Sign of Nine Stripes

Sign of Nine StripesThe MacKay Mysteries: Book 3 Carol AmorosiGu Leor Publications Sign of Nine Stripes A Gu Leor Publications bookAll rights reserved.This book is a work of fiction. Any references to real people, real places, or actual events are used fictionally by the author. Other names, characters, places, and events are of the author's imagination, and any resemblance to actual events, places, or people, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Copyright © 2023 Carol AmorosiNo part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the publisher's written permission. For information regarding permission, contact [email protected] of Nine Stripes/Carol AmorosiISBN: 978-1-7368372-5-2 (ebook)ISBN: 978-1-7368372-6-9 (paperback)Printed in the USAFirst edition, 2023 Contents Acknowledgments Chapter 1 21 August 1769 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Epilogue December 1773 Did you enjoy this story? Books by the Author Author’s notes To Our Ladies, 1769 Early Forensics Meet the author Author-Amateur Historian-Traveler-Celtic Enthusiast Dedicated to my parents, who instilled in me the love of a good murder mystery. My love and appreciation go out to my family, especially my husband, Dave, who always puts up with my craziness, not just during this process.This project could never have happened without help, especially from Joris, Emily, and Jordan at Cutting Edge Studios and my editor, Christina, at Wandering Words Media.And my heartfelt thanks to my fellow authors in the Pickle Jar for their support. Kate, Michelle, Jess, Amy, Eileen, and Alexa, thanks for being there for me! Chapter 121 August 1769I can do this. Everything is fine. Angus clutched the rail and closed his eyes as another ship slid past, nearly scraping alongside as they left the London wharf to sail down the Thames River. He couldn't wait to reach the wider English Channel. His knuckles whitened, but Angus held firm as the packet ship skipped lightly through the current. A sudden gust blew a strand of hair across his face. He brushed it away. Though clouds threatened the skies, the weather was warm. Leaving the bustling pier and warehouses behind, the captain maneuvered the craft through the heavy traffic of the London Pool, where the larger sea-going vessels that could not clear the bridges further upstream gathered. Soon, they would be far enough down the river to leave the smoke-filled air of the city behind. Angus watched as they passed familiar landmarks. The massive white stone of The Tower loomed on his left. Uncle John told him that the port in London was the largest in the world. Angus gasped as another ship slid through the water beside them, heading in the opposite direction. Watching the vessels clear each other by mere feet, Angus believed his uncle was right.Uncle John. He thought of his family. As Angus watched, they had rapidly disappeared from view. Angus was sure his aunt and uncle would remain until his ship was no longer in sight before climbing into their carriage. Soon, Lord John and Lady Anne would be home. His cousin, Rose, had been there too, her eyes swollen and puffy. His departure had hit her the hardest. Leaving them left a hole in his heart.His eyes watered, and Angus tried to convince himself it was merely the water spraying on his face in the breeze. But running the back of his hand over his eyes, he knew otherwise. Angus would miss them. He had crossed the Atlantic before, and while he no longer feared the journey, it would be his last. He was starting a new life in the colonies, hired as a land surveyor after earning his license a few months before. Just the thought of this brought a smile to his face. But it also meant he would never see his family again. His smile dimmed. But he would see his friends in a few weeks, and Angus looked forward to that.Thinking about his friends reminded him of the letter Uncle John had handed him at Shelton House as they climbed into the carriage. Angus had seen it was from his friend Liam in Maryland and had shoved it into his pocket to read later. He hadn't wanted to waste a minute of his time left with his family. There would be opportunities aboard the ship to read it. Time was something he would have in plenty, as he knew from experience.Lord John Shelton had done so much for him, despite not knowing of his existence until Angus was sixteen. Lady Anne, his wife, had taken him in as if he were her own. And their daughter, Rose, was like a sister to him, though when he first arrived, she wasn't ready to give up being an only child. Weeks had passed before she spoke to him. But over time, they found they had much in common despite his lowly upbringing and lack of education. His early years were spent drifting from one family to another following the death of his father and grandfather at the Battle of Culloden. Eventually, Rose accepted him into the family, and Angus knew she would be the first to write to him.As they sailed farther from London, Angus was pleased that he felt no nausea, though they were still in the river. He looked back on his first crossing with Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon six years before with embarrassment, but there had been no seasickness on his return to London the previous year. The sea had been calm over the weeks on that voyage. I can do this. I'll survive. He crossed his fingers for luck. The wind slackened as Angus stood at the rail a while longer. The soft breeze teased his auburn curls from the ribbon that held them back. He reached up to