Having concluded his business, Brogan beckoned her to join him, where he introduced her to his second mate. He swung himself onto the rope ladder, pausing to instruct her. “Follow me down once I have reached the boat. Mr. Farragut will assist you from above, and I shall be waiting below to receive you. Do you think you can do this?”
“I can assure you, Captain, my excitement to be going home prevails over any hesitation I have in navigating a rope ladder.”
He looked at first surprised by her confidence, then amused. “It is a wonder, then, that such an adept young woman managed to find herself in this helpless situation. I am curious to hear the tale.”
“And I will tell it, if I must. But not here.”
He descended into the longboat, where he stood balanced in the rocky boat and waited with a self-satisfied smile.
Lorena stepped over the Lady Julia’s side after him, finding purchase for her slippers on the first rung of the rope ladder before continuing with her descent. Three quarters of the way down she felt Brogan cinch her waist from behind, holding her secure until she was close enough for him to lift into the boat.
In the tossing boat she lost her bearings and stumbled. Brogan held steady behind her, solid as a tree, righting her, then guiding her to a seat in the bow.
As he settled down beside her, awareness of his masculinity left her silent.
The oars were lowered and they shoved off, all six crewmen putting their backs into rowing across a choppy sea. It swelled like a living thing about them, rocking the boat and dampening her face with spray. Lorena found Jane amongst the faces lining the Lady Julia’s rails and waved a final good-bye.
In the opposite direction, the much larger Yankee Heart loomed closer and closer in all her lofty magnificence. Lorena picked out Mr. Smith at the gangway, waiting to receive them. He drew a small figure forward, closer to the rails. Was that . . . Drew? Happiness filled her so completely, Lorena thought she must be dreaming, and yet she’d never felt more alert. Drew was aboard and would be traveling with her.
The longboat closed alongside the massive hull, and Brogan stood, securing the boat hook to the Yankee Heart’s chains. One of the oarsmen caught the rope ladder, and Lorena was ushered up first.
“Welcome aboard, miss,” Mr. Smith called down as she scaled the ship’s great wooden side. He lent a hand to assist her on board while the crew gave a round of cheers. Having manned the yards, several returned to the deck, sliding down a single rope.
Lorena whooped along with them, and then Drew hurled himself into her arms. Dropping to her knees to receive him, she squeezed him in a hug and covered his face with kisses. He giggled and clung to her neck. “You don’t know how relieved I am to see you, my little man. I should never have let you out of my sight that day.”
“It’s ye we are relieved to see, Miss Huntley.” Jabez Smith assisted her to her feet. “And won’t yer papa be happy for this day. Ye are a fortunate lady to have a family who loves ye watching over yer welfare. Ye have not been harmed?”
“I am well, Mr. Smith, thank you. And fully aware of my blessings, make no mistake. Though I think we both know I owe thanks to more than those within my own family.”
She caught the eye of Brogan, who by now had joined them on deck. She was moved by the warmth in his gaze, drawn into the high spirits and excitement circulating among the crew.
“I won’t easily forget this day,” she said. “I have seen this ship countless times under construction, and now I feel honored to be sailing with her. I say hurrah to the Yankee Heart, to her captain and to all who sail aboard her.”
Holding fast to Drew’s hand, Lorena was pleasantly surprised at the crew’s response. They raised their voices, cheering, “Huzzah to the Yankee Heart! Huzzah to Captain Talvis! Huzzah to us all!”
She empathized with their loyalty and shared their pride. As she glanced at the many faces gathered round, two shocked her as decidedly familiar.
“Edward! What’s this? You are here, as well? And Mr. Mott! Can it be? Have you both signed articles with the Yankee Heart?”
Her father’s men approached her with greetings. They asked after her travels, eager to know how she fared, then explained their temporary roles on board.
Poor, dear Edward expressed especial pleasure to see her. “I blame myself for not taking better care,” he said. “I should have been watching out for you and Drew, but George was my friend . . . at least I believed him to be so. I had no reason to distrust him or to suspect that he would use me to trick you. Forgive me, Lorena.”
Lorena touched his hand consolingly. “All is forgotten now, Edward. Do not berate yourself. Believe me when I say no one was at fault for what happened, save George Louder. I considered him a friend also, but he misused our friendship.”