protecting one’s final words. More than one officer has written a plea for help or a farewell.”
She lifted the bottle. “This one truly touched my heart. I found it the night the Price was trapped on the Doom Bar. The first mate must have guessed his fate, for he spent precious minutes of his last hour writing a letter and securing it in this bottle. Perhaps he meant to throw it into the sea but was washed overboard himself before he could do so.
“That night, I saw Tom Parsons bend over him and pull this from one of the man’s pockets and his watch from another. Thinking the bottle empty, Tom threw it down in disgust and went off to search his next victim.
“I hurried over and retrieved it. The bottle contained no rum or whatever Tom was hoping for, but I saw the white ghost of paper within. I tucked the bottle away, then looked closer at the man’s face, committing it to memory. He looked so peaceful, green eyes open and wearing a hint of a smile it seemed to me. So much so that I felt for a pulse just to be sure, but no, he was dead.
“I looked for anything else that might identify him but found nothing. So I closed his eyes and waited for my uncle to come and say a blessing over him.”
Seeing her listener was transfixed, Laura slid the paper from the bottle. “This is a copy I made for myself.” She read it aloud.
“To whoever finds this note,
The waves are beating the ship to splinters. We can’t last much longer. If you find this, it likely means I am gone. I hope you will do me a great favor and send this note to my parents to let them know.
It was a foolish and proud young man who left their home four years ago. And an older, wiser, more repentant man who writes these words now.
Father, if you read this, please know I forgive you. You asked me long ago to do so, and I said I never would. That was spiteful and cruel. I do forgive you, and I ask that you forgive me, for the harsh words and for leaving you without a chance to make amends or say good-bye.
I meant to come back this Christmas in hopes of a reconciliation. Would have, had God allowed. But please never doubt that I love you.
Mamma, I am sorry I was not a more attentive, kinder son. You deserved better. I love you too. Forgive me for not telling you in far too long.
May you both find peace in the fact that I have surrendered my soul to God, relying on Jesus’ mercy, which as you know I once scoffed at. I scoff no longer. To borrow words from another seafarer, I once was lost but now am found.
Yours forever,
James Milton Kirkpatrick III
Please deliver to:
Mr. and Mrs. James Milton Kirkpatrick
The Grange, Bableigh Road
Barnstaple, Devon, England.”
Laura paused, affected by the words all over again. “Barnstaple isn’t so very far from here. He was so close to home, yet he didn’t reach it.”
“Sounds like he did.”
She tilted her head to regard him. “Are you a man of faith, Mr. Lucas?”
“I am. Though imperfect and prone to wander. Especially at the moment.”
“Are not we all?” Laura said softly, then returned her focus to the paper. “I don’t usually send the original, in case it should not reach the intended recipient. But in this case, I had such specific direction that I posted the letter, enclosed in another sheet. I wrote a few lines explaining how I came upon it, my sorrow for their loss, and sent it on.”
“Have you received any reply?”
“No. I do hope they received it. I like to think it helped, and that his father forgave him. That they reconciled at last.”
“Yes, I hope so too.” Alexander nodded thoughtfully. “Fathers and sons. Sometimes close, sometimes so easy to let injured pride and disagreements splinter the relationship as surely as rocks and waves splinter ships.”
“You speak from experience?” Laura asked.
“I do, unfortunately. I too hope to reconcile with both my father and brother when I return home. Father’s health is not good, I’ve learned. And with the strain of . . . recent events . . . I hope I am in time.”
“So do I.”
Laura looked around at her collection once more. Had she shown him everything? She thought of her latest finds, still in the Fern Haven scullery. She had soaked