Trouble's Child by Mildred Pitts; Walter

He looked worn, but there was a smile on his face. Martha knew that he had been to see about his boat.
    Cora might make the people harm him, Martha thought. Her heart beat wildly. “Talk t’ em, Granma, now!”
    Titay remained silent, her eyes on the stranger. Finally she said, “He’s m’ answer. The Gulf brung this young man t’ us. Le’s be thankful fuh the gift.”
    The stranger stayed on. His boat bobbled on the Gulf at the edge of the island. Martha worried about him. Even though he was better, he was not well. He stayed alone on his boat, and the people still did not trust him.
    Each time Martha passed near the place where he was anchored, she wondered what his boat was like inside. What if the stranger needed something? Was he all right there alone?
    Maybe she should go aboard and see. Never! Magine bein lone with a man, not to mention bein lone with a stranger on a boat. Oo-oo, what they’d do t’ me . She tried to turn her mind to other things.
    Assignments from Miss Boudreaux were piling up. Titay now insisted that Martha gather certain herbs and seaweeds herself. She had to make the rounds with Titay and sometimes visit the sick alone—especially those convalescing. She helped Titay monitor Cam’s pregnancy, which was now well along. Besides, Martha was gradually assuming responsibility for the general run of the house, and for planning and preparing meals. More and more Titay retired to her communin.
    One day, as Martha looked for shellfish along the shore, she wandered near a place where the water was deep, but calm. Suddenly she saw the stranger’s boat. When had he moved it to this place? He must be feeling much better, she thought.
    The boat moved up and down slowly on the water. The ladder was over the side and Martha decided that the stranger must be on the island. What was it like on that boat? She stood still and imagined she could feel the slow rise and fall as the boat rocked up and down. What if she climbed that ladder? But what if the stranger was not on the island …? I’d be dead sho if Titay found out . She shuddered.
    It was almost noon. All the people would be having the noonday meal. No one would be near the shore. She could climb the ladder and take a look.
    Her hands trembled so she could hardly remove her heavy shoes. She didn’t know whether she shivered from the water or from fear as she swam to the ladder.
    When she climbed up and looked over the sides she was surprised to see a space as big as any house on the island. She stepped over the side and tried to stand. Her shivering and the bobbing of the boat tipped her back and forth, and she almost fell. Then, with her feet almost shoulder distance apart, she felt anchored. She looked out at the solid brown of the Gulf and forgot how frightened she was as she felt the rhythm of the water. A warm glow spread through her as the wind and sun bathed her body.
    Then she noticed a collection of bottles and jars of varying sizes. She moved quickly to look more closely. There were small shellfish, eels and plants, and other living things that she had never seen before. She remembered the jars and bottles in Cora LaRue’s house. Did the stranger work some evil magic too? Martha’s heart pounded with fear.
    Suddenly she heard noise beneath her, then footsteps. In her excitement she had not noticed the stairway that led below. Before she could move, the stranger was up on the deck.
    â€œWell, welcome!” he said.
    She tried to speak, but no sound would come. Afraid to trust her legs, she crawled away from the stranger toward the ladder.
    â€œI said welcome . Wait!”
    Martha moved faster.
    â€œPlease, wait,” he begged. “I’m glad you’ve come.”
    Martha saw the smile spread over his face and her heart quieted a little. “What’s in these bottles?”
    â€œOh, that’s my work. I’m collecting what we call marine specimens for