Not of This Land

By Becky M. McCarthy

Just prior to the Jacobite War, Major Donald Whittington and his troops befriend William McAbee and members of a small hamlet near Firth of Forth, Scotland. Neither aware of a full scale sinister operation that is heading their way that will change their lives forever.
Major Whittington and troops escort his friends’ young adults (16-18 years old) to St. Andrews. While they are away, three slaver ships wait until evening to attack the village. The troops return only to find some members dead and missing due to human trafficking.
The senior British officer has a dilemma as he knows he cannot keep his friends’ children with him and he cannot leave them in a desolate village. He is fully aware that many English soldiers did not like the Scots due to the upcoming Jacobite War of 1715. He wanted them out of the country for their safety.
Captain Richard Holt, a good friend of Major Whittington, of The Blue Knight agrees to take the young adults to Tidewater, Virginia. He has a large estate where his trusted housemaid, Lorilee, will look after the young Scots while he is at sea.
The first night of their voyage Evee McAbee discovers two thieving fairies dying in her mam’s sewing box. The captain hears her frantically trying to save these two small creatures and tries to help her. Apparently the night of the raid, Mattie slammed the lid on Orin and Rosalba as they tried stealing buttons from her sewing box.
Miss Elizabeth Sanburg loves Captain Holt thinking he would ask her to marry upon his return until she sees how much he is in love with Evee McAbee. Elizabeth threatens Evee as she knows the young Scot is well below her station in life with Captain Holt.
Mr. and Mrs. Sanburg want Elizabeth to marry into wealth and nobility.
Sir Sidrick and Lady Iris Holt, along with their oldest son, Alfred, visit Tidewater as uninvited guests to Captain Holt’s wedding to Evee. They get lucky in that Alfred, after all the nagging, ends up marrying Elizabeth. She is very much unaware of the plans he has for her.
Caleb Mack, Brian Ross, Sander Sinclair, and Ian Woodall would often hunt for furs to trade with the town’s locals and Natives. The Scouts liked to follow their young friends as a game. One particular early morning the Scots saw black and white fur huddled together. Caleb shoots an arrow amongst the critters and the Scots were so shocked their behavior until they had a whiff of the mist that chased them and the Scouts out of the area.
Blackbeard, the pirate, causes havoc in Charles Town. A young Irish girl has an idea on how to capture a few of his pirates using a very large ten pound fishing sinker at night taking them out one at a time.
Alfred uses his parent’s manor in The South Seas Company as collateral and as an investment to help get Great Britain. Alfred tries to make up to Elizabeth as his parents are dealing with their home being auctioned off to repay a debt he incurred. Their youngest son and his two friends, Captains Gregory and Smith come to their rescue and want to take them to Tidewater to live.
Captain Holt and members of his crew fight for their lives as a giant whirlpool opens right beneath their ship. Captains Smith and Gregory have a grim task ahead of them.
One morning, Captain Smith overhears Alfred wanting to take Captain Holt’s estate from Evee and her son. He would do anything to get his title and manor back that he was to inherit.
Elizabeth realizes she is married to a homicidal psychopath. She must try to save Evee, little Richard Holt, her parents, and herself. The clock is ticking against her.
Orin, the male fairy, tells Captain Smith to take Evee and Lorilee, and return to where Evee grew up so he can open special portal for her as he wants to pay her back for saving his life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Becky M. McCarthy
• Release date: Jun 25, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463551998

Book preview

Acknowledgements:

This book is dedicated to those caught up in human trafficking. To my ancestors and my family, the McAbee/McBee, a special thanks to Mac, Missy and Stephan, and Rusty Payton. A special thanks to Sharon Braden and Barbara Houghtby as they ran up and down Highway 17 looking for a piece of beach.

I owe much thanks to Amy McGuigan, who jumped in to help me proofread this book! If you find booboos, they belong to me. I want to thank Greg and Emily Murray for helping me with my blog!

