Jonathon Carver, a young Puritan school teacher, meets handsome Nathaniel Morgan, master cooper. He comes to recognize the longings he's had all his life as desire for the love of another man, and Nathaniel provides that love.<br><br>Their love must be carefully guarded, as they live in Colonial America during a time of the call to Awakening of the Puritan spirit. Knowing the penalty for their love is dire, they strive to keep their affair secret.<br><br>Desperate for a way to resolve their situation, they devise a bold plan which could free them to be together. But can their love for one another overcome the structure of the society in which they live? Or will they be destined to forego fulfillment of their desire and go their separate ways?

Awakening

“I don’t know what I believe tonight. I thought I knew of my beliefs, but I also knew something burned within me that had never been recognized. Not until this evening when you offered to show me the way. Now that I am aware of the awakening of this aspect of my life within me, I am frightened by my beliefs.”


“Let us not dwell on them then. Let us take this moment and live it to the fullest. We have both been searching and now our search has culminated in our union. Let us dwell on that.”


Nathaniel gently took Jonathan into his arms, kissed him and lay down beside him. After a time their breathing became deep and regular. They slept.


Jonathan was wakened by a gentle shaking.


“I best take my leave,” Nathaniel said. “It would not do for me to be caught coming out of the school in the night. I would be fined for being out on Sabbath eve.”


“More than fined, I fear.” Jonathan did not want to think of the consequence of being caught in a situation such as theirs.


Chapter 3