Rogue Wave (The Rogue Wave Series Book 1), page 9
The Captain’s response was far different. She was not sure if it would have just been easier if he had acted with the anger she had expected. Instead he had walked in and pulled back the curtain, stopping dead. His eyes roamed her body, making her feel as if she did not have a stitch of clothing on. She tried her best not to squirm under his stunned gaze. He had just stood there, his mouth opened slightly before snapping shut again. She would have laughed at the situation had she not been so afraid of what his reaction would be.
When the Captain had told her she would be accompanied by one of his chosen men or himself at all times, that she would not be doing the work on the ship anymore she was furious. Catherine was enjoying the work and was getting rather good at most the tasks. For once in her life, she felt accomplished and proud of her abilities. She was mortified at the fact he was going to have her stay in his cabin. What would the crew begin to think?
Angrily, Catherine had stood up, meaning to confront the Captain about his plans and tell him just what she thought about them. Instead, she had been blinded by pain and dizziness, and willed herself not to dare collapse in front of the Captain. Instead, a pair of strong arms had coiled around her and lifted her onto the hammock as if she weighed no more than a child. She felt herself melt into the warmth of the body holding her. The dizziness subsided as she was set down. When she had realized it had been the Captain holding her, she had felt sure both the Captain and the Doc could hear the pounding of her heart.
“How’s our patient doing, Doc?” Benjamin walked in with another bowl of steaming broth. He sat it down on the table next to Catherine’s hammock. He leaned up against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest. He grinned at Catherine. “Looks like you have a bit more color, now. You must be feeling better.”
Catherine smiled and nodded, “My head is feeling a bit better now, my hand though,” she lifted her bandaged hand, “it is now throbbing something fierce, but at least I will now have a story to tell.” She laughed, she had just been thinking of what kind of reactions she would get from her friends back home. She was sure some of the ladies would faint. Especially Lady Glenville, she was always making a scene at the parties and balls. She never went anywhere without her smelling salts. Catherine was sure she held the record for causing the plump, old women to have her fits.
“I imagine you will, we all will. You are the lass that fooled an entire privateer ship into believing you were a lad. Holding the disguise for several days, working, eating and sleeping like one of the men.” Benjamin chuckled, waving his hand in the air dramatically. “Not to mention, braving a storm that was one of the fiercest we have seen.”
He glanced at Doc, sitting at his small desk, flipping through one of his books. “What made you leap on deck in the storm in the first place? One minute you were standing there, looking pale at the sight of Eddie, next thing I saw you were running up the stairs. I tried calling after you to come back.” Benjamin looked curiously at Catherine who now had pink cheeks.
“I just thought, maybe somehow I could help.” Catherine shrugged twisting her hands. “Eddie was hurt, so they were one man short on deck and well, when Gordy said the Captain was tiring, I could not just stand there anymore and do nothing,” She loudly let the words tumble out. “I was afraid for the Captain, afraid for the crew. I saw the belaying pin and the sail, I knew that it would only make it that much harder on him to steer the ship if the sail was loose or torn.” Catherine slowly lifted her gaze to Doc then Benjamin.
Doc had a knowing look on his face, “That was very brave of you, lass and thoughtful. The Captain has been through many battles and storms, he is a strong and smart man, you needn’t have any fear for him.”
Benjamin shook his head, “and here I was, thinking I had a chance.” He placed a hand over his chest, feigning heartbreak. Benjamin chuckled and winked at Catherine, ducking out of the hatch before Doc could scold him for his teasing.
“We best get some rest, Lass. I am sure Captain is sailing us to an island to make proper repairs and you will not want to miss it. The islands around here have many beauties.” Doc walked over, checking her head and hand. Catherine gladly leaned back in the hammock, she had now begun to think of them as rather comfortable. Though she certainly had not thought so the first time she had slept in her’s in the sleeping quarters. She nearly fell out several times that night.
