Rogue Wave (The Rogue Wave Series Book 1), page 7
Before it slipped away, she grabbed it and shoved the wood in the side of the hull with far more strength this time. She felt part of the wood splinter off and dig painfully deep in her hand. Wincing, she swung the club against the wedge. She slammed it again, this time the water ceased to spray out. She turned; the other sailors were busy threading a pitch-soaked rope in another leak that had formed. She looked at her hand. It was turning an angry red; the dark outline of a thick, long shard of wood, was deep under the skin. It had dug in the inside of her hand just below her fingers, where her blisters had only recently finished healing.
“Doc! Doc! It’s Eddie! A wave threw him against the railing, his head is cut bad!” A sailor, Gordy if Catherine remembered right, was rushing in down the stairs, dragging an unconscious Eddie along beside him. Gordy’s arm was around his waist, the other holding Eddie’s arm around his shoulders to try and keep him upright. If it were not for the slow rise and fall of his chest, she would have thought the sailor dead. His pale face and the front of his shirt were covered in blood.
Doc rushed over to the sailors that had just come down. They slowly lowered Eddie onto a small wooden crate so he would not be resting in the water.
“How is the Captain and the rest of the crew holding up?” Doc asked, as he worked on his patient. It felt like they had been in the brutal clutches of the storm for over an hour already.
“Alright, a couple of us have a few minor cuts and bruises, but nothing bad. Captain has to be tiring, the wheel is pulling mighty hard. The waves are some of the highest I have seen.” Gordy looked back at Eddie, “Will he be alright?”
“Aye, the cut was not as deep as you originally thought, most of the blood was coming from the nose, it is slowing now.” Doc said, dabbing a wet cloth against the cut on Eddie’s forehead. “He will be unconscious for a bit and will have a mighty fierce headache when he wakes, but he will do.”
“I best get back up there.” Gordy turned, heading back up the stairs.
Catherine stood rooted to the spot. Seeing Eddie so pale, so silent and still, had frightened her even more. He just laid there, his head turned to the side, eyes closed. She found it hard to reconcile his current sate with the one he was in a few days before. His smile wide, foot stomping along to the tune he played on his violin.
Gordy’s words echoed in her mind, “the Captain has to be tiring…” What if he could not keep a firm grip on the helm? What if he became too exhausted to hold on any longer? Instinctively, Catherine spun around and rushed up the stairs. She heard Benjamin’s desperate yells, begging her to stop, that it was too dangerous. She had to do something. She could not stay down there, plugging holes when they needed more help on deck.
The hatch flew open, the slippery, wet deck made her grab hold of the opening as she gained her footing. The ship was pitching and rolling beneath her. She held a hand above her eyes, squinting against the wind and heavy rain that almost stung as it hit her. One of the sails seemed to be moving far more than the others, the lower corner of it whipping around with a blur. The rigging was barely holding it. Catherine saw that one of the belaying pins had almost completely come out. She tried running to it, the hounding rain and wind made it near impossible to do more than a slow walk.
The Captain’s voice was barely audible in the storm. He was probably telling her to go back down below, but she could not do that. She had to do what she could to help. It would be far more dangerous if the sail was destroyed and near impossible to maneuver out of the storm. It was already difficult enough.
Catherine managed to reach the belaying pin that was lose and threatening to break free. She grabbed for it as it swung out, she held tight as it pulled and whipped her arms. The Captain yelled again, she turned her head just enough to see him through the storm that raged about them.
“Keep it!” The Captain bellowed. It was hard to hear over the thundering noises around them. She was not sure if she had heard him right, the look on his face was a mixture of fear and anger.
Catherine turned back, desperately trying to hold on and to put the pin back in. It was yanking her hands and arms. The sliver of wood was still in her hand, she was trying not think of how terrible it would look or feel after. Ignoring the increasingly searing pain and steady flow of blood; she had to get the pin back in.
The Captain shouted again, even over the roaring of the storm she could hear the desperation in his voice, “Allen!” He yelled.
