Read Online Constance: Bride of Florida (American Mail-Order Bride 27) by Patricia Pacjac Carroll - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Patricia Pacjac Carroll
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Historical, Saga, Western, Short-Story, Religious, Christian, Florida, Inspirational, Marriage, Bachelor, Marriage of Convenience, Faith, father, sea voyage, Leaving, victorian era, Forever Love, Single Woman, Fifth In Series, Fifty-Books, Forty-Five Authors, Newspaper Ad, American Mail-Order Bride, Factory Burned, Pioneer, Sailing ships, shadows, Ultimatum, Followed Rules, Future Plans
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through her pale red hair until it relented and allowed her to pin it into a fashionable braided bun.
She pinched her cheeks as she remembered Roberta showing her months ago. There did seem to be life in her green eyes. For that, she would thank E. Ferris for booking her passage on the sailing vessel. She’d miss Captain Gordon and Stubby as they had been nothing but kind and supportive to her.
They were the closest thing she’d had to family since her father had passed away. She shoved away the fears and packed her satchel. She stared down at her dress and wished she’d paid more attention to her clothes.
She did have money left. Perhaps she could find a dress more fitting for meeting her intended. After sending one last look around the cabin to make sure she’d packed everything, she went out the door to a new life. What had the Captain said, “Journeys end in lovers meeting.”
The hardened old sailor who’d called her a Jonah met her in the hall. “Ya cost me a trip to Cuba.”
Constance backed away from him. Then shoved her mousy side away and stood her ground. “The captain told me we’d not be going to Cuba before we set sail. You knew that. I don’t appreciate your sneering. Please get out of my way. I want to see Apalachicola as we dock.”
He sneered anyway. “Not like you’ll be getting off the Queen’s ship. Not much of a dock. And if the tide ain’t high enough they’ll have to row you to shore. Journeys end carries a deep keel.”
She shoved past him and made her way to the deck. Finding the captain, she went and stood by his side. “Are we almost there?”
He smiled and pointed to a cluster of buildings. “That’s Apalachicola. Sits where the river and bay meet. The name loosely means ‘land of the friendly people.’ Sorry, I won’t be able to get you in proper. Tide’s too shallow, but I’ll have my best boys row you to the dock and help you ashore.”
Her throat closed on her as tears formed in her eyes. She started to speak but had to stop.
He put an arm around her. “You’ve been a treasure; I’ll always remember you. If I had a daughter, I think she’d be just like you.” He gave her a quick squeeze and then resumed his Captain’s stature as he barked orders to the crew.
Captain Gordon pointed to Stubby. “He’ll be overseeing the crew that takes you to shore.”
She nodded, turned to go, and then ran to him and hugged him. “Thank you for looking after me. You’ve helped me come alive.”
He tilted her head so she could see his eyes. “Miss Constance Penny, you are a delight. Remember that and don’t let anyone steal that from you. Go with God, daughter.”
Tears blurred her eyes as she made her way down to Stubby.
The thrumming steam engine quieted, the ship stopped, and she heard the huge anchor drop heavily into the sea.
Constance looked at Stubby.
He took her satchel and helped her into a small boat. “Stay put and we’ll gently lower you to the water. Then a couple of my best will row you to shore.”
“Thank you, Stubby.” Her voice caught.
The old salt turned away and wiped his arm across his face. Turning back, he took her hand. “You’re a jewel, Constance. Don’t let anyone treat you wrong. Choose the man you marry wisely. He needs to be worthy of you and a good man who will love and take care of you. I’ll be praying for you, girl.”
She kissed his hand. Her tears flowed as he gently pulled it from her. Soon the little boat descended to the water. Two able bodied men climbed down ropes to drop in and began rowing her to shore.
They stopped by a low dock and helped her onto the land. After weeks at sea, her legs rebelled at having to walk on sturdy land. One of the men handed her satchel to her and smiled.
“Takes a while to get sea legs, and then another while to get your land legs back. You’ll do fine miss. You were the talk of the crew.”
Suddenly she thought of the other passengers. “What of the other
She pinched her cheeks as she remembered Roberta showing her months ago. There did seem to be life in her green eyes. For that, she would thank E. Ferris for booking her passage on the sailing vessel. She’d miss Captain Gordon and Stubby as they had been nothing but kind and supportive to her.
They were the closest thing she’d had to family since her father had passed away. She shoved away the fears and packed her satchel. She stared down at her dress and wished she’d paid more attention to her clothes.
She did have money left. Perhaps she could find a dress more fitting for meeting her intended. After sending one last look around the cabin to make sure she’d packed everything, she went out the door to a new life. What had the Captain said, “Journeys end in lovers meeting.”
The hardened old sailor who’d called her a Jonah met her in the hall. “Ya cost me a trip to Cuba.”
Constance backed away from him. Then shoved her mousy side away and stood her ground. “The captain told me we’d not be going to Cuba before we set sail. You knew that. I don’t appreciate your sneering. Please get out of my way. I want to see Apalachicola as we dock.”
He sneered anyway. “Not like you’ll be getting off the Queen’s ship. Not much of a dock. And if the tide ain’t high enough they’ll have to row you to shore. Journeys end carries a deep keel.”
She shoved past him and made her way to the deck. Finding the captain, she went and stood by his side. “Are we almost there?”
He smiled and pointed to a cluster of buildings. “That’s Apalachicola. Sits where the river and bay meet. The name loosely means ‘land of the friendly people.’ Sorry, I won’t be able to get you in proper. Tide’s too shallow, but I’ll have my best boys row you to the dock and help you ashore.”
Her throat closed on her as tears formed in her eyes. She started to speak but had to stop.
He put an arm around her. “You’ve been a treasure; I’ll always remember you. If I had a daughter, I think she’d be just like you.” He gave her a quick squeeze and then resumed his Captain’s stature as he barked orders to the crew.
Captain Gordon pointed to Stubby. “He’ll be overseeing the crew that takes you to shore.”
She nodded, turned to go, and then ran to him and hugged him. “Thank you for looking after me. You’ve helped me come alive.”
He tilted her head so she could see his eyes. “Miss Constance Penny, you are a delight. Remember that and don’t let anyone steal that from you. Go with God, daughter.”
Tears blurred her eyes as she made her way down to Stubby.
The thrumming steam engine quieted, the ship stopped, and she heard the huge anchor drop heavily into the sea.
Constance looked at Stubby.
He took her satchel and helped her into a small boat. “Stay put and we’ll gently lower you to the water. Then a couple of my best will row you to shore.”
“Thank you, Stubby.” Her voice caught.
The old salt turned away and wiped his arm across his face. Turning back, he took her hand. “You’re a jewel, Constance. Don’t let anyone treat you wrong. Choose the man you marry wisely. He needs to be worthy of you and a good man who will love and take care of you. I’ll be praying for you, girl.”
She kissed his hand. Her tears flowed as he gently pulled it from her. Soon the little boat descended to the water. Two able bodied men climbed down ropes to drop in and began rowing her to shore.
They stopped by a low dock and helped her onto the land. After weeks at sea, her legs rebelled at having to walk on sturdy land. One of the men handed her satchel to her and smiled.
“Takes a while to get sea legs, and then another while to get your land legs back. You’ll do fine miss. You were the talk of the crew.”
Suddenly she thought of the other passengers. “What of the other
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