Page 13 of Hired by Pirates

“No disrespect intended here, Miss,” Jocko began, “but beyond the galley, it would likely be best if you stayed out of the other compartments below decks.”

Since it was likely dark, damp, and dirty down there, I was fine with that. “All right.”

“Yes, if you’re not used to leaping over a loose barrel, or walking in the near dark and feeling your way along the wall, you might get hurt,” Jake added. “There’s always the chance that a wave hits harder than the rest, causing the ship to rock unexpectedly.”

“I don’t think it’s right for a doctor to have to doctor herself,” Jocko laughed uproariously. I laughed with them, absolutely delighted that they were so jovial.

The people in town always seemed to be a bit stiff. Overly proper. I’d never been to a place where it was all men, without any older women with clucking tongues to judge their behavior.

Looking up to the little building that I had learned was called the forecastle, I saw the Captain staring at me out the window. He gave me a small smile and nod, which I returned. Even through the streaked glass, I could almost feel that he wanted to reach out for me.

Somehow, I felt that it might be a shade improper for him to make an advance on me. I was his employee, technically. I’d heard that wasn’t appropriate.

On the other hand, we were out on the open sea, so could he simply go with his heart?

Please , I thought to myself, let him go with his heart .

On the third hand, if that were possible, I could be completely misconstruing his actions simply out of a need to connect with someone in a group of strangers.

People were always trying to make connections, it seemed, but I had almost none of them back in Toburg. If there was a chance for me to make some here, I was going to try my very best.

“Boys,” I asked, “have you ever had women on the ship before?”

They shot each other a lot, then tried to hold back smirking giggles. “I shouldn’t be saying this, Miss, but sometimes if a sailor fancies a woman, he’ll bring her on board ship to try to impress her,” Jake sai

d.

“But they always think the ship is dirty and strange, and run away before he can steal a kiss,” Jocko added.

Staring back through the window to where the Captain was speaking with his men, I realized I was twisting my hands in my skirts.

I turned back to see Jocko staring at me carefully. “It’s not my place to say, Miss, but we’ve never seen the Captain with another lady.”

“Not ever,” Jake added. “You’re the first woman we’ve ever seen him look at…”

“Like that,” Jocko said, giving a solemn nod.

I wasn’t sure whether to jump for joy or be embarrassed that everyone on the ship knew more about the Captain’s feelings than I did.

“Hell’s teeth, we’ve made her blush,” Jocko said. “We’re sorry, Miss. We’ll never discuss it again. And I swear, we won’t say a word to the Captain about how much you fancy him.”

“I didn’t–”

“You didn’t have to,” Jake said. “Just the thought of the Captain bringing another woman on board made you cringe.”

“It’s our job to read people, Miss,” Jocko explained. “Usually to see if they are dangerous, or hiding information. Nobody expects us to be spies, since we pretty much look like street urchins.”

“But it’s really hard to turn it off,” Jake added, and Jocko laughed.

“Let’s get you to the galley,” Jake suggested. “I bet after the morning you’ve had, you could use a cup of tea.”

“Oh my word, yes,” I giggled, following them across the mid deck.

I snuck a last look back at the Captain, who was staring out at the waves below. He wasn’t just handsome, he was striking. Powerful.

I couldn’t help wondering if that sort of man would be the type to look for a lady, and someday, a wife. And if so, was he the sort of man who needed his woman by his side at all times, or would he understand that she had her own work as well?

~ Chapter 6 ~ The Captain ~

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