I sighed as the hot morning drew into a scorching afternoon. It was the fifth day since I’d woken, and we were now two days sail from shore. Well, we would have been ashore in two days, but as the previous day had worn on, the wind had ceased, and we rode gently on the sea, barely moving. There was a small island nearby; some of the crew had gone to explore, hoping for some kind of bird, crab, or turtle to differ the almost unbearable menu.

I could see them from where I was standing at the rail, glad to be out of the stuffy cabin, and no one bothered me, on orders from the captain. I caught sight, though, of the crew’s sneaking glances and some blatant stares.

The garments Galen had brought were a woman’s garments- not mine- of light cotton. They were undergarments; a corset, camisole, camiknickers, and a petticoat, and I wondered how they had come to be aboard the ship. They fit me almost perfectly; the petticoat was a little long, and the waist was a little too large. Though I was conscious of not having a dress on, I felt completely at ease in the white cotton underclothes. I had been raised, after all, by a very lenient father and rather absentminded nanny, who let me run around when I was small in nothing more than my chemise. I had been taught the proper decorum for a lady, but had rebelled against them, going so far as to wearing men’s clothing in town.

Most of my childhood friends had been boys, and I had kept their friendships up to the age of fifteen, when they started to notice that I was shaped differently than themselves. I became disgusted with their annoying gentlemanly acts, and drifted away, only to find that, among the proper young ladies, I was considered a disgrace to know. So, after my father died, I left the town and settled twenty miles away, establishing my own business, despite gossip, as a healer.

I caught the sound of a low whistle behind me, and turned my head ever so slightly to catch sight of Kevin winking at me. I frowned at him and turned my head away, watching the still water and wishing I could just jump in and cool off. I’m sure everyone wished the same thing; they were sprawled over the deck, idly mending tarps and nets, or dozing off in the warmth of the slowly lowering sun. Kevin leaned against the rail beside me, his back to the sea, and tilted his head to see my face. When I didn’t return his gaze, he turned around and stared down into the water, glancing at me every so often. Finally he asked me the question I’d been expecting.

“Whatcha thinkin’ about?”

I shook my head and shrugged my shoulders. “My childhood, mostly.”

He nodded. “Oh. What was it like?”

I looked at him as I formulated a reply. Momentarily I was caught in how pretty his curious eyes were, but I restrained my thoughts and answered. “Full of friends, rebellious, happy, lonely, and sad.” He raised an eyebrow, so I explained. “I was an only child, and my mother died when I was barely one. I had a nanny, but she paid more attention to food. Though she did love on me, she wasn’t very physical about showing it. I rebelled against the ladylike decorum, and had boys for friends. I didn’t care for the frivolous girly play, or, in later years, the chatter. I preferred boys, who had lots of time to climb trees, dig holes, play war, and run, and they didn’t sit for hours and talk about who they were hoping to marry when they grew up. I was happy, though, as, being an only child, my father spoiled me, though a bit too much I’m afraid. But my father died when I was almost sixteen, and other girls, by then, had shunned me as unsuitable to talk to, so I left the town and traveled for a bit, finally stopping just past London.”

“How did you have the money to do that?”

“ I found a job as a sort of housekeeper for a very old duke, and he showered me with gifts. He loved me as his own daughter, I believe.” I smiled slightly. “He was very kind to me.”

Kevin opened his mouth to say something, but, as I had come to get used to, Galen interrupted and ordered him away. He walked up to me, a frown on his face.

“I will not have you entertainin’ my brother and stirrin’ up jealousy in the crew. I can only handle one rebel on this ship, and that title belongs to Kevin.”

My jaw dropped. I understood the part about jealousy, but I had not once struck up a conversation with Kevin- he was always the initiator. I said as much.

“Then cut the conversation short and walk away.” By this time, a few of the crew had noticed our argument, quiet as it was, and were nudging others to look our way.