The ship rocked and bucked; wave after wave pounded the crew. She could hear their screams as they were swept from the deck. She looked to the helm where the Captain stood, he was soaked through, steering the ship through the wind and rain for hours. He would not be able to go much longer, no man could. She saw the wave come over him. The foaming water pulled him loose from the helm and dragged him down. Catherine ran, she tried to scream but not a sound would come out. She could not let him be taken by the enraged sea. She reached the railing ready to throw a rope to him. The wind was too strong, the rope too short, it would not reach him. They locked eyes as his disappeared under the blackness. Catherine sobbed, she could not save the crew and could not save her Captain.
“Catherine, you are alright. Catherine, wake up.” A deep husky voice reached her ears. She blinked a couple times, clearing the blurry sleep from her eyes.
“Oh, Captain, I am sorry. I am awake.” She looked around, avoiding his face “Where is Doc?”
“He is on deck, readying to go ashore, we reached a small island. The men need to rest and we need to make repairs. Are you alright? Does your head hurt?” He gestured to the bandage. “Would you like me to fetch Doc?”
“Oh no, it is alright, I am quite fine. Thank you.” She quickly wiped a single tear from her cheek, hoping he had not noticed. She realized she was far more upset about the dream then she had thought. “We are anchored then? Doc said the islands around here are quite a sight.” She began to stand slowly, afraid of getting dizzy again. Captain quickly reached his hand out again, gently grabbing hold of her elbow. “I think I’ve got it, thank you.” He let go, letting his hand drop to his side, still looking a bit cautious. Catherine could still feel the heat on her arm from where his hand had been.
“Aye, alright then, after you.” The Captain gestured towards the hatch, his eyes not leaving her.
Catherine carefully stepped out of the room and up through the hatch. The bright sun blinded her as she emerged. Squinting, she placed her bandaged hand just above her eyes, adjusting to the light. The Captain cleared his throat behind her. Catherine hurried forward on the deck, she looked out over the island.
Her breath caught; she had never seen anything quite so beautiful. The lush green trees and bushes sat behind the white beach. Flowers bloomed all around in bright reds, oranges, yellows and purples. Birds fluttered about, chirping and singing as they danced between the leaves.
“What do you think?” She could hear the smile in the Captain’s voice.
“I’ve never seen anything like it. It is beautiful.” At a loss for words, she glanced up at the Captain who was now standing beside her, watching her. She quickly looked back at the island. Men were loading crates and supplies onto small boats.
“Go ahead and climb down into one of the skiffs, then we will go ashore. There is something I would like to show you.” The Captain winked causing Catherine’s breath to hitch. Speechless, she nodded in reply. The Captain gripped her elbow as she slowly stepped onto the ladder and worked her way down the hull of the ship. When she neared the bottom, one of the sailors helped her into the wobbly boat. The Captain stepped into the skiff, causing it to bob with his weight. Catherine reached out, grabbing his arm for support as she sat down. The sailor picked up the oars and rowed them quickly to the shore. The waves gently lapped against the small boat.
The Captain hopped out as they reached the beach, his boots splashing in the water. He reached his hand out. Catherine hesitated only a moment. She placed her hand in his and did not dare look up at him for fear he would see how much he affected her. “Come, you do not mind walking a bit through the trees, do you? There is a trail, not a well-worn one but it will do.” He asked as she slipped her hand from his.
“Not at all, I would love to see more of the island.” She looked around, amazed at all the colors and just how soft and white the sand was. It felt strange to be on solid ground, she was used to the sway and roll of the ship.
“Alright, right this way.” Beaming down at her, he gestured for her to follow him. As they entered the thick jungle, he kept glancing back making sure she was following close behind.
The jungle was lush, filled with flitting birds of various sizes and colors. Lizards and insects scurried about the trees and the ground. Soft sand made up the narrow path that led the way. Catherine was careful not to trip over the roots and branches that stuck out along the trail.
