Prison Games

Chapter 25

Chapter 25

Sophia lay on her bed unable to sleep. She had tried to speak to several people about her husband, but his guilt was without question. In fact, remembering back to their trials, James was the only one who confessed his guilt. Sophia sensed that James wanted to leave England. It held nothing for him, and his heart was turned to the new land. He hoped to earn his own land one day. It was said ten acres would be given to a prisoner who was willing to work it. It wasn't a lot, but enough. Even though she had land from her father, it seemed important to James to earn his own. They both knew it would be years before that happened, though.

Sophia got up and cracked the window open. Quickly she added more wood to the fire. Fall was her favorite time of year. She loved the crisp air. The curtains lifted at the breeze. She hurriedly jumped back into the bed. Watching the curtains move, and listening to the leaves rustle in the wind, she turned her thoughts back to James. She knew he held his belief in God very seriously. He didn't push her into what he believed but instead encouraged her and comforted her. She whispered a prayer to God, the unknown, invisible God of James Patrick and Gran. Please, watch over him and keep him safe. Let us soon be together, and thank You for bringing Alice home.

Sophia reflected for a time about what she had just done. Why did she pray? It just seemed to come out of her without thinking about it. She was too tired to figure it out and snuggled down into her blankets. Without realizing it, she thanked the invisible God once more for her soft warm bed.

The door opened to the room, and Red rose to his feet at the sight of his wife, T She smiled and handed him a basket. Red grabbed it in spite of the chains, "I wish you didn't have to be chained like that. I don't know what they think you're going to do."

"They probably know I would grab you and not let you go." He smiled. Sophia blushed. Red put the basket on the table, then waited for Sophia to show him what she had brought.

cheese, After removing a towel from the top, Sophia handed him a package wrapped in brown paper. "Alice made you a fine shirt, and I knitted you more socks. I hope they fit. They look a little big to me, but try them and see." Next she lifted out apples, and slices of fresh bread. "I have some roasted beef for you too."

Red's mouth watered. "Tom! Would you like some of this here food?" he asked the guard. "My wife brings enough to feed this whole place." The gaoler stepped into the room with a sheepish grin and nodded to James. Sophia placed some beef on a slice of bread and handed it to him. He took it, tipped his cap to her, and stepped out the door. "I think the men get almost as excited as I do when you come to visit. They keep asking if my 'saint of a wife' is coming in. Are you sure you can afford to be bringing all

that extra food each week?" Red inquired. "Saint indeed! I have more than enough. I'm just thankful I'm allowed to give it to you."

"Speaking of being thankful..." James bowed his head in prayer. "Heavenly Father, I thank You for all the wonderful blessings in my life and especially Sophia. Thank You, Lord, for bringing her into my life. Bless this food, and help us to always remember who our blessings come from. In Jesus' name, amen."

It always amazed Sophia how a man in chains and locked in a gaol could be thankful for all his blessings. Yet she had to admit she felt her life being led by a power greater than herself. She had been aware of it for some time now, and it gave her a strange sense of peace. Lost in thought, she started eating an apple.

His gentle voice prompted, "Where are you?"

Sophia smiled. "Oh, I was sailing off to the New World on a mighty ship. Have you heard when we leave?"

"No, I would think you would be able to get more information than I would. Did you speak to Lord Wilson about sailing to Botany Bay?"

Sophia hesitated, unsure whether to tell him her news. Red stopped chewing. "What is it? What's wrong?"

Sophia sighed. "James, I talked to Lord Wilson a couple of days ago. He came over and brought two men with him. One was a marine and had been to Botany Bay. The other man worked on one of the prison ships in the harbor. Oh, James, it was horrible what they told me, and I feel they were holding back some of what they told."

"What did they say?"

"The man who guarded prisoners gave me a short history of the prison ships. How the overcrowding of the gaols forced them to put prisoners on old ships in the harbor. Those ships quickly became so overcrowded that they decided to send the prisoners to Botany Bay. They used to send them to America, until the war. He said that it's not as bad aboard those prison ships now as it used to be years ago." "

"Do you know what kind of ships they are?"

"Aye, they are old troop transports with their masts and riggings gone. He told me that typhus has claimed many a prisoner and marine alike. Rats run the ships, and the men are chained together in the hulks. They are only brought up for fresh air when the weather is fair. Many die, and I heard the food is not sufficient to stay healthy. I never thought I would be truly thankful that you are in here, but I am. How dreadful think you could be on one of them. If they consider the conditions better now, what must have it been like before?"

