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guns!” the captain bellowed.
    And the chase was on.
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    T ARA HAD BEGUN TO FEEL that her fears had been entirely unjustified. They had set out with a light wind, cutting through the islands midway between Key West and the mainland and then out to the Atlantic, where they had run parallel with the coast. A breeze had picked up, perfect for the sails, and for a while, she had gone to the cabin, far too restless for sleep, but determined to at least lie down awhile.
    And it had been while she had been there, planning a route once she reached land, that she heard Richard’s anxious shout.
    â€œUnion steamer starboard. Down the sails! Steam power, with all due speed!”
    Tara jerked up and raced out to the deck. The menwere grimly pulling down the sails. Richard was at the helm, and they were under steam power once again. The Peace moved quickly. Richard knew how to avoid the reefs, and she was certain that he would head back into the inlets and perhaps the gulf, doing his best to ground the enemy ship as it came in pursuit.
    He cast her a glance as she hurried to him at the helm. “She’s heavily gunned,” he said tersely, indicating the enemy ship. “If the firing starts…do whatever you need to do to get out of here. Even if you haven’t the strength to go far, you’ll know where you can find shelter along the islands and the coast.”
    â€œI’m fine, Richard.”
    â€œYou’re not listening to me. That ship is heavily gunned. I have a few small cannons. If I can’t outrun her…”
    â€œIf you can’t outrun her, you surrender,” Tara said, feeling a choking sensation in her throat. “Richard, do you hear me? You surrender. They don’t shoot down blockade runners in cold blood. They’re trying to stop the flow of supplies, not murder people.”
    The look he gave her was one that clearly told her his thoughts.
    No. In principle, the enemy was not out to commit murder.
    But this was war.
    And tempers flared and shots fired easily….
    â€œMen die in the camps,” Richard said flatly.
    â€œAnd men live in the camps!” Tara insisted.
    â€œYou should get out of here, now,” he told her.
    â€œNo.”
    â€œYou’re stubborn!”
    â€œI know my own resources.” It was difficult to see the Union ship, but she could make out its ominous silhouette.
    â€œTake the helm!” Richard told her.
    She did, and he reached for his spyglass, looking over at the enemy ship.
    â€œHe should be over the reef any minute…grounding, I pray…?.” And then he swore, quickly looking at her apologetically. “He rounded it. He knows the game I’m playing.”
    â€œYou’ll outrun him,” Tara said with confidence—far more confidence than she was feeling. Few people knew these waters like a native son.
    Save another native son.
    â€œI’m heading for the channel. Maybe there…” Richard said.
    â€œYou will outrun him,” she repeated staunchly.
    But the echo of her words had barely died when the sound of a cannon boom burst through the night.
    The ball fell short of its target, causing the water in their wake to burst from the sea like a geyser.
    â€œThat was too close,” Richard murmured.
    â€œDamned close!” Lawrence said.
    â€œAye, Grant. You and Lawrence, man the rear cannon!” Richard commanded. “Quickly. We must pray for a strike and hobble here on the reef!”
    His men scurried to do as bidden. Before they could reach their posts belowdeck, a second volley came their way, closer this time. The Peace shook in the water, the waves rose and Tara quickly grabbed hold of the mast to keep her feet.
    â€œTara, do something to save yourself!” Richard said firmly.
    â€œNo! I’m not leaving you!”
    Richard stared at her in frustration and yelled out to his men below. “Fire!”
    A second later, their cannon fire boomed.
    Tara