A strong chill in the air greeted Esther a few mornings later. And it wasn’t just from the men. The sweltering heat they’d been enduring in September appeared to be on its way out in a hurry now that October was upon them.
Grabbing another shawl from the cabin to take back to the bastions, she lifted a prayer heavenward. Lord, I give You this day. I don’t know what it will hold, but I pray for safety for the men, for grace toward me, and for many stones to be set.
Every little mishap that happened had been blamed on her. Whether it was a man tripping, a fly in someone’s stew, or the man whose arm was crushed. Apparently everything bad that happened was because of her presence. It had gotten to the point where she dreaded being around the men. But Papa insisted he needed her help. And she remembered the captain’s words about hiding. Even though that was what she wanted to do, something inside her also wanted the captain to be proud of her.
When she made it to the rock pile, Peter stood waiting for her.
“Good morning, Peter.” She dipped her chin.
“Good morning.” He followed her around as she looked at the rocks.
When she turned to head the other way, his nearness made her step back. Roughly around her own age, he seemed eager for … something. “May I help you with some task?”
He opened his mouth and then closed it. Then took a deep breath and opened his mouth again. “I would like to learn, Miss Howland. In watching you yesterday, it fascinated me how you were able to see how each rock would fit with the others.” He looked at his feet for a moment. “I think maybe I would like to be a stonemason one day.”
“And a fine one you will make.” She gave him a smile. “My father and brother are the ones who really know the craft. I am just good at finding the stone.” The fact that, as a man, he was even willing to work with her was amazing.
“Can you tell me how ya do it?”
“I can try—”
“Peter, do not be listening to her nonsense, now.” A sergeant gripped Peter’s shoulder. “If you know what is best for you, you will stay away from her. I think you need to work with Mr. Howland today.”
Peter looked from the sergeant back to her. “Uh …”
“Get to work.” The sergeant stepped closer.
“Yes, sir.” Shoulders slumped, the young soldier walked away.
The sergeant’s eyes shot daggers in her direction, and he stuck his finger in her face. “You just keep your ideas to yourself. We all know that you have brought the curse down upon us once again.” With a glance around him, he straightened his shoulders and smoothed his coat. Then he turned and marched toward the north bastion.
Esther watched the blond-haired man walk away. And then glanced over at Peter. The young man was eager to learn but wouldn’t disobey. Would he have the nerve to ask her father for his guidance? She prayed so. Her heart sank at the thought of the encounter she’d just witnessed.
No matter what Captain Latham ordered his men, the rumors of the curse were alive and well. And Esther wouldn’t be able to persuade them otherwise. In their minds, a woman shouldn’t be here. Especially working with the men.
Was there any way for her to help Papa and Sam without putting the men in an uproar?
She went over to the bastion where Sam was working a pulley system they would use to lift the stones above their heads. Discouragement fought against her good sense, but she shook it away. “What do you need next?”
“The north wall is coming along nicely. The men are getting better at choosing stones for the wall but not for the corners. Papa is getting ahead on his side, so I want to step up the pace.”
“I shall work on finding good cornerstones. And staying out of everyone’s way.”
Sam gave her a sympathetic look. “I am most sorry, Esther.” So much was conveyed in those words.
“ ’Twill be all right.” She headed back to the large rock piles and studied all the stones, looking for just the right ones to be corner pieces.
But it couldn’t take her mind off the sergeant’s words. It wouldn’t be all right. She shouldn’t be here. Women had no place working among the men. It was one thing to help her father and quite another to be the object of rumors and gossip. Any determination she’d felt before melted away. She wasn’t strong like her brother. Couldn’t take the weight of all the men’s scorn.
Esther had felt the hatred coming from the sergeant. Did all the others feel that way too?
While most of the men stayed away, a few greeted her. Some had even apologized for their behavior. Most likely because Captain Latham had instructed them to do so, but still … She’d felt a bit accepted and less of a pariah.
But now?
Things weren’t getting any better. If anything, they were getting worse.
Heavenly Father, my soul aches. You know I’ve tried to have a good heart about being here and how I worried about how the men would react. But it’s too hard. Now I fear that it was a grave mistake to come. But what choice did I have? What should I do?
Feeling disrespectful for questioning God, she tried to focus again on the large stones in front of her. But it was no use. She felt the stares of some of the men. As if they were burning holes in her back. Her personality was not to stand and fight. She’d much rather hide.
“Help! Get me down!” The shout pulled her out of her thoughts of self-pity. When she turned around, she saw Peter hanging upside down from the pulley.
