Charlotte packed her bag. She prayed she would find housing and a job soon. Her finances were such that if she was very frugal she could survive for six months, perhaps more if she found a job working at a place where food was served. The past few days working with Ruth she’d learned she enjoyed cooking and baking. She had a long way to go, but hopefully she’d find work that would allow her to learn new skills.
The gentle knock on her door was like a sledgehammer coming down. Her time was up. The freedom and protection she had from Captain Browne ended as soon as she walked down that gangplank. Which could be as soon as the dinner hour.
“Miss Kimbrel,” the captain’s voice called out. “May I enter?”
Charlotte eased out the breath she’d been holding since she heard the knock. “Yes, sir,” she answered, but remained standing next to her bag.
The door creaked open. “Charlotte, forgive me.”
She closed her eyes. Tears threatened to fall but she managed to hold them back. “There’s nothing to forgive, Captain.”
“But there is. Please turn around and face me.” His voice was gentle. As always, it calmed her rattled nerves.
And to think a week ago he was a stranger. Now she couldn’t imagine life without him. But he was confident in his declaration of being like the apostle Paul and remaining single all of his life. She squared her shoulders, straightened her spine, and turned to face him.
“You are so beautiful, Charlotte.”
She averted her eyes. She didn’t have the strength to look into his again, knowing what she now knew.
“Forgive me.” He knelt down at her feet and grasped her hands in his. “I don’t know how to say this except to speak as truthfully and honestly as I can. I spent some time in prayer about you and me and my commitment, and I feel that the Lord has given me permission to no longer remain single. I can move into a different life…That’s not right. How can I say this? That I’m no longer bound to the commitment I made as a younger man to remain single, that I’m free to take you as my wife.”
Charlotte pulled her hands away and stepped back. “What?”
Zach stood up. “I know I’m not making sense, but do you recall the Bible story about Peter seeing a sheet with all the foods he was now allowed to eat?”
Charlotte could feel her eyebrows move closer together. She nodded.
“Well, Peter never ate anything unclean by Jewish tradition, but God was saying that now it was permissible for him to no longer keep that commitment, that he was free to eat pork, ham, lobster, and all sorts of things. My singleness is like the Jewish tradition of eating kosher, and now God is saying it is all right for me to change my sheet lines and change direction. I have feelings for you, Charlotte. I’ve been fighting them, but I do have them. I would be honored if you would be my wife.”
Charlotte stood there amazed, confused, and not certain what to say. “But you said it yourself: I wouldn’t be able to handle being a wife of a sea captain who was gone so often and for so long. I don’t know how to farm or store and preserve food for the winter. I can sew, and with Ruth’s help I’ve learned to cook a few more things, but—”
“Shh.” He pulled her into his arms. “We’ll work those details out. All I need to know right now is that you love me enough to be my wife.”
What should she say? “Where would I live until a proper time has elapsed for us to be married?”
“Charlotte, what is proper with regard to our relationship? I’ll marry you tonight when we arrive in port and we can find a minister to marry us.”
She touched his forehead. “You’re ill, aren’t you?”
Zach chuckled. “Never better.” He cradled her face in his hands. “I have to go. I don’t want to, but I must. Can we continue this conversation?”
She met his gaze. She could see the love shining in his eyes. He was sincere, and honesty and truth bored into her from the depths of his soul. “Yes,” she whispered.
“Thank you, my love, thank you.” He brushed his lips on her forehead. The warmth and softness melted the rest of her resolve. How could her life change so quickly?
The ship shifted, tacking. She’d been told what the movement was when the ship changed position to catch the wind. Zach’s sea legs kept them upright. “Is it safe to say you and your decision to marry were tacking?”
“Hmm, I hadn’t thought about that, but yes, I reckon I have. My goal is still the same, to live an honorable life and be a good witness for the Lord. But now I’ll have a wonderful woman by my side.”
