“I bet it is,” I said. “Perhaps we can look into that someday.”
O’Doule came back to the beach with a giant basket of fruit, and I rushed over to take it from him. He tried to protest, but I was much larger, and there was no shame in a man knowing his limits.
"You just hauled it all the way down the path, let me help," I said, taking the basket down to the rowboat. I joined him back on the beach, as we looked to the sunset, and the slight wispy clouds to the north.
"Should be fine sailing for several days, I think,” he said.
"Good. We aren't in a hurry, but it's always best to get ahead of things. Impressing our new clients by having their shipments a bit early is likely a good thing."
"Aye, 'tis true," O'Doule agreed. Then he regarded me thoughtfully. "You know, Captain, having a fairly regular schedule from Crossly Port to Parrinport might help us in a few ways."
"How’s that?"
"It would create a reasonably reliable schedule for transporting the raw goods, spices, and whatnot," he said. “But running Miss Flora to her ladies’ shop every few weeks is a good, respectable task."
I nodded, stroking my slight scruff of beard thoughtfully. "You're right. I've noticed that a few of the traders would like to be apprised of the timelines. Running a sweet lass to the beach for supplies, and to the shops to sell her wares… That does sound wholesome indeed."
"Since we’re no longer runnin’ up the black flag, perhaps we can develop our new reputation around our dependability?" O'Doule suggested.
I couldn't help laughing. "Aye, that sounds fearsome indeed."
He shot me a flat stare with his lips pressed together that suggested I was behaving like a tiresome child.
"Your line of thinking is absolutely correct, but I'm still going to joke about it," I chuckled.
"Fair enough," he shrugged. "The boys don't much care between pirating or straight work, as long as they have food and a home, but you know they prefer keeping safe." He looked at me with a kind smile. "Twas good of you to take the young lads on board."
I shrugged, watching Teeth and Davy on their knees in the sand. They were crawling around, obeying Flora’s every command as they gathered what she needed.
"I don't know how a man's to get any experience if nobody gives him a first chance," I said. "They’re good boys. Certainly rough around the edges, but over the past few years they've proven themselves."
"That they have," O’Doule agreed. "And if you'll forgive me saying it, Captain, I'd rather not have them risking jail or worse with the thieving anymore."
"Aye. That's the main reason I knew it was time to shift gears," I nodded. "Not to mention that you and McGee are getting up in years," I winked.
"Foul bugger," he muttered under his breath. But the spark in his eye told me that my friend and crewmate would always forgive my sass.
~ Chapter 13 ~ Flora ~
* On the way to Tegarren Point *
It was fascinating that I was nearly always aware of the time of day, but couldn't really keep track of how many days had passed. The angle of the sun told me whether I should hurry up and finish the section of sewing I was working on so that I could go help with supper. The tiny bit of daylight creeping through the Captain's bedroom window told me that it was time to jump up, dress, and head down to the galley to start breakfast.
I was incredibly proud that I had made myself a new dress that I could pull on and off myself, with no constricting buttons down the back. It was not fashionable, in a silvery gray like the soft light of dawn. It was not particularly flattering. It was simply a dress for working comfortably and living on this ship.
Never in my life would I have believed that I would jump up in the morning, eager to be the first person working. There was something so calming about the ritual of scrubbing the table, stoking the fire, putting the kettle on, and starting the morning before the men awoke.
Back at home, nothing I ever did was good enough. The food I cooked was too bland, dinner was too slow, and somehow I never laid anything out on the plate properly. My sewing work was not fast enough, and my father would point out errors that did not exist.
Here on the Fortune, the men complimented me on my cooking every single day. Even when Teeth didn't like it, he appreciated trying something new.
Larry had handed all of the sail work and sewing over to me. I created patterns for shirts for the men, using an old one for a template, and my memory of my mother's projects. Luckily, Davy and Teeth were approximately the same size, though Teeth was shorter, as were O'Doule and McGee. Larry and the Captain were a similar width, though Larry was even taller. So I was able to make do with three main patterns, saving a lot of time. I would probably be able to present them all with their new shirts in about a week.
McGee said that he would be starting supper this evening, since he was finished with his barrel repairs early. That gave me extra time to finish the cuff of a shirt sleeve.
It was so peaceful working away steadily, occasionally looking out the tiny window to see the rolling sea and the expansive sky. The world seemed so much bigger out here. It was a beautiful feeling.
A quick, sharp yell cut through the peaceful lapping of the waves against the hull.