Constance: Bride of Florida (American Mail-Order Bride 27) by Patricia Pacjac Carroll Read Free Book Online Page B

to the deck. She prayed. Harder than she ever had.
    “God, are you real? Do You care? Help us!”
    Her heart hammered, adding to the clamor around her. Never had she heard a wind so fierce or thunder so loud. What was the captain doing? But then what could he do but hang on as she was doing. One thought comforted her. If she were to die, it wouldn’t be alone. She’d go down with a ship full of souls.
    A loud crash sounded above, and the ship listed hard to starboard, taking a long time to right itself.
    Constance gripped the pole with both hands and hung on lest she be thrown through the air to the other side. “God help us. God help us.” The words tumbled out. Over and over she repeated her prayer.
    After what felt like hours, the ship righted with a loud drop. Constance clung to the pole and tried to bat away the doubts and fears that assaulted her. Through the night, she hung on. Praying for safety. Praying for morning.
    Bright light woke her.
    She blinked at the sunlight streaming through the porthole. She was alive and still above water.
    After eating the last of the crackers, she decided to dress and go outside and see what damage may have been done. Her small cabin was a wreck. The drawers in her dresser had come open and her few items strewn about the cabin. But she was alive. For some reason having beaten the fears, doubts, and storm, lifted her spirits. It felt good to be alive.
    She started humming as she dressed. Her stomach seemed to accept the crackers and was back to normal. In fact, she was hungry for breakfast but doubted the galley would be in any shape to cook a meal.
    Ready for the day, she opened her door and gasped. The mast had come through the deck and landed not far from her door. Men were busy with ropes in an attempt to haul it up.
    Stubby, a bandage around his head, saw her and came to her. “Missy, best you stay in your cabin today. It will be some time before we make enough repairs so it’s safe for the passengers to walk about.”
    “Is there anything I can do to help?”
    He grinned at her. “A real sailor you are, Lass. The other passengers are all sick as dogs. You look fresh and ready to take on the world, ye do.”
    Her cheeks grew hot. She wasn’t accustomed to compliments. “Thank you, Stubby. I see you must have hurt your head. Are there others injured?”
    “It’s just a little bump. Aye. There’s a few banged up, nothing for you to worry about, Lass. For now, though, stay in your cabin. I’ll see the cook sends you some food.”
    She nodded, wanting to go topside and see for herself what shape the ship was in, but she didn’t want to cause problems, so she stayed in her cabin. It wasn’t too long and she heard a knock on her door.
    Upon opening, she saw a shipmate with a plate of food.
    “Got ye breakfast, ma’am.” The young man held the tray out to her.
    She took it grateful to have food. “Thank you.”
    He nodded and left her.
    Despite the storm, Cooky had prepared an excellent meal, and she ate every bit of it. She chuckled to herself. Who would have thought that mousy Constance Penny would be a good sailor? Or a good anything!
    After some time, she grew restless and ventured outside her cabin. The mast was gone and men were busy repairing the deck. She climbed topside and gasped. Sails hung limp and torn from the smaller masts. Ropes littered the deck, along with men busy with work.
    She spotted the other passengers along the rail to her right, but as she walked toward them, she stopped when she realized what they were doing with their heads hung over the side. Instead, she slipped around the men and climbed up to the captain’s walk at the front of the ship.
    The ocean was deceptively calm. She knew better now. Those placid waters were capable of huge waves intent on destroying the ship.
    “Miss Penny, I see you survived our storm last night. The tempest came out of nowhere like a demon on the prowl. But don’t you worry, Journeys end is a stout ship and