Catherine looked out at the raging sea, fearful as the ship suddenly tilted, a wave crashing over her. She held on, not just so she would not lose her grip on the belaying pin but so she would not be tossed into the ocean’s depths. The ship tilted back, she felt herself slide on the fresh sea water that ran over the wooden planks. It was too late, her hands slipped from the metal. The wind grabbed hold of the pin, throwing it back at her with furry. She felt a bursting pain in her head as she fell to the hard deck, seeing nothing but black and feeling the water rush over her helpless form.
Lucas saw the water rise. The wave swept over Eddie, knocking him to the ground and throwing him against the railing. At first he feared his friend had been thrown out to sea. As the water on the deck ran off, Lucas spotted Eddie, laying there, blood flowing from his head. He yelled for Gordy, who was nearby, to take him to Doc. Lucas felt the pull from the wheel, his shoulders, back and arms were tight. Despite the drenching rain and waves, his muscles felt as if he were on fire. He had extraordinarily little control over the large brig. He stood with his legs spread steadily apart, keeping his balance as the ship bucked and tilted.
From the corner of his eye, he caught movement coming from the hatch. Gordy had already come back up from taking Eddie below. Who would be coming out? Most unseasoned sailors were too frightened to come above deck during their first storms and did not mind when he ordered them to stay below, though most of them would never admit it openly. It might be Benjamin. If something had gone wrong, or Eddie had taken a turn for the worse, Benjamin would be the one to come alert him or Alaric. Though Benjamin was only seventeen, he had proved himself time and again and had earned his and Alaric’s respect.
The figure stepped from the opening of the hatch, Lucas felt the blood run from his face. Of all the sailors below, he had not expected Allen. What was the lad thinking? He had seen the terror on Allen’s face when the boy had realized they were headed into a storm. What would possibly make the boy come up now?
He called to Allen, he yelled louder. If the lad heard him, he made no move to show it. A gust of wind hit the ship and Lucas focused on the helm, he had to right the brig. He knew they had already been thrown off course, but he had to stay as true to it as he could. They could not afford to lose more than a few days.
Lucas looked back at Allen; the boy’s small figure was being pelted by the hounding rain. He was headed for the belaying pins. They were loose but Lucas could not tell through the storm if a rope had snapped, come loose, or if it had to do with the pins. He looked for Ol’ Shorty or Alaric, someone to get the boy below deck. They were struggling with rigging further up the deck and were too far to shout commands to through the raging wind.
The waves roared, causing the brig to moan in protest as it heaved the ship over the water. Allen had a hold of a belaying pin. He knew the lad would not be able to hold on and he was far too close to the railing. If a wave hit, he would be thrown from the deck and into the black waters below. He tried again, competing with the thundering wind and waves.
“Leave it!” Lucas screamed, praying the young sailor could hear him.
He saw Allen turn to him, blood running down his arm. A wave came up, heading for the small figure. Rage and fear consumed him. Why did Allen disobey? This mistake could cost the boy his life. Lucas gripped the wheel harder, helpless as the scene unfolded in front of him. If he let go of the wheel he would be risking his entire crew. The Trinity could be hit by a wave that could flip and destroy the entire ship.
He watched as the belaying pin flew back and hit Allen hard across the head. The boy’s limp and bloody body fell to the deck. Lucas felt himself sway, he saw Alaric, his eyes wide.
Alaric rushed to the lad. Lucas held his breath, a blow to the head like that could have killed him. Alaric bent down next to him, he glanced up at Lucas and nodded. Relief flooded through him and he blew out a long breath. He looked about the ship’s deck, searching for the other crew members that were braving the storm with him. They were all there, he just prayed there would be no more incidents before they reached the end of the storm.
Alaric picked Allen up, his limp arms falling to the side. He knew Doc would care for the boy. Lucas had no idea why the boy’s arm was bleeding, he assumed the rope must have cut through his soft hands. They now were slightly tougher than they were when he first joined the crew but still nowhere near tough enough to hold up against wet rope ripping through the wind.
Several hours later, as the storm ended, Lucas felt as if his hands had been welded to the helm. He had managed to get his crew through safely. He slowly peeled them off, straightening and bending his fingers. His whole body ached and was as stiff as the wood planks that made up the ship. He stretched and twisted to the side. His clothes were soaked through. He wanted to check on Eddie and Allen and make sure all was well.