“I take it you have been to this island before?” Catherine asked curiously.
“Aye, a few times. In truth, even if we did not need to repair the ship, we more than likely would have made the stop.” The Captain spoke, glancing over his shoulder.
“Where are we going?” Catherine trusted the Captain entirely, but this was the first time they had been completely alone, even on the ship, there was always someone close by.
“Do not fret. I promise you; you will love what I have to show you. Come, we are close.”
They continued on, stumbling over the roots. Massive palm trees dotted the island. They followed the trail as it twisted through the towering trees and large rocks. At the end of the trail, roared a waterfall raining down into a shimmering pool of water that was almost completely clear. She had read about waterfalls on the islands but had never seen one. As it poured the water out from the top of the rocks, mist and droplets suspended in the air for a moment before landing on the landscape around it.
The Captain grinned down at her, “I will stand over here,” he gestured to a small boulder next to them. “I’ll make sure no one comes, you enjoy yourself, go on in.” He chuckled, “Not to worry, I will not peek, I give you my word.”
Catherine looked in shock from the refreshing looking pond and back to the Captain. He actually expected her to bathe with him standing right there? Color rising, she glanced back at the water, it did look wonderful and her and her clothes needed a good wash. Perhaps she could leave the long, baggy shirt on and just take the breeches off. She did not fancy the idea of the scratchy material getting wet.
The Captain was sitting on the grey rock, his back to the pond. His knife was out chipping away at a fallen coconut. “Alright, I’ll do it, but you better not break your word. If I catch you peeking, you’ll be sorry.” She tried to sound stern, but Catherine did not have a clue what she would do if she did catch him peeking. A low chuckle emanated from him and his shoulders shook slightly.
The jungle around the pond created a green wall, the only entrance was behind her and she knew the Captain would not let anyone near. She quickly undid her clinging breeches and dropped them to the ground. She touched her foot to the water, surprised at its warmth. She stepped fully into the glistening pool. She waded in further, holding down the white shirt so it would not float up.
Catherine sighed, she had forgotten how nice a bath felt. She also had tried to ignore how she had begun to smell of sweat and dried salt water and just how dirty she was after days working in the beating sun. Her skin had been as white as the sandy beach, now it was tinted from the sun. Back home, women were not allowed to be in the sun for too long, it was said that it was not good for their complexions. Yet, another rule that Catherine had now long since broken.
She swam around the pool, and approached the waterfall slowly. Standing up, she placed her hand in the falling water, causing a stream of drops to land on her face. Closing her eyes, she walked directly under it, and let the warm water fall around her.
Catherine dove back into the pond. Surprised at how deep it was, she could see the bottom but could not touch it, even with her toes outstretched. Feeling completely at ease and refreshed, she let out a giggle. Shocked at the sound of her voice, she had almost forgotten about the Captain sitting on the rock.
His back was still to her and he looked to be drinking from the coconut he had been working on. His shoulders were broad, stretching the shirt tight across his solid back. She almost felt bad, she was enjoying herself in the water and he was sitting in the hot sun on a rock, waiting for her to finish. She swam a bit closer but stayed in the deep middle.
“Are you wanting to come in? You could probably use a good bathe yourself.” She suggested, trying to keep her voice even. If she stayed in the middle, he would not be able to see her well, she thought.
“I do not think that would be a good idea.” He said, his voice a bit deeper than usual. “When you are finished, we will head back. I am sure Cook has already begun preparing the evening meal. I think you are going to be surprised at what he will be serving.” He did not turn to look at her.
Catherine swam to the edge of the pond and stepped out of the reviving water. The Captain’s back straightened. Quickly, she grabbed the breeches she had disregarded a moment ago. She disliked the idea of putting the rough and dirty fabric back on but she had little choice. She pulled them on, her white shirt now looked almost new again. Twisting her hair, the drops falling off it like the waterfall. Closing her eyes, she ran her fingers through it, enjoying the feel of her now clean hair.
