Free My Sister's Prayer by Mindy Starns Clark Page A

too.”
    Celeste couldn’t match Captain Bancroft’s calmness as hard as she tried. Shaking from hunger and exhaustion, she said, “Once we can prove Berta was abducted, Jonathan will press charges.”
    â€œAgainst me?” He touched his chest with the flat of his hand. “On what grounds?”
    â€œBuying stolen property.”
    â€œI run a reputable business, I can assure you.” The captain shook his head, sadness settling on his face. “Can your sister identify the kidnappers?”
    â€œThey slipped a bag over her head before she could see them.”
    â€œAnd she didn’t recognize their voices? Or anything about them?”
    â€œNo.” Celeste grasped the railing. “They were strangers.”
    â€œSo it’s her word against—” he frowned. “The contract.”
    â€œExactly. The contract will give it away. It will state who kidnapped her.”
    He shrugged. “ If they signed their names.”
    Celeste shivered, realizing how naive she’d been all these weeks to think they could prove Berta had been forced aboard against her will simply by reading a piece of paper.
    The captain leaned a little closer and whispered, “Was she in trouble with the law?”
    â€œOf course not!”
    â€œIs your family in debt? Would someone have arranged her sale and then chosen to make it look like a kidnapping?”
    â€œNo!” Celeste’s voice had grown shrill again. No one in her family had known she was leaving or that Berta was going to follow her down to the docks. And neither Papa nor Emmanuel, the only two with any legal rights, would ever betray Berta—or anyone else—in that way. They were moral men. Their family was not in debt. And they loved Berta unconditionally, difficult as she could be at times.
    Besides, there had already been too much loss in their lives, heart-wrenching separations for Papa and Maman from those they had been forced to leave behind—such as Uncle Jules and Maman’s beloved Grand-Mère—when they fled France for England years ago. Celeste knew her father would never put himself or his wife through anything like that again, especially not involving one of their own children. The thought of any man doing such a thing to a loved one made her ill.
    â€œPlease forgive me, but I’ve seen more surprising things than that happen, believe me.” He frowned again. “We’ll find out what the contract says once we dock.”
    Celeste exhaled. “Thank you.” He did seem to be a fair man. Surely he would do the right thing. Still, she couldn’t help but think that if their roles were reversed, her spirited sister would have done a better job presenting her case. He tipped his hat and continued on down the deck toward First Mate Hayes and the ship’s wheel.
    Celeste turned back toward the land. Yes, her sister could be annoying at times, but after weeks of infirmity, Celeste found herself missing Berta’s mischievous and daring ways. If she were well, she wouldn’t have allowed Celeste to worry so. She would have joked and laughed with the people around them. She would have seen the fun in the adventure of the crossing despite the miserable conditions.
    Berta had toget better. Celeste couldn’t bear the thought of losing her only sister.
    The sky turned a fiery orange with streaks of pink just above the trees, but Celeste couldn’t enjoy the New World it illuminated. Tears stung her eyes again—and for more reasons than Berta’s health. She had always been a good daughter. Helping in the inn. Caring for her brothers. Worshipping with her family in their church. Accepting George’s pursuit of her. She’d done everything that had been expected of her.
    Until she met Jonathan.
    The colors streaming across the sky intensified as the sun dipped lower. She would try not to think about the consequences of her choice. She had never meant for