Contents

Acknowledgements

Foreword

Prelude

Characters in this Novel

Chapter One: Major Donald Whittington

Chapter Two: Mattie McAbee

Chapter Three: Major Donald Whittington

Chapter Four: William McAbee

Chapter Five: Major Whittington

Chapter Six: William

Chapter Seven: Major Whittington

Chapter Eight: Captain Richard Holt

Chapter Nine: Evee

Chapter Ten: Miss Helen Smith

Chapter Eleven: William

Chapter Twelve: Barbados

Chapter Thirteen: Mattie

Chapter Fourteen: Major Whittington

Chapter Fifteen: Rindel Plantation

Chapter Sixteen: Tidewater, Virginia

Chapter Seventeen: Sanburg Plantation and Holt Manor

Chapter Eighteen: Tidewater Richard

Chapter Nineteen: Barbary States

Chapter Twenty: Maryland

Chapter Twenty-One: Barbados

Chapter Twenty-Two: Tidewater

Chapter Twenty-Three: Tidewater

Chapter Twenty-Four: Barbados

Chapter Twenty-Five: Barbary States

Chapter Twenty-Six: Maryland

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Rindel Plantation

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Tidewater

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Scotland

Chapter Thirty: Tidewater

Chapter Thirty-One: Tidewater

Chapter Thirty-Two: Tidewater

Chapter Thirty-Three: Reunion in Tidewater

Chapter Thirty-Four: Pita’s Arrival

Chapter Thirty-Five: The Trap Begins

Chapter Thirty-Six: The Hook

Chapter Thirty-Seven: All is Even

Chapter Thirty-Eight: Elizabeth’s Wedding Day

Chapter Thirty-Nine: Alfred

Chapter Forty: Barbados

Chapter Forty-One: Morningstar

Chapter Forty-Two: London

Chapter Forty-Three: The Search Continues

Chapter Forty-Four: Charles Town

Chapter Forty-Five: Rindel Plantation Demise

Chapter Forty-Six: William

Chapter Forty-Seven: Murder in Tidewater

Chapter Forty-Eight: Firth of Forth

Chapter Forty-Nine: Elizabeth’s Resolve

Chapter Fifty: Charles Town

Chapter Fifty-One: No Rest for the Weary

Chapter Fifty-Three: Tidewater

Chapter Fifty-Three: Help on the Open Seas

Chapter Fifty-Four: Fairies Insight to Beards

Chapter Fifty-Five: Help for North Tidewater

Chapter Fifty-Six: English Slave Ship

Chapter Fifty-Seven: The Big Purchase

Chapter Fifty-Eight: Welcoming the Scots

Chapter Fifty-Nine: Rindel Plantation

Chapter Sixty: Tidewater

Chapter Sixty-One: Tidewater’s Newest Arrival

Chapter Sixty-Two: Evee and Freya’s Babies

Chapter Sixty-Three: Newcomers

Chapter Sixty-Four: Tidewater

Chapter Sixty-Five: Pirates

Chapter Sixty-Six: Scotland

Chapter Sixty–Seven: London

Chapter Sixty-Eight: Tidewater

Chapter Sixty-Nine: Charles Town

Chapter Seventy: Popping the Big Question

Chapter Seventy-One: Blackbeard

Chapter Seventy-Two: Alfred’s Homecoming

Chapter Seventy-Three: Charles Town

Chapter Seventy-Four: Tidewater

Chapter Seventy-Five: Tidewater

Chapter Seventy-Six: Evicted in London

Chapter Seventy-Seven: Rescued

Chapter Seventy-Eight: Captain Holt

Chapter Seventy-Nine: Mourning

Chapter Eighty: Evee

Chapter Eighty-One: Tidewater

Chapter Eighty-Two: Tidewater

Chapter Eighty-Three: Alfred

Chapter Eighty-Four: Desperation

Chapter Eighty-Five: The Warning

Chapter Eighty-Six: Little Richard

Chapter Eighty-Seven: A Dream Comes True

Chapter Eighty-Eight: A Fairy’s Love

Author’s Note to Readers

Books and Related Materials to this Subject Matter of Historical Significance

Foreword

This is a historical fiction woven into a novel. I used a few famous names, places, and ships. Parts of this book stems from research of famous people of authority, events, laws, and drama during this timeframe. Most names of my characters and their work, places, and incidents are products of my imagination or from my ancestry that go back fifteen generations. Any resemblances of business establishments in the locales are entirely coincidental.

Prelude

Historical Timelines:

In 1609, King James I of England granted patents called London/Virginia Companies for a Virginia Colony to transport prisoners/convicts, Debtors Prison, and people in poorhouses to the New World to farm and produce tobacco.

In 1650, Scots lost to England at the Battle of Dunbar. English sold those prisoners of war and sentenced them to colonies or islands. Scottish fighters were put on slaver ships, chained, and sold for the cost of transportation. People purchased them to work in fields or mines.

