The Merry Queen -1838-1839

The New Republic of Texas was a growing enterprise during the late 1830s. Boats carried freight upstream from the Gulf of Mexico to farms and plantations, and then returned with goods to be loaded onto larger ships in Galveston Bay. And where there was commerce happening on the river, there were always pirates. Despite problems related to the Depression of 1837 there were also continuing conflicts between Mexico and the citizens of the new Texas republic. Megan, the teenage daughter of an affluent planter, was captured and taken aboard the Mexican Navy ship Santa Anna. Her father and brother, also prisoners, were shot and killed, then dumped overboard, and Megan was given to the officers of the ship for their amusement. By a fluke, Caleb Landers and his crew of the Merry Queen rescue her and she is brought aboard ship and placed alongside Caleb who was wounded during the rescue. During Caleb's recuperation from gunshot wounds, a relationship develops between the two and turns into a love affair. By loving Caleb, Megan is able to redeem her sexuality. She soon learns how to take care of herself and how to love a man - one worthy of her love. A different kind of sea battle is also part of the adventure.