There’s got to be a way to catch them without scaring them all off with the blast of a gun.” Christopher lay on his stomach in the snow and looked to John, his lieutenant. “Even if we were to hit one, a single bird isn’t going to feed all the men.”
“You’re right. But what other choice do we have? I’ve never heard of setting traps for geese.” John laughed at his own joke.
But it made Christopher think. “You’ve given me a great idea.”
“Oh? Do tell.”
“A fishing net. We have lots of those. What if we were to spread one out. But we need more hands. Then if we move real slow, we can sneak up on them and throw the net over them.”
John shook his head. “Well, it’s worth a try. But we’d better get moving while they are still asleep. The sun will be up soon enough.”
In less than twenty minutes, they were back and ready to ambush the flock. The temperatures had dipped so low that the geese were tucked all together. Might even be a bit frozen? He prayed it would slow the birds down. With the net spread wide, it appeared that it would cover all the makeshift nests. That is, if they could get it over them without the geese knowing. That would be the trick.
Christopher held up one finger. Then two. Then three. They rushed as quietly as they could and spread the net over the sleeping geese.
A few not quite under the net honked and flew away. But Christopher was surprised. They had almost an entire flock of geese within a fishing net. The cold temperatures had definitely helped, but as soon as the birds realized they were trapped, the commotion grew. Flapping of wings. Honking and screeching. Several birds tried to take off.
“What now?” John shouted as the eight men held down corners of the net.
“I have no idea.”
Two hours later, they carried a net full of unmoving geese back to the fort. Several of the soldiers gave them odd looks, but no one said a word.
One look at John and the rest of the men told Christopher that he probably looked just as bad if not worse. His lieutenant was covered in mud and feathers, and his periwig was askew. Their little adventure hunting geese had turned out prosperous but not pretty.
Somewhere in the snow, Christopher had lost his own periwig. His hair was probably a matted mess, but he didn’t care. He’d send out one of the men to fetch it later, but at the moment all he wanted was to deliver the geese to Esther and then go take a long nap.
Their arrival caused quite a bit of commotion, because every soldier stopped what he was doing to watch them pass.
By the time they reached the large gathering room, Esther had come out to greet them, her white apron looking crisp and clean in the sunlight, her eyes wide as saucers.
“Your geese, milady.” Christopher bowed deeply. “Just as you requested.”
Her jaw dropped as they deposited the large net at her feet. Then she started to laugh a light, bell-like laugh that made him want to join in.
Too exhausted from the battle with the birds to appreciate the moment, Christopher bowed again and waved his hand. “I’m looking forward to roast goose for dinner.”
It took the entire day for Esther and her helpers to pluck and clean all the geese. They’d brought her more than seventy-five! How they managed to kill that many baffled her, but she refused to ask. Especially after the way Christopher had deposited them this morning. The look on his face told it all. He’d gotten in over his head but still accomplished the request.
But what she’d enjoyed the most was seeing him without his wig on. His dark hair was matted and poked up in different directions, but it made him look so much younger. And more handsome—if that was even possible.
The fact that he’d gone to hunt the geese because of her made her heart pound. After all these weeks together at the fort, she had to admit that she admired him very much. But what if he didn’t care for her in the same way?
Perhaps he only treated her with care because she was the only woman around.
It was all too much to think about. Especially without Mother to guide her. Esther didn’t have any experience with relationships.
Maybe she just needed to wait and see what he did next. Their friendship had grown as they’d talked with each other in the evenings. There was no need to rush anything, but her heart wanted nothing more than to give itself away to one Captain Christopher Latham.
She shook her head and focused on the task at hand. At this rate, she’d be roasting the geese for the next few days. But the men would surely enjoy the change of fare.
And wouldn’t they be surprised when she gave them the cushions? She could hardly wait to get started. But first she had to find a place to store all the grain and potatoes. Then she actually had to make the cushions. She’d dragged the goose feathers by the potato sackful back to the cabin, filling every inch of wall space they had. She’d have to clean them and trim them before they could be stuffed into the cushions, but it would take her awhile to sew the sacks into covers anyway. She had plenty to keep her busy in the evenings for the next few weeks. Surely Papa and Sam could manage with a cabin filled with feathers and cushions for a bit. They were hardly there except to sleep anyway. And perhaps it would help keep the cabin warmer. With a shrug, she debated about when to give the men their gifts. Perhaps for the new year? That would be a nice surprise. But she’d have to get Papa and Sam to keep her secret. Sam in particular was horrible at keeping surprises a secret for very long.
