Free My Sister's Prayer by Mindy Starns Clark

station, but there was no reason to worry about that now.
    â€œThank you,” Celeste said and then cringed at her judgmental attitude, acknowledging that she and Berta were currently in the same social class as Spenser. But they wouldn’t be for long. And they hadn’t been before. They were from French nobility, although her mother said that was all in the past.
    She struggled to her feet, waited for her head to clear, and then moved toward the ladder. She nibbled the hardtack as she went, grateful for Spenser’s generosity.
    Celeste struggled up the ladder a rung at a time, and soon she was through the hatch, blinking at the bright sky and gulping in the salty air. The sailors up on deck were so jovial about soon landing that they took no notice of her. The rush of the sails unsettled her for a moment, along with the blinding light, but then she began to relax under the heat of the July sun. She crossed to the port side and shaded her eyes. She could make out the silhouette of trees in the distance, not a village or structure in sight. The New World was a wilderness, she knew. Only a few towns existed. Still, she longed to see some sort of settlement.
    â€œThis is all part of the Carolina colony,” a voice said behind her. “We were blown off course to the south, but we’ll reach Virginia by the middle of the night.”
    She turned her head, expecting to be sent below deck once the man realized she wasn’t a first-class passenger. It was Captain Bancroft with a spyglass in his hand. Not more than a decade older than her eighteen years, he was handsome with his dark hair and blue coat with gold braiding. “How are you faring, Miss Talbot?”
    â€œFine, thank you, sir,” she answered, curtsying to him, surprised he remembered her name. She’d been shrill and beside herself when she’d confronted him about Berta’s abduction, but he’d calmly explained there was nothing he could do at the time.
    His first mate had chimed in that indentured servants frequently claimed they had been abducted, especially ones as ill as Berta, but the captain had shushed him. His expression kind, he’d told Celeste he was sincerely sorry for her troubles and promised to look into the matter as soon as the voyage was over.
    â€œWhen do you anticipate that we’ll reach the James?” she asked now.
    He stepped to her side. “So you know your colonial rivers?”
    â€œYes, sir. I need to get to Williamsburg.”
    â€œWe’ll stop in Norfolk first. That’s where the market for indentured servants is. Farther north, most are wanting slaves. They’re tired of having to free their laborers.”
    Surely the captain understood that her contract wasn’t to be sold in Norfolk with all the others. Celeste tried to keep her voice calm. “And then the ship will continue on to Williamsburg?”
    â€œYes. Wehave goods to deliver.”
    â€œOh, then that’s perfect. My betrothed will purchase me there, along with my sister.” At least she hoped Jonathan would settle Berta’s debt too.
    â€œAre you certain? We’ve heard that story before.”
    â€œIt’s the truth. I swear it.”
    He shook his head. “I’m sorry, Miss Talbot, but I’m in this to make money.”
    Celeste bristled. She understood that, but their situation was an exception. She squared her gaze on him. “My sister was kidnapped. Perhaps you’ve forgotten our conversation.” Over and over she’d imagined Berta being drugged and then carried on board and stashed on the far side of steerage. The kidnappers must have slipped away before anyone else boarded. Those in the bunks around Berta assumed she was sleeping, and by the time she came to it was too late to do anything about it.
    â€œNo. I remember it well.”
    â€œMy betrothed is a member of the King’s army.”
    â€œYes, I remember your saying that