The Spice King by Elizabeth Camden

Author:Elizabeth Camden
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical Fiction;FIC042110;FIC042030;FIC027360
ISBN: 9781493420278
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2019-07-17T16:00:00+00:00

Twenty-Three

After a week of haggling with bankers and brokers, the sale of the Pelican had been canceled, and now Gray had to scramble to rehire the crew. Many of the Pelican’s crew members had quit while the ship sat in port during the sale negotiation. With luck, he might be able to find some of them. Every cargo steamer had quirks, and an experienced crew was essential.

“Sign me back up,” Captain Haig said with a broad smile as they met on the bridge of the Pelican. The weathered old sailor wore his white hair in a ponytail that reached halfway down his back, for he’d always had a ruthless disregard for convention.

The Pelican’s bridge had the best view of anyplace on the ship, with windows providing a panoramic view over the harbor. Most of the bridge was taken up with the navigation equipment, but a small table near the back had just enough room for Gray, Otis, and Captain Haig to talk business.

“I wasn’t too keen on those new owners,” Haig said. “I probably would have quit before long.”

“And why is that?” Otis asked.

“They were going to use the ship for regular coal deliveries between Baltimore and Miami. I’d die of boredom on a route like that.” Working for the Delacroixs meant importing spices from distant points all over the world, and a regular coal run would be painfully mundane for a man as colorful as Captain Haig.

Gray was glad to have someone he trusted at the helm. “I’ll get contracts for cargo lined up within the month, and I hope you and I can set sail for Madagascar by October.”

“You’re coming?” Captain Haig asked in surprise.

“I’m coming.” Gray didn’t add any details, even though Haig looked stunned. During their last trip from the Spice Islands, he’d told the old sailor about his plans to finally settle down and start a family. Haig had an instinctive love for the sea, but Gray never did.

Haig leaned back in his chair and drew on his pipe. “That’s an abrupt turnabout for a man who took his mother’s wedding ring out of the family vault only a few weeks ago.”

Gray shot a look at Otis, the only person who’d known about that withdrawal. Otis had the decency to look abashed and shrugged. “Haig caught me coming out of the bank and asked me why. I was happy for you.”

“And blabbed.”

“And I blabbed,” Otis admitted.

The last thing Gray wanted to think about was Annabelle Larkin. He needed to rehire a crew, inspect the ship, and scramble to find enough cargo to make the trip to Madagascar profitable.

“Let’s go down to inspect the hold,” Gray said as he stood and gestured to the door. Spices didn’t take up much room, so most of their freight was supplied by other firms, and he needed to be sure everything was in order.

“Everything is in good shape,” Haig said, making no move to leave the bridge. “Go find us a cargo. Anything except coal destined for Miami.”

“I need to inspect the hold first.

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