Chapter 68 .Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows

Storms never last, especially intense ones.They always blow themselves out, and this one had too.There had been a few scary moments and at one point Minnie was nearly washed off the deck.A wave had broadsided them and if she hadn’t been roped to a safety line she would have been lost.Wearing a lifebelt in those seas was not going to help.Will had been at the helm, she was heading below for a break and a check in when it happened.A rogue wave at least eight feet had hammered them on the starboard side and the boat had rocked hard, dipping to a sixty degree tilt.Minnie had skidded sideways on the wet deck, boots and hands scrabbling for purchase, ended up on port rail looking straight down into the foaming water.The rope around her waist held her fast until the boat righted and she got her footing.Holding the safety line she made her way back up to the wheelhouse.

Will had seen what happened but couldn’t leave the wheel to help, it was an awful thirty seconds but there were so many people in his hands.He hadn’t been able to help.As she came in, wet to the bone, she ran to him, jumped up and hugged him.Unable to talk at first, she just shivered and buried her little head into his shoulder.Then…“I was so scared dad, if I hadn’t been tied up like you said I would have been gone.”.Will just stroked her wet fur, calming her and getting his own nerves under control, holding her like the first time he had.

When she had been a tiny puppy they picked up from a farm, she had snuggled into his neck. So afraid but so curious. He had been against getting another dog after their beloved little friend had passed. Every day she had been gone was awful and empty. The sight of her bed, or her toys that she would never play catch with again, her leash by the door. The saddest part of life is when someone who gives the best memories, when they become a memory. So when his wife, who was just as sad and bereft, suggested another dog he brought up every excuse in the book. Thankfully she had ignored him. They had gone for a drive and she had directed him to park beside another truck in a parking lot. She got out, talked with the other person for a minute and came to his side of the truck. Through his open window she handed him this ball of fur with eyes. In that split second his heart opened to this tiny little girl and that was it.

So the thought of losing his Minnie, even though she wasn’t dependent on him, even though she was a capable intelligent being, even though everything….it had rocked him to the core.Holding the wheel with one hand, keeping an eye on the lessening waves, he held his little girl to his chest.Eventually she perked up and sat beside him in her boosted chair.“I’ve never seen a wave that big, except for that one that nearly wrecked us, remember it, all the littles tossed like bugs, are they okay below, I know they’re pukies and that’s yuck, but it’s okay most peoples get sick in weather like this, not us though, we’re tough sailors…arrr.”, she let out in one breath.“I haven’t been able to get away from the wheel too much, I talked to Naomi earlier and everyone was okay.Just some sickies.”, said Will.

Minnie grabbed the voice tube to the mess and blew in it. Her sensitive ears heard Naomi answer, and could hear upset children in the background. “How’s everything down there?”, she asked. Naomi replied “Some sick, most scared, me too..a bit scared. The ports were underwater a little while ago.”. “The lake tried to eat me, but I won, the storms overing, won’t be too bad soon.”, Minnie told her. “Okay, it was pretty wild down here.” was the reply. Indeed the storm was, as Minnie aptly put it, overing. Within twenty minutes of that monster wave the lake was mostly smooth, just the occasional long heaving wave. Like the storm was refusing to pass. As soon as they could Will hit dead slow on the throttle, waited for the barges to slow as well, roped off the wheel and he and Minnie went below.

Opening the hatch’s to get fresh air down quickly, they unlatched the watertight doors over the stairs and went below. It was a little yucky but that was to be expected. Now that the boat was stable stomachs had settled. Ports had been opened and with the fresh air coming in everyone perked up. As Will entered the galley a dozen voices asked questions at once. Are we sinking, why was the boat sideways, are we okay? He shushed them and said “It was a bad storm, but it’s over now and clear sailing for Newton. Minnie and I decided to keep steaming through the night to get home in the morning.” Min added “We’ll be back in the land of milk and candy tomorrow, go have a wash up and change clothes, late dinner on deck.”. At the thought of food some groaned, but others cheered up even more. And the thought of home…well that was exciting.

As the teens moiled around, finally going to their cabins and the heads, Naomi could finally talk to Minnie and Will privately. “It was very bad wasn’t it”, she asked. Will nodded “Nearly as bad as your first trip with us, at one point we nearly capsized.”, he patted a nearby bulkhead… “Shes a tough ship though.”. Minnie hopped up and sat cross legged on the mess table “I nearly drowned, went flying off the deck. Lucky I was roped up.”. Naomi gasped and hugged Min, “But it’s over now?”, Will nodded “Yup, barometers nice and high, rose a lot over the last twenty minutes, so it’s over.”. Naomi asked if it was all right to light the stoves. Will agreed instantly…it was tea time. “It’s always tea time dad.”, Minnie laughed.

Will thought a cuppa after working for hours was just about the best thing in the world.As he poured yet another mug full, he held up the pot to Minnie.She snorted “Keep your sweet yuck water, I still don’t like it.”.He dipped a sugar cookie in and ate it in one bite.“Don’t know what you’re missing.” He said with a smile.Howard had mixed up a couple of batches of cookies and everyone had enjoyed them.Minnie had gobbled up quite a few of the ones he had brought up to the wheelhouse, but Will had managed to save a couple.He quickly dipped them as he saw Minnie eyeing them.The light was dimming so the large fore and aft lanterns had been lit, giving the deck a warm appearance in the growing dark.

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It was not to be fish and chips tonight.No time to fish and some stomach’s were a bit delicate for deep fried food.So it was fresh bread and rolls, cheese, sliced ham and smoked sausage.Still cake for afters though, wouldn’t be a proper last night meal without cake.It was nice, thought Will, that they were developing traditions.It showed that we’re putting down roots on the lake….Will laughed to himself.That sounded odd even in his head, it would be even odder when he wrote it.

