by Haley Travis
Nodding to myself, I continued chopping carefully, stopping for a moment as a slight roll of the ship made me question my balance.
“That’s it, be careful,” Cookie said. “It will take you a solid week to get your sea legs.”
“How long have you all been on this ship?” I asked.
“Well, now,” he said, scratching his head with the wooden handle of the bread knife. “That’s a fair question. I believe Cap’n has had this ship for at least ten years. I think Willy was with him at the beginning. Dwyer and Dobbs replaced the Cullip brothers four years ago. And I’ve been aboard for around seven years now.”
“Goodness,” I said. It seemed like a good sign if a man’s crew stayed with him for many years. He must be a fair leader. And this must be a relatively safe place to live.
“So you all sail from port to port, trading and delivering goods?”
Cookie looked at me strangely. “Miss, we don’t discuss business at breakfast.”
“Oh. I see. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t worry, you’ll get used to everything around here.” He was silent for a second, as if listening, before adding in a quieter tone, “The Captain has taken a real shine to you. I’m sure he’ll take you under his wing and help you become accustomed to our ways.”
I wasn’t even sure what that meant, but Dobbs and Dwyer came down to sit at the large, chunky wooden table. I helped Cookie prepare the tea, which was the most delicious drink I’d ever tasted in my life.
“This is wonderful!” I exclaimed.
The other men chuckled at my innocence. “We’re able to get tea from all over,” Dobbs said with a smile. “Wait till you try the whiskey and rum.”
Dwyer shot him a surprised glance. “Girls don’t drink spirits, do they?”
Dobbs shrugged. “I think some of them do.”
They both looked at me expectantly. “I’ve had wine once, but never whiskey or rum,” I admitted.
“What about that fizzy wine that people have at weddings?” Dobbs chuckled as Cookie placed plates of food around the table. “That always looked fun.”
“Champagne,” Cookie sniffed. “I’ve tried it and didn’t much care for it. Ruining good wine with bubbles that make me sneeze.”
A long deep sigh rolled through me, causing all three men to look at me funny. “Sorry. I just realized that I really don’t have to get married to that terrible man, now that I’m gone. It’s a great relief.”
“Freedom probably tastes better than any champagne,” Dobbs chuckled.
“Did you not like the man?” Dwyer asked. He seemed to take everything quite seriously.
“There were two men interested in marrying me,” I explained, “but my father managed a much smaller dowry with Mr. Helsby, who was a nasty drunken lout.”
“What’s a dowry?” Dwyer asked.
“That’s the amount of money a father gives the prospective husband in order to marry his daughter,” Dobbs said.
Dwyer shook his head. “If the man is being given a nice lady, shouldn’t he be the one paying the father?” He looked at me in horror. “Not that anyone should be buying and selling women, miss.”
“That’s the way of those backward townsfolk,” Dobbs said. “Their ideas of freedom and justice are all twisted up.”
I’d never spoken with such different people before, and was fascinated to hear them all speaking their mind without reservation. In my hometown, people were always extremely careful of everything they uttered publicly, knowing that they would be judged. It seemed that out here, people could just speak their minds freely. I liked it.
The others came downstairs to join us, and I was thrilled that the Captain pulled up a crate to sit close beside me.
“Did you sleep well, Maggie?” he asked softly, leaning in close.
“Yes, thank you.”
I caught the way the others were pointedly looking anywhere but at us for a moment. I looked straight into his eyes. “Your mother’s chair is extremely comfortable to sleep in. Thank you.”
His lips tightened at the edges in a slight smirk. “That’s good, then.”
I’m not sure why I lied. I don’t even know if I’d ever spoken a lie in my life. But sleeping in the Captain’s bed felt…naughty. Not something I was prepared to be open about with the others.
Breakfast was absolutely delicious – a big fry up of vegetables and potatoes, with a bit of salt cured ham. The men all spoke excitedly about the town of Parrinport that we’d be reaching tomorrow afternoon.
I noticed that they only mentioned the wonderful bakery, the chatty, hilarious fishermen, and their favorite rum. There was no mention of what their business was there.
It might not just be at breakfast, I thought – their business was really none of mine. If I wanted to live here, I was going to have to earn my keep, and make them all trust me. Then perhaps one day they would open up to a stranger.
“Captain, what shall I do today?” I asked.
He nodded thoughtfully, that dark thick hair swishing around his head as he did so. “Good question, lass.”
“She was good help with breakfast already,” Cookie chimed in.
“Maybe for today you could just assist each of us,” the Captain said, looking around the table at each man in turn. “We’ll all start teaching you about the ship, and you can see how we run things.”
“Can you sew?” Willy asked.
“Yes. Quite well, actually. I made all of the clothing for my family.”
