Chapter Eight Part Two

Violet was just winding his tale to an ending, the princess had been saved, she and the gallant knight, who had slain the evil dragon, would live happily ever after. Jonah was still awake, as he had napped earlier, but the two little girls were fast asleep.

Josh had just emptied his buckets of steaming water into the tub in Violet's bedchamber, he had intended to go get two more, but the sight of Violet, at a loss, stopped him in the outer chamber.

"Need some help there, do ye?" Josh asked him softly.

Violet smiled down at the sleeping babes in his lap, "I believe I may, at that," Violet spoke softly also, as Josh set his buckets down, then lifted Jonah away from Vi.

Just as he was trying to decide what to do with the child, one of the boys they had rescued, came quietly to the cabin door.

Jonah saw his brother, and reached his arms out to him, "Timmy, I wan Timmy."

Josh walked to the door and Jonah launched himself at his brother, who caught him as if he had a million times before, which he had. Not having known a mother, Jonah was very attached to his big brother.

Timothy held the wee one close, burying his nose in the soft curls. He was so thankful his brother did not seem traumatised from his encounter with the previous pirate crew.

Jonah leaned back and placed his hands on Timothy's cheeks. "Go with Timmy. I wan a go with Timmy." The babe looked back at Violet, "Timmy?"

"Yes, you may go with your brother, Jonah." Violet was warmed by the brotherly affection. Timothy was a good looking