The makeshift meal was enjoyed by all. It was very pleasant on the deck this late, stars blazing above them. It was so different from the howling wind and monster waves of just a few hours ago, but that's how life on the water goes. As everyone had eaten their fill Will stood to address them. “Another successful run, there’s a lot of coal travelling behind us and it’s all thanks to you. This had been a good trip and I hope you all had fun and made some good memories . I know I did.”, “Me too”, interrupted Minnie. Laughing Will continued “When you hit your bunks in a little while just remember, when you wake up we’ll be back at Newton.”. Minnie added “So if you hear any noises in the night, it’s just me and dad thumping around up here.”. “I’ll be up too”, said Naomi, “So if anyone needs anything, like tea, the kitchen will be open.”. “So anyway, thanks to you all for your hard work, extra thanks to our hardworking second mate Naomi, and to our first mate Minnie, for everything she brings.”. The children applauded themselves and the crew for a few minutes then began to drift off to bed below. Soon it was just the three of them sitting together. They all had things to do but it was just nice to enjoy each other’s company for a bit. Will could hear Ann and Milly settling the teens to rest, lots of chatter below but that died out too as it got later.

The three of them stowed the chairs and tables below, turned off the large lamps and lit the smaller midship lantern.It gave ample light to get around with.Minnie headed to the wheelhouse and slowly increased speed to three quarters.Will was in the engine room, shovelling coal into the auto feeders.A quick check around of the various store rooms, shops, holds and cabins for damage.Just knocked about and in a bit of disarray but no damage thank goodness.He checked in on Naomi who was doing a final inventory of stores.It would help for next load out if you know what was consumed.

“No bugs today?”, he asked.She just glared at him and turned back to her work.Laughing, he patted her shoulder as he left to go back on deck.The world he walked up to was dark and cool, just the midship light illuminating the deck.You could hear and feel the movement through the water.The thrum of the engine and the deep black smoke from the stack made its own whooshing sound as it puffed out.Various creaks, a low rattling from anchor chains…very peaceful indeed.As his eyes became accustomed to the lower light he could see the lake ahead.Looking over to the wheelhouse he could see Minnie had put a red filter over the hanging lantern to preserve her night vision.Even though she had gone through many changes when they arrived here, her night vision was still superior to Wills.Just something she retained from her previous form.

He had rowed to the barges after the storm and had lit the marker lanterns and checked the cargo. There had been some damage to the third and fourth barges. They had collided during the storm and there was damage to the aft and fore respectively. Mostly superficial…missing safety railings but there were a couple of cracked boards higher on the hulls. He checked below in the holds for leaks, but it was still watertight, just a couple of feet deep from waves that got past the sealed cover. Or perhaps through the vent stack, a flap on the top of the stack would stop water but still let out fumes. He had made a note in his to do book when he returned to the Rose.

Looking out from the stern he could see the lanterns bobbing along behind them, following them easily now. Such a difference a couple of hours can make.

He entered the wheelhouse with a clatter, Naomi had joined Minnie and they were having a snack of sausage and cheese. Minnie had taken to drinking warmed apple juice and there was a pot of tea waiting. “Hey dad, find any bugs back there?”, Minnie asked through a mouthful of cheese. “Oh yeah, I did, here.”, he put his hand into the pocket of his great coat, pulled it out and threw…nothing, at her head. She sat back with a yelp, not spilling her juice but it was close. Naomi snorted out a laugh that earned her a dirty look from Min. She resettled herself in her captain’s chair, looked over at Will “Jerk.”. He laughed and ruffled her irritated head with affection. She could never hold a grudge, just wasn’t her nature. She would get angry or irritated, let you know what you did and then let it go right away. Buckets of water helped to get rid of her ire, tossing them that is.

“Beautiful night, captain. Alls quiet below, everyone asleep.”, said Naomi. “Good to hear,”, he thought for a moment, “They handled the storm well, it got pretty rough at times.”. “Yeah it did.”, added Minnie. “It’s pretty frightening belowdecks, but comforting too. I don’t know if I’d want to see how wild it was.”, Naomi responded. Will could understand that. It was one thing to laze around on deck, fishing, or rowing to shore…all in calm waters. But when the wind came up and the rains come down, it’s a different place. “It was rough, but the danger was from the barges.”, Will added, “The Rose is a strong tough boat, she can handle nearly any storm. If those barges had come at us…they might have sunk us. Four might be pushing our luck..”. Minnie looked thoughtful “Maybe we should only do four at certain times, like it was no problem last time but it’s getting closer to winter.”. Naomi asked “How will the councillors take that news though, they seem to really need ore and coal.”. “We don’t work for Newton. We work with the town. They got by for years by gleaning the shores, there’s a fair bit or materiel to be gathered that way. I don’t like being at their beck and call or being taken advantage of because we’re nice.” replied Will. Minnie had been writing in her notebook, putting thoughts into words. “We could do two at a time, anchor or beach them, then come back for the others. That was a good spot we found and it’s not all that far…for us.”. Will could see what her idea was, and it was a sound one. Dump the barges at the dig sites, then come back for the workers. “Beaching sounds better than anchoring, eventually building a dock there.”, Will pondered. “What about a permanent work crew there…no never mind. The adults can’t handle the lake for very long even around us and the kids can’t stay there.” said Naomi.

They sat up all night, tossing idea around, trying to work out an equitable plan. One that didn’t risk lives too much and was still fair to Newton. Naomi and Minnie napped for a while in the dark wheelhouse, windows closed now to keep the cool night air out. Will was at the wheel, keeping a close eye ahead. Sometimes it felt like it was just them, afloat on this never ending lake, alone but not lonely. Then he realized something…it was.