Petals on the River Read Online Free PDF Page A

now can we?   Tisn't the end of the world,
    I'll warrant, but the beginning of a whole new life for all of you."
     
    "Says oo?" an aging crone squawked.
     
    Morrisa chortled and strode forward to challenge the bosun.   "Why,
    Jamie, me boy, do ye think em irons matter a wit ta these here pilgrims?
     
    I heared it said more'n a few o' em blighters were sent o'er in chains
    just like the rest o' us poor buggers."
     
    James Harper deliberately ignored the strumpet as he handed Roger Blake
    a single key and indicated the leg irons.   "Loose their garters, mate,
    while I get their bracelets...."
     
    On the quarterdeck, Captain Fitch wiped his glistening brow with a
    rumpled handkerchief as he stepped to the rail.   Having finally
    acquiesced to the demands of his domineering wife, he called down to the
    bosun.   "Mr.   Harper, would you be kind enough to come up to the
    bridge."
     
    Fitch's frustration roiled like bitter acid in his stomach, for he could
    only wonder how his plans for a tryst were to succeed when his wife
    would be scrutinizing the sale of convicts with her usual tenacity.   At
    the moment he wasn't the least bit desirous of masking her dictates with
    subtlety.   "Mrs.   Fitch wishes to make it clear to all concerned that
    she's to be given every opportunity to oversee the transactions
    completed here today."
     
    "Aye, Captain," Harper responded, wondering just when Mrs.   Fitch would
    take it upon herself to don her husband's breeches and assume !
     
    full control of the ship.   He greatly resented her intrusion into the
    normal protocol of the bark, but then, it was neither his vessel nor his
    command.   "Right away, sir."
     
    Harper faced the prisoners again.   "Step in line, ladies, and let Mr.
    Blake strike those chains from you."
     
    In dutiful respect to his captain, Harper handed the keys over to the
    bosun's mate and climbed to the bridge, leaving the younger man to carry
    out the inspection of the female prisoners, a task Harper did not
    especially envy.   It made him uncomfortable to treat them like dumb
    animals being readied for sale.   Some seemed as young and innocent as
    his own dear sweet sister.
     
    Approaching the couple, Harper nodded crisply to his superior and then
    met the snobbish stare Gertrude fixed upon him.   "Good day, madam."
     
    "Mr.   Harper!" Her voice was normally loud and even more so when she was
    determined to take charge of a situation, which apparently was now.   "As
    you know, I have a direct interest in the proceedings aboard this
    vessel, and I wish to be kept apprised of every offer that is made
    before a sale of a convict is finalized.   Twill enable me to keep a
    better record for my father.   Do you understand?"
     
    Since her sire owned the Pride, how could anyone on the ship ignore her
    behest?   Captain Fitch had certainly seemed unable to.   "As you wish,
    madam."
     
    "There is another matter which greatly disturbs me, Mr.   Harper," she
    informed him brusquely.   "I don't approve of you locking Jacob Potts in
    the cable her.   The man has been beneficial in keeping me abreast of
    the prisoners' activities and willful violations of my orders.   You'll
    rescind your directive at once and set the man at liberty."
     
    Harper's jaw tensed, and it was with a hard-won guise of control that he
    presented his arguments against her edict.   "Your pardon, madam.   The
    man was deliberately insubordinate, and if I'm forced to negate his
    punishment, I'll no longer have any influence over the crew.
     
    Twould be folly to do so, madam."
     
    Captain Fitch struggled to master his own ire.   The fact that his wife
    had lent credence to the prattle of a common swabber was further cause
    to be offended by her presence aboard the Pride.   An experienced officer
    would have considered the source and been suspicious of the tar's
    motives.   "Gertrude, the bosun is rightþ'' "Nevertheless, Mr. Harper,"
    she interrupted rudely, pointedly