“I can’t do that! It’s rude. And besides, I will not travel for… who knows how much longer, speaking only on necessity!” I sighed, noticing that most of the crew were now straining to hear us.

Galen spoke. “I very much doubt that you could exercise the self control to speak only in times of necessity.” A hint of amusement was in his eyes, but it quickly disappeared. “But keep your comments to me- Kevin is prone to braggin’, and you are only feedin’ into that attribute of his character. Please, at least try to exercise at least the self control to keep yourself from creatin’ more trouble on this ship.”

The irritation he felt was evident in his eyes; he opened his mouth, another rebuke, no doubt, on the way, but I spoke first.

“Do not blame me for problems your brother stirs up!” I was tired of undeserved accusations.

“And I suppose you’ve done everythin’ you can to discourage him.” He raised a brow.

“No! Your brother is a lively, sweet gentleman, and I enjoy speaking with him!” I shook my head. “I don’t know how you two ever came from the same parents!”

Galen narrowed his aqua eyes at me and started to say something, but then glanced around. All eyes were on us. With a lowered voice, he growled “And I don’t know how you ever managed to charm my brother into thinkin’ you’re a lady.”

And he walked away. Something inside me smarted at the comment; I had always thought of myself as, in the least, civil, though I did have a temper, but now there was a man who could barely stand me. I turned back to the rail and stared down at the waves. They glittered welcomingly in the sunlight, and I abandoned my reserve. Wanting to get back at him for the smarting comment, and knowing this would irritate Galen, I stripped off the petticoat, and dove in.

When I surfaced, I heard shouts, and Galen was glaring at me from the rail. Surprisingly, he said nothing, and disappeared from the wooden rail. I turned my back to the ship and swam in a circle. The water was deliciously cool after the heat aboard, and I dunked again. A thunk sounded as I let myself float underwater, and I heard the burbling of bubbles as they rose to the surface. I popped back up; the rowboat was passing not five feet away, and the few of the crew who spotted me almost turned white before they recognized me. I dared to smile at them and then swam around the ship, as fast as my arms and legs would push me, becoming momentarily exhausted. The cool lapping of the waves I caused rippled softly over the glassy surface, and I took a deep breath, relaxing in the balmy waters.

I stayed in the water, swimming to my heart’s content, for almost two hours. When I finally tired of the water, I swam to the side of the Seabird and found that a rope ladder had been dropped down the side for me. I was grateful for the help, and climbed up, my muscles threatening to give out, onto the solid wooden deck. Grabbing my petticoat, I hurried past the stares of the crew into the safety of the cabin. I had to step over a few legs to get there, and once I was inside, I nearly slammed the door.

Galen

I looked up when the girl slammed the door. She was dripping water everywhere; her camiknickers stuck to her legs and showed off her shapely figure, her hair was slicked back but for the few rebellious strands that hung in front of her eyes, and she was soaking her petticoat as she held it close to her body. Obviously she did not savor the admiration she got from my crew. Rather, she detested it. Why she tolerated Kevin’s constant flirting I did not know, but I was sure that if I showed even the slightest interest, she’d do all she could to kill me. Well, perhaps she wouldn’t take such drastic measures, but she’d sure hate me more than she did now. She was the first woman to ever show me dislike, and I hoped she was the last.

“Enjoy your swim?” I asked her as she dried herself off with her petticoat. I should have gotten her a towel, but I wasn’t in the mood. She looked at me strangely, as if she didn’t expect me to be civil. No wonder, I wasn’t at my most charming when she appeared; she had a knack for setting me in a bad mood. Finally, she nodded slightly and sat listlessly on the bed. She looked exhausted, and so she should be after a two hour swim. I turned back to my book to give her a small bit of privacy and let her do what she would. The book I read was one off of the merchantman- Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Plays didn’t often interest me as reading material, but Hamlet was entertaining enough, as there was nothing else to do. I half hoped that the crew would start a disagreement to give me a problem to solve, but I wanted no trouble aboard.

