Shipbuilder by Dotterer Marlene

Author:Dotterer, Marlene [Dotterer, Marlene]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2011-08-28T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter 22

April–June 1907

Sea trials for the Adriatic were on Wednesday the first of May. Then she would head straight to Liverpool where she would pick up crew and passengers, as well as finish the last minute fitting out. "There are a million things," Tom rather resignedly explained to Sam and Casey, "still to do up until the minute we sail." The actual maiden voyage was said to begin when the ship left Liverpool heading for New York, with paying passengers.

The first ten thousand of those million things to do needed to be done before Wednesday morning, and it was almost nine on Tuesday night before Tom closed his office to head for home. Unfortunately, he found Mike Sloan just entering the outer office, so he paused, dismissing Ham with a wave of his hand. Ham hesitated, but said good night and left them alone. He'd be back well before dawn, just as Tom would be.

Tom leaned against Ham's desk and folded his arms, eyeing his visitor with careful nonchalance. "What can I do for you, Mike?"

Sloan had put in as long a day as Tom had, and no doubt had just clocked out. Like Tom, he probably was not in a mood to waste time. "Sorry to bother ye now, sir, but it's the first I've had a chance to speak with ye. Bit uncomfortable subject this is, but ye should know, sir, that my men have been talking amongst themselves." At Tom's raised eyebrow, he clarified, "'bout your upcoming nuptials."

"Oh? And their consensus?"

"Well sir, they've been wondering…" Sloan stopped, thought a moment, then backtracked. "See, most of the men have not seen Casey since she was fired…and well, sir, they're all hoping for the chance…" He stopped again and pulled himself straighter, blurting, "They'd like to see for themselves that she's really a woman, sir. In the long run, it'd be best for ye if ye could bring 'er by the yard one day."

What on earth? Tom burst into laughter, tried to speak, then decided it would be better to sit down and get the laughing under control. It took him a minute and by the time he was able to breathe again and wipe the tears from his face, Sloan had taken the other chair, his expression stern.

Fighting not to laugh again, Tom nodded. "I can arrange that, Mike. I think she'd enjoy it."

Sloan nodded back. "That will help a bit, Mr. Andrews. I've told the men that I'm sure she's a decent woman, else ye wouldn't marry her. Ye understand they're a bit uncertain."

Tom tilted his head as he gazed at him. "Surely they don't think she's really a boy. That would be worse than ridiculous. What is this about?"

Sloan spread his hands. "Ye remember when he–no, she–worked here, she freely admitted she was an atheist. Ye've always been a good Christian man, sir, and the men respect ye. But they're disturbed that ye're marryin' a godless woman." He held up a hand to forestall the retort Tom was on verge of giving.

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