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Chapters (51)
  1. Cover
  2. Books by Elizabeth Camden
  3. Title Page
  4. One
  5. Two
  6. Three
  7. Four
  8. Five
  9. Six
  10. Seven
  11. Eight
  12. Nine
  13. Ten
  14. Eleven
  15. Twelve
  16. Thirteen
  17. Fourteen
  18. Fifteen
  19. Sixteen
  20. Seventeen
  21. Eighteen
  22. Nineteen
  23. Twenty
  24. Twenty-One
  25. Twenty-Two
  26. Twenty-Three
  27. Twenty-Four
  28. Twenty-Five
  29. Twenty-Six
  30. Twenty-Seven
  31. Twenty-Eight
  32. Twenty-Nine
  33. Thirty
  34. Thirty-One
  35. Thirty-Two
  36. Thirty-Three
  37. Thirty-Four
  38. Thirty-Five
  39. Thirty-Six
  40. Thirty-Seven
  41. Thirty-Eight
  42. Thirty-Nine
  43. Forty
  44. Forty-One
  45. Forty-Two
  46. Historical Note
  47. Questions for Discussion
  48. In 2020, look forCaroline Delacroix’sstory in
  49. About the Author
  50. Back Ads
  51. Back Cover

That was the end of the conversation, as he slammed the door on his way out of the wheelhouse, but relief gusted through her.

Captain Haig summoned Otis to show her to the empty crew quarters, and she happily settled for a hammock. The room had a dozen hammocks and cargo nets strung from the ceiling where sailors stowed their belongings. It smelled like damp rope, salt, and metal in here. The ropes squeaked as she cautiously sat on the hammock nearest the porthole. Lying down was awkward. The hammock swung at a terrifying angle as she cautiously lay back, but the wobbling finally slowed, and she was able to breathe again.

It was hard to sleep when the hammock swayed each time she tried to shift. The darkness was almost complete, and it was scary down here. This must be what Elaine felt like in her dark, isolated world.

Annabelle drew a calming breath. The Hillenbrands had agreed to check on Elaine until Annabelle returned from Boston, but she still worried. Her sister had come a long way in the past few months, but this week on her own would still be difficult for Elaine.

It was time to make the best of things. Elaine would be fine. Perhaps God had sent this challenge to them both as a means of forcing them to face down their fears. The next few days would be a test, and Annabelle would rise to the occasion even if it terrified her.

Twenty-Eight

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Gray awoke bleary-eyed and annoyed the following morning, but also a tiny bit intrigued. Just knowing that Annabelle was aboard his ship alternately thrilled and infuriated him.

They sailed with a skeleton crew, and he was tempted to order her confined to her quarters for the duration of the voyage. It would be easier to concentrate if he didn’t have to look at her, but he couldn’t do it. Annabelle didn’t belong trapped belowdecks, and he’d simply have to deal with her.

The scent of bacon and eggs drew him down the narrow corridor to the mess hall, a skinny room adjacent to the kitchen with long tables and benches, all securely anchored to the floor.

Annabelle sat with Otis, enjoying a cup of coffee and cuddling the cat. Stowaways shouldn’t look that cozy.

“You’re spoiling my cat,” Gray groused as he headed to the sideboard for a plate of eggs.

“Sweetie Pie is yours?” Annabelle asked.

“Tiger is a first-rate mouser. There’s nothing sweet about her. She’s also a working cat, so feeding her bacon is killing her instinct and interfering with her duties.”

“Does your ship have mice?” Her tone was appalled. Of course his ship had mice; all ships had mice.

“Maybe the steamships sailing through Kansas wheat fields don’t have rodents, but all ocean-going vessels do,” he said curtly.