"I know of a place. I've used it before. Promise me, Bronnah," he pleads tugging her close to his body once more.
“I will think on it,” she replies and drops her chin.
"Good, now let's go to bed," he replies.
“Chase!” She gasps, blushing.
“I meant you,” he chuckles. “I never mix business with pleasure, Bronnah. You’re safe.” For now, he thinks.
Disappointment flares and she scrambles back into bed. She sighs and relaxes. “Where are we headed?” She whispers in the dark after he settles back into his chair.
“To New Jersey,” he answers. “We can take a train from there.”
“I haven’t felt safe in years. What does it feel like?” She murmurs as her eyes close. Within a few breaths, she is sleeping, and Chase stares out at the night stars.
Chapter 20
Bronnah wakes early to the sound of the captain yelling, “Drop anchor.” The sound of the chain unraveling and splashing into the water is as loud as a cannon shot. When she looked around, she finds a tray with a biscuit and tea. She smiles and climbs out of bed. After cleaning her wound and pulling on the dress, she braids her hair, in one long braid down her back and pulls back on her boots.
"It is time to start planning." New Jersey and New York that is all she knows about the United States. Who better to teach her geography than a ship's captain? She eats her biscuit while digging out the stolen ledger. The information is broken into three sections. The first section is the list of ships coming into different ports and the countries of origin. The second section tells how the girls are being transported, whether, by wagon, boat or train and the third is to whom they are being sent.
Bronnah grins when she scans the second section and finds the city she is hoping for. New Jersey. Perfect. Five French girls are being transported to the Pennsylvania Railroad. They are being sent to… she scans the book and finds matching dates, for Washington. “That can’t be good.”
"I need to find out where I am exactly and how far it is to this New Jersey." As she packs up her things in her bag, she thinks about the five young girls. They must be terrified. How will she pay for them to go home? Surely the U.S. Marshall's office will help them.
Bronnah joins them on deck and finds they are motionless in the water. “Is the ship broken?” She asks Aimee.
"No," she giggles, and Captain Foster grins. "We need the wind to move, and currently that is a problem." They are bobbing in the water with the current and waiting for the wind to return.
“Nothing to do but wait.” He sits back and grins with Aimee tucked close to his side.
“How long do you think it will be?” Chase asked sipping on a cup of coffee. Bronnah moves to the edge and lifts her face to look up at the large white sails. The sun is shining down, warming her skin and she sighs.
"No worries. We wait for the wind, and sail as long as she sees fit to breathe on us," the Captain responds.
“Bronnah come rest and eat, out of the sun. Your fair skin will burn up in this attention,” Aimee calls.
“It feels good ta be free,” Bronnah exclaims. Chase glances at her and smiles. Her beauty is deceiving. Beneath that small frame runs a river of steel.
“I’m sure, but you need to eat.” Aimee leads her into the cabin and Allen follows.
Bronnah follows Aimee into the Captain's quarters where she sees a map on the wall. “Could you show me where we are, Captain Foster?”
"Call me Allen," he replies and points to a spot on the map. "You were here, in New York. We are headed here," he drags his finger around the tip of New York to show her New Jersey. "It's only a few more hours, and we should be able to dock at sunset. From there you will be able to board a train."
“That’s wonderful. I’ve never seen a map like this.” Allen shows her some different states. “Maine is where we’ll dock, up here.” He points. “Your Marshall hails from Wyoming, clear over here. No water to be found there as far as I can tell.”
“Oh, she has water, Captain, just not salt water. Clear blue, cold water, full of fish and sparkling from the sunshine.” Chase said listening from the door. “Sky so blue it looks as if it were painted by the heavens. Mountains jut up making you think you could climb them and touch the sky. At the base are rolling green hills as far as the eyes can see.”
Bronnah grins as she listens to him. “You love your home,” she states thinking of Ireland.
“Doesn’t everyone who thinks of home,” Aimee replies. Allen tugs her close and presses a kiss to her temple.
Bronnah moves to the map to stare at the country she's chosen to be her new home. She traces her finger from New York to New Jersey blocking out the voices from behind her.
“Amazing isn’t it,” Aimee says from beside her.
“I never imagined how big it would be. We need to have a plan ready when we dock," Bronnah announces.
"I've seen that look before, Bronnah. You should trust the Marshall to do his job," Aimee orders.
“There are five young women on a train bound for Washington,” Bronnah points and drags her finger to New Jersey. “The train they are on, one of yours, Marshall, is stopping in New Jersey. We have to help get them off and home before it’s too late for them.”
Everyone stares at her in horrified silence. “How do you know this?” Captain Foster asked.
“Because I stole their ledger with
