Dillard Beach Mystery – 34

Chapter Thirty-Four

March, 1683

“Rand’s Skin Balm” was a success and Rebekah was hardpressed to produce as many jars of the ointment that were required to meet the demand.

“It is all thanks to the gossips,” Chapman remarked. “Thankfully the reports are most favorable and that is a very good thing for us.” He paused and looked at Rebekah. “Your balm is becoming well known in both households and workshops. So popular, in fact, we need to take the making of it out of your tiny shed.”

Rebekah shook her head. “I do not agree. I do not want strangers making my ointment. It must be done in just such a way. I prefer to do it myself or with Emma. We have managed things very well to this date.”

“You have managed things well enough. But your orders are often late and the interest and demand are only growing. This very morning I received an order from Boston. Wilson owns the largest chandlery in the colony and is asking for 100 jars of Rand’s Skin Balm. How long do you think it would take you to fulfill it?”

“One hundred jars?” Rebekah repeated. “All at once?”

Chapman nodded. “That’s the order.”

Rebekah started counting on her fingers and quickly abandoned the effort. “Such a large order requires a supply of fresh materials I do not have. I would have to buy the plants from another garden and they need to dry for at least four weeks.” Her face flushed with worry. “And we will need a great deal of beeswax. I will need to place an order with the beekeepers, not to mention jars and then labels…” She paused, and looked at the Captain. “One hundred jars?” she asked.

He nodded. “That is the order. And Wilson wants them before summer ends.”

“That is not possible, Captain. Not even if I can obtain all the essential ingredients. You never should have confirmed the order without speaking with me first. As you know, I am first a midwife with many patients to care for, and of course, there is little Ezra. He is a growing boy of four years but not yet able to be left on his own.”

“I think you’re wrong. I’ve been watching young Ezra. He is very independent and eager. It is time you let him wander a bit. Perhaps one of the village women could care for him while you work.” He paused. “Is he in school, yet?”

“He has been taking his lessons at the village school. I have done my best to teach him his numbers and letters and he practices with his hornbook each evening. He seems a quick learner, like his father.”

At the mention of her late husband, Chapman asked, “Does the boy have an older companion who can befriend him and show him how things are done and teach him the way of things?”

“Farmer Birch has two sons that come by often enough, but both are busy on their farm.”

“No one to be there every day?” Chapman asked. When Rebekah did not answer, he continued. “It is a hard thing to grow up without a father. I know. That was my lot in life. My dear mother did her best, but I was too wild for her to control. If it was not for Shipmaster Whitman, I fear the better part of my life would have been spent behind bars.”

“What do you mean?” Rebekah asked.

“When I was very young, I spent many hours hanging about the waterfront causing no end of trouble for the sailors and local fishermen. Whitman, who was Captain of the merchant ship, Elizabeth Ann, finally set me straight. He caught me one day, trying to steal whatever I could find from his cargo hold. Instead of sending me off to the local magistrate, he took me on as cabin boy when I was but Ezra’s age. I tell you a few months on board that merchant ship straightened me out for life.”

“Whitman was a demanding master?”

“Demanding and very strict. He was fair but gave no quarter. When he gave me an order, my job was to jump to it. No excuse, no delay.” He paused, considering how much more to share. “I will not go into detail, but let me assure you my time aboard the Elizabeth Ann provided me with the best school I could have hoped for. No question.” He looked at Rebekah and wondered how best to broach the subject of her son and his future. “I believe your son, Ezra, would benefit a great deal from such an arrangement. I do not question your dedication as a devoted mother, Rebekah, but I fear the boy lacks self-discipline and could use a firm hand to guide him.”

“And you believe you could be such a guide?” Rebekah asked.

“I do. The Caroline is in port for the next few weeks and I intend to take her along the coast to New York, stopping along the way to trade. Ezra could accompany me and act as cabin boy. I think it would serve as a good introduction to life at sea, if that is what he desired.”

“I think Ezra too young to know what it is he wants.”

“Possibly true. But how will he know, unless he is exposed to the possibility.”

Rebekah shook her head. “Not yet, Chapman. The boy is too young to be away from his mother for such an adventure.”

“It would only be for a month or two. Spring is nearly here and the weather will be favorable for such a short voyage.” He paused, then continued. “Perhaps you could come along as well. If you accompanied your son, you would be able to see that all is done properly.”

“Is it not bad luck to have a woman onboard a ship?”

“Not if the woman is the business partner of the Captain.” He smiled. “On board the Caroline, my word is law. The men will go along if I tell them to do so. These days with all the trade along the southern coast and the islands, a woman on board a ship is not unusual. You and Ezra can stay in one of the special cabins, or if you prefer, you may have my cabin. The Caroline is a Fluyt, designed as a cargo vessel and requiring only a minimal crew. You should have plenty of room to roam about. Together we shall take full advantage of trading at every port from here to the Hudson.”

He gave Rebekah a broad smile. “Do you agree, with my proposal? We shall accomplish two goals with the one effort: establish and increase our trade and introduce the boy to the possibility of a life at sea.”

“You have given me a lot to think about, sir. But before I make any decision, I need to determine how I will ever manage to make 100 jars of ointment.”