Scattered Seeds Read Online Free

book through him, since his good father kept our property safe for us all this time. Says the office is on Shipquay Street.”
    “I saw it next to the chandlery.”
    They headed downhill toward the river and quay. The city, now awake, bustled with activity. Henry’s cheeks heated as they passed men and women dressed in the latest fashions. One genteel lady brushed past them wearing a brocade hoop skirt so wide she took up three-quarters of the street. He backed against the milliner’s shop to let her by, unable to ignore the swells above her bodice. He stared at her plump breasts until his father elbowed him.
    “Shameless hussy,” his father muttered. “More wealth than sense, if ye ask me, walking around wi’ her paps oot.”
    They found David Conyngham’s office facing Shipquay Street. A bell tinkled as they opened the door and ducked inside the pristine building.
    Conyngham stood up behind a counter. His white wig had regiments of crisp curls above his ears.
    “Good morning, gentlemen.” His refined speech contrasted his Donegal roots. “My clerk is late, may the devil take him.” He slid an assortment of tin goods out of the way and leaned over the counter to better inspect his potential patrons. “I assume you mean to inquire about The Charming Hannah . There is a great need in the New World for men such as yourselves.” He looked at Henry. “This is a stout lad. Your son?”
    “Aye, sir, he is.”
    “Age?”
    “Seven and ten.”
    “Is he bound to a trade?”
    “Nay, sir.”
    “Needs a bit of filling out, but he’ll go fast. Let us discuss terms. We will need to see the magistrate for the lad, you understand. I insist on adhering to the guidelines set out by Parliament.”
    Henry began to sweat. It was becoming all too real. He set their bundle on the floor.
    “There’ll be no need of a magistrate,” Father said.
    “Indeed there will. I will indenture no youth without the proper legalities.”
    “He is nae to be indentured.”
    “Understand, I advertise for redemptioners, but I take few, and those I do still require a magistrate’s seal. Unless a redemptioner has established kin in the New World, he stands a snowball’s chance at fireside of repaying his fare within the thirty days allotted. I only say this because you look to be a sound skin, and a Donegal man, if I’m not mistaken. An indentured servant has the advantage of negotiating the terms of his indenture here, before passage. The redemptioner must negotiate his upon arrival in the foreign port—before he is allowed to disembark. You can imagine how such a man would be at a disadvantage.”
    Father nodded. “I thank ye for your candor, sir, and your kind concern for us, but my son and I will travel as neither indentured servants nor redemptioners. We intend to purchase full fare.”
    Henry scratched his head. Was his father going to barter the torc? A sickening nervousness roiled his belly. The torc belonged to him now. Shouldn’t he determine its fate? He wasn’t ready to part with it. He’d rather go west to Connaught and live in the open with the Catholics.
    The merchant blasted a loud exhale and rubbed his eyebrows.
    “How much?” Father asked.
    “Look, I don’t have time to—”
    “How much?” Father’s hands balled into fists for the second time that morning.
    “Seven pounds each.” Conyngham looked perturbed.
    “Six.” Father removed the fare from his pocket and snapped the coins singly onto the counter.
    Henry stared at the money and wondered how his father came by it.
    The merchant straightened like a bulrush. “My apologies. Yes, yes, six.” He swiped the coins into a tin box. “You can surely understand how I might have . . . That is to say . . . when I saw your attire . . .” His face turned vivid red. “Yes, yes, let us go over the terms of passage.” He pulled a sheet of foolscap from a drawer. “Can either of you read?”
    “Both of us.”
    Conyngham dropped the paper onto the counter and took