“Aye, there’s a basket of mending in the slop chest that I haven’t gotten around to,” Willy said. “I’m the only one that can hold a needle, and I’m not very good.”
“Lots of work today, boys,” the Captain said as he stood up. His eyes shifted to me. “And miss.”
The men all laughed uproariously, which struck me as interesting. They didn’t quite behave like servants obeying their master, or employees obeying their boss. The Captain was clearly the leader, but the group acted like brothers who got along quite well.
Everyone but Cookie and I went above deck, as we finished our tea.
“One of the good things about being a cook is that we get these rare quiet moments of peace,” he said, flashing me a wink.
I began scraping the plates, and scrubbing dishes, a strange sense of calm washed over me. And yet, excitement.
As I learned to keep my knees soft to temper the effects of the slightly moving floor, I was never able to forget that I was at sea. I was starting an entirely new chapter of my life.
Out here, I was free to do anything I wished. Even keep a little secret about where I actually slept last night. And where I’d hopefully be sleeping every night for quite some time.
~ Ch apter 6 ~ The Captain ~
* A Plan *
I had woken a few times in the night to feel Maggie inching closer, finally curling right into my shoulder.
A lesser man may have taken advantage of her soft, sweet skin against his. I had to admit, it had been extremely difficult to keep myself from caressing those lovely curves.
But I wanted more than Maggie’s body. Her sweetness and light were touching my mind in a way I’d never felt before. Like the two of us being together would actually mean something.
Until she slapped me, I had never considered taking a wife. Now…anything was possible.
It was impossible to stop staring at her beautiful, gentle face at every opportunity. I’d heard of men becoming daft from love before, and thought that they must be weak minded. Was it possible that the touch of a woman could truly addle a man’s brain?
There were stranger things than I’d ever dreamt of, out on the open sea. But a rough man like me losing his heart and his head to a wee lass we’d accidentally taken from a pier was madness. Even if it was becoming truth.
I felt a deep pull toward her every time she smiled, or asked one of her innocent questions. I had to find a way to make her comfortable on the ship, and with me, before I tried to remember how a man was supposed to court a woman p
roperly. I knew that it wasn’t by having her sleep in his bed the same night they met.
I admired that she went directly to the galley and got to work. It showed a spark of gumption. There was no room here for anyone who was truly timid at all times.
As I left the galley, I could hear Maggie still speaking with Cookie, and knew that he would begin educating her about ship life.
Dobbs and Dwyer went straight to work, oiling the ropes, and scrubbing the rail until it gleamed in the sun. Removing the salt spray was an important task to keep the wood from rotting too quickly.
It was a great relief that I had finally gathered a crew I could trust. I wouldn’t have to fight for Maggie’s honor, or protect her from less than reputable men. At least, not while aboard the Midnight Treasure . When we got into town, that was going to be another story and an interesting challenge.
I went back to the chart-room, as Willy followed. “What are we going to do about Maggie during tomorrow’s job?” he asked, drumming his fingers over the map of Parrinport spread out on the table.
“Nothing,” I said quickly. “Let her think we’re just trading goods. Maybe we can send her to the bakery while we take care of the barrels.”
“Forgive me for saying so, Captain, but it’s obvious that you’re sweet on her already.”
I remained silent, which forced him to keep speaking.
“Surely you wouldn’t want an unescorted young lady walking around a town where she’s never been before?”
I slumped into a chair, scowling. “You’re right.”
“The problem is, taking all of those barrels will be a five man job.”
“Dammit.”
Willy pulled over a stool so he could still stare down at the map. “Actually, the bakery is close to Gervase Hoddnett’s house,” he said slowly.
I could tell he was forming a plan, and his eyes became glazed and unfocused for a few moments. I’d learned to stay silent while he thought things through.
“Yes, that’s it. Send Maggie to the bakery with two of us. While she is safely inside buying bread, those two meet the other three behind Hoddnett’s house. Two of us can come back, rolling the barrels in broad daylight.”
I raised my eyebrows as he continued.
“If the two men are chatting with Maggie all the way back to the ship, any passersby will assume we are simply transporting foodstuffs.”
Nodding, I stared at the map thoughtfully. “Interesting. You’re right – nobody in their right mind would be thieving with such a lovely young girl with them. And in the middle of the day, no less.”
Standing, I studied the stores in the town, hoping the map was still accurate.
“Then we could send her to the butcher over here,” I pointed, “and the other three men could meet her and roll their barrels onto the ship, smooth as silk.”
“Smooth as silk,” Willy nodded, with a wily grin. “You know, Captain, she might be the best thing for us. She could make us look presentable in all kinds of situations.”
“Aye, that she could,” I nod.
