An excerpt from Bound by Loyalty by J. Robert Whittle

Victoria Chronicles Trilogy - Book 1

What has happened so far: Unable to rid himself of the sad memories of the death of his wife, Tom Wilson takes his four-year-old daughter, Nancy, away from England to seek a new life working in the coal mines on Vancouver Island, Canada. On the treacherous journey around the Cape, they are befriended by a minister and his wife who look after Nancy when her father is taken ill. Our excerpt begins as they arrive in the Pacific Northwest at the end of their six month journey. The year is 1900.

Excerpt from Chapter One

Finally, one sunny morning in early October, Captain Welch pointed out the rolling green hills in the distance, explaining they were trees … thousands of acres of larger and taller trees than they had ever seen before. This was their destination … Vancouver Island, he called it.

A great cheer arose but later in the day strong winds and a relentless rain restricted their time on deck as they entered the Straits of Juan de Fuca. It eased during the night and early the next morning they caught their first glimpse of Victoria … before black rain clouds enveloped them once again.

Lining the railing, the passengers watched expectantly as they sailed into a crowded and noisy Victoria Harbour … ‘whaling ships and gold seekers,’ someone said knowingly, but many were travellers and emigrants just like themselves. They had developed a preconceived idea of Victoria, and the lack of modern buildings, homes, and visible inhabitants, coupled with the distressing weather, now greatly dismayed them.

A depressing overcast sky matched Tom Wilson’s countenance as he clutched his daughter in his arms. He was still very tired from his long ordeal but he knew he must put on a brave front for the child. Tears were difficult to contain and several escaped, running down his haggardly pale face. Nancy clung tightly to his neck, kissing his cheek and brushing away each tear as it escaped. Tom found it difficult to look at her. He had tried to explain that he must find work and would return soon, but he had no way of knowing if a child so young could really understand and would ever forgive him.

The familiar bump was felt and the passengers began to line up at the disembarking area. It was still raining and the gangway was treacherously slippery as they helped each other down to the safety of the wharf. Underfoot, the solid nature of Victoria’s dock seemed strangely foreign as they disembarked and searched for their baggage and belongings, brought up by crew members. They found the sun comfortably warm when it came out momentarily, but it was not to last as ominous grey clouds brought rain once again and they were soon wet through.

And then it was time for Tom to leave. Tearfully, Nancy said goodbye to her father, holding so tightly to his neck Charles had to pry her hands away. Taking her into his own arms, her little body began to shake and her face contorted with pain as the realization of their final parting set in. As she watched the last of her family walk away, a heart-wrenching cry escaped her lips.

"DAAADDYYY!!"

Her father turned for one last pitiful glance wanting desperately to stay but knowing it was impossible. With shoulders stooped and heart breaking, he turned and quickly disappeared into the rain and the jostling crowd.

Sobbing quietly now, Nancy held tightly to Charles’ hand as they left the dock area and walked up the hill to the main street, they called Government. It was a hazardous journey along the now muddy, pothole-strewn road. As they walked up the uneven boardwalk, greasy from the rain which had now stopped, a dreadful mixture of noises filled the air. All manner of transportation lumbered by often splashing pedestrians in their eagerness to get to their destination. Rough voices shouted and whips cracked coaxing on heavily-loaded drays that creaked and groaned from the strain, terrifying the little girl as she held more tightly to Charles’ hand.

Just as they reached Courtney Street, a stagecoach with the words Victoria Transfer Co. Tally-Ho emblazoned on the side, lumbered by causing them to hastily seek safety.

A stern-faced churchman dressed in a long, black cloak awaited their arrival at the corner. He offered the Reverend a lifeless handshake and grumbled at the sight of the child. "The orphanage is full," he said coldly, upon hearing Rev. Garvey’s explanation for the girl’s presence. "And you, sir, force us to take in another one of these homeless waifs!"

In a show of temper, the sinister-looking churchman turned on his heel and slipping slightly on the slick surface, marched across the street, his long cloak dragging in the mire. Wondering if he should follow, Charles hesitated but Emilia carefully hoisted her skirts in a vain attempt to keep them out of the mud, and stepped from the safety of the boardwalk.

"Come, Charles," she ordered over her shoulder, picking her way between the potholes. Then, noticing Nancy’s appearance, she added more gently, "Pick her up, Charles, the child can barely stay awake."

He picked up the weary little girl and hurried across the road. Reaching the opposite side, he stopped to look about him and noticed for the first time the rows of shacks that purported to be businesses—many of them desperately in need of repair. For a fleeting moment, he was glad they were not staying.