Chapter 65: To the Depths of the Sea, Part 3

Charlisse tried to focus her teary eyes on the sacred words, but a humid breeze fluttered the pages of the old Bible. She scanned the bedraggled assemblage standing on deck around the wooden plank upon which lay a tiny bundle wrapped in linen. Her son. Kent stood across from her, plumed hat pressed against his chest. He wore a solemn expression that was at odds with his usual insolent smirk.

Six days had passed. Charlisse and Isabel had remained locked in their cabintheir only visitor being Smithy, who brought them food and water and freshened their chamber pot. From the changing sounds of surf, sail, and seagulls, plus Isabel's brief descriptions from the window, Charlisse determined that they had made two stops: one at a port and the other at an island inlet.