An Eye for an Eye by Peter Roop

Author:Peter Roop
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781504010108
Publisher: Open Road Media Teen & Tween

Chapter 16

Samantha slept fitfully. As tired as she was, knowing that Henry had been captured because of her made her toss and turn all night. Martha gave up trying to sleep beside her and slept in the chair by the fireplace.

In the morning, Samantha would not look anyone in the eyes. Breakfast was solemn: Each person was wrapped up in his or her thoughts.

After breakfast Samantha and Matthew went down to the dock. The sight of the Fish Hawk made Samantha want to start crying all over again. It looked like the wreck it was—the broken mast, the mud and sand sticking to the gunwales, the tangle of fishing gear.

“I’ll help you,” Matthew said and went to work emptying the boat. Without a word, Samantha joined him. First she cut loose the oak branch that she had used for a mast. After taking off the sail and the pulley for raising it, she tossed the branch into the creek. It drifted slowly downstream. She got a bucket and washed the gunwales.

Matthew spread her things out to dry. He untangled her fishing line and recoiled it in its wooden tub. Using twine, he mended a cracked lathe of her crab pot.

The air was still. Samantha’s heron friend called, “Kraannkk,” as it flew in search of a better feeding ground. Butterflies flitted from flower to flower. A fish jumped for a bug and landed with a soft splash. Behind the barn, Papa chopped wood.

Samantha looked around the farm. She was embarrassed that she hadn’t even asked how they weathered the storm. Shingles had blown off of Mama’s henhouse. The barn door hung askew. Otherwise, the buildings looked normal. Except for the blackened pile of the tobacco shed.

Her thoughts drifted to Henry. All morning she hadn’t been able to face thinking of him. Where was he? How was he being treated? Would they hang him for being a rebel? He was wearing his hunting shirt, a sure symbol of his allegiance to Virginia, not the King. What is Papa going to do?

As if he heard her thoughts, Papa came from behind the barn. He was carrying a new mast! “Samantha,” he said, “fetch an ax. We’ll need to get rid of this stump before we can set the new mast.”

She handed him the ax she had borrowed from the British. Papa chopped out the old mast stump. Samantha ran her fingers down the long, smooth new mast. She fastened the pulley close to the top. She was almost happy. Then she remembered Henry.

“Matthew. Run tell Aunt Maggie we’re ready,” said Papa. Matthew dashed to the house.

What does Mama have to do with my boat? Samantha wondered.

Papa put his hands on Samantha’s shoulders. She looked at the ground. He raised her chin so she had to look him in the eyes. “Sam, I am sorry for what I said last night. I was angry. I still am. But I am angry that my actions placed the three of you in danger.”

But, Papa—” she interrupted.

“Hush, Sam.

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