Time Shattering by Cathy Peper

Author:Cathy Peper [Peper, Cathy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Gluesticks and Gemstones
Published: 2017-05-10T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

Tori searched for the Sellerses to say her farewells and wish them good luck. The ground continued to shake periodically, and a few houses had sustained greater damage than just their chimneys falling down. Deciding it was unsafe to return to the mostly wooden structures, the townspeople had set about building a bunch of tents at the edge of the settlement to house the residents until the tremors ceased.

“Jenny, I’m getting ready to leave, but wanted to thank you for your hospitality.”

Jenny stared at her, her face pale. “We’re going to be moving into a temporary structure. In winter!”

Tori scuffed at the dirt with her foot. “I heard.” She felt bad for the townspeople, especially since she knew they would never move back into their rustic, but cozy, cabins.

“I can’t do it, Victoria. This is the last straw for me. I’ve tried my best to be a good wife, but I can’t stand it any more. I’m going to ask Sebastien to take me and Lizzie with him when he goes. The boys can stay with their father.”

“Sebastien doesn’t usually take on passengers. He made an exception for me.” Reluctantly.

“I still have some of my dowry money and family in Virginia willing to take us in. The earthquake may have forced my hand, but this will work out better for you as well. You shouldn’t be traveling alone with all those men. Your reputation will be in shreds by the time you reach New Orleans.”

Tori had grown comfortable with most of the rough-hewn men, though there were still a few she gave a wide berth to. She realized her unchaperoned state was scandalous for the time, but couldn’t bring herself to worry about it when larger issues were at stake—like survival and finding a way home. “I really applied a lot of pressure to get Sebastien to take me. I don’t think he’ll agree to take on any more passengers.”

“You leave that to me.”

Tori climbed aboard the Fury with some trepidation, but what else was she to do? Stay in the tent city in New Madrid? She had hoped the earthquake might trigger the necklace, but since it hadn’t, she would continue with her plan. She only hoped the Fury could make the hazardous journey safely.

She had barely stored her meager possessions in Sebastien’s cabin when, to her surprise, Jenny entered, a trunk in each hand.

“Sebastien agreed to take you on?”

“I offered him a tempting sum and appealed to his compassion and sense of propriety.

Sebastien had a sense of propriety? Tori suppressed a giggle. “I thought he would refuse.”

Jenny smiled. “I enlisted Roger’s help. Sebastien usually stays on board the Fury, but Roger has stayed with me in the past and didn’t want to leave me here under these conditions.”

“What about Lizzie?” Tori eyed the small space and single bunk.

Jenny’s face hardened. “Eli would have let me take her, but she wants to stay here because of that stupid boy. I almost brought Mark, but at the last minute Eli decided he couldn’t spare him.

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