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this winter. So I’ve decided to follow his example and double the Cape instead of chancing the Straits of Magellan.” He looked around at the adults. “I’ll give you a day’s warning, and you’ll need to put away any loose items in your quarters. The seas can become violent, as we’re here in the middle of their winter.”
    Anna Taylor let out a small whimper.
    “Mrs. Taylor, perhaps you and your daughter should stay in your cabin as much as possible. The steward will bring your meals.”
    “How long?” she asked, eyes wide.
    “It’s hard to predict. Somewhere between a week and two weeks.” He paused. “I did it in eight days the last time, but the weather was far nicer than what we’ll have this time.”
    “I’ll help with Missy.” Sarah wondered if she’d regret the spontaneous offer.
    “As will I.” Jamie spoke kindly. “Don’t worry, Mrs. Taylor. After this, it’s clear sailing all the way to California.”
    The captain frowned at him, but said nothing. Jamie shot a grateful look in the captain’s direction, and the discussion was over.
    “Did you mean that?” Sarah asked the next morning as they caught a breath of fresh air on the deck. “About clear sailing all the way to California?”
    Jamie looked guilty. “I have no idea. I shouldn’t have said that, but the poor woman needed something to hang on to.”
    Sarah nodded her agreement. “You did the right thing.” She looked at the darkening sky. “I think we’re all going to need support.”

Chapter Five
    WindSprite sailed into the storm in the middle of the night. Sarah thought she’d prepared herself for rough seas, but nothing she’d imagined came close to the reality of what the ship endured during that first night. Lucy lay in her bunk, calm but wide-eyed as Sarah checked to ensure that the porthole was tightly closed. She’d checked it before going to bed, but she needed to feel in control of her own destiny.
    She pulled her night shift around her shoulders. “I’ll go next door and check on Anna and Missy.”
    Lucy remained in bed, the bed covers clutched up under her chin.
    The ship’s motion tossed Sarah from one side of the narrow hallway to the other. Her arms would no doubt be bruised, but that was a small price to pay. The ship’s movement caused the timbers to groan, and she was glad she’d ventured out. Anna Taylor would be terrified.
    “Sarah!” Anna’s skin had acquired a healthy glow from days spent in the sun, but it was pale now. Melissa, uncharacteristically quiet, had climbed onto the bunk with her mother. Only frightened eyes showed above the bed clothes. “Is everything all right?”
    The ship rolled sickeningly and Sarah sat down abruptly on the opposite bunk. From there she could see that the porthole was firmly closed, and she forced a confident smile. “Everything’s fine. I just wanted to check on you.”
    “Thank you. Missy and I are just fine.” Anna squeezed the child, who nodded, but remained mute. Sarah admired the show she was putting on for her daughter.
    “Good.” Sarah managed to stand. “I’ll get back to my cabin and keep Lucy company.”
    As she made her way back to her cabin, a loud metallic crash reached her ears. It had come from the direction of the galley, and she wondered if some of the cooking utensils had come loose. She listened carefully, and hearing nothing further, she entered her cabin and collapsed on her bunk.
    As Sarah opened her mouth to communicate her concern to Lucy, the other woman emitted a loud snore. Sara couldn’t help but smile as she crawled back into her bunk. Sleep was elusive as she puzzled about the loud sound from forward in the ship, but it was pointless to worry about it until the morning. They’d been averaging slightly less than eight hours of precious daylight each day, and she knew she’d rise long before the pale dawn showed through her porthole.
     
    * * *
     
    The motion of the ship was still unsettling as she made her way