When Tides Turn by Sarah Sundin

Author:Sarah Sundin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: United States Naval Reserve (Women’s Reserve)—Fiction;World War (1939-1945)—Fiction;Christian fiction;Love stories;FIC042030;FIC042040;FIC027200
ISBN: 9781441246127
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2017-01-30T16:00:00+00:00

27

North Atlantic

Wednesday, March 10, 1943

A frigid mist stung Dan’s cheeks, but his heavy mackinaw and gloves kept him comfortable. “Finally got our planes up this morning. Can’t wait to hear their report.”

“It’s about time. I was beginning to wonder why you Yanks were here.” The twinkle in Lt. Clive Sinclair’s light blue eyes showed he was teasing. Sinclair belonged to the team of Royal Navy observers who were sailing with the Bogue on her first cruise to advise on British convoy procedures and communications.

Sinclair had a valid point. The Bogue and her escorting destroyers USS Belknap and USS George E. Badger had sailed from Argentia, Newfoundland, on March 5 to join Convoy HX-228, but high seas and bad weather had limited flight operations to only two days so far. If the carrier didn’t provide air cover, she was no use to the convoy.

On the sponson gun platform that jutted out from the port side across from the bridge, Dan stood on tiptoes to see over the flight deck. He felt like a small boy peeking up at the dinner table. “This ship is just here for decoration.”

Sinclair laughed. “A rather frightful decoration, if you ask me.”

“True.” Despite the rough gray seas and the serious threat of U-boats, his mind flew back to Boston, to Tess longing to be seen as useful and not just decorative. “Don’t ever tell me I’m beautiful. Don’t ever buy me pretty things. Tell me I have a purpose. Buy me useful things.” She’d said those words in anger, but now he remembered them fondly. She’d more than proven herself.

He could still see her seated at his desk, revising his letter to Captain Short. Her pretty handwriting with its generous loops complemented his angular, utilitarian script. Dan had saved that rough draft.

Love was turning him into a sentimental fool.

Even worse, he didn’t half mind it.

Although he couldn’t deny his feelings for Tess, he didn’t dare admit them, not with both careers at stake. Lord willing, this assignment on the Bogue would lead to a transfer.

“The torpedo bombers ought to land soon.” Sinclair scanned the sky with his binoculars.

Dan trained his binoculars to the south. The Bogue had dropped out of her protected position in the center of the convoy to retrieve her aircraft. “There. I see a TBF.”

“I’m sure you chaps hope to sight a sub, but I doubt the merchant marines share that sentiment.” Farther east, Convoy SC-121 had been ravaged by a wolf pack of U-boats over the last few days. It wouldn’t be long until they turned their periscopes to the next convoy in line.

The Avenger circled the Bogue, then came in for the landing approach, wheels down. The landing signal officer stood at the stern, far to port, waving his flags to direct the torpedo bomber. A dangerous job. On the Chesapeake in February, the Bogue’s original LSO had been struck by the wheel of a landing aircraft and killed.

Dan didn’t envy the pilot his job. Landing a plane seemed tricky enough,

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