In 1714 and 1715, tensions mounted in Scotland and Ireland with England. As countries discovered land, free labor was in very high demand. Human trafficking made huge profits and it became dangerous to many innocent and healthy people, and considered a good means of making money, just as it still goes on today…

Characters in this Novel

Firth of Forth, Scotland:

~William McAbee, 39, farmer, blacksmith, weaponsmith

~Wife, Mattie, 38, Seamstress, used herbs, dyes

~Daughter, Evee, 17, seamstress/lace maker

~Arte McAbee, 37, weapon smith

~Wife, Annie, 35, Embroidered, lace maker, seamstress

~Daughter, Freya, 16, embroidered, lace maker, weaver

~Patrick Mack, 37, blacksmith

~Wife, Sarah, 36, candle maker, weaver

~Son, Caleb, 18, blacksmith

~Daughter, Kay, 16, candle maker, weaver

~Daughter, Lynne, 5

~Alestre McCann, 42, farmer

~Wife, Amena, 42, gardener, preserved food

~Daughter, Judith, 17, gardener, preserved foods

~Abe Robinson, 39, woodworker

~Wife, Elara, 36, dyes, pottery

~Son, Daniell, 19, woodworker

~Daughter, Audrey, 4

~Hugh Ross, 42, tanner, sheep herder

~Wife, Jannet, 42, animal husbandry and seamstress

~Son, Brian, 19, tanner of hides and shoemaker

~Daughter, Aggie, 2.5

~George Sinclair, 43, horse trainer

~Wife, Melle, 42, candle maker, lace maker

~Son, Sander, 19, horse trainer and weapon smith

~Son, Evan, 3

~Thomas Woodall, 45, carpenter

~Wife, Seva, 44, lace maker, shoe maker

~Son, Ian, 17, woodworker

~Son, Cana, 6

English Soldiers Stationed in Edinburgh, Scotland:

~Major Donald Whittington, 35

~Captain John Edwards

~Lieutenant Samuel Jordan

~Captain Overhultz

Tidewater/London:

~Captain Richard Holt, English, 29, Commander of The Blue Knight

~Lieutenant Timothy Gregory, The Blue Knight

Three Fairies at Firth of Forth:

~Orin, male

~Rosalba, female

~Pita, female, Rosalba’s daughter

London, England:

~Colonel Harold Whittington, father to Donald

~Isabella Whittington

~Sir Sidrick Holt

~Lady Iris Holt

~ Mr. Hayes, Butler

~Captain Holt’s Brother, Alfred Holt, Gentleman

~Lieutenant Eli Gordon – The Blue Knight

~Lieutenant John McCoy – The Freya

~Captain Lee Smith, The Lucky Lady

South Seas Company:

~Theodore Bottsman

~Gerald Hunt.

~Randolph Mead

Tidewater Townspeople:

~Lorilee, Housemaid, Holt Manor, Tidewater

~Howard, Butler to Richard

~Lissa Schuekoetter, 20, bakery, German

~Stephan Schuekoetter, 24, builder

~Jack Sanburg, Plantation owner

~Miriam Sanburg

~Elizabeth Sanburg, English, 22

~Sarah (Elizabeth’s maid)

~Bernard (Jack’s and Mariam’s Butler

~Sheriff John Brenneman

~Deputy Sheriff Samuel Pultz

~Johann Honegger, German, Healer, botanicals

~Alice McPherson, Maid married to Daniell

~Mary/Emma Diefenbach, Tidewater Orphans

~Mr. Jerome Rutledge, Plantation owner

Upper Tidewater:

~Mr. Jacob Rindel, Plantation Owner

~Laura Rindel

~Thorn Myers, Overseer

~Mrs. Maria Yates

~Steven Yates

~James Yates

York, Virginia:

~Colonel Eugene Wolf, Lord Proprietor of York

~Private Hans Furrier

~Governor Spotswood

Slave ship – The Matilda - Virginia:

~Captain Jonathan Green

~Lieutenant Rawson

Slave Ship: Five Brothers - Maryland:

~Captain Michael Everett

~Lieutenant Jerome Potter

Maryland:

~Lawrence Bonds, Owner of Mill Farms

~Overseer, Doug Hayward

~Green Hills Orphanage, Miss Helen Smith

Slave Ship – Barbados – West Indies, The Flying Sword:

