Free To Love Anew by Bonnie Leon

you’ll do as you’re told. Now, get up!”
    Still holding his hand over his face, the man stumbled to his feet and staggered after the rest of the group. They assembled on deck and stood waiting, for what they did not know. A sharp, cold wind buffeted them. Marines stood guard, muskets ready.
    A man whom John thought might be the captain strode up before them. Hands clasped behind his back, he stood silently for a long while and studied the prisoners. His eyes were hard. “While you’re on my vessel, you’ll do as told. You’ll get your rations twice a day. If you ask for more you’ll get less the next day, so you’d be wise to be glad for what you’re given. And there’ll be no pinching food.” He walked to the railing. “You’ll have one hour of lamp light a night. We don’t waste oil on my ship.” He lowered his gaze, peering out from beneath heavy eyebrows. “When I say sleep you’ll sleep, and when I say work you’ll work. You disobey and you’ll feel the lash.”
    He turned and faced the men straight on. “You won’t set sail for a while. ’Til you’re transferred, you’re mine. There’ll be lady passengers sailing with you, but don’t be getting any ideas. They’re not for the likes of you.”
    John knew this was only a taste of what was to come. He looked toward the city. An ugly brown cloud draped itself over brick and mortared buildings. Chimneys stuck up defiantly from rooftops, as if to say they would continue belching soot into the air, like it or not. And John would take orders, like it or not. For his world had gone askew, and he had no say about its course.
    He’d wanted adventure. Had he wished this upon himself? Was it some kind of judgment? If there were a way to return to the life he’d once had, he would gladly go.
    But there was no returning now. He’d lost his life—forever.
    Before Ruby or her family roused from their sleep, Hannah had quietly slipped out of the house. She’d left a note, explaining her reasons for going. She didn’t want to create trouble between Ruby and her husband. Ruby’s kind heart wouldn’t be able to put her out. She’d shortchange her own family in order to help. Hannah couldn’t bear to be the cause of more struggles for the kindly woman. She and her family had trouble enough. Her difficulties were her own and not Ruby’s responsibility.
    After spending hours walking, she wondered if she’d made the right choice. Her legs and feet ached, her shoulder throbbed from carrying her satchel, and her stomach growled angrily at its emptiness.
    She stopped at every business she thought might have work. No one needed help. She didn’t know where else to look. There must be someone who has a place for me. Lord, where should I look? She heard no answer. But of course she wouldn’t, not after what had happened. She was defiled and had most certainly been shut out of God’s favor. Unwillingly her mind carried her back to the attack. She could feel him touching her. She could still smell him.
    “Aye! Watch out!” shouted a man pushing a cart of vegetables.
    Distracted, Hannah had nearly run into him. “So sorry, sir,” she called after the man, but he didn’t hear as he hurried on.
    Children had gathered to watch a Punch and Judy show. Hannah stopped, thankful for the distraction. As the marionettes yelled at each other and chased one another about the small stage, the performance didn’t seem at all entertaining. Screaming her frustration, Judy whacked Punch over the head with her broom and the children laughed, but their antics only disturbed Hannah. She moved on, hoping to put the sounds of the play behind her.
    The emptiness in her stomach gnawed. The smells of baked goods and the calls of peddlers selling produce only made her hungrier. She stopped at a display of apples. Picking up one, she held it to her nose and smelled its sweet fragrance. Her mouth watered. She could almost taste it. What if she were to drop it into her bag? Would