First, he needed to change or he would find himself a patient of Doc’s, fighting a fever. The crew was just as exhausted and hungry as he was, he knew Cook was probably already working on a broth to strengthen the men up. They would need to head to a nearby island to make proper repairs and let the men rest for a few hours before continuing. He needed to double check their coordinates as well. Chances were, the storm blew them a ways off course.
He opened the hatch to his cabin and went straight to his chest. Quickly, he tore off the soaked shirt that clung to his tired muscles. Digging around for a new shirt and pants, he eventually found some in the deep chest and pulled them on. Dressed and drier, he strode straight to Doc’s. When he knocked on the solid door, it opened a crack.
“Shhh our young sailor is resting.” There was a slight twinkle in Doc’s eyes.
“Him and Eddie are both doing well then?” He asked nervously. Doc was not acting quite himself, though he seemed pleased.
“Oh aye, Eddie regained consciousness quicker than I had expected. He is resting in his hammock. A slight headache and a scratch on the side of his head but not bad. It looked far worse than it really was.” Doc smiled, crossing his arms across his chest, rocking back on his heels
“And Allen, how’s the lad?” Lucas asked, his eyebrow raised.
“Oh, just fine, resting as well.” He paused, looking a bit more serious. “Needed a bandage on the forehead, just where the hair begins and had a rather bad splinter that tore through the hand. All in all though, doing mighty fine and is a brave patient. I expect her to be up and about within a day or two.” Doc grinned, his eyes twinkling.
“That’s great news, the belaying pin hit…” Lucas’s face fell. “Her?” He blinked a couple times, running a hand over his face. He could not have possibly heard Doc correctly. “What do you mean, her?” His voice was low and serious.
Doc held up his hands, looking not as pleased, but still held a small hint of a smile. “Capt’n she is resting, she is doing just fine but she did take a fierce blow to the head and her hand will be very sore for a few days.” Doc was trying to reason with the Captain and attempt to calm him a bit, but the look on the Captain’s face was as stormy as the sea the night before.
Lucas clenched his jaw, “Let me in, Doc.” He blew out a breath, he knew he was tired, angry, and shocked. He did not mean to take it out on his friend. “Please.” He softened a bit.
Doc relented. Lucas slowly walked in the room. A white sheet had been hung up to give the injured sailor some privacy. Lucas, hand trembling, moved aside the divider. He had been expecting to see Allen’s friendly face when he came to see the Doc, instead he now came face to face with a young woman.
Her blonde hair spilled over her shoulders, her eyes were filled with a mixture of fear and something he could not quite describe. He knew he must look a fool, standing there, staring like a young buck. He scratched his chin, looking away for a moment to clear his mind. He looked back at the girl that had managed to board his ship, work as hard as the rest of his crew and now sat there, staring back at him. She bit her lip, waiting for him to say something.
How had he been so blind? One eyebrow raised, “I suppose I cannot very well call you Allen anymore.” He could not believe she had fooled his entire crew and him.
The girl blushed and looked down at her hands. She was resting in the hammock Doc kept strung up in case anyone became ill or injured. He noticed she looked quite a bit older than the fourteen years she had claimed.
“My real name is Catherine.” She glanced up and he noted her eyes had flecks of gold in them, he had never noticed that before either. There was a bandage on her forehead and on her hand. Even though it pained her, she looked as if she was perfectly content and even glowing.
Lucas tapped the side of his leg with his fingers, unsure of how to respond. “Welcome aboard The Trinity, Miss Catherine.” He bowed slightly.
“Thank you, Captain.” She was looking at her hands, a pink hue in her cheeks.
“Come Captain, let us allow the lass to rest.” The Doc smiled at Catherine, placing a hand on the Captain’s back. Lucas turned, he had all but forgotten about the Doc.
“Of course.” Lucas cleared his throat. “When Doc says you can get up and move around again, you will be moved into my cabin, you will be safe in there and will not be having to sleep amongst the men.” He turned to leave.
