Free The Triumph of Grace by Kay Marshall Strom

barn, the men gasped at the change in her appearance. But Grace took no notice of her old friends. Her eyes were only on one person—Joseph Winslow.
    "Father?" she asked incredulously. "Can it really be you?"
    "Aye, 'tis yer pap," Joseph said. "But I be a changed man, Daughter. I be in this place t'day to 'elp ye git away, to go find yer man. Like ye 'elped me git away."
    For the first time in more years than she could remember, Grace threw her arms around her father and hugged him.
    "Bygones be bygones, then?" Joseph Winslow asked hopefully.
    But time was precious, Ethan Preston reminded the two.
    "From this day forth, you are Ashok Iravan, a boy of fourteen from India, too young to see the first of your beard," Mister Preston informed Grace. "You have some sea experience and are willing to work for nothing but free passage.Sir Geoffrey Phillips, whom you have met before—" Here, Sir Phillips doffed his hat and bowed deeply to Grace. "—Sir Phillips has secured you a position on the last merchant ship to leave for South Carolina this season."
    Sir Geoffrey handed her an envelope sealed with his personal seal. "Your papers of identification. Guard them well."
    "This letter of introduction is for your use when you arrive in America," said Sir Thomas McClelland as he handed Grace another envelope, this one sealed with his seal. "It is addressed to one Reverend Francis Asbury. He is a traveling preacher of the Methodist persuasion, and I am told by mutual friends a man of considerable influence and connections. He is well known, so ask after him in Charleston. It is my hope that he can assist you in your search."
    "I am still of the opinion that I should accompany her," said Oliver Meredith, the boisterous young member of the abolitionist group. "I, too, could sign on as a seaman. I would welcome the adventure. Once in the colonies, I could mix with the peasants and keep an eye out on the situation there.It would provide me with a perfect vantage point from which to make certain no one takes liberties with Grace."
    "You?" scoffed Jesse. "You be too English to blend easily with Americans!"
    "Not at all!" Oliver shot back.
    "Americans do not call their fellow men 'peasants,' " Jesse replied with disdain. "And should you speak the word 'colonies' there, you'd be fortunate to escape with naught but a sound flogging!"
    "Jesse is right," said Ethan Preston. "In America, everyone who bears arms considers himself fully equal with his neighbor.This is no time for you to pursue an adventure, Oliver, however noble your motives."
    "It is me that knows America," Jesse said.
    "As that is so, you most assuredly must understand that in that country it is every white man who is considered equal, do you not?" responded Sir Thomas. "You may be a free man here in England, but on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, you would almost certainly find yourself a slave once again."
    "And what of Grace?" Jesse demanded.
    "I must go," Grace said, "whatever the cost."
    "Charleston is indeed a most dangerous place for one such as you," said Sir Thomas. "Keep yourself to yourself . . . Ashok Iravan. Mister Preston and I will do everything we can to arrange for someone to meet you."
    Heath Patterson called the others to join him in a circle, then he raised his voice in prayer: "Almighty God in Heaven, we beseech Thy mercies on behalf of our sister Grace. We entrust her into Thy bountiful protection on this perilous voyage. Mayest Thou look upon her with mercy, and mayest Thou grant her Thy safety and Thy protection."
    One by one, the others joined in, each offering a prayer.

    Sir Phillips's carriage rolled through the streets of London and out to the docks. Already a crowd of men and boys busily loaded boxes and barrels into boats for transport out to the merchant ship, the Ocean Steed, which lay at anchor beyond London Bridge. Grace's head pounded with all the advice her friends had thrown out to her:
    "Accentuate your accent and insist it is