Men ran from all directions. But she stayed back so they couldn’t blame this on her too.
“Sam!” Papa’s voice boomed over the commotion.
Her brother was already running toward their father.
“Hold this rope tight so he does not get caught in the mechanism.” Papa handed the rope to Sam. “You, and you!” He pointed at two others. “Get below his head. Once we release the pressure, we do not want him to fall. The rest of you, stand back.”
Esther took a few steps forward. Peter dangled a good fifteen feet in the air. How had that happened? Papa was always good at instructing the men on how to stay clear of the ropes.
She held her breath as they maneuvered and then released the pulley. Peter was on his feet on the ground in moments, and she let out a sigh of relief. Before anyone could see, she returned to the stone pile. But out of the corner of her eye, she saw Captain Latham headed their way.
If only she could disappear among the rocks.
Christopher paced in front of Peter, Samuel, and Steven. “Exactly how did you become entangled in the pulley?”
“I am not sure, sir.” Peter gripped his hat in his hands. “I did what Mr. Howland said and watched my feet around the ropes. But before I knew it, I was hanging upside down.”
Something didn’t set right in his mind. Christopher looked to the sergeant. “And you witnessed the event?”
Steven lifted his chin. “I did, sir. I was there to assist.”
“What exactly did you see?”
“Peter had trouble with keeping the ropes straight, sir. His feet were in the middle of them. I tried to warn him, sir, but it was too late.”
“I see.” But he didn’t. Could the sergeant be lying? Christopher turned back to the young soldier. “Is this what happened?”
The young man looked to the sergeant and then back at him. A bit of fear flashed across his features. Then he swallowed. “Not that I recall, sir. The ropes were not near my feet. Mr. Howland wanted to test the pulley, and I was straightening the lines.”
“Why were you helping with the pulley? Had I not assigned you to the stone piles?”
Peter glanced at the sergeant again. His face turned red.
“I expect an answer.”
“The sergeant told me to, sir.”
Now that wasn’t surprising in the least. Christopher turned to the sergeant and raised his eyebrows. “Sergeant?”
“With the pulleys going to work today, sir, I saw the need for more hands over at the wall.”
“I see. So you decided to supplant my order.”
“It was necessary. And if I might add sir, this accident is clearly because of Miss Howland’s presence.”
Samuel stepped forward. “I say! Esther was not anywhere near—” The older man sputtered. “How dare you blame my daughter!”
Christopher held up a hand. “Sergeant, there is no need for you to bring your superstitions into this matter. We deal in facts. Not gossip. Miss Howland’s presence has nothing to do with the matter. More likely it was because you were present.”
Steven’s lip curled.
“Captain, if I might add something.” Peter’s voice cracked.
“Of course.” Christopher took a deep breath to calm himself. Steven was becoming a problem.
“Miss Howland wasn’t around. She was still over at the rock piles. So she could not have had anything to do with this.”
“But ’tis bad luck to have her here. Are you blind? Have you not seen what all has happened? There’s a reason the colonel was vocal about the curse. He believed in it too.” Steven’s face was hard and full of anger.
“Sergeant. That is enough. There will be no more about a curse.” He turned to Peter. “I am most glad you came out of this unscathed. From now on, your orders are to assist at the rock piles.”
“Yes, sir.” The young man hurried off.
“Mr. Howland, is your pulley system in working order?”
“Yes, Captain.”
“Good. I’m glad there wasn’t any damage done. My apologies for the sergeant’s words.” Christopher gave a pointed glance at Steven and then back to Mr. Howland. “I am sorry to have taken your time.”
Mr. Howland nodded, but the wariness in his eyes couldn’t be mistaken. What man wouldn’t be wary? Especially when there seemed to be those bent on blaming his daughter. Christopher was sure the older man had begun to worry for her safety. If Christopher was in his shoes, he most certainly would. With a prayer for wisdom, he turned back to Steven. “Sergeant, you were out of line.”
The man squinted at him but didn’t say anything.
“Might I remind you, I have already given my orders pertaining to the rumors about a curse and the treatment of Miss Howland. You have directly disobeyed both of them. Moreover, you changed Peter’s orders without instruction from me.”
Steven straightened his shoulders but remained silent.
“This evening after supper you will report back to me. I will have the disciplinary action decided by then.”
“Yes, Captain.” The sarcastic tone wasn’t lost on Christopher.
As the sergeant walked away, Christopher swiped a hand down his face. No matter how much he tried to fix this problem, it only seemed to get worse. The facts were becoming all too clear.
Miss Howland’s presence was a problem.