I couldn’t stand the mugginess of the cabin anymore, so I put Hamlet down and crossed to the door, glancing back once to see that the pixie had lay down, and I stepped out into the slightly cooler air on deck. A young boy, Jack, smiled at me; he was respectful of my authority, and his personality didn’t quite fit the role of piracy. But, he was a tried and true sailor, so I kept him around, though I hoped he’d fall in love someday and stay ashore where he belonged.

Jack

Jack watched the door of the cabin, hoping that Miss McCallany would come out again. She was beautiful. He hoped one day she would notice him, and then perhaps he could convince her to love him as much as he loved her. He’d loved her the moment he first saw her; just a glimpse as the captain had come out of the cabin. From then on, he’d watched daily in hopes of getting another glimpse of her; the fairy with red hair. When she’d finally come out of the cabin, he couldn’t help but stare, like the rest of the crew, but they only stared because of their woman-crazed lust for her; he stared and she took his breath away.

Caitriona. Even her name was breathtaking. It was a fairy name, fitting for her, with her small figure, green eyes, and short, pixyish hair. he’d felt anger at the others in the crew for showing so little respect when she’d come up out of the water; they should have moved out of her way, but what did they know of gentlemanly actions? They were a bunch of pirates, born and bred. Not like him.

He was only a pirate because there was nothing else for him to do. His mother had died, his father was too fond of drink and he’d taken out all of his wrath on Jack. So, Jack ran away and stowed himself in the belly of Captain Galen’s ship, discovered three days later when the Seabird was attacked. From then on, the captain had showed him kindness, in a rough way, and with just discipline Galen had taught Jack the ways of the sea. How happy he was now, to have seen a red-haired beauty, and he knew that one day she would be his.

Sure, the crew thought she was bad luck, but that was a bunch of superstitious crock. Why else would the captain have kept her aboard?

xxx

Jule, the cook, poked a bony elbow into his comrade, Percy, as he sat peeling potatoes for dinner. “Looks like Jack’s got ‘is eye on the gal.” He let out a strange chuckle. “ If he ever come ta talk to ‘er, though, ‘ed find ‘imself in a reg’lar fight. Ya seen how she gets on wit’ th’ cap’n. Fightin’ an’ scrawlin’ ever which way.”

Percy shrugged a fat shoulder and ate one of the potato peels. “Kevin seems ta like ’er okay. Ta’ think of it, she don’t ever fight wit’ him.” He cocked a brown eye at Jack.

“Ne’er you mind Kevin. ‘e’s got ’im th’ slickest way wit’ wemen ‘n ever any man I met. Why, ‘e could melt mother nature‘s blizzard into spring, ‘e could.” Jule shook his bald, slightly sunburned head. “Naw, Jack’ll cross wit’ ’at spitfire gal an’ git ’imself burnt, you watch.”

Percy shrugged again and picked up another potato peel. He and Jule had been friends as long as his memory went, and never had Jule’s predictions gone wrong, and Jule had made more predictions than there was sand on the shore. He half believed Jule, anyway- the girl had more fire in her than water, and she’d burned her fuse short plenty with the captain.

Galen

I was half listening to Jule and Percy talk, but more I studied the pair and wondered how they’d come to be friends. With his fat frame, double chins, and scruffy blonde hair, Percy’s appearance was comical. Add Jule into the equation, thin and bald, and the combination was enough for a stage comedy. But, neither man was to be taken lightly. In each eye there was a sardonic flare of cruelty that quickly frightened people away from laughter and into avoidance.

