Seacrets Read Free Page A

every opportunity t o put forth your greatness.” Richard fell silent awaiting a reply from his daughter. But none came.
     
    Maura rose up from her chair, placed a long kiss on her father’s forehead, hugged him and then ascended the stairs to her bedchamber.
    As she laid her head down on her pillow she knew this would be the last night she would sleep in her own bed. And after the morrow morning’s sunrise she would never again see her father alive.
    She buried her face into the pillows for one last long exhausting cry and fell off to sleep with her final thoughts being the fear of the unknown and having to face a new world on her own.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    δ
     
     
    Chapter Three
     
    Her room still blanketed in the deep purple darkness of dawn, Maura sat on the edge of her bed with a small satchel packed from the night before.
    Richard entered her room and looked upon her with tearful eyes. "Tis time lass. We must go ta meet with Godsey before the ship sets sail."
    Maura sat silent wishing the ship had sailed early so she wouldn't have to leave her home and her father. As she climbed into their small horse drawn carriage she looked upon her home one last time, took in a deep breath and forced back the tears to save her father any further heartache.
    As they reached the back entrance of the White Horse Tavern, Richard saw Godsey waving them onward. With a very short introduction Maura met with Godsey. He could see it in her eyes she did not want to go with him but her father pushed her forward. With one last ditched effort Maura begged her father.
    "F ather please do naughtt send me alone. Come with me to America."
    “Alas, I would that I could gel. I canna go with ya. I don't even have money for passage for you let alone myself. If I should fare well over the coming year , I will find my way ta ya. But for now promise me ya will never forget ya heritage and ya will hang onta the old ways and ya language. Those are the only things in life worth keepin’, child. No one can e’er take those things from ya.”
    With that said Richard reached out and with both hands he took hold of Maura’s face and spoke to her in their native Gaelic for what he knew to be the last time.
    He told her she has been the treasure of his life. “Mu A Thaisce mi Luran inighean.” Then he kissed her on her forehead and with tears in his eyes he turned from her and ran from the alleyway.
    Maura stood, shaking with fear. “Should I go to the ship? Should I run from here and find my way back to my home?” Finally the sound of Godsey's voice broke the voices inside her head.
    "C’mon gel, we'll be late and I must give ya instruction before boardin' the ship."
    She followed Godsey into a scarcely lit room in the back of the tavern. “Come, come lass. Do naught be afraid. This here is Jeannie, my um, friend.” He chuckled while giving a playful pinch to Jeannie’s waist. “She has agreed to help with ya transformation.”
    “I ’ve some old clothes from my boy that’s long since passed at sea. He was a cabin boy for three sailing seasons, when a giant rogue wave toppled the ship he was on. He was one of many died at sea that day two years ago, December.” Jeannie recalled with sorrow.
    She could see the fear in Maura’s eyes and tried in her elder wisdom to quell her fears. "Don't fret none lass. Godsey is a good man. He'll keep a close watch on ya."
    She instructed Maura , “Undress your top soes I kin show ya how to wrap your breasts to disguise your womanly fig’re.”
    Maura was most modest. After all she didn't even have a mother all of her life to help her dress, so this was very difficult to have someone looking at her unclad body. Her face immediately became heated and she blushed scarlet as she disrobed her top in front of Jeannie.
    Maura could see Godsey’s back as he was keeping lookout, but she feared he could turn any moment and see her. “Please marm, hurry, I’d be shamed if Mr. Godsey turned and