Seacrets Read Free

keep her safe o'er the long journey ta the Americas."
    Richard breathed a great sigh of relief and hugged his friend, slapping him several times on the back, as men do.
    The deal was struck. Now the difficult part was to convince Maura this was in her best interest.
    §
    "No Father! I willna go!" Maura cried out in utter outrage at her father’s plans for her future.
    "Now Listen ta reason, lass. Ya must heed what I say. This is the only logical way for ya ta survive those vile English bastards. Would ya be put upon by one o’ them?" Richard shouted back at his daughter.
    "If ya stay here and I should pass on, what will become o’ ya’? Use your head, gel. I raised ya ta be more intelligent than this childish display ya be exhibitin'. I'll hear no more o’ this foolishness. The deal has been struck for ya safe passage to the Americas. Ya will meet with my good friend Albert Godsey, behind the White Horse Tavern just before dawn. There ya will be given a disguise as the Captain's cabin boy."
    "Cabin boy?" she exclaimed in disbelief. "Father I have hardly looked the boy in many a summer. How do ya suppose I manage that, now, at my age and obvious development." she looked down upon her womanly curves.
    "You will don the cabin boy garb you are given by Godsey and tape ya breasts down as tightly to ya frame as possible. It would be very dangerous for you to be found out. This will be the toughest part o’ the whole of it, Maura. After you reach the Americas you will be met by some other good friends o’ mine, The Turlingtons, and then it will be clear sailin’ for you from then on gel."
    With tears welling up in her eyes, she pleaded with her father not to send her away. "Please father, who will tend ta ya in ya final days? I would be the one to do those final things for ya, not some stranger ." Her tears were flowing, she could not stop them from falling.
    Richard held his arms out to his beloved daughter and she fell into them and wept for what seemed like an eternity."There, there child, cry no more. I can no longer care for ya in my condition, even though it has been you who has, more often than naught, cared for me these past two years. As ya father I must know before I die I have done everythin’ in my power ta assure ya are well off and protected. This is the best I can do. Everyday I look upon your beautiful face and see ya mother, Maureen, in ya child. 'Tis harder and harder ta let go of ya, my wee bairn, more than ya know. But let go I must, for ya own good.  Ya are much too good for the likes o’ some English rogue bastard. I'd rather ya take ya chances on that rough ship knowin’ when ya reach the shores o’ the Shawmut Peninsula, in Boston harbor, ya just might meet up with one o’ ya own kind. A strappin’ Irish lad and have a chance at a better life than one o’ serf to some bloody English soldier, or worse, forced to make ya way in the whore houses of this filthy city. I know for sure ya mother, Maureen, would have agreed with me. On this ya must trust me, gel. Up and until now I have taught ya well the ways ta protect ya self against danger. Ya know how ta hunt, shoot, and ride a horse better than most young lads. And what little schoolin' I did managed ta sneak inta ya, without the English blackhearts finding out about, ya also know how ta stitch, cook, manage a home, and are very well read. Ya will make a fine governess for someone's family or a wonderful school teacher."
    Maura wiped her eyes and listened to what her father had to say, knowing there would be no changing his mind on this. She stiffened her back against his words and sat stoically while he continued with his last bit of fatherly advice.
    "Remember one thing my child, never ever give ya heart ta some rogue not worthy o’ your regalness. Ya are truly very special, Maura. I would rather see ya never marry than t o be bound to an unhappy union of convenience or abuse. That is why I am sendin’ ya away.
    I want ta make certain ya have