Catherine opened her eyes and froze. The Captain had soundlessly gotten up from his place on the boulder. He took a step closer to her, his eyes roaming her face and hair. She saw his hand move, coming up slightly before dropping back down to rest against his side.
He cleared his throat, “If you are ready, we can head on back to the beach.” His eyes had not left hers; they were filled with something Catherine could not explain.
Her stomach flipped. “I am all set, Captain.”
The Captain nodded and turned towards the trail, his boots hardly making a sound on the sand and vegetation. Catherine followed close behind, shaking from being so close to him. She had seen how he glanced at her lips, how his hand had moved to her for a moment.
They slowly worked their way back to the beach; in a few hours the sun would be going down. Catherine was curious as to what Cook was fixing up. The Captain had made it sound interesting and different from their usual meals of oranges, biscuits, dried beans, salted meat, and the occasional pickled vegetable. A small bird with a black body and a vibrant red head bounced from branch to branch, distracting her, causing her foot to slip on a root. She squealed, trying to catch her fall. Involuntarily, she closed her eyes tightly and put her hands out to brace herself. Instead of falling right onto the hard ground, she fell into a solid chest. The Captain’s arms wrapped around her waist. He gently pulled her foot free of its entanglement. Her breath hitched, his hands were placed on either side of her hips and their chests were near to touching.
“Your ankle alright? Can you put weight on it?” He asked in a husky whisper.
“Aye, Captain.” Catherine slowly nodded, glancing from his lips to his eyes. Part of her felt that if she spoke like her shipmates, then it would help to hide the emotion in her voice and slow the beating of her racing heart.
They heard a shot ring out, followed by a shout. The sounds came from further down the beach from where the men waited. The Captain turned, pulling his flintlock from his belt, one arm still on her, keeping her positioned behind him. They listened for a minute, several cheerful whoops and hollers reached them. The Captain’s shoulders relaxed, and he put his pistol back in his belt. He released Catherine, looking back at her. “Ack, it is just the crew, they probably shot a wild pig or some other animal.”
As they neared the beach, the smell of smoke and roasting meat met them. Catherine inhaled deeply. It smelled wonderful. They broke through the edge of the jungle and onto the soft, sandy beach. The Captain released her hand that he had kept hold of since she had tripped and they heard the shot. “Can I do anything to assist with the meal?” Catherine’s gaze traveled from the several small fires and back to the Captain.
“I should think they have it well in hand, the crew typically enjoys roasting the pigs and iguanas.” He was watching the activity on the beach, his legs still spread apart as if he were aboard his ship, his arms crossed over his chest. “Find yourself a spot on the beach close by, the meal should be ready soon and I am sure Eddie will bring out his violin.” He looked at her. “I hope you enjoyed the waterfall today and the walk was not too tiring for you.”
“I did, very much, thank you for taking me.” She looked down at the sand. “I enjoyed the walk as well, it was refreshing and the island is beautiful.” Catherine looked back to the crew, no one was paying them any mind. The men had settled down around the different fires and were passing jugs of drink around.
“I am glad to hear it.” The Captain nodded and walked towards the fire that had a pig roasting on a large stick, one of the sailors was slowly turning it.
Catherine looked to see if she could find Doc or Ol’ Shorty. She spotted them and walked over to their spot by the fire. She looked at the strange meat that was cooking over the dancing flames. “What is it exactly?” Catherine asked pointing towards the charred mass.
“Iguana, one of those big lizards you see runnin’ round. They are all over the islands and make a fare meal.” Ol’ Shorty explained.
So the Captain had been right; she just had not believed him. Catherine had to admit, the smell was making her mouth water. She had never thought of eating a lizard before and the idea was not entirely appealing. However, as hungry as she was from the swim and walk, she had no doubt she would enjoy the meal.