~Captain Abraham Fortson

~Lieutenant Al Bender

Barbados Plantation Owner:

~Mr. Samuel Norton

~Mrs. Alicia Norton

~Overseer Mr. Henry Lance

~Andrea Irish slave

~Ira McCarty, Irish, 22

~Seph McCarty, Irish, 17

Slave Ship - The Red Fin – Barbados/Barbary Coast:

~Captain Jeremiah Brower

~Lieutenant Perry Hanes

~Rose Neilson, English, 24

~James McCarty, Irish, 23

~Bevan McCarty, Irish, 19

Charles Town, South Carolina:

~Alicia Norton

~Andrea Manck

~Seva Woodall

~Elara Robinson

~Christina and Julia Epperson

~Crystal Wolfe

~Ira and Seph McCarty

~Blackbeard, Edward Teach

~Charlie Campbell

~Allen Crosby

~Constable Cummings

St. Andrews, Scotland:

~Mrs. McColaugh

~Andrew McColaugh

~Arthur McColaugh

Chapter One

Major Donald Whittington

We rode to Firth of Forth stopping only to eat and rest our horses. It was a good one and a half days ride from Edinburgh where we were stationed. I always enjoyed my trips to visit with friends.

Captain John Edwards came up to me, Sir, are we ready to do this? he asked.

I smiled, Thank goodness they are young adults or I would have looked for some crazy excuse to get out of this! I laughed, but in reality, I enjoyed being with William McAbee and his small hamlet of friends in Firth of Forth. He became like a brother to me since stationed here in Scotland.

Lieutenant Samuel Jordan walked over to me and asked, Sir, our men are we ready to leave.

I said, Definitely, let us get this over with so we can get these young people to St. Andrews and come back and play some golf! I heard my men let out a war cry the mention of the word golf.

We mounted our horses and set out to see William and Mattie McAbee. There are eight families of Scots that live near the North Sea. Every one of my men saved enough money to surprise the females with some small gifts we wanted to get them while shopping in St. Andrews. Mattie and her sister, Annie, Seva, Melle, Jannet, Elara, and Sarah would help repair our uniforms and I have to admit it was wonderful having them looking after us.

Captain Edwards asked, Sir, what can we get the ladies in St. Andrews to pay them back as a nice reward?

I think we can take their daughters to some haberdasheries and as they look around and having not been in a women’s store before, we can get some ideas for ourselves. Just watch what Evee and young ladies buy and we can purchase the same for their mothers only larger. I said feeling a tad proud thinking of this magnificent idea.

No one in my command was married and I have no earthly idea what women want, but I did know them enough to buy things that would be special to each individual. I did learn a bit from my mother.

We had six horses loaded with cheese, wines, and breads for our friends and a wagon we used to haul chicks for their smallest children. I smiled thinking back when I could remember when they used to be afraid of us and had every right to be. Many a soldiers from Great Britain treated Scots as enemies, but I will not have it as my mother is a Scot.

My father, Colonel Harold Whittington, caught hell when he first married my mother, Isabella, when he was stationed in the northern part of Scotland. Their marriage was meant to be as a peace symbol between her clan and to give him and his men safe passage in that area. After his tour, they returned to England and found his friends and neighbors despised her. Eventually as people got to know her, they had a change of heart. Mattie and Evee reminded me of my mother. All three women are very spirited and kind hearted, and I appreciate that in women and when I visited them, it reminded me of home.

When we arrived, their smallest children came up to us and their parents came out to greet us.

Evee came running over a hill and up to my horse, Major Whittington, let us know when you are ready to leave. We are so excited to see all the sites and to get our professional standards for weights and measures done!

I told her, We will have dinner, enjoy some music, drink mead, spend the night and have something to eat at breakfast. Then we can pull out in the morning. This way she knew my plan. Where is your father? Just as I asked her, I saw him coming out of a smoking shed. We waved at each other.

We climbed down off our horses and walked into their village. William came over and shook my hand and his brother, Arte, Patrick Mack, Alestre McCann, Abe Robinson, Hugh Ross, George Sinclair, and Thomas Woodall came up to greet us. It felt like I was at home. William and I went to get mead and in passing I told, Lieutenant Jordan, please take our pack horses to the ladies so they can divide up foods and wines.

He went to get our wagon and horses carrying supplies as I watched Mattie, Annie, Sarah Mack, Amena McCann, Elara Robinson, Jannet Ross, Melle Sinclair, and Seva Woodall coming to inspect our uniforms.