The clang of the captain’s bell rang out. “I’m sorry, I really need to go.”
“I’ll be here when you return.”
“Thank you, Charlotte. I love you.”
He disappeared out the door before she could reply. “I love you too,” she said to the emptiness of the room.
“Where were you?” Frank bellowed.
“Sorry, I had business with Miss Kimbrel.”
“Oh, sorry.”
They went through the traditional relieving jargon, and Frank left the helm and headed toward his bunk. He turned and faced Zach before he went down the stairs. “You’re going to marry her, aren’t ya?”
“If she’ll have me, I am.”
Frank wagged his head back and forth. “Must be true what they say about women being a bad omen on a ship.” He laughed.
“If this is bad, I’ll have her on every voyage.”
Frank waved and hopped down the stairs.
The idea of Charlotte traveling with him sounded wonderful. Caleb came up to the top of the stairs but didn’t step off them. “May I’s come closer, suh?”
“Of course, Caleb. What do you need?”
Caleb stepped up and walked over to the helm. “I’s don’t want to be ungrateful to alls ya is doin’ for me and the missus, but we don’t want to stay workin’ on the ship. Our little one, Lizzy, is too small for a ship.”
“Ah.” Zach kept his hand on the wheel and an eye on the compass.
“We’s be honored that ya wants us, but…”
“I understand. A ship is a dangerous place for a baby.”
“Thank ya, suh.” Caleb bowed and stepped back toward the stairs.
“Do you know anyone in Boston or around the area where you can find some work?” Zach asked.
Caleb turned. “No, suh, but the good Lord, He’s been watchin’ o’er us.”
“True. I’ll be praying for you.”
“Thank ya, suh. We’s appreciate ’em.”
Caleb left, and Zach started to pray. He’d grown closer to Ruth and Caleb than any of the other runaway slaves he’d helped bring to freedom.
Zach’s shift ended. Charlotte waited for him on the walkway deck to his quarters. “Hi,” he said. “I wasn’t expecting to see you. I thought you’d be asleep by now.”
Charlotte giggled. “After what you proposed a few hours ago? You have a lot to learn about women, or better yet, me.”
“I look forward to discovering every nuance that makes up the whole of you.”
“Ah, but I haven’t said yes yet.”
He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and led her to the bow of the ship. Would she turn him down? No, he didn’t believe so. “Which part of what I said has you unable to sleep?”
He helped her to sit on the bow, leaning against the cabin, and sat down beside her.
“All of it. I can’t imagine marrying a man without a proper courtship. On the other hand, my decision to leave home in the manner that I did…does make me question whether or not I need to conform to the social norm.”
“If it will make you happier, I shall wait one year.”
“But”—she paused—“I do not know where to live. Where to find employment. How would we court if you were out to sea? So many questions, yet your suggestion makes sense. But where would I live when you are at sea? If I remember correctly from our conversations, you do not have a house or home. I would find it odd to live in your parents’ home, especially if you went out to sea right after we married.”
“I have land to build a house on. My father has given me a piece of his farm. My family lives outside of Salem in Danvers. It’s good farmland.”
“But I don’t know how to farm.”
“No, but my parents and brothers do. They will help you.”
Charlotte nodded.
“Charlotte, I have a good savings. I could take a leave of absence for six months and we could build the home together.”
Charlotte nodded.
“I am not a mind reader,” Zach continued. “You must speak with me in order for me to understand your thoughts.”
“You might think this is Southern of me, but what if we have Ruth and Caleb work the farm? I’m not saying as our slaves, but as our hired servants. I know you wanted to hire them to work on the ship, but…”
“What a splendid idea.” Zach smiled. “Caleb spoke with me earlier and said that he and Ruth thanked me for the offer to work on the ship but they didn’t believe it was a safe place for Lizzy.”
“That’s wonderful for me, not you, I suppose.”
“If I ate as well as I have been for the past few days I would gain too much weight. No, I think we would be better served if Ruth helped you around the house. What about children?”
