’t be able to go far.”
He dipped the water and passed the bucket to Finn as Buck returned with an empty one. “Maybe we should leave this so you can start packing up your belongings. We’re going to need a towboat most likely. Better we get to dry land and wait on help.”
Buck sucked his teeth. “You probably right. I’ll see if I can find something to wedge in those cracks and slow the water. Finn, you start gathering our personal effects and put them on the deck. That way when the captain returns, we can help her with hers.”
Daniel rose and wiped his wet hands on his trousers. “Has anyone gotten Lula from the captain’s office? We can’t leave her on board.”
“I’m sure that feisty little terrier be just fine.” Buck scratched the back of his neck. “But she’s probably mighty unhappy.”
“I think we still got some tar left in the engine room,” Finn said to Buck before turning to Daniel. “You go get the dog.”
“Should he gather the captain’s belongings too?” Buck eyed the water pooling on the floor. “We might not have much time.”
“That would be the best.” Finn scratched his chin. “We need to be ready to go at a second’s notice. What if another boat comes at us again?”
If another boat rounded the bend too fast, Daniel doubted they could do anything to stop the collision. The realization spiked through him like a barbed ten-penny nail.
“One of you get Camilla. Let her know she needs to gather whatever she can and prepare to leave the steamer for now.” Daniel held up a staying hand before Finn could protest. “I’ll not go into her private chamber without her permission.”
But if she refused to pack her belongings and abandon her boat—the old nonsense of a captain always goes down with the ship or some such—then he’d haul her off this hunk of metal himself if he had to. Items could be replaced.
She could not.
His stomach knotted as the truth sunk claws through his center. Not the realization that life mattered more than property. What God created outweighing any of man’s creations remained an undeniable fact. No, the twist tightening his entire inner being came with the sudden and irrefutable understanding that Camilla Lockhart could not be matched or substituted by any other in his life. Her swift intelligence, boundless kindness, and sweet spirit watered places within him he’d not even realized were parched. The very thought of losing her in any manner seared with enough heat to make him clench his teeth.
“You all right, Mr. Gray?”
Daniel cleared his throat and attempted to erase the life-altering realization from his features. “I’m fine.”
The two men shared a look.
“Let’s get moving.” Daniel waved them toward the door. “We have a lot to accomplish in a short amount of time.”
He could only pray Camilla would see reason. Assuming God heard his prayers anymore. He’d need to find a moment to go over his choices and discover at what point he’d lost the Creator’s favor and beg mercy. He couldn’t let his punishment affect Camilla and her crew.
Neither crewman appeared convinced, but they didn’t have time to argue. Daniel hurried them from the cramped area beneath the deck to carry out their given assignments. He took the stairs to the upper deck two at a time and strode to the captain’s quarters.
No sooner had the door swung on its hinges did tiny claws dig into his leg. Lula launched herself up at him, and he had to scramble to catch her before her momentum lost out to the lack of traction on the steep incline of his upright body. He snagged her against his waist and then adjusted her in his arms. She rewarded him with a lick to his cheek. He wiped it away.
The little dog quivered in his arms, clearly frightened by recent events. Poor creature. Had to be difficult, not understanding what happened. He patted her head and lowered her to the floor. He’d need to get her pillow. What else did Camilla keep in here for the dog?
He scanned the shelves. Would they be able to unload her books in time? They couldn’t leave everything here or risk thieves. Abandoning even an empty vessel would result in scavengers taking pieces of it in the night.
Lula dug her feet against his knee.
“What?”
She twitched her ears and then began furiously digging again.
Did she want him to…? He bent his knees to pick her up. As soon as he dipped, she ran up his body again. Looked like he’d be gathering things one-handed.
Did Camilla have a leash? He tucked Lula against his side and scooted the pillow toward the door with his foot. He’d need to dump out the water in her bowl.
He rounded Camilla’s desk, looking for more dog items.
Something shiny caught his eye. Two drawers on the desk had jarred open during the collision. He closed them and stooped before what rested on the floorboards underneath.
Sunlight glinted from the edges, beckoning him. He shifted the dog and scooped up the item before he let himself pretend he’d never seen it at all.
The metal felt cold against his palm. Lady Liberty’s head encircled by stars seemed to thrum against his skin. Fire gathered in his chest and dried the moisture from his mouth.
Why did Camilla have an 1861 gold coin—just like the kind in the lost Hollis treasure—hidden in her office?