Frida

Sophie pulled her dress off and carefully hung it on a hook near the tub along with her shift. She stepped one foot into the freezing water and shivered. Oh, she hated this but she was so dirty. She wondered if she would ever bathe again, this was such a chore. She was sure if she could see the water it would have mud from her hair floating in it. She eased herself into the cool water. She was glad it wasn't that full. Using a towel and the bar of soap she scrubbed and whipped herself clean. There was something very peaceful about being outside in the dark. She stared up at the massive star filled sky above her. The stars were all in different places than she was used to but still utterly impressive. She leaned back and rested her head on the side of the tub. She thought she could feel her body rocking back and forth like she was still on the ship. She opened her eyes to make sure she wasn't still on the ship. Nope, she was sitting in a freezing cold wooden tub outside the governor's house.

She suddenly felt very vulnerable. It would be very easy for someone to walk behind the house and past the rickety walls providing her only privacy. She turned to her right half expecting someone to be standing there. There was, of course, no one there but the feeling didn't go away. She didn't feel scared but she also felt like she wasn't alone. For some reason she thought of Jeremiah. If he hadn't died, he would have helped her bathe and fill the tub many times in their lives together. It made her sad that it wouldn't be and she recognized how odd it was that she felt sadness for that.

She quickly got out of the tub and toweled off with the terry towel. She pulled her shift over her head and considered putting the dress on as well. It was filthy and wet. The bottom hem was muddy from the roads, the skirts wet from the sloshing bucket and the top wet from when Thomas poured water on her. She decided to risk it, her bedroom wasn't far away. She clutched her dress to her chest for added privacy and scurried as quickly as she could from the back door to her bedroom. Success! She was safe behind the door. She let out a sigh of relief.

Inside her room she saw her trunk had made it, it was sitting against the wall by the bed. She smiled seeing all her familiar things. She missed her mirror and brush and pulled them out right away. She was eyeing her bed thinking she would like to dive into it when there was a knock on the door.

"It's Frida," a small voice said on the other side.

"Come in!" Sophie called.

Frida let herself in holding a tray of food.

"Oh Frida you are such a doll!" she said excitedly. "I am starved but my exhaustion was about to win out and I was going to go to bed."

"I thought as much," she smiled and put the tray on the table in front of her.

"Please join me," she offered.

Frida took a seat opposite her. Sophie practically dove into the meat and inhaled the biscuit.

"This is delicious," she said between mouthfuls. "What is it?���

"Venison," Frida said. "I had to learn all new cooking techniques when we immigrated here. I can help you too." She offered proudly.

Sophie didn't want to admit that she didn't even know how to boil a potato. Why had it never occurred to her how utterly unprepared she was. She would have to find Kathryn and Joane. They said they knew how to cook. It would be a miracle if she didn't kill herself out here, she thought. Surely her mother must have known that, and it was becoming clear she had known for a while. Why didn't she prepare her better?

"So, what did you think of Willard?" Frida asked with a hopeful smile.

"Oh, he seemed nice," she said, a little hesitant. Frida's disappointment was written all over her face.

"But honestly," she added quickly. "I'm so deliriously tired I don't trust my assessment of anything right now," She offered. That seemed to appease Frida a little.

"Well, he is such a good man," Frida said again.

"Why didn't he send for a wife?" Sophie asked.

"Oh you know, a clergymen's understudy doesn't make enough money to afford that."

"Oh," that surprised Sophie, she thought that they were trying to match her with someone in the same social station as she was.

"Is that a smart match then?" Sophie asked. "He and I?" She hated how snobbish she sounded but she would take any excuse to reject the match.

"Oh well, he doesn't have the money I'm sure you are used to, but he was in society. He is a gentleman you know. You won't find anyone close to your status in that regard here."

"Well, you know the phrase, when in Rome," Sophie offered. "Maybe I should be open minded if my options are so limited."

That made Frida downright unhappy. Sophie should be smart enough to heed her advice. Maybe this girl wasn't as smart as her reputation allotted.

"Willard is not a limited option," Frida said sternly.

"Oh I'm sorry Frida, I didn't mean to offend. Again, I don't trust myself right now," she smiled weakly. "Who is he to you? Is he family, or a family friend?"

"Oh no," Frida said a little more warmly. "I am very involved with the local parish of course. Any cause that helps the church or move the Lord's work forward I get completely behind. A wife would do Willard so much good."

Sophie wondered why it was suddenly her job to do something good for Willard. Why was his well being any of her concern? Of course she didn't voice that option. With Frida her host and the governor's wife it didn't take a genius to realize being on her good side was desirable. But one thing was for sure, Sophie would not be marrying Willard.

"Well, that is kind of you to help him," Sophie tried to sound convincing. "But I think your greatest kindness in my book will always be this most delightful dinner. It has been so long since I ate anything half this delicious."

"Well you're way too kind. The ship's food will do that to you I'm afraid." Frida bloomed under Sophie's sincere praise.

After Sophie cleared her plate, practically licking it clean, Frida collected her dishes and wished her goodnight. Sophie finally tucked herself under the sheets. She felt like she was falling as she fell into a deep sleep. The feeling of rocking on the ship followed her into her dreams.

In her dreams she was back on the boat in a storm. The boat was trashing under the wind and she was pinned underneath in the hull of the boat. Jeremiah was standing at the top of the steps calling to her. She didn't actually know what Jeremiah looked like but in her dream he had dark wavy hair and a kind expressive face. He reached his arms down to her.

"Sophie, take my hand!" he yelled. "I can save you!"

She ran towards him only to trip and fall onto the wood planks. She looked down at her feet to see what caused her to trip. Holding onto her ankles was her mother and her cousin. She struggled and fought against them trying to get away.

"Let go of me or we will die! We will sink to the bottom of the ocean!" she screamed but they would not release her.

A figure appeared and kicked both her mother and cousin away and scooped her up. The person carried her up the stairs into the protective arms of Jeremiah. Sophie looked back to see who was her rescuer but he stood in the dark, unrecognizable. She called after him, asking for his name but he disappeared below the deck, deeper into the darkness.

Sophie awoke with a startle. What a strange dream she shuttered. She thought she could still feel the hands of her mother and cousin on her ankles. She flipped the sheets back to inspect them and pulled up her shift revealing her red raw ankles.