Midwife of the Blue Ridge Read Online Free PDF

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    goods. Maggie Duncan occupied her time maintaining the good
    health and humor of his cargo, forever delving into her basket to
    bring comfort and relief to passengers and crewmen alike.
    The staunch champion of her fellow shipmates, Maggie earned
    praise early on by standing toe-to-toe with Cook, who was not an
    easy man. She asked Cook to prepare a clear broth for the unfor-
    tunates racked with seasickness, as they were unable to stomach
    the usual fare of salt pork, hard cheese, and biscuit. She did not
    relent until Cook obliged her request.
    But Cook bellowed like a bull elephant when Maggie sug-
    gested the ship’s drinking water be boiled and strained. Maggie
    insisted Carlyle inspect the most recently opened cask of water.
    “Captain,” she began, “though I dinna doubt this water was
    once fresh, ’tis no longer the case. Look here—every cask
    coated with this vile green scum—” Her nose crinkled in dis-
    gust as she stirred the contents with a stick. “Dead bugs and
    worms form the second layer. It’s no great wonder so many are
    laid low with the flux. Boiling our water is but a small bother
    for Cook, and there are many willing to help.”
    Midwife of the Blue Ridge 27
    The captain saw no harm in the suggestion and ordered surly
    Cook to follow Maggie’s advice. The effect upon everyone’s
    health was immediate and Cook ceased his grumbling.
    As much as Carlyle liked and admired the young woman, she
    tried his patience every night with her continued dawdling on
    deck after hours.
    “Mr. Stark, please escort Miss Duncan down to the
    tween . . .”
    Joshua Stark skittered down the stair before the captain could
    even complete his order. Carlyle grinned. His stalwart mate was
    definitely counted among the severely lovestruck.
    H
    She leaned into the rail and stretched her underused muscles,
    determined to delay the trip down to tween deck for as long as
    possible. Maggie’d grown accustomed to the many discomforts
    of sea travel, but she would never grow accustomed to the tween’s
    unholy combination of fetid air and total darkness. Most morn-
    ings found her curled in her plaide at the bottom of the stair,
    where a trickle of fresh air managed to fi lter down.
    “Och, the evil hour is upon me,” Maggie muttered when she
    saw Mr. Stark ambling toward her. She did not budge from her
    post by the rail. She smiled. In this game, she held all the
    cards.
    “I’m sorry, Maggie, but Cap’n says it’s time for you to get
    below . . .”
    Maggie ignored him, and bent over the rail, searching for
    something alongside the ship.
    “What’re you lookin’ for?” Joshua peered over her shoulder.
    “Ol’ Pete says there’s a huge sea beast lurking beneath us—a
    remora . Pete claims he’s seen one latch onto a ship’s keel and
    pull it under the waves quicker than a blink of the eye. D’ye think
    it’s true?”
    Joshua relaxed and leaned onto the rail next to Maggie. “I’ll
    tell you what I think, Maggie. I think Pete should spend less time
    28 Christine
    Blevins
    spinning frightful yarns for gullible girls and more time mending
    the canvas.”
    “Ah no! Ol’ Pete’s a darlin’.” Maggie gave the ship’s mate a
    playful elbow to the ribs. “I ken it’s but a tale—a tall tale at that.
    Don’t be bothering Ol’ Pete on my account . . .”
    “I won’t scold Pete. He’s been at sea a long lifetime, and Lord
    knows, these ol’-timers have seen a thing or two to tell about.
    But really, Maggie, you need to get below . . .”
    “Joshua, look!” Maggie flung her arms wide to the perfectly
    smooth sea stretched before them like a huge black mirror re-
    flecting the spray of stars twinkling in the heavens. “I ken fair
    wind is the seaman’s best friend, but I canna help but think this
    calm is verra bonnie indeed.”
    “I’ll grant you,” Joshua said. “On a still night like this it’s easy
    to imagine creatures lurking beneath the surface. Sailors