Dillard Beach Mystery – 44

Fall, 1683

“I thank you for your concern, but I think your warning is without merit. There is nothing suspect about the work I do. Any woman I have ministered to would tell you the same.”

“I am certain that is as you say.” The druggist nodded and bid Rebekah a good day.

The next shop she wanted to visit was that of the cobbler. “Come Ezra, it is past time you get a new pair of shoes.”

“New boots, mama? Can they be tall boots with big heels like the Captain wears?”

“I think not, Ezra. Right now, your legs are a bit short for tall boots. A pair of sensible shoes for walking and running are just what you need.” The boy’s face revealed his disappointment. “Don’t worry, Ezra, when you get to be captain of your own ship, you can buy yourself a pair of tall boots.”

“Can they be black? Captain Chapman wears black boots.”

“They can be any color you wish. Red, black or brown. I promise.”

Ezra took her hand and followed his mother into the shop where they met with the cobbler, a heavy-set man, bent over his workbench. He looked up as the two entered his shop. “And what can I do for you, Miss?”

“My son’s shoes are in need of repair.”

The cobbler took one look at the worn leather shoes Ezra was wearing and shook his head. “You ask for a miracle. Your boy’s shoes are beyond repair. Look at the soles. They are worn through and no thicker than a bit of linen.”

Rebekah gave the cobbler a worried look. “Is there nothing to be done? I have patched them a few times and relined them with leather, but they do little to keep out the pebbles.”

“You’d be best served with a used pair of moccasins. Less costly than shoes, and with the boy growing as fast as he surely is, you will be needing a bigger size within a month.”

He turned to Ezra. “There’s nothing for it, boy, you must stop growing and save your good mother the cost of a new pair of shoes every time she turns about,” he teased.

“And what is the cost for a used pair of moccasins, sir?” Rebekah asked, ignoring the cobbler’s jibe.

“Four shillings for a new pair, two for used, is my usual charge, but if you have something of value to trade, I would consider it.”

Rebekah felt in her pocket for the small purse she carried. It contained one shilling and a ha’penny. Not enough.

“I make a wonderful salve to soothe the hands of a workman like yourself. Would that be of interest to you, sir? Your hands look as if a healing ointment would be welcome.”

The cobbler looked down at his rough hands and studied the small cuts and bruises that were evidence of his craft. “A salve would be a welcome trade, miss.”

“Then we are agreed. I can bring you a jar of the ointment within the hour. How soon can a pair of moccasins be ready?”

The cobbler reached under his bench, retrieved a pair of soft leather moccasins and set them on the table in front of Rebekah. “Already done, miss.”

Surprised at the cobbler’s cleverness, she studied the moccasins carefully. “But will they fit? These look oversized to my eye.”

He turned to Ezra. “Come here boy, and try these on.”

Ezra sat on the shop floor and exchanged his rough-looking shoes for the soft leather moccasins. It was obvious they were too big for him.

“They may be a bit oversize today,” the cobbler commented, “but give the boy a month and I wager they will be a good fit for certain.”

Rebekah wondered if it was a wise exchange, but Ezra seemed pleased and so the trade was made. “I will need an hour to retrieve the ointment for you, sir. Please reserve the moccasins until I return.”

The cobbler agreed and Rebekah, with Ezra in hand, walked out of the shop and headed across the common towards the town docks and The Chapman Trading Company. She knew the Captain kept jars of her ointment in the warehouse and with any luck she should be able to slip in and take one without any trouble.

She glanced at the town clock. It was nearly eleven. She would have to hurry if she were to retrieve a jar of ointment from Chapman’s storeroom, make her way back to the cobbler’s shop and still meet Farmer Birch on time.

As she approached the front entrance to the warehouse, Chapman was just coming out, Jacinda Henshaw at his side. Rebekah stopped, unsure what to say.

“Rebekah!”, the Captain waved in her direction. “How grand to see you.” He turned to his companion. “You remember Jacinda Henshaw?”

Both women nodded. “Of course I remember Miss Henshaw, Captain. I trust you are well?”

“We are both very well, thank you.” Jacinda reached out and touched the Captain’s arm, claiming the right to speak for both her cousin and herself. The gesture, barely noticeable, was not lost on Rebekah.

“What brings you to Hyannis?” asked the Captain.

“New shoes for Ezra. We have just come from the cobbler shop.”

Chapman looked down at Ezra. “Good for you, Ezra. Let me see them.”

Ezra smiled. “Don’t have ’em yet.”

The Captain studied the boy’s badly worn shoes. “I can see that.”

“We trade for them.”

“Trade?” Chapman asked, and looked at Rebekah.

“The cobbler and I agreed on a fair trade. A jar of my ointment for a pair of used moccasins. I hoped you had a few jars stored in your warehouse.”

“I see.” Chapman paused, considering what next to say.

“You do have a few jars in stock?” Rebekah asked.

“Of course. They are in the storeroom, but let me get them for you.” He looked at Ezra. “Want to come look for them with me, Ezra?”

The boy grinned and followed the Captain into the building.

Jacinda and Rebekah waited outside an awkward silence between them. Finally, Rebekah asked, “I trust your garden has produced a good harvest this year? It looked so healthy when last I visited in early summer.”

“We have been blessed with much abundance this season.” She paused, smiled, and continued. “Thanks to Edward’s attention to detail, we have broken all past records with this year’s revenues.”

“I did not realize the Captain paid such close attention to his garden.”

“Like all good farmers. We plant, we harvest, we sell. We prosper. We have done well.” She gave Rebekah a look of satisfaction. “The result is as Edward and I expected. We have become quite a team.”

Jacinda’s use of the Captain’s first name suggested an intimacy between the two cousins that Rebekah was not expecting and it caused her to hesitate before responding.

“I am glad all is well,” she finally said.

Satisfied at Rebekah’s discomfort, Jacinda continued the conversation. “I trust your work as midwife prospers?”

“It does. I am blessed to serve many healthy women.”

“And you make special salves and ointments? The Captain tells me they are most useful for those who work in the fields.”

“I have found it to be so.”

“I wonder, have you ever had one of your salves or tinctures cause harm? I have heard rumors of such things happening when taking strange and mysterious elements into a body.”

Rebekah wondered what had prompted her question.