“What about them?”
“How many would you like?”
“Ah, well, in high society it is not expected that you have too many children.”
“You do realize we shall not be living in high society. Being a captain, I am awarded some decorum and respect, but…”
Charlotte placed her hand on his chest. “I am not saying I want to be a member of high society. What I was trying to say in an indirect way was that I am willing to wait and see what the Lord grants us with regard to children.”
“Ah.”
“I can be direct, but I do know how to be delicate in conversation.”
“I understand, and I appreciate directness and sensibilities. Now, we must settle one more item before we retire for the evening.”
“What’s that?”
“Are you going to marry me tomorrow or a year from tomorrow?”
Charlotte giggled. “Tomorrow.”
He took her in his arms and kissed her. At first it was a sweet, gentle kiss, but then it deepened. Charlotte’s heart fluttered. She was very glad she’d chosen to marry tomorrow.
They arrived in Boston by early morning. The ship was unloaded within two hours. Ruth made a light lunch for the six of them, including Bradley, as the crew left once the boat was anchored in the harbor.
Zach left to speak with the owners of the ship and give them an accounting of his various travels, as well as the financial logs and money he still carried. By two, he returned with a much smaller sailing ship, his own. The six of them—Caleb, Ruth, Lizzy, Brad, Zach, and herself—sailed to Salem Harbor and arrived by dinnertime.
He glided the ship to the dock with ease. A small group of people met them there. “Who are they?” Charlotte asked.
“My family and the pastor of our church, I hope. Otherwise we’re not getting married until tomorrow.” He winked.
“How?”
“I sent them a telegraph message and told them I was getting married and asked them to bring the pastor.”
Charlotte chuckled. “I should have known. I thought it odd you didn’t bring me into Boston. I thought we were going to marry there.”
“I hope you don’t mind. I want my family to be a part of our lives, and I wanted you to meet them before you married me. You might not want to once you meet them.” Charlotte smiled. Zach was an incredible man and an excellent planner.
A man with red hair and a chin similar to Zach’s stood at the end of the dock. “Hey there, little brother,” he called out, “you couldn’t have timed it better. We’ve only been waiting for an hour.”
“Charlotte, this is my older brother, Russell.” He tossed Russell a rope. “He’s the one who will inherit most of the farm. He’s a fair farmer too, but I wouldn’t say that in front of him. His head might swell.”
Russell stood prouder after securing the rope to the pilings. “You’re sure you want to marry this man? He’s not normal—living on boats. Ain’t got no roots, just rudders.”
Charlotte laughed. “I like your brother,” she said to Zach. Turning to Russell, she added, “Zach is a bit different, but then again, so am I.”
“Oh, she’ll fit right in. Hi, I’m Edith, Zach’s mom.” She extended a hand to help Charlotte step onto the dock. “Pleasure to meet the woman who finally got this man to settle down.”
“Hey now,” Zach defended. “Russ, help me with the baby.”
The crowd hushed.
Zach reached into the cabin and pulled out Lizzy. Ruth came next, and Caleb followed. “Family, this is Lizzy, Ruth, and Caleb. They’ve agreed to help me and my wife-to-be build and farm our land. They’ll also help take care of Charlotte when I’m out to sea.”
Murmurs of welcome gradually swept through the crowd, while hugging and shaking of hands went around the small circle. Charlotte looked back at Zach. She’d never seen him so happy. Well, maybe this was the second time she’d seen him this happy. No, wait, the third. The first was when he told her his insight from the Lord about changing his life course. The second was when she agreed to marry him the next day. And the third was right now, encircled by his family.
“Is the reverend here?” Zach asked.
Charlotte stiffened. It was really happening. She was going to get married.
“Right here, Captain Browne.”
Zach wrapped his arm around her waist. “Can we marry right here, right now?”
“If you wish.” The reverend smiled. “But your mother set the church up real nice.”