Catherine leapt up angrily. The movement made her head feel as if it would burst, she swayed and closed her eyes against the pain. She felt strong arms suddenly wrap around her. Her eyes fluttered open, locking onto fierce grey ones. Lucas clenched his jaw and sat her on the hammock.
He heard Doc shuffle behind them, “Catherine, unfortunately I have to quite agree with the Captain. Now that the crew knows you are a young woman, it would be best if you stayed in the Captain’s cabin. Of course, you are welcome to come keep me company and I am sure Cook would not object to you helping him still as well.” Doc smiled down at her. Catherine returned his smile before looking back at the Captain. Her eyes were guarded.
Lucas scowled, not entirely sure how he felt about her helping out on the ship anymore. He trusted most of his crew and knew they would not harm her but there were a few other new recruits he did not know well enough to feel sure they would keep their eyes or hands to themselves. His hands balled into fists at the thought. “You are to be accompanied by Doc, Cook, Ol’ Shorty, Alaric or myself at all times. I trust the crew will behave but I will not take any risks.” He stared at Catherine for a moment before turning and leaving.
Lucas headed straight for his cabin, shocked over the woman that now rested in Doc’s surgery. Walking over to the trunk that held the maps, he kicked it open. Flipping through them, he found the one he needed. He looked on the map, searching for where he suspected they might be. If he was correct, there was an island not too far from them. Tapping his finger on the location a couple times, before rolling it up and throwing it back in the trunk. He grabbed his sextant and headed to the deck to give the orders to anchor at the island once they reached it.
As he walked on deck, many sailors stopped and stared at him, most of them wearing smirks and grins. He knew the crew was aware of what had transpired. He stepped up to the railing, doing his best to ignore his crew.
“Alright scoundrels, get back to it.” Alaric yelled, grinning at the crew before leaning up against the railing next to his friend. His shout was quickly echoed by Benjamin, earning him cuff on the head by one of the older sailors.
“She’s a bonny thing, wouldn’t you agree, Luke?” Alaric was leaning back against the railing, his feet were leisurely draped over one another. Lucas could feel his friend staring at him, searching his face for any trace of interest in the little chit below decks. He did not miss the smile in his voice. Lucas continued to work with his sextant, pretending he did not hear his first mate’s remark. “She’d make a mighty fine wife someday, don’t you think?” Alaric was picking at his old vest absently.
Lucas groaned, “How would I know?” He did indeed think she was possibly one of the most beautiful woman he had seen in a long while and he was sure she would make a good wife but he would never admit it to Alaric. Especially when his friend was trying to rile him into confessing it.
“Well, if you are not at all interested and are not willing to find out what kind of a woman she is,” Alaric paused dramatically and pushed himself off the railing. He stepped forward, staring at the hatch that led to where the very woman sat. “I suppose I might as well get to know her better.” He turned to glance at Lucas, winking and flashing a smile at him.
Lucas swung around, facing his friend. “You bloody will not.” Alaric roared with laughter. Lucas shook his head, turning back to the blue waters, he did not know exactly how he felt about Catherine, he was still getting over the shock of all of it.
“Not to worry, your lass is safe from me.” Alaric teased, then turned serious. “What are you planning on doing with her?”
Lucas lowered the sextant, he had found his coordinates long ago, he had only been using it as a distraction from Alaric’s persistent teasing. He turned and ran his hand over the back of his neck. “I will pay for passage for her on a passenger ship at the next port to take her back. I cannot have her on board the ship, she would become a distraction to the men. Not to mention her family must be looking for her. It was bad enough when we thought her a younger runaway boy.” He waved a hand in the air exasperated. “If it gets out that she was aboard The Trinity, her reputation will be ruined. Her family is much more likely to claim I kidnapped her as well, if they find out. We cannot risk any of it, as much for her sake as ours.” He blew out a breath. “I trust most of the crew but there are still some recruits we do not know well. Doc already knows but, she will need to be accompanied by one of us, at all times.” He stood up straighter and without looking at his friend. “She will be staying in my cabin; I will not have her sleeping in the same room as the rest of men.” Lucas felt the grin that spread across Alaric’s face.
