Shattered Moments by Irina Shapiro Read Free Book Online Page A

convinced.  She seemed furtive when she said that, her eyes sliding away from Genevieve’s and focusing on the wall behind her as if she weren’t telling the whole truth.  Perhaps they went to visit Finn’s grave again.  They went from time to time and stayed away for several weeks, a strange sense of peace emanating from them when they finally returned.  Although, Uncle Alec had been ill the past few weeks, so maybe Lady Sheridan was telling a partial truth, and concealing the seriousness of his condition from the rest of them. 
    Genevieve couldn’t quite blame Louisa for lying, when she herself hadn’t been truthful with Uncle Alec.  She meant what she said about marrying a Catholic, but she hadn’t been entirely honest when Uncle Alec asked if anyone had caught her eye.  There was someone, but she was too afraid to tell her uncle since she couldn’t imagine that his reaction would be a favorable one. 
    She’d met Cameron a few months back while helping Cook serve meals to the indentured servants who worked the plantation.  Normally, the task fell to Minnie, but with more people in the house, she had a lot more housework and Genevieve would much rather dole out stew than do the laundry or knead dough for bread.  For some reason, Minnie dreaded being among the men, so she happily traded with Genevieve and took on the extra laundry in exchange for not having to go down to the barracks several times a day. 
    Most plantation owners treated their indentures and slaves appallingly, with men lasting no more than a year or two before succumbing to illness or just dying of being overworked and underfed, but Uncle Alec was known for being kind and fair.  The men worked only ten hours a day with several breaks, had three square meals a day, and had Sundays off to spend as they pleased after the church service conducted outside just for them.  They didn’t attend church in town, not being free men.  Still, they were blessed to have a master like Mr. Whitfield, and they knew it.  He’d even freed one of the indentures a few years ago, allowed him to marry one of the maids and gave him some money to start his own carpentry business.  Richard was quite the gentleman now, living in Jamestown with his wife and children. 
    It had taken weeks for Cameron to finally speak to Genevieve, but she often caught him gazing at her with an expression in his sky-blue eyes that made her feel warm all over as she handed out the chunks of bread and poured ale for the men.  He kept to himself and rarely spoke, but when he did, he had a deep, melodious voice and a broad Scottish brogue that she had difficulty understanding at first.  She liked the way he called her “lass,” and smiled his appreciation when she gave him an extra helping of stew.  He was one of the youngest workers at the plantation, and one of the most recent arrivals.  Genevieve had been curious to know his story, but was too shy to ask. 
    It was one hot evening at the end of May when Genevieve had come upon him sitting by the pond.  Uncle Alec allowed the men to take a walk after their evening meal or wash in the pond, as long as it was after dark and no women were there to see them stripped down to nothing.  Most of the men rarely bathed, but Cameron was always clean, his auburn hair brushed and neatly clubbed, more to keep out the lice than to appease his vanity.  On this particular night, he sat on the bench, his hair dripping wet and his shirt next to him, drying.  He washed his clothes regularly, allowing them to dry overnight.  Cameron quickly pulled on his wet shirt, brushed the hair out of his face, and sprang to his feet, ready to flee.
    “I’m sorry , Miss Genevieve; I thought nae one was about.”  It sounded like “aboot” when he said it, but Genevieve liked it.  “I’ll be going now.”  There it was again.  It sounded like “noo” instead of now, but it rolled off his tongue so naturally. 
    “No, please, you don’t have