"It could still happen, Sophia. You never know. I could be taken to one of those ships yet. Besides, look around. Gaol fever has struck here, but God has protected me. If it weren't for you, I would be getting a lot less food, and not near as good. You and the Lord take good care of me." He sighed. "I will just pray for God's will. I can't ask God to spare me the hulks, and have others go." He studied her intently. "Was that all the man said?"

"He said if the men were lucky, they would be picked to do harbor work on shore or dredging. The men are usually weak and cramped up from being chained for so long. James, what are we going to do? I didn't know what to expect, but I never dreamed anything like this. If being on a ship anchored in the harbor is that horrible, then what will it be like sailing thousands of miles on a rough sea? If that isn't bad threatens. People struggle to survive in a place so far away that help is not to be found." enough, I have heard of many hardships once we reach the land. Hunger and danger

As Sophia talked, her voice lifted with agitation, and her lower lip trembled. wouldn't be easy. I don't know all the facts, but I have heard that the colonies are Covering her hand with his, he tried to comfort her. "Sophia, I knew all along it better settled now. I've been thinking about all this and need to ask you something. I've been asking myself if it's fair for me to put you through all of this. Why should you pay for my crime? I think it would be a good thing if you were to stay here. Maybe the magistrate was right about getting the marriage annulled. You have a home here, and friends. I think it would be best."

Red opened his mouth to say more, but Sophia's expression stopped him cold. She jumped up, knocking her chair over. With her dainty hand, she jabbed her finger into the big man's chest. "James Patrick Murphy! How dare you try and ditch me! Just because I may be a little afraid of the unknown, that by no means makes me a coward! And what makes you think you can tell me what to do? How do you know what is best? I have had men telling me how to run my life long enough. No more! Don't ever think you can tell me that I am going to stay here while my husband sails off! I am not going to have our marriage annulled! Whatever happened to all that faith you're always talking about? Is your God so weak He won't be able to watch over us?" Red's eyes bugged out, and his mouth hung open.

Sophia's chest heaved, and sweat popped out on her brow as she retrieved her chair. She couldn't remember feeling so angry. Actually, she couldn't remember ever talking to anyone like that before. Pushing loose hair from her face, she took a deep breath. She felt dizzy. It was as if a dam had let loose, causing all her fears and frustrations to pour out. She was so worried about Red. At least he was gaining weight with the food she brought. But she wished she had his faith. She couldn't understand her husband's relationship with God. How could he so easily dismiss the thought of being taken aboard one of those horrible ships...or dismiss her?

The gaoler rushed into the room at the sound of Sophia's raised voice. After seeing everything was all right, he left. Clearly, he wasn't about to step in between a man that size and a wife that mad.

With a shaky hand Sophia wiped her face with her hanky and proceeded to let out a loud sigh. Red was still sitting with his eyes bugged out. He looked so ridiculous; she couldn't help but stare at him. Without warning, she burst into laughter.

Red jumped with surprise at the sound. He looked at her as if she had just lost her mind, which caused Sophia to laugh even more. After a moment Red began chuckling, Soon his body shook with laughter.

Even the gaoler joined in after hearing them. It made quite a scene. Once Sophia caught her breath, she spoke. "Oh, James, I don't know what came over me. I am not a high-tempered person. When I saw your face like that, I couldn't keep myself from laughing. You looked so silly."

James chuckled again. "My face! You should have seen yours! It was so red and puckered up! I feared you were going to throttle me."

"I was thinking about it," Sophia stated before breaking into laughter again. Laughter gave way to a more serious mood as Red spoke. "I want you to know that, while I was saying the words, my heart was telling me to stop. I don't want you to suffer through all the hardships, but I hate the thought of losing you even more. I guess I'm selfish, but I'm greatly relieved you won't even consider it."

Sophia stepped around the table and knelt before his chair. Placing her hands on his knees, she looked up into his eyes and spoke from her heart. "You will never get rid of me, James Patrick. Not unless God himself decides otherwise."

They both stood. Red lifted his chains over her head, drawing her closer. Lowering his head, they shared their first kiss, a kiss of promise. Sophia drew back for lack of breath and lay her head on his chest. She could feel his heart pounding, matching her

own. "Mrs. Murphy, I love you," Red whispered.

"I love you too, Mr. Murphy."

A few moments later Sophia walked back into the sunshine with her basket empty and her heart full. She decided then and there to start working toward the future. Part of that was doing what she could to make changes in that prison. Some changes had occurred, but too few and far between. There was much to do. Who else could better understand what the gaol needed than someone who had lived in it?