She tapped a finger to her chin and surveyed the room. If she worked on one a night, she wouldn’t make it by the New Year. Could she manage two?
Could it be true? December was upon them?
That thought made her smile even more. Winter was such a wonderful season. Her favorite. But here on the island it had been a bit dreadful. Especially with all the storms they’d had, the snow mounding up, and the men not being able to leave and see family. Surely there was something they could do to make it special for the men since they would be separated from the mainland for the duration of winter. What if she planned a special meal to celebrate the new year and gave them all their cushions as a gift? That might be just the trick to boost spirits.
With new determination and delight putting a spring in her step, she set back out to check on the meal. When the last of the first dozen geese was roasted, she rang the bell for supper. Men scurried in from every corner.
“We’ve been smelling it all afternoon, Miss Howland.” Peter looked at her with a big grin. “I can’t wait to taste it.” He licked his lips.
Every man that came through the line commented on the delicious smells and thanked her for all her hard work to bring them tasty meals. The more compliments they gave, the more her heart soared. Maybe she’d won them over after all.
Even Sergeant Jones, who never had a kind word or expression for her, mumbled a brief thank-you for the first time ever as he came through the serving line.
His acknowledgment almost made her fall over.
Papa, Sam, and Christopher brought up the rear of the line.
“It smells absolutely divine, Daughter.” Papa winked at her. “I heard it was quite an adventure acquiring the geese.” He looked back at the captain.
Christopher smiled, his periwig back in place and his coat looking clean and new. “It will be my secret that I shall take to my grave. But when Miss Howland made the request, how could I deny her?” He sent a long look to her.
She couldn’t look away. Something in his eyes told her what she yearned to hear.
“Well, the men thank you, Sis, or Captain Latham, whoever is responsible for such a fine meal.” Sam held his plate up to his nose and took a big whiff. “I shall sleep well tonight with a belly full of roast goose!”
Several of the men cheered.
Christopher leaned a bit closer as she filled his plate. “It seems the geese are winning you even more friends.”
“I hope so. I’d hate to think that after all this they would imagine I was still bad luck.”
As they sat by the fire in the gathering room, Esther noticed that more and more men gathered each night around her father. He’d told her that all he was doing was sharing the scriptures with them in the simplest way he knew how. The exciting thing was that the men were listening. Asking questions.
Just the night before, she’d encouraged Papa by telling him that he was fulfilling the part at the end of Matthew 28 where Jesus had commanded his disciples to go and teach all nations. By teaching those around him, Papa was doing exactly that.
She was proud that Papa had such a knack for explaining the scriptures.
“Your father is doing a very good work.” Christopher’s voice pulled her gaze up to his face while she stitched the edge of a potato sack.
“Isn’t the fort coming along nicely?” She took a glance around.
“No. I mean, yes, the fort is looking great. But I was talking about what he’s doing with those soldiers. They needed someone to look up to, someone they could trust and ask questions of. It’s hard when I’m their commanding officer. Some of them don’t feel like they can approach me like that. But with your father here, they have their own father figure, someone they look up to but who isn’t their commander.”
She hadn’t thought of it that way. “The good Lord is so gracious to supply all our needs. Even if it’s in the shape of a stonemason instead of a preacher.”
“Or the stonemason’s beautiful daughter.”
His words touched a place deep in her heart. Never had a man, other than her own father, told her she was beautiful. As she looked into Christopher’s eyes, she wished she understood all that his eyes were saying. But it was enough to hear those words from him. She heard the beating of her heart in her ears and felt heat rush to her face. “Thank you.”
“I’ve been wanting to tell you that for some time now.” His eyes went back to the fire. “But I always seem to get nervous before I can say it.”
Her mouth went dry and she pushed the needle and thread through the seam faster.
“Perhaps … I could ask your father about the proper way to court you?”