Jule’s comment about Kevin made me smile. He was right. Kevin knew how to wind people around his finger, whether it be man or woman; he was able to make friends with all. I shook my head and turned my attention to the horizon. The sun smoldered in the afternoon sky, hot yellow against lazy blue; it dazzled the shimmering surface of the water and played about the slightest ripple. I stared at the island that splotched, like a blot of white ink, in the middle of the sea. A single tree waved its palm leaves in the slight breeze- I straightened. We’d not had the faintest wind in a day, and I intended to make use of what little air flowed by now. I was tiring of having the girl on my hands, and the sooner we got to shore, the better. We were now just off the coast of Portugal, and I intended to leave her there. She had said, though she’d been lying, that she’d wanted to get to Spain. Well, here we were, and she could walk the rest of the way; she wasn’t so fragile as she looked. She’d gotten from West Scotland to Brittany, France; she could walk from Portugal to Spain.

It was late in the evening when I finally retired; the wind had picked up, and if it held, we’d be in port in two days. The sun had dipped into the sea and a few stars sprinkled the sky, pulsing in the black velvet heavens. I pushed open the cabin door and stood to let my eyes adjust to the dark room. The air was stuffy; I felt choked, and I crossed to the window to open it, shutting the door behind me. Something caught my foot and I nearly tripped. I groped for whatever it was, and came up with the rough cloth of my blanket, my fingers sliding through the holes it had obtained from too much wear.

I finally reached the window and unlatched the shutter, taking a deep breath of the cool air that rushed in before turning around to gather any other miscellaneous objects that might be strewn on the floor. Nothing else was misplaced, just the blanket; I glanced at the bed- no Caitriona. Where was she? I turned to the chair; she was sprawled over it, her legs hanging over the arm and her head against the wall. One of my books was opened on her belly, and a slender hand held the place. She’d gotten halfway through the pages, and one was wrinkling under the slight pressure of her hand.

I gently lifted the hand and removed the book, folding over the page to mark her place and closing it firmly. Then, I bent to lift her and put her in bed, but stopped. She looked so peaceful, her face serene and a half smile on her lips. But, on the other hand, she didn’t look too comfortable, and the way her neck was twisted, she’d have a crick by morning. That wouldn’t do much to improve her temper.

Caitriona

I stirred as someone lifted me, and I struggled to open an eye just a crack. The face above, or rather, the chin and stubble that I could see, belonged to Galen. It was the second time I’d come to consciousness and found myself in his arms. I felt a dribble of wet on my cheek; I’d been drooling. How pleasant. I tried to move one of my hands to wipe off the spit, but I was still in too relaxed a state to control my movements and my hand hit my forehead uselessly. I sighed. I hated the state of total relaxation; I couldn’t move properly, and everything swam in a bit of a fog.

Galen placed me on the bed, and I managed to open my eyes again. There was a sign of amusement in his eyes, but he didn’t break a smile. I was surprised when he didn’t block me into bed, but settled in his chair to sleep. The expression on his face turned slightly towards a smirk, and I wondered what was going on in his mind. I closed my eyes and finally regained the control of my movements, turning over towards the wall.

When I woke, Galen still sat in the chair, but he was awake, and reading a book. He noticed my stirring, and as I sat up, he informed me, “We’ll be in Portugal by tomorrow afternoon. Have everything that’s yours gathered- you’ll be staying ashore.”

I blinked for a moment, still trying to shake off the sleep. “Portugal?” I finally asked- hoping I’d heard wrong. Galen nodded. I shook my head and took a deep breath.

“I- I can’t stay there; I don’t know their language, their customs, their… I can’t!”

Galen shrugged “You’re gonta have to. You are not going to stay aboard.” He was stern. And so uncaring; he’d shifted his eyes back to his book, as if that was the last say. Not if I could help it. I wasn’t used to begging, but I didn’t want to be in a foreign country where I knew next to nothing about… anything.

“Please, Galen-” I sighed. I didn’t know what to ask. I couldn’t go back to Scotland, I didn’t know any other language but English and French; there were no other options but Portugal- or to stay on board. I bit my lip and rubbed my forehead. I had a sudden headache, and I knew that tears were on the way. Despair had settled back into my life.