“Mom?”
“I couldn’t help myself. You know me and weddings. You’re the last of my children to marry. I had to send you off well.”
“Do you mind, Charlotte?” Zach asked.
“No. A church wedding sounds perfect.” Charlotte snuggled into Zach.
“Head to the church, folks,” Russell called out. He leaned toward Zach and Charlotte. “Good choice. There’s a feast, and Mom and the girls went out of their way to fancy up the church.”
“Grandfather’s cottage has been cleaned up for you and Charlotte. I’m afraid we didn’t set up quarters for your servants. They are servants, right?”
“Yes, we hired them,” Charlotte said.
“Good. Don’t fret none. We’ll find them a place to stay,” Russell added.
Within ten minutes, the boat was secured at the dock. The wagons were loaded with all the family members and the reverend. Zach and Charlotte sat with him on the way to the church. He pumped them with questions about their relationship and passed on some advice about marriage.
Before long they were married and sitting at a table, eating some of the food the ladies of the family had cooked earlier that day. Charlotte sat back and marveled at all the changes in her life. Last week at this time she had discovered the small family fleeing for their freedom. Today they were free.
She reached over and took Zach’s hand. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For being the man you are. You helped me save the runaways, and you rescued me as well.”
He leaned over and kissed her. “You rescued me too.”
“I never asked, but why is the ship named Lady Grace?”
“Ah, well, the owners are from England, a husband and wife. The wife holds the English title of lady, while he is a lord, and her name is Grace. Thankfully, I don’t captain their other vessel.”
“Why? What’s the name of that one?”
“Lord Nibley.”
“Nibley?”
Zach nodded and smiled.
“Do they have other ships?” Charlotte asked.
“Not yet, but they’re looking to increase their fleet. I reckon they’ll start using their children’s names.”
“Hmm.”
“So how does it feel to be Mrs. Zachery Browne?”
“Good. Strange, and like it may not be real.”
“Oh, my dear, it is real.” Zach took her hand and stood up. She followed his lead. They said their goodbyes and were promised not to be bothered until dinnertime, when they were expected to join his parents at the main farmhouse.
The cool night air hit. Charlotte took a deep breath. “It smells of pine and oak with a slight hint of flowers. I don’t smell the saltwater, though.”
“It drifts in on occasion when the tides and air are just right. But the harbor is a ways away, as you discovered on our long trip here.” Zach paused. “I love you, Charlotte.”
“I love you too.”
He guided her to a carriage and helped her inside, then ran around to the other side. “Russell is going to take care of the horse and carriage after I get us to my grandfather’s cottage.”
She snuggled next to Zach. This was right. She had a purpose—to be the best wife and mother to Zach and their future children. She also believed she would be teaching Ruth and Caleb how to read and write, as they would be teaching her how to do the many things she’d never needed to do. She would miss her parents and maybe even her life back in Savannah, but she had made the right decision to help the slaves to the road to freedom. She didn’t know it would include a journey on a ship for herself as well.
“Zach?”
“Hmm?”
“Aren’t the sails called sheets on a ship?”
“No, the sheets are the lines attached to the corners of the sail that help us direct the wind flow into the sail. Why do you ask?” He continued to hold the reins and direct the horse.
“I was just thinking about the freedom for the runaways and how my voyage gained me love and a husband. And if the sails were sheets, as I thought they were, it was interesting that God would remind you of Peter’s vision with the sheet. But I guess that doesn’t fit, does it?”
“Not exactly.” Zach paused for a moment. “The sheets in Peter’s vision were God’s love and blessing on all the foods Peter was now allowed to eat. A freedom, if you will.”
“Sails of love,” she whispered. “We fell in love under the sails of God’s love.”
“And we’ll continue under the sails of His love.” Zach reached over and wrapped his arm around her. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” And she did. She didn’t know much more about her future, but she knew she would always be protected by God’s love…and Zach’s.