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Authors: Michele Sinclair
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Peter?”
Aimee stopped at the top of the stairs to answer the question. “Because that is his
Christian name. And am I correct to believe that yours is—Octavius or Augustus?”
Gus grunted, refusing to answer, and marched around her before Petey could ask another
question. “This way, miss,” Gus grunted. “Follow me and I’ll take ye back to Petey’s
and mine’s quarters without anyone seein’ ye. Our place is cramped, but it’s a sight
better than the hold.”
Anyplace is a sight better than the hold , Aimee thought to herself as she followed his large but surprisingly nimble body
through a narrow hall and up another staircase. She was just about to ask if he was
lost, when they went down a few steps and into a very small but livable room containing
two bunks that consumed most of the space.
Gus lit a lantern and hung it on a nail protruding from the wall across from the beds.
When he turned around, he saw Petey repeatedly making the sign of the cross. Gus glanced
in the direction that was causing Petey such alarm and immediately joined him in prayer.
Below, in the hold, the room had been dark and barely lit. Gus could not deny that
Petey had captured a girl and that she looked to be fairly pretty. It was hard to
miss the long blond hair and large green eyes, but now, in the lamplight, they could
truly see the damage they had inflicted two days ago.
Gus immediately thrust a small wooden stool, nestled in the corner, toward her. “Here,
miss. Uh, please sit down.”
Aimee turned and smiled at him as if he had given her a throne and not the shiner
radiating underneath her left eye.
Feeling left out, Petey wanted to give Aimee something as well. “Is there somethin’
else ya need, miss? Anythin’ at all, just name it and I’ll get it for ya.”
Aimee’s eyes lightened to the color of soft grass as she watched a familiar look of
infatuation overtake their expressions. She almost thought to say something to dismiss
any notions they may have, but decided against it. Instead, she would for once follow
Millie’s suggestion and use their fascination to her advantage. She just wished she
knew how.
Aimee took a deep breath. What would Jennelle tell me to do? she pondered. She would tell me to figure out what I wanted most and ask for that . “Peter, I know this is unlikely, but by chance are there any women’s clothes aboard—such
as a dress, skirt—anything?”
Gus slapped his hands together and grinned, revealing a missing bottom tooth. “Aye,
there is some female clothes in the chief mate’s cabin.” He poked his friend in the
shoulder with his elbow. “Remember, Petey? Remember that old gal Collins brought on
board a couple of runs back? She left in such a hurry she forgot a whole trunk of
her stuff. I’ll go get it.”
Petey jumped in front of the small opening, blocking his friend’s path. “Eh, she asked me to get the clothes. Not ya. I’ll go get ’em.” Petey paused just as he was about to exit. “If ya don’t mind me asking,
miss, what’s yer name?”
“You may call me Aimee.”
Petey’s face broke into a large grin that showcased his rotten teeth. “That’s a pretty
name you have there, miss.”
Gus kicked him and threatened, “If ye don’t get the clothes, I’m gonna fetch ’em.”
An hour later, Aimee had fallen asleep on one of the beds, waiting on Petey and Gus
to return with some clothes. The sound of heavy footsteps approaching, followed by
two more sets of nervous clomps, returned her to consciousness. Peter and Gus had
finally returned—but not alone.
Feigning sleep, she tried to assess the newcomer entering the room, through thin slits
as she barely opened her eyes. The man was slightly taller than Gus and younger, with
bulging shoulders and a chest that matched his muscular arms and thighs. He reminded
her of a lion, with his thick brown eyebrows and mass of tawny hair unevenly
Aimee stopped at the top of the stairs to answer the question. “Because that is his
Christian name. And am I correct to believe that yours is—Octavius or Augustus?”
Gus grunted, refusing to answer, and marched around her before Petey could ask another
question. “This way, miss,” Gus grunted. “Follow me and I’ll take ye back to Petey’s
and mine’s quarters without anyone seein’ ye. Our place is cramped, but it’s a sight
better than the hold.”
Anyplace is a sight better than the hold , Aimee thought to herself as she followed his large but surprisingly nimble body
through a narrow hall and up another staircase. She was just about to ask if he was
lost, when they went down a few steps and into a very small but livable room containing
two bunks that consumed most of the space.
Gus lit a lantern and hung it on a nail protruding from the wall across from the beds.
When he turned around, he saw Petey repeatedly making the sign of the cross. Gus glanced
in the direction that was causing Petey such alarm and immediately joined him in prayer.
Below, in the hold, the room had been dark and barely lit. Gus could not deny that
Petey had captured a girl and that she looked to be fairly pretty. It was hard to
miss the long blond hair and large green eyes, but now, in the lamplight, they could
truly see the damage they had inflicted two days ago.
Gus immediately thrust a small wooden stool, nestled in the corner, toward her. “Here,
miss. Uh, please sit down.”
Aimee turned and smiled at him as if he had given her a throne and not the shiner
radiating underneath her left eye.
Feeling left out, Petey wanted to give Aimee something as well. “Is there somethin’
else ya need, miss? Anythin’ at all, just name it and I’ll get it for ya.”
Aimee’s eyes lightened to the color of soft grass as she watched a familiar look of
infatuation overtake their expressions. She almost thought to say something to dismiss
any notions they may have, but decided against it. Instead, she would for once follow
Millie’s suggestion and use their fascination to her advantage. She just wished she
knew how.
Aimee took a deep breath. What would Jennelle tell me to do? she pondered. She would tell me to figure out what I wanted most and ask for that . “Peter, I know this is unlikely, but by chance are there any women’s clothes aboard—such
as a dress, skirt—anything?”
Gus slapped his hands together and grinned, revealing a missing bottom tooth. “Aye,
there is some female clothes in the chief mate’s cabin.” He poked his friend in the
shoulder with his elbow. “Remember, Petey? Remember that old gal Collins brought on
board a couple of runs back? She left in such a hurry she forgot a whole trunk of
her stuff. I’ll go get it.”
Petey jumped in front of the small opening, blocking his friend’s path. “Eh, she asked me to get the clothes. Not ya. I’ll go get ’em.” Petey paused just as he was about to exit. “If ya don’t mind me asking,
miss, what’s yer name?”
“You may call me Aimee.”
Petey’s face broke into a large grin that showcased his rotten teeth. “That’s a pretty
name you have there, miss.”
Gus kicked him and threatened, “If ye don’t get the clothes, I’m gonna fetch ’em.”
An hour later, Aimee had fallen asleep on one of the beds, waiting on Petey and Gus
to return with some clothes. The sound of heavy footsteps approaching, followed by
two more sets of nervous clomps, returned her to consciousness. Peter and Gus had
finally returned—but not alone.
Feigning sleep, she tried to assess the newcomer entering the room, through thin slits
as she barely opened her eyes. The man was slightly taller than Gus and younger, with
bulging shoulders and a chest that matched his muscular arms and thighs. He reminded
her of a lion, with his thick brown eyebrows and mass of tawny hair unevenly
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