As gulls flew over the sparkling turquoise ocean, a black haired youth in a brown tunic and trousers leaned against the side of a ship,watching some dolphins that were playing near the vessel. The ship’s owner, a merchant named Samuel Potter, stood nearby. He was a massive man, strong as an ox, with fiery red hair and a welcoming grin on his face. His large hands were callused with labor, and his emerald green eyes sparkled.

While a gentle breeze ruffled the teen's short, choppy hair, the ship plowed through the waves, and salty spray sprinkled the deck. There!The merchant was gazing at her again! Would he see through her ploy?All the young woman could do was trust God to protect her. Sighing, Hadassah returned to her sweeping. Could it have been only a few days ago that she had been a carefree girl with not a thing to worry about? Her mind returned to that dreadful day.

The sun had risen dazzling and cheery, laughing down at the vast meadows as enchanting flowers opened to drink up the morning light. A few pleasant huts dotted the landscape. The one on the far right was where everything had begun.

Hadassah had jumped out of bed, fresh and eager to take on the day. The smell of fish frying and fresh fruit drifted from the kitchen where her mother, Ruth, was preparing breakfast. Hadassah dressed hastily in her favorite blue cotton dress with her leather belt and boots. She added her knife onto her belt and fastened her elegant locket around her neck. Hadassah then crossed the corridor and stepped outside to assess the weather. She breathed in the fresh morning air; it was going to be a beautiful day.