The Scattered Leaves Series: Under Pressure Chapter 1 The Raging Sea

Each time Bridget took a step forward the boards to the old dock made a crackling sound. She wanted to walk to the end of the dock, to watch large white caped waves. They looked as if they touched the sky and it was breath taking. Finally giving up she looked up at the bright shining sun, with the dark storm clouds in the distance and a beautiful rainbow, all looking down on her. The brisk wind blew her bonnet partly off her head causing her hair to fly into her mouth, quickly she pulled and back on her head and tucked her hair back into the bonnet then breathed in the smell of the salty sea air. Bridget smiled as she parted her lips a bit and stuck her tongue out to taste the salt from the sea ,as she thought about the journey she was about to take. Her feelings were both excited and afraid of the journey ahead. She Knew it would be long and dangerous, but not as dangerous as the life she was leaving behind.(Fearing always running for her life.) “What will this new world look like?” She spoke aloud to herself. Not able to imagine a place only a few men had seen. A place they would be free to worship God the way he was meant to be worshiped. A place where they would not have to hide from the queen, far away across the sea, a new land, she could not see from where she stood, and a land they would call their own. At the young age of eleven, Bridget felt willing to risk her life for this new land and the hope it would bring. Hope that she would no longer have to hide from the royals and her crime of worship. “Will life really be different? “She spoke out loud in her soft quite voice. “Yes it will. “Her father (Mr. Thomas Hopkins) answered “and your sisters will be only a few ships behind us. “He laid his hand on his little girls shoulder, as she turned and looked up at him. Her deep blue eyes melted his heart; they were so much like her mothers. Memories rushed into his mind like a flood, the cries of his daughters and the breaking of his heart as they watched his wife and their mother captured and beheaded by the royals. He tried to avoid her eyes whenever possible. They hurt him so much. “Why don’t you walk on to the end of the dock girl?” He asks as he motioned to her with a nod of his head. Bridget looked out at the wide ocean as she answered “Because Father the boards sound as if they are going to break. He let out a laugh that he couldn’t hold back, just as John a boy of ten years of age yells “Here it is, here it is.” He danced and pointed at the ship topping a wave a little in the distance. Suddenly Bridget realized the dock was full of excited Men, women and children.All ready to travel across the raging sea. ********* As Bridget stood with the others and watched the ship came in, Thomas had kept his hand on her shoulder while they waited. She was happy he had, it helped to calm her and he rarely ever touched her. As the ship docked the passengers begin to form a line single filed. There seemed to be so many of them for such a small ship. She wondered how many there were and begin counting in her mind. One-two-three she counted as she observed a boy and girl ahead of her in line playing and pushing each other than giggling loudly. Four-five-six-seven she continued counting then stopped when she saw a very beautiful pregnant lady with a somewhat classy look about her. She stood quietly in line with tears running down her cheeks. We are all so different; Bridget thought to herself and begins counting again. Deep in her thoughts Bridget jumped at the sound of the captain’s voice.” all aboard the Mayflower. “He yelled. The line seemed long as Bridget and her father waited their turn, to step onto the ship. As each traveler inched forward it brought her closer to the journey ahead causing thoughts of fear to creep into her mind. When it was her turn she slowly took a step onto the ship. Surprised when it swayed underneath her she lost her balance falling forward. Thomas quickly steadied her and she walked down the stairs stopping at the bottom, she let her eyes adjust and glanced around the room they would spend the next few months in. It was dark, except for a few lanterns one of the ladies had started to light. The room was small and Bridget felt as if the walls might close in on her. She knew now why they had only been permitted to bring a few clothes and a blanket a piece” Father how will we sleep in here? “Bridget asks remembering her count of One hundred and one. “We will make do. “He answered her, but she could see the fear on his face......... More of this story to come in my next post. Copy Right Donna Hale 2012