James Nelson - The Guardship

Marlowe turned and smiled at him. It was the first that his friend had said on the subject, and he knew it would be the last. “So it would seem. When LeRois died, and Ripley and the Wilkensons, I reckon they took Malachias Barrett down with them.”

“And I think it safe to say, between us two, that Master Barrett died an honorable death. A death in defense of true honor.” Bickerstaff raised his glass.

“True honor. And an end to Master Barrett.”

He had come to this place and he had re-created himself, taken his old self from the woods, planted it in the rich earth of Virginia, and raised himself up from the dirt into something new.

After all, he thought, what is this place, this New World, this America, if it is not a place of redemption?

My thanks to Stephen S. Power, Captain-General of Post Road Press, for his help and enthusiasm with this new series. As ever, thank you to Nat Sobel, Judith Weber, and all the fine people in their office. And thanks to Tish Clark for the just desserts.

JAMES L. NELSON is a former professional square-rig sailor and the author of the Revolution at Sea Saga. He lives on the coast of Maine with his wife and children. In cyberspace, he can be found at www.jameslnelson.com .