Seacrets (6 page)

“At chess, at chess." Daniel became uncharacteristically embarrassed at his mistaken play on words.

“I would welcome the diversion, sir." smiling ever so nervously, as she turned her back to him.

Daniel had not a clue, of course, what she needed diversion from.

Maura knew she was safe from the likes of Kilern, at least while in the confines of Daniel's cabin. So she decided she would not allow herself to think upon him for the rest of the night.

After clearing the table of the evening meal, Maura assisted Daniel with his usual evening soak. She would add kettles of steaming water into the copper tub, as the waters began to cool.
In between fillings she'd retreat back to her corner of the cabin and await his requests.

The first time she saw him unclothed from the back, she was most embarrassed. Her cheeks
immediately became heated and she'd turn her eyes away in shame of herself for wanting to look upon him. But as the weeks passed, she had gotten used to his
after dinner
routine and no longer felt shame.  She has come to liken her feelings to looking upon a great work of art. She recalls studying Greek mythology, when away at school, and that is exactly what Daniel's body type reminded her of...A Greek God. He was beautiful to her. The muscles in his back were finely honed from years of hard labor and the rising steam from the water running off of his muscular upper arms as he wrung out the wash cloth and let the streams cascade down his back captivated her attention. Its uninterrupted surge resembled a beautiful waterfall that flows into varying smaller rivulets. The water appeared to glisten off of his chest in the candlelight.

When he is just about through, he likes to have one more kettle of hot water added, so he can relax with a flask of brandy. He has many flavors in the cabinet above his desk. His favorite, though, is apricot brandy. Maura brings it, now, without even having to ask which he'd prefer.

"Well if we're ta play a game of chess, I'd best get my arse out of this damn row boat, eh?" He said while rising out of the tub. The steam was ascending off of every muscle in view, even his most private appendage. This time she did not turn her eyes away. She forced herself to look upon him as she came towards him with the large flannel bath sheet, and wrapped it around his lower body. She raised her eyes up slightly, and noticed the succulence still upon his chest and longed to pat it dry. Maura could not believe the stirring that was taking place deep within her, especially in light of today's events with Kilern. The last thing she ever expected to welcome was the touch of any man. She did, though. She wanted to feel the gentle caresses of
this
man.

It was the oddest of feelings but she felt the impious stirrings of a shameless immoral, longing to touch and be touched by this man. She
did not know how to justify her own thoughts of lust, but somehow she knew he was a good man, a kind and trustworthy man, and if she were his, he would fight to the death for her.

But this is not to be, for she started out lying to him and he hate
s liars. He'd never believe she had to lie to save herself. He had made mention many times of the
trickery
of women. Presently the principle obstacle she sees is protecting poor Godsey from the lash. If Daniel were to find out her secret then Godsey would be in grave danger. If for just her own skin she'd gladly tell and take her chances with the Captain's anger, but not Godsey. The Captain would have to make an example of him. She just could not chance hurting Godsey, after he'd been so kind to her.

With artless approach, both stood at opposite sides of the table, with only the chess board between them. They sat quietly facing one another.

Daniel broke the silence by asking, “Which would ya like to be, lad, pewter or black iron? I'll even grant ya the first move." He said with a sly look upon his face.

Maura knew that deception. Her father used to play that game with her. That's how he'd figure out her strategy.
"That be fine with me if ya went first ya self Cap'n." Giving him a wink of her eye and a tug on her cap.

"Ah, finally, a formidable opponent." His beautiful white teeth flashed against his tanned skin in the firelight. Why, that sight and his thick Irish burr almost took the very breath from her chest.

The match lasted longer than he had imagined it would and he realized the clock on the sill was striking nearly twenty-one bells.

"We'll have ta leave this board set up and finish on the ‘morrow’s eventide."

Daniel stretched out his arms and clasped his hands behind his head making his chest and biceps flex out to an extreme measure. He leaned back in his chair.

Try
as she may, Maura could not take her eyes from him.

He noticed, as well. But for some reason he didn't feel as he had earlier, with frustration and confusion. He felt at peace.
To break yet another awkward silence between them, he extended his hand and said "Well lad ‘tis late. We should try ta catch some sleep."

Maura extended her hand to him as two mates would do when parting for the night.

As soon as their hands touched, a great reverberance of cannon fire erupted, violently casting them atop one another. The immediate heat between them as their limbs became intertwined was immeasurable. Maura could feel Daniel’s arousal against her junction even through the thick wool of his trousers. She rolled away from him as if she were set afire.

Daniel was more confused than ever at his physical response to their entanglement.

The violent banging at the cabin door snapped him back into the reality of danger that was encompassing his ship and crew.

Godsey’s persistent, penetrating shouts could be heard over continued cannon fire. "Captain, Captain we need ya topside! Quick, sir, we're under attack!"

              As was common, part of the draw to the sea was also the dangers that came along with sailing with cargo."Come, boy, ‘tis time ya learned how ta fight off thieves of the sea."

Maura could see the exuberance in his eyes, hear the excitement in his voice as he spoke of the impending victory of battle.
Maura was witnessing the visceral exhilaration of a warrior. This thoroughly invigorated her own spirit for adventure and she followed him without forethought for her own safety.

Daniel grabbed his leather
duster and his pistols from the trunk at the end of his bunk, and handed a pistol to Maura. "Make certain my pistols are reloaded promptly. Do ya know how to load a pistol, lad?" As if he expected to hear no.

"Yes Cap'n, I do. I hunted with my father, daily. I've never been ta battle but I do know my way around firearms!" She stated proudly.