Perhaps taking those extra crates had been the best mistake we’d ever made.
~ Chapt er 7 ~ Maggie ~
* Five Barrel Shopping Trip *
My second morning on the ship I felt a bit more steady. Not only was I apparently gaining my “sea legs”, whatever that meant, but I was able to actually be more useful around the ship.
I’d woken up yet again curled tightly into the Captain’s shoulder, but tried not to allow myself to think about that. There was something about his warmth, and the way such a tough man was so gentle with me, that made my heart pound much too quickly.
I was going to have to keep my wits about me as I saw a new town for the first time in my life.
Tales of the town of Parrinport had even reached my ears back in Claytonsfield. Apparently it was a trade hub, frequented by all sorts of interesting people, including a regular stream of traders and travelers.
Finally I was going to be able to set foot somewhere new. That likely seemed small and silly to these men who had traveled so widely, but I’d dreamed of other places without ever thinking there was a hope of arriving there.
“Maggie, could you come here a moment?” Willy called while I was fixing my hair.
Instead of my usual single plait running down my back, I’d fashioned two, wrapping them into a twist at the nape of my neck.
I hurried to the chart-room, where he gave me a curious look. “Your hair. It’s good like that. Pretty, but makes you look a bit older.”
I hoped that was a compliment. “Thank you.”
“Here, take a look.” He had a map spread across the table.
I’d seen maps in books before, and our town hall had a map carved into the outside wall so that people could find their way around. Honestly, a person could just look up and down the path, but they seemed to feel the need to put on airs.
“Oh – is this Parrinport?” I leaned closer, studying the names of the main streets. It was incredible how large it seemed, with so many shops and houses.
“Yes. We’re going to need you to pick up supplies while we run an errand.”
“All right.” I could hear in my voice that I sounded nervous.
“Don’t worry, Maggie,” he said gently. “We’ll be close by. But we have to pick up some huge barrels of supplies. It will save us a lot of time if you would be so good as to go to the baker and the butcher for us.”
“Of course.” I peered at the map. “They aren’t far.”
“Yes. Cookie and I are going to walk you to the bakery. Then you’ll come back with us, and Dobbs will walk you to the butcher. Then you’ll all come back. Simple, yes?”
“Yes.” I had to wonder why there was such a detailed plan just to pick up supplies. It seemed a little unnecessary. But I still had much to learn about their ways.
“Willy, is there a reason we need to hurry?”
He nodded, smiling, as his nearly black curls bounced. “Yes. There’s a patch of bad weather apparently coming in, and the Captain wants to stay ahead of it.”
He handed me a purse that was surprisingly heavy. As I looked inside, I’d never seen so many coins at once. He gave me a list of supplies to buy, and a shopping basket.
Before I knew it I was standing on the deck of the ship as Parrinport came into view. A heavy hand landed on my shoulder. “Willy gave you everything you need for your shopping?” the Captain asked.
“Yes. And he mentioned that we need to hurry a bit to stay ahead of the weather.”
If I hadn’t been staring directly into his eyes, I wouldn’t have noticed that they tightened slightly. “At least one of us will be near you at all times, Maggie. Don’t get chatting to anyone about anything other than the things you’re shopping for, alright? We never discuss the ship, our business, or our travels with outsiders.”
“Alright.”
The ship docked, and I stayed out of the way while some crates were unloaded and sold to various men right there on the pier.
Once things were settled, five of us walked into town, with Dobbs staying on the ship. When we came to a small fork in the road, I walked with Cookie and Willy. Cookie raved about the bread at this particular bakery, and double checked my list before sending me inside.
“When you’re finished, wait right here on this porch,” Willy said.
“Aye, aye,” I grinned.
I went inside, instantly overwhelmed with the heady fragrance of fresh bread. The shopkeeper was friendly, but I resisted the urge to chat too long.
After waiting out on the porch with my basket for barely a minute, Willy and Cookie came into view, slowly rolling two large barrels.
We strolled to the ship, while I noticed some of the townsfolk giving us curious looks. In a low voice, Cookie said, “Some people don’t take kindly to strangers. A quick polite smile and nod, and get out of their way. It’s always the safest bet.”
I was barely back on the ship for a moment when Dobbs appear
ed to escort me to the butcher. Again, I was told to wait right in front when I was done with my purchases, and not to talk to anyone.
After my basket was filled with meat, I waited for the other men, stepping just to the side to enjoy the shade of a large oak tree. It was surprisingly warm, and I wondered how fast this storm would be rolling in.
I heard the Captain’s deep, rough laugh, and turned to see the men coming down the road, rolling their barrels. Whatever was inside must have been heavy, since they seemed a bit tricky to control.