Maxwell’s frigate docked late into the next afternoon without any further complications. Sandra pondered if the crew behaved themselves because she had the power to poison them or if they were worried that Hodari might discard them overboard as chum. While she served them, the brunette paid attention. They were drinking as they played a card game that she was unfamiliar with. The sailors gambled chores like scrubbing the deck.
The boy with long hair and orange eyes sat on a barrel, watching the card game. Half of his hair was white. The other half of his hair was black. Sandra studied his bandaged arms. His bandaged arms didn’t seem to stop him from holding the bowl or the spoon.
“Would you like me to treat your injury?” Sandra asked.
The child jumped in his seat, fear showing in his wide eyes.
“I don’t mean any harm, young man. What’s your name?”
“Sh-Sheldon.”
“Sheldon? That’s a handsome name. My name is Sandra.” She tiptoed closer. “Does it hurt?”
He blinked in confusion.
“Pain does not make you weak. You can trust me. I promise that I won’t tell anyone.”
“S-sometimes?”
“How did you get hurt?”
He glanced around the gathering of crew mates.
“Did someone hurt you?” She asked in a gentle voice. “Where you used to live.”
He nodded.
“No one can hear us. They’re too busy a hootin’ and a hollerin’.” Goodness! Were the crew’s accents rubbing off on her? “Would you feel better if we spoke somewhere else?” Sheldon nodded quickly. She offered her hand to the child who was no older than her Master’s children. Has it really been over two months? It felt like yesterday that she stood transfixed by those blue eyes while the blonde man disappeared into the tavern.
Once they were at the railing, Sandra looked out across the harbour and then back at Sheldon. Part of her hoped to see the Featherstone estate looming over the village.
“One of the Misters who shows up a lot and asks for me instead of the pretty women, he showed up with a guy in a curly wig and one of those navy uniforms. Mister got angry when I told him what I saw. He…punished me.” Sheldon explained unprompted, unravelling the bandage covering the deep slashes in the soft, pale flesh of his upper arm; as if he was assaulted by the claws of a ferocious monster. That was startling enough, but the hairs prickled on the back of her neck. These were no ordinary claw marks. They radiated with energy that could only come from one creature. Her father had told her stories about a Nymph that humans called the Kelpie. Though Kelpies were often bound to protect freshwater and brackish lochs, there were Kelpies who behaved like Sirens of the land due to their ability to transform parts of themselves on a whim.
“Where did you work before?”
“With the ladies of the night.”
Does he mean…Prostitutes? “Where are your parents?”
“I don’t know, miss.” He replied as he picked up the bandage.
“May I?” Sandra offered. “I’ll refresh your bandage.”
“Ya will? Gee wilikers, thanks miss!” Sheldon’s eyes lit up as if she promised him candy.
“How did they end up so dirty and torn?”
“From climbing the rigging, miss. It don’t hurt, I promise.”
“I’ll speak with the Captain about that.”
“You’ll do what now?” A male voice interjected. Sandra and Sheldon whirled around.
“Cap’tain, sir.” The boy saluted.
“Don’t worry, kid. You’re not in trouble.”
“Please don’t punish the miss, cause ‘o me.”
“She’s not in any trouble either.” Maxwell grinned, ruffling the child’s hair. “I’ll keep an eye on you while she grabs those bandages. How does that sound to you?”
“I think that sounds like a wonderful idea! I’ll grab them. Stay out of trouble won’t you?” No point arguing with a man-child. Oh, and she didn’t want to make the literal child anxious. Sandra pivoted and marched to Maxwell’s quarters to grab the bandages. Where does he find these people?
If only gathering her thoughts was as easy as stuffing everything into the medical bag.
It didn’t take long for her to address Sheldon’s bandage situation. Maxwell sent him back to the others with a small metal tin in hand.
“What’s in the tin, Maxwell?” Sandra asked, waving back to the kid as he waved to her before disappearing back into the galley.
“Candies.”
“What kind of candies?” She tapped her foot impatiently and folded her arms.
“Sorghum drops. My personal favourite. Would you like to try some?” The blonde dug into the lining of his coat. He held out a handful of individually wrapped hard candies.
“He’s a kid, Miss Swift. Don’t be too harsh on him.”
“You’re being too soft. He could get hurt. Or worse.”
“Nah. He won’t.”
“How do you know that?”
“I don’t. What I do know is the saying ‘one ship’s cabin boy is another ship’s captain’.”
“What does a silly figure of speech have to do with this?”
“It means that you shouldn’t think the boy is weak and feeble. Sheldon’s given you no reason to think such a thing. That saying is made for you of all people, Miss Swift. Change ‘cabin boy’ to maid and ‘captain’ to ship’s cook. Think about it. Yer no halfwit.”
The brunette frowned, her brows knitting together. Her unflinching lips pursed tightly.
“I’ll assume that is a compliment. Shouldn’t you discipline your crew, Captain?”
“What for?”
“They’re gambling in front of a child.”
“He’s not playing. He’s watching.” The blonde shrugged his shoulders.
“I rest my case. You’re too soft.”
He laughed loudly. He wanted to pinch her cheek. She was captivating like the ocean.
“No one has EVER described me as ‘soft’. The cheek of you, Miss Swift.”
“You are still young, there is time yet, Mister Bayne.” Her palm patted his cheek.
“That may be the most backhanded compliment you have ever given me, Miss Swift.”
He leaned in close to her, his grinning lips inches from kissing her on the cheek. Sandra’s heart raced as fast as his ship had when fleeing from the Duchess’s canons.
“If my crew prevents you from sleeping, inform me immediately. Then I’ll discipline them.” He stepped back and turned his gaze from her doe-eyes to the stillness of the harbour. The ex-maid moved her hand to hitch a skirt she wasn’t wearing before bowing her head. When the blonde snickered in acknowledgement, Sandra turned to leave.
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