§

It was complete mayhem on deck. The cannons from the enemy ship were luckily falling miserably short of their target, so they were missing the Arabella by half. There was still plenty of time to get the best of the blackhearts from the enemy ship, the
Mephistopheles
, a Norman vessel bent on pirating for their wealth. Daniel had done battle a few times with this band of pirates, and so far they've not gotten the best of him or his crew.

Daniel was shouting out orders to his men that Maura did not quite understand, but she just hung close to him and did as he instructed.

Daniel ordered the ship to come about and hide in the fog where the Mephistopheles could no longer get their sites upon them and remain as quiet as possible until the Captain gave orders otherwise. All torches were ordered doused. It was so quiet all that could be heard was the water lapping off of the sides of the ship’s hull and so too could Daniel hear the whispers of the men on the enemy ship. Daniel knew exactly where they were and when to attack. Quite suddenly the quiet calm had broken into complete bedlam, once more.

Daniel and his men had gotten close enough to the Mephistopheles to jump onboard and do battle on
their
ship, so as not to do damage to his own vessel.

Maura watched in complete shock and horror
.
What if he doesn't come back? What if he's killed?
Her thoughts were running wild, amidst all the gunfire, shouting, and bloodletting taking place right before her eyes.

Just then a muscular forearm came from behind and wrapped about her shoulders, just below her chin pulling her back into the shadows as gunfire continued to erupt around them.

She felt the wet tongue of her molester on her neck. His other hand had swiftly found its way to the outside of her trousers, and was groping her between her legs. She could feel his vulgar bulging mass pressing against her buttocks, and that deep and familiar voice croaked heavily into her ear.

"Don't ya be worryin’, lass, I won't let anythin’ happen ta my pot o' gold, ha, ha.” Then he thrust himself hard up against her backside.

Maura did not know where her strength came from but she jerked her body away from Kilern, with every bit of strength that she could muster and she faced him squarely with both hands on the barrel of her firearm. "You stay away Kilern or I swear ta ya I'll blow yer arse ta kingdom come. You get
my
meanin'?"

Kilern backed away from Maura slowly, never taking his eyes from her.

There was a fire, there, in her eyes that told him she was dead serious.

"My, my lass, why, ya've learned some colorful language, bunkin' with the Cap’n, haven’t ya?” Trying to throw her off guard with his comments.

Her eyes were cold and her voice was cutting, as she tried to fend him off.

"I don't want ta be taken a killin' ta my grave, but I swear ta ya I will shoot ya dead, Kilern. I will!"
Her hands were shaking violently, as she held the Captain's pistol straight on him, hand over hand and elbows locked tight with the barrel just inches from his chest.

"There, there, gel. I was just havin' a bit o' fun with ya. Don't ya be losin' ya pretty head." he said nervously with beads of sweat forming at his brow.
"A nice little gel like ya self would not really shoot an old man, now, would ya?" Kilern backed off not waiting for an answer to that question and ran to the other end of the ship to await orders.

Maura breathed a great sigh of relief and fell back against the siderail of the Arabella. Her skin moist from the shock of anxiety. Her head lolled a bit back over the rail and she was revived and refreshed by the mist of seaspray.
She
now understood the thrill of a warrior, for she had won her own battle that day.

Once composed she tucked the pistol back into her trousers. She'd keep
it handy for the next time Kilern tried to assault her. She figured he'd more than likely keep the secret, at least until they made port at Shawmut Peninsula in New England. By then, she may be able to escape the ship. Godsey had confided to her this would be his last voyage and he'd be staying in New England, so hopefully he'd be able to escape the lash for sneakin' her aboard. At any rate she felt somewhat empowered by having the pistol for protection.

Maura's attention turned towards the bow of the ship where she eyed Daniel climbing back up over the rail. She w
as greatly relieved to know he was safe. He had a few scrapes and bumps but was not shot.

The Norman ship was secured. Prisoners were held below the deck of their own ship with some of Daniels men standing watch until a military ship should pass through these waters within a few days, at which time he'd turn the thieves over to them to stand trial. This would put them behind schedule. Daniel hated the thought of that, but it could not be helped. He did his duty in securing his cargo and the safety of his men, with not so much as one death in the firefight.

Daniel's attention was strangely focused on checking up on his cabin boy's whereabouts. He tried not to look too concerned, after all he is
just
a cabin boy, for God sakes
, he told himself. But he did find himself feeling greatly relieved when he caught sight of
him
at midship, standing beside Godsey.

§

The next morning was a difficult one for the entire crew without much sleep, but everyone was up at the usual hour managing their assigned duties. There was plenty of yawning in the galley the next morning, as Maura was sent to fetch breakfast.

When she returned to the cabin Daniel had already disappeared topside to get a better accounting of the damages to his own vessel. There would be more than a few repairs to be done. He assigned tasks to the appropriate crew members and headed back to his cabin to update his log.

While Daniel was up on deck Maura felt it the perfect opportunity to unravel her bindings to give her breasts a well needed break from their bondage. When the last binding was finally unraveled she took in a deep breath and massaged the skin of her breasts in hopes of bringing circulation back to them. She was thoroughly enjoying the sensation that the freedom from her bindings was providing at that moment.Then she took some of the hot water from the kettle and poured it into the pitcher on the stand, next to the woodstove. She rummaged through the satchel she had brought from home and found some rose scented soap.

It wouldn't hurt to use just a little.
She reasoned with herself.
“I must wreak. The constant sweating beneath these fetid strips of cloth is beginning to nauseate me.”
She poured the water from the pitcher into the bowl that was beside it on the stand.  She freely splashed the water to her face. The feel of the hot water on her skin felt heavenly. She scrubbed her face of the smudges she was forced to paint on daily, to hide her identity. Then she scrubbed her arms and underarms with the rose scented soap. The splashing of the water to her body blocked out the sound of the creaking door hinges. She did not hear the cabin door open.