Chapter twenty-one
Oak IslandMarie turned the buggy around. She watched the Sally sail up the Cape Fear River with Joshua Denning aboard, still waving. In another twenty-five miles the runner would be docking in Wilmington. She wanted to be there, to share in the excitement. Wilmington would celebrate for days. Then she looked over at Mae.
“I’m sorry I had to slap you,” Marie apologized, stifling an outright laugh. “You were becoming hysterical.”
“That’s not what concerns me.”
“Meaning?”
“That is not becoming a woman in your condition.”
“What isn’t?” Marie clucked the horse into a trot, onto the main road into Smithville.
“That display of emotion. Waving and screaming. Oh, my dear.” Mae stopped herself and wiped a drop of perspiration from her forehead.
“Emotion! I’m not dead just
