balding pate. "Aye...I don't know what I've gotten myself inta this time." With a deep sigh he turned to go back up topside.
Unbeknownst to Maura and Godsey, two doors down where the water stores were kept, just inside the door was the Captain's mid-shipman, James Kilern. He had been hiding back away from the entry of the adjoining cabin. As soon as he heard the words "Lass, Lass" his ears perked up and he crouched back so Godsey could not see him. He had been listening to them and decided he would keep an eye on this so called cabin boy. After a while he heard the Captain's cabin door slam. When he was certain Godsey was well past him, he made his way from his hiding place and went back up topside.
ξ
Chapter four
The days turned into weeks and Maur a was amazed at just how swift she gained the ways of the maritime. Each night she fell exhausted into her bunk. Every so often she'd stop and wonder how her father was faring the harsh winter without her and if his health were worsening. She couldn't dwell on those thoughts for too long for she'd never make it through. She promised herself after she were settled, she'd write and send for him.
She marked the calendar each day to reinforce to herself time was passing and before too long she'd be on dry land once more. The first couple of weeks were spent getting her sea legs , as Godsey had remarked to her.
The Captain took notice and was most kind in letting him get used to seafaring ways, knowing he’d never sailed before.
This particular Saturday afternoon had been a rainy day at sea. The men took turns topside, as did their Captain. He never asked anythi ng of his men he would not do himself. Maura respected that about Daniel. She therefore made sure his quarters were warm and clean and his meal was hot and waiting for him when he returned to his cabin in the evenings.
While she was cleaning Daniel’s desk, as was part of her usual daily duties, his quill pen floated off of the escritoire and rested upon a dark cloth bag beneath his bunk. She crouched down on her hands and knees and crawled halfway beneath the bunk. She could feel a large heavy wooden object. She struggled to pull its awkward shape towards her and discovered it was an intricately hand carved oak chessboard and on top lay a lush emerald green velvet satchel. Maura laced her slender fingers within the vined rope string and pulled gently until the satchel fell open.
She gave a persistent jiggle of the bag, pouring its contents into her hand. Her hazel eyes beamed with delight at the sight of the most beautiful pewter and black iron bejeweled chess pieces. She was in absolute awe of their beauty. With great effort she brought the game board and pieces to the table, next to the woodstove. She set it up as if to play.
Maura’s attention turned toward the cabin door as she was immediately put on alert by the creaking of swollen planks and heavy footfalls. Her thick lashes swept toward the portal entry as Daniel entered.
He shot her a glare look as he noticed straight away, the chessboard set up on the table. "I see you've been cleaning under my bunk." He raised a disapproving eyebrow in her direction.
He turned his back to her and began to untie the laces of his shirt. The linen garment was no longer a dense white but was opaque and transparent from the driving rains.
Maura’s breathing accelerated at the sight of him as she was experiencing envy for a mere piece of cloth as it clung to his chiseled form. She ca ught herself and just as quick looked away as he peeled away the garment that served as his second skin. He quickly donned a dry shirt and came to stand by her at the stove.
A loud clap and the rough abrade of calloused skin briskly rubbing together caused Maura to flinch and shrink from Daniel. This response to his nearness did not escape him.
Maura thought to speak to distract him. She nervously tried to defend what she thought was an
Unbeknownst to Maura and Godsey, two doors down where the water stores were kept, just inside the door was the Captain's mid-shipman, James Kilern. He had been hiding back away from the entry of the adjoining cabin. As soon as he heard the words "Lass, Lass" his ears perked up and he crouched back so Godsey could not see him. He had been listening to them and decided he would keep an eye on this so called cabin boy. After a while he heard the Captain's cabin door slam. When he was certain Godsey was well past him, he made his way from his hiding place and went back up topside.
ξ
Chapter four
The days turned into weeks and Maur a was amazed at just how swift she gained the ways of the maritime. Each night she fell exhausted into her bunk. Every so often she'd stop and wonder how her father was faring the harsh winter without her and if his health were worsening. She couldn't dwell on those thoughts for too long for she'd never make it through. She promised herself after she were settled, she'd write and send for him.
She marked the calendar each day to reinforce to herself time was passing and before too long she'd be on dry land once more. The first couple of weeks were spent getting her sea legs , as Godsey had remarked to her.
The Captain took notice and was most kind in letting him get used to seafaring ways, knowing he’d never sailed before.
This particular Saturday afternoon had been a rainy day at sea. The men took turns topside, as did their Captain. He never asked anythi ng of his men he would not do himself. Maura respected that about Daniel. She therefore made sure his quarters were warm and clean and his meal was hot and waiting for him when he returned to his cabin in the evenings.
While she was cleaning Daniel’s desk, as was part of her usual daily duties, his quill pen floated off of the escritoire and rested upon a dark cloth bag beneath his bunk. She crouched down on her hands and knees and crawled halfway beneath the bunk. She could feel a large heavy wooden object. She struggled to pull its awkward shape towards her and discovered it was an intricately hand carved oak chessboard and on top lay a lush emerald green velvet satchel. Maura laced her slender fingers within the vined rope string and pulled gently until the satchel fell open.
She gave a persistent jiggle of the bag, pouring its contents into her hand. Her hazel eyes beamed with delight at the sight of the most beautiful pewter and black iron bejeweled chess pieces. She was in absolute awe of their beauty. With great effort she brought the game board and pieces to the table, next to the woodstove. She set it up as if to play.
Maura’s attention turned toward the cabin door as she was immediately put on alert by the creaking of swollen planks and heavy footfalls. Her thick lashes swept toward the portal entry as Daniel entered.
He shot her a glare look as he noticed straight away, the chessboard set up on the table. "I see you've been cleaning under my bunk." He raised a disapproving eyebrow in her direction.
He turned his back to her and began to untie the laces of his shirt. The linen garment was no longer a dense white but was opaque and transparent from the driving rains.
Maura’s breathing accelerated at the sight of him as she was experiencing envy for a mere piece of cloth as it clung to his chiseled form. She ca ught herself and just as quick looked away as he peeled away the garment that served as his second skin. He quickly donned a dry shirt and came to stand by her at the stove.
A loud clap and the rough abrade of calloused skin briskly rubbing together caused Maura to flinch and shrink from Daniel. This response to his nearness did not escape him.
Maura thought to speak to distract him. She nervously tried to defend what she thought was an
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