Stormcrow: Book Two: Birds of a Feather

by N. C. Reed

  “Don't look at me,” Tal shook her head as she sat down. “I'm just the hired help.”

  “Lucia,” Sean's voice was gentle, and the more scary for it the crew decided, though the two passengers didn't realize that apparently. “What are you doing here?”

  “I'm a passenger, Sean Galen,” Lucia smiled. “A paying guest that has paid extra for direct transit to Liberty Vale!”

  “Why. Are. You. Here?” he repeated slowly.

  “This is the hard way,” Lucia replied calmly. “You're stuck with me now for the next three months, Sean Galen. Get used to it.”

  “What is this?” Meredith demanded. “Are you here under false pretenses, miss?”

  “Nope,” Lucia grinned broadly. “I'm on my way to Liberty Vale to inspect my family's holdings there for my mother. We looked for direct passage there and it just so happened that you were already outbound with a direct cargo. Happy coincidence for me!” she smiled at Meredith.

  “Sean Galen is just surprised to see me, Captain, that's all,” Lucia turned back to Sean, whose face was growing redder by the second. “See, I gave him the chance to stay with me on San Lucia and he didn't want to do that. Now, by the happiest coincidence, I'm booked on his ship for the duration. So, we will get to know one another, regardless. Right Sean Galen?” she beamed.

  “Sean, do you know this woman?” Meredith asked, then looked at Tony. “Or you?”

  “We met on San Lucia,” Sean said flatly. “Some little girls don't take no for an answer,” he added, and was pleasantly pleased to see Lucia's face grow red in anger and embarrassment.

  “You can't talk to me like that now, Sean Galen,” Lucia shot back. “I'm a passenger. A paying customer. Isn't that right, Captain?”

  “Within limits,” Meredith mused. “If you're here under false pretense, or if your being here is going to cause a problem with my crew, then I'm within my rights to return you to your point of origin and refund your money, less my expenses for the trouble.”

  “Uh, Captain,” Jessica said softly, then stood on tiptoes to whisper in Meredith's ear. The Captain's face contorted in a frown as whatever Jessica told her hit home, and she nodded as she straightened.

  “I've been reminded that for other reasons, returning to San Lucia is out,” she said tightly. “I'm afraid we're stuck with you, miss. . .what is your name, anyway? It's not Cinda I take it. Or Jamie,” she looked at the taller woman.

  “My middle name is Lucinda,” Lucia smiled.

  “Jamie is a nickname I use,” Talitha Jameson shrugged. “I didn't think about it. You can call me Tal if you want. Either one is acceptable.”

  “So she'll be on this ship for the next three months?” Tony looked aghast, almost sick.

  “I'm afraid so, Mister Giannini,” Meredith sighed. “Mister Galen, is this going to be a problem?”

  “All kinds,” he nodded slowly. “But nothing I can't handle, ma'am. This isn't your doing. I'll be fine.”

  “Don't worry Captain, I'm not here to cause you any trouble,” Lucia said seriously. “My word of honor on that. I'm just going to kill two birds with one stone, that's all,” she turned back to Galen.

  “I'm learning to handle my family's business, and I'm going to prove something to Sean Galen while I'm at it.”

  “What would that be?” Meredith had to ask. The reply could not have shocked her any more than she already had been.

  “Where he belongs,” was the simple answer. “Where he belongs.”

  THE END

  THANK YOU FOR READING

  “STORMCROW

  Birds of a Feather”

  by

  N.C. Reed

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