Her mouth opened in a terrified little O.
“I’ll be down there with you in just a few minutes,” I said quickly. “Please, Maggie, I can’t have you freezing to bits up here.”
She nodded slowly. “All right.”
I kissed her cheek swiftly. “That’s my girl.”
Grabbing my coat, I tore out the door, meeting Dwyer in the chart-room. Sure enough, the compass, and the stars we could see far to the west, showed that we had somehow sailed much too far north.
I set us back on course, then gave Dwyer my coat. “I’ll send someone up to relieve you in a spell,” I said.
“Aye, Cap’n.”
I raced down to the bunkroom. Since it was a fairly small enclosure, the body heat and breathing of the men plus a few lanterns heated the room fairly quickly.
When I got there, I saw that the tiny porthole had been stuffed full of old rags and packing material, and two lanterns were on the floor below the hammocks.
Maggie saw me staring. “Heat rises, Captain. With lanterns on the ground, it will rise up to warm people as they sleep. Also, heat escapes more easily through glass, so I asked Willy to block the window. It’s how we used to save on firewood in the dead of winter.”
“She’s absolutely right,” Willy agreed, “I’m surprised I didn’t think of it myself.”
Taking Maggie’s hand, I led her to the empty hammock, grabbing an extra blanket from the pile. “Dobbs, you’ll relieve Dwyer in half an hour.”
“Aye, Cap’n.”
“Maggie, you’ll get in the hammock with me, so that I can keep you warm.”
There weren’t many things I truly hated in this world, but the terror in her eyes was something I would never forget.
“Just as a test,” I said quickly. “We’ll try it for a few moments, and if you don’t like it, I’ll help you climb out.”
She took a step closer, her little white teeth sinking into her bottom lip.
“It’s not like being locked in the cellar, or a crate,” I said softly. “You are in complete control, Maggie. All you have to do is say the word, and I’ll help you out. I promise.”
She took another step closer.
“I said that I’d take care of you. Keeping you warm is part of that. I’m sorry that we ended up a bit too far north, but after what looks to be a terrible patch of wind for the next hour, we’ll be fine.”
At that moment the ship began to rock, as a whistling wind tore across the deck over our heads.
I spread the blanket over the hammock then swung in, leaning toward Maggie as I held out my hand. With great relief, she took it, as I helped her jump in beside me. I wrapped her in my arms, as well as the blanket.
“Is everyone warm enough?” I asked.
A mumbled chorus of “Yes” and “Aye” circled the room.
As I snuggled Maggie tightly against me, I felt her relax slightly, and her teeth stopped chattering. “I’m sorry it’s so close in here,” I whispered against her ear. “How do you feel, sweet girl?”
“I think I’m all right,” she said, her voice soft and sweet. “You’re right. Knowing that I can get out at any second really does help.”
My fingers tangled in the back of her hair. “That’s my girl.”
I suddenly felt her tremble again. “Are you still cold? I can get another blanket if you need–”
“No,” she whispered, shaking her head against my chest. “I’m sorry, that shiver was... something else.”
It took me a blink to realize what she meant. I positively loved that being in my arms excited her this much.