Read Online A World Apart (The Hands of Time: Book 3) by Irina Shapiro - Free Book Online
Authors: Irina Shapiro
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wish to stand out.
“Now, Jonah can show you around the farm after breakfast. We have a field to clear today, so your help will be most welcome, Finlay.” Mr. Mallory rose from the table, ready to start his day.
“Please, call me Finn. Everyone else does.” Finn smiled in gratitude as Mrs. Mallory added more bacon to his plate. She seemed like a kind woman - like his mother.
Chapter 9
Louisa bolted out of bed just as the first rays of the rising sun began to caress her face. She hadn’t meant to fall asleep, but she was tired and must have dozed off. Thankfully, Evie was still out, content after her 3 a.m. feeding, and Kit was sleeping soundly, his face serene. He had no trouble sleeping through stressful situations, but Louisa usually tossed and turned, unable to find oblivion. She must have been more overwrought than she realized.
Louisa slipped on her dressing gown and crept from the room, crossing the hall to Valerie’s bedroom. Her heart hammered in her chest as she turned the handle and looked inside. The bed was neatly made, the Whitfields still gone. There’s still hope , she told herself as she made her way downstairs. Mrs. Dolly was alone in the kitchen, teasing the smoored fire back to life, so Louisa changed track and peeked into the parlor. Empty. Her stomach did a somersault as she stepped out onto the porch. The morning was fresh and cool, making her shiver in her thin dressing gown. There was no sign of anyone. Louisa trudged back upstairs with a heavy heart. She’d fervently hoped that Alec and Valerie would find Finn quickly and return before anyone was even up, but that obviously wasn’t the case.
“They’re not back,” Kit said quietly. It wasn’t a question; it was a statement of fact. He was sitting up in bed, gently rocking the baby. Her tiny mouth was already opening and closing, searching for a nipple. Louisa just shook her head and took the baby, sitting down in her nursing chair and putting the baby to her breast.
“They’re not back,” she repeated, almost to herself. “You know what this means, Kit. If Finn had stayed close to the house, they would have found him quickly. If they’re still not back, it means he’s left the area and he could be anywhere by now. And there’s a war on.” Louisa sniffled, using the sleeve of her gown to dab at her wet eyes.
“What war?” Kit was alert now, his interest piqued. “You hadn’t mentioned anything about a war last night.”
“I never got the chance. Finn’s landed in the middle of the Revolutionary War. I wonder what made him pick that year,” Louisa added absentmindedly as she switched Evie from one breast to another.
“Revolutionary War? Who revolted?” Kit asked with undisguised interest. Louisa had forgotten that Kit had no idea about what happened in the future. Alec had gotten an education from Valerie, but Kit had known about things for less than twenty-four hours.
“The colonists rebelled against England. The y wanted to break with England and govern themselves.” Louisa watched as Kit’s eyes widened in shock.
“Really? What an extraordinary notion. That must have been a short conflict. Did England beat them back into submission?” Kit was warming up to the subject, his face aglow with boyish curiosity.
“Actually, no. It lasted for years, and the American Colonies won their independence. They became the United States of America and eventually grew from thirteen to fifty states. England never did get over the shock.”
“Fascinating,” Kit said. “Who would have thought it was possible to defeat England? Were they very well-armed and trained?”
“Not as well as the British. The Continental Army was better armed and trained, but the Militia was mostly farmers and tradesmen, armed with pitchforks and hunting rifles. The British didn’t take them seriously enough until it was too
“Now, Jonah can show you around the farm after breakfast. We have a field to clear today, so your help will be most welcome, Finlay.” Mr. Mallory rose from the table, ready to start his day.
“Please, call me Finn. Everyone else does.” Finn smiled in gratitude as Mrs. Mallory added more bacon to his plate. She seemed like a kind woman - like his mother.
Chapter 9
Louisa bolted out of bed just as the first rays of the rising sun began to caress her face. She hadn’t meant to fall asleep, but she was tired and must have dozed off. Thankfully, Evie was still out, content after her 3 a.m. feeding, and Kit was sleeping soundly, his face serene. He had no trouble sleeping through stressful situations, but Louisa usually tossed and turned, unable to find oblivion. She must have been more overwrought than she realized.
Louisa slipped on her dressing gown and crept from the room, crossing the hall to Valerie’s bedroom. Her heart hammered in her chest as she turned the handle and looked inside. The bed was neatly made, the Whitfields still gone. There’s still hope , she told herself as she made her way downstairs. Mrs. Dolly was alone in the kitchen, teasing the smoored fire back to life, so Louisa changed track and peeked into the parlor. Empty. Her stomach did a somersault as she stepped out onto the porch. The morning was fresh and cool, making her shiver in her thin dressing gown. There was no sign of anyone. Louisa trudged back upstairs with a heavy heart. She’d fervently hoped that Alec and Valerie would find Finn quickly and return before anyone was even up, but that obviously wasn’t the case.
“They’re not back,” Kit said quietly. It wasn’t a question; it was a statement of fact. He was sitting up in bed, gently rocking the baby. Her tiny mouth was already opening and closing, searching for a nipple. Louisa just shook her head and took the baby, sitting down in her nursing chair and putting the baby to her breast.
“They’re not back,” she repeated, almost to herself. “You know what this means, Kit. If Finn had stayed close to the house, they would have found him quickly. If they’re still not back, it means he’s left the area and he could be anywhere by now. And there’s a war on.” Louisa sniffled, using the sleeve of her gown to dab at her wet eyes.
“What war?” Kit was alert now, his interest piqued. “You hadn’t mentioned anything about a war last night.”
“I never got the chance. Finn’s landed in the middle of the Revolutionary War. I wonder what made him pick that year,” Louisa added absentmindedly as she switched Evie from one breast to another.
“Revolutionary War? Who revolted?” Kit asked with undisguised interest. Louisa had forgotten that Kit had no idea about what happened in the future. Alec had gotten an education from Valerie, but Kit had known about things for less than twenty-four hours.
“The colonists rebelled against England. The y wanted to break with England and govern themselves.” Louisa watched as Kit’s eyes widened in shock.
“Really? What an extraordinary notion. That must have been a short conflict. Did England beat them back into submission?” Kit was warming up to the subject, his face aglow with boyish curiosity.
“Actually, no. It lasted for years, and the American Colonies won their independence. They became the United States of America and eventually grew from thirteen to fifty states. England never did get over the shock.”
“Fascinating,” Kit said. “Who would have thought it was possible to defeat England? Were they very well-armed and trained?”
“Not as well as the British. The Continental Army was better armed and trained, but the Militia was mostly farmers and tradesmen, armed with pitchforks and hunting rifles. The British didn’t take them seriously enough until it was too
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