We observed the children: Lynne, Audrey, Evan, Aggie, and Cana as they opened the cages allowing several baby chicks loose. Everyone laughed as they began chasing them. I knew their mothers will appreciate us as they will tire and fall asleep early tonight.

Mattie came over, Major Whittington, how about something to eat for you and your men?

William stood at my side and said, Aye, mead first then we can eat!

He could read my mind, our throats were parched. It felt good getting off my horse and walking a bit.

We approached a makeshift stone table and benches as several women already had drinks in their hands. I smiled at Mattie as she usually waited on me. Dear God, Mattie, I envy William. You know what to do to win a man’s heart! I smiled at her as she grinned at her husband and then at me as she sat down. I asked her, What do you need while we are at St. Andrews that I can get you?

Mattie thought for a moment, Can ye fetch me some needles and buttons? Let me get ye some money, she said as she started to get up.

William started laughing and informed me, All these women are missing buttons!

I told her, You will to pay nothing, after all that you and my friends here do for us, I will not accept anything, except another mug of mead!

As we sat down for dinner, a necessary order of business was to let them know the latest information over dinner and we were well aware of the Jacobite War looming over our heads.

Evee, William’s daughter and his niece, Freya McAbee, Kay Mack, and Judith McCann assisted my troops. They danced with the men and I knew all too well of the crushes my men had on them, but were too afraid to act on their feelings. I did not encourage nor was I against it. I felt they are all young and have their lives ahead of them.

This trip is to take these young adults to get their blacksmithing and weapon standards weighed for they wanted to earn their own way. Everyone was well aware of the British law and I would be damned for a Brit to treat or discourage them in any way.

William and his friends made a special sword for me. It was a proud day that I will always cherish when he handed it to me several years ago. It was commonplace that we bartered gifts, weapons, and money we thought the other would like to have.

As I looked around, I knew that Caleb Mack, Daniell Robinson, Sander Sinclair, Brian Ross, and Ian Woodall were anxious about tomorrow, but I did not want them to fret as I explained I will help them in any way I could.

We sometimes brought cows, sheep, and goats for their families. They were self-sufficient hard working people. We also extended good relations to other Scots in the area in order not to cause undo hardships because we were Brits.

I watched as my troops set up their tents and had campfires started. William had a special place made for officers. It is a nice size place with a roof and fireplace that we use as our quarters here.

Mattie and the ladies checked on the men’s needs to have our buttons reattached, shoulder seams and cuffs resewn. I believe they were sent to us from heaven and I know my men agreed with me.

The next morning after breakfast, we could tell these young adults were anxious.

I asked, Evee, are you all ready and packed up?

"We are very ready, Major Whittington!" She answered back excitedly.

She went to her mother and asked, Mam, do ye have anything ye want me to trade while we are there?

Mattie ran in and grabbed some shawls and laced handkerchiefs and replied, See what ye can get selling these.

I climbed on my horse watching William walking over to me, Ye have my deepest sympathy, sir, he said laughing and patting my horse. I smiled and wondered what he meant, but I felt he was joking with me.

I laughed and replied, Well, we better be off and I plan to see you in several days. William, I will watch over them, as I looked at him and their parents to reassure them.

Arte said, Sir, we already know; besides it will give us some peace and quiet! Everyone laughed.

I saw them mounted and I knew I had to leave then or I would be left behind.

Everyone waved as we headed north to St. Andrews.

Chapter Two

Mattie McAbee

I went in my home to get a shawl as it started to get chilly outside. I saw the men throwing water on all the fires as I came out of the door. William came up to me and whispered, Put out all yer candles. He looked at me and pointed to three ships as they had no lit lamps and were not too far from our shore.

I blew out my candles feeling my way across the room and I closed the lid on my sewing box and tucked it under my arm. I gathered a few light swords and some tartans as I wanted to leave our friends a message in case things did not work out as we had hoped. I grabbed Annie as we headed to the shoreline. We wanted to show Major Whittington we left by water just in case they could not find us. They would know we would never leave our tartans or swords on the beach.

I felt they would know we were stolen. Our friends warned us about people being taken from European shores.

We ran to the beach and out of sight from where those invaders on smaller boats could not see us.

She and I draped a tartan around a sword and laid the rest next to it. Major Whittington would be alerted because he knew we treasured our swords and tartans.

I slide my sewing box under a bush nearby so I could help sew up the wounded after the fight. We ran back to our homes to get our bows and arrows to join our husbands and friends.

Chapter Three

Major Donald Whittington

We stopped at the first women’s store as they spotted many things in windows. These young seamstresses had hopes in making many of the latest fashions and hats that they witnessed several women wearing in town.

Nothing could prepare me for shopping with women; I think I know now what William meant when he said he had my ‘deepest sympathy’. I also knew now why my father always suggested mother take the carriage and have his drivers accompany her.

My back and legs were numb with walking back and forth looking at items the young ladies wanted to buy. I decided to give the job to Captain Edwards and Lieutenant Jordan while I went for a cup of mead. I thought the alcohol would kill the pain in my body.

I went out to tell these two young men, I know I will owe you greatly for this, but I need you to assist and keep an eye on them for me. As I sat down every nerve in my back and legs began to pinch against every muscle.

I watched as my two officers eagerly went in to escort these beautiful ladies feeling very proud, as I do not think I could take another hour in that shop even at gunpoint.

Approximately three hours later my officers and ladies came out with bags and paper-wrapped items.

I saw a look on Captain Edwards and Lieutenant Jordan’s faces and they looked as if beyond battle worn. I went immediately to get them two mugs of mead knowing I owed them.

Well men you did a fantastic job! as I shoved their drinks in front of them.

Lieutenant Jordan gave me a look I will never forget, Sir, I would rather fight in ten battles than to do that again!

I had the look of sympathy as I understood and said, I have to go back in that shop, I saw a few things I can get their mothers, I promise I will not be long, I said.

I told them that Caleb, Ian, Daniell, Sander, and Brian were three buildings across the street over where I could keep my eye on them. They had their standards weighed and approved. These young men were observing the blacksmiths and asking a lot of questions.

I purchased patterns of dresses for Mattie and friends. All of a sudden, I became alarmed as I witnessed men watching over these young women while making my purchases. I had plenty of buttons, needles, threads, patterns for dresses, and folds of materials for them. The ladies in the shop were very helpful and I think they even felt sorry for me.

As we left the street, I spotted a golf shop to buy clubs and balls. We all went in the shop except for a few of my men as they had to stay with the horses and packages. We went inside which made it a bit overcrowded. Caleb after close examination of the clubs asked, Do ye hunt with these things?

We laughed, Lieutenant Samuel Jordan said, This is one of the greatest games on earth! We are going to teach you how to play!

Judith McCann asked picking up a leather ball, Does it hurt?

The soldiers laughed so hard wondering what they must have been thinking about this game of golf.

We left and showed our young friends the old cathedrals, library, and old buildings in general giving them a bit of history on each as we made our way through an old part of town.

Many men’s heads turned to look at the young women. I quietly instructed my men, Close ranks on the women to ensure their safety. I thought to myself, this may very well be the last time I offer to do this again.

We went to look at ships in the harbor and when I saw a friend of mine, Captain Richard Holt. We grew up together in London and our parents were good friends.

I asked Captain Holt, Sir, where are you headed? As he came over to me with a glass of wine and handed it to me. He is a bit shorter about five eleven, black hair, green eyes and I am the opposite, blond hair and blue eyes. We both loved the military, I went with ground and he took to the sea.

Captain Holt replied, Heading back home to Virginia, his home away from home as he smiled and asked, What brings you here?

I answered by looking to those shops across from us where I could see my men standing guard outside, I have my friends’ young adults shopping and tending to business here in town, I said smiling back at him.

The ladies came out of the clothing shop except for Judith, she had been in the apothecary as we watch her trying to catch up to the main group so I introduced them to him.

Captain Holt invited us on his ship and everyone was excited. He gave them a brief informing them the mechanics of the vessel and its purposes.

I asked, How long will you be here?

He replied, I will be here for about five more days. We have been at sea and I want to give my men their land legs before having to take off again, I noticed he had his eyes on Evee.

Well, we need to be off. I have to get my friends home, as we shook hands. We left The Blue Knight and everyone waved to each other. I must have counted heads at least thirty times to make sure I did not lose anyone.

Our friends checked their bags at least a dozen times for fear of accidently dropping any precious gifts and purchases.

We were anxious to get back to the village to play golf and relax. I could not wait to see the look on our friends’ faces when they opened their packages.

Chapter Four

William McAbee

The first night our older children were in St. Andrews, we noticed three large