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

The proprietor of the cooperage had returned to his desk and back to the tasks he had been addressing when Jonathan entered the establishment. Jonathan took a steadying breath and walked toward the doors. Breathing deeply, once again, he pushed both doors open and entered the workshop.


Jonathan was greeted by a blast of warm air from the forges; the air was much warmer than that found in the outer office and in stark contrast to the cold air outside. Still dressed in his traveling cloak and coat, he began to sweat immediately. There, in front of him, he saw Nathaniel in his shirtsleeves, with his arm around the shoulders of a rather tall young man who was working the bellows on the forge. The sound of the bellows and the fire drowned out the sounds of conversation. Jonathan closed his eyes to the scene, biting the inside of his lip.


Chapter 23