Star Keeper by Patricia Potter

Author:Patricia Potter
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781504002363
Publisher: Open Road Media

Chapter 14

John Patrick anchored the Mary Ann in the Chesapeake and stood on the deck, looking out over the sandy beaches while Ivy supervised the lowering of a jiffy, the smaller of their boats.

He would have a long walk to his father’s farm, but then he could arrange for transportation for Annette and her father. Looking out over the bay, he remembered the picnics on the shore, the days Noel spent teaching him to fish, the evenings his father spent giving them all the joy and blessing of books. He’d also taught tolerance and respect for the beliefs of others. But somewhere during his captivity on British ships, John Patrick had lost that tolerance. Until now.

He also understood why Annette now had little.

She had masterfully shown him her disdain during the past five days, and this time his smile and supposed charm had been fruitless.

They had met no more British ships after leaving the mouth of the Delaware, but the voyage had been rough. He’d sent a man ashore at Annapolis to report to the governor’s office, and handed over the British crewmen, then continued on to Maryland’s Eastern Shore. He’d seen Annette and her father often, but he made no attempt to force his company on them. He knew what kind of reception he would receive, and he had no desire to deepen her enmity. If that were possible.

He looked around the deck for her now, his heart bucking when he saw her emerge from the hatchway. Dressed in one of the subdued gray gowns he had seen so often when he’d first arrived in Philadelphia, she still looked prettier than any of the reputed beauties he’d seen either in England or in America.

He ignored caution and walked over to her.

“Maryland,” he said, looking toward the shore. “My family’s farm is not far from here.”

Interest shone in her eyes, but only for a moment. It was quickly cloaked. “How far?”

“About ten miles.”

Her brow furrowed. “Are we going to walk there?”

He turned and looked at her steadily. “I will. I’ll be back in the morning with a carriage.”

“What if your family doesn’t want us?”

He smiled. “You’ve never met my father.”

“And I do not wish to. I want to return to Philadelphia. My father wishes to return to Philadelphia. He feels safe there.” Her defiant tone had turned pleading. That hurt him more than her anger. He knew how much it cost her.

John Patrick leaned against the railing. “If I thought you would be safe there, then I would send you back. But I don’t want you to pay for something I did.”

“I’ve already paid. It didn’t seem to deter you.”

John Patrick didn’t have a reply to that. “You’ve enjoyed the voyage,” he said instead.

She looked out over the sea. “I find I have a liking for the sea, if not for the company.”

“Then it has not been too bad.” He was trying to reassure himself.

She spun around to face him. “Yes, it has. Because I will never trust anyone again. You have taken that away from me, and I fear I will never find it again.

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