Free Torchlight by Lisa T. Bergren

appreciation. Despite the pain and problems of such a long voyage, the ship is still a happy one. I continue to spend most of my days here in the captain’s cabin, reading or working at my cross-stitch. If we ever reach this land called America, I shall kneel upon it and kiss the ground. I do not understand a sailor’s calling to live upon the waves.
    Julia paused and looked up at Trevor. He smiled at her.
    “Are you listening?”
    “Of course! It’s wonderful.”
    Julia continued reading.
    My love deepens for Shane, quite possibly because I no longer have the distractions of family or society about me. We are as Adam and Eve in the garden, ready tomake this world our own. Explorers. Conquerors. Partners. With him I have found the best companion I
could have and a lover, too. What a blessing that God saw fit to match us!
    20 June 1840

The voyage continues, and I grow increasingly anxious to reach land. My stomach sails with the waves, even at this late date in the voyage, although by now my seasickness should have ceased. I cannot keep even hardtack down. I am growing weaker, and I can see the concern in my Shane’s eyes. He mumbles words such as “The sea is no place for a woman” and scans the horizon for a hint of land. He curses the slow pace of the ship and yells at his man above decks to “look harder.”
    28 June 1840

Land ho! America has been sighted, and not a moment too soon. I find myself too weak to even rise from my bed and have discovered the reason. I carry Shane’s child. I
am exhausted, but the thought fills me with joy.
    10 July 1840

Shane has found a tiny apartment for us here in this bustling city called “New York.” It looks little like the York of England and has many more people than our village at home. Shane says we will not be here more
than a few months. He is off on a voyage again. He will travel around South America to a place called “Kalifornia,” earning money to buy us a home. America is more expensive than we were ever told.
    Julia continued to read, completely absorbed in her ancestors’ world. After an hour, she glanced up at Trevor, who looked back at her sleepily.
    “I love your time warp, but I have to admit I’m getting tired,” he said. “I think I’ll go finish the dishes and then turn in. The plumbers are coming early in the morning.” Sitting there watching her read was like pure torture.
Look, but don’t touch
, Miles had warned. And all he wanted to do was touch her, caress her cheek, kiss those lips.
    “I’ll finish the dishes. It’s the least I can do—you cooked me such a marvelous meal. And fixed the water!”
    “With some help from the guys.” He stood. “Okay. I’ll be a poor host and let you at the dishes.”
    “It will give me another chance to gawk at the water,” she said with a smile. “It’s amazing how you appreciate something like running water when you’ve been living with ol’ rusty for a while.”
    “There’re a lot of things you notice you miss when you have to go without it.”
    They walked together to the door. Julia shivered slightly at the cool night air upon her neck.
    Trevor noticed her tremble and fought the urge to take her in his arms. What was it that drew him? She was beautiful, to be sure, but he had met hundreds of attractive women in his travels.
Why this one, Father?
His anguish consumed him; Julia’s heart clearly belonged toanother. She was his boss, nothing more. He closed his eyes and imagined Julia embracing him, returning his eager kisses.
    “Trevor?” Julia questioned, noticing his closed eyes.
    He started and blinked. Swallowing hard, he said with a melancholy tone, “Good night, Julia.”
    “Good night.”
    He paused with his hand on the door handle. “Julia?”
    “Yes?”
    “Do you think we could do this again? I enjoyed the company and sharing the Donnovans’ story, but I don’t want to cross any lines. I want you to be comfortable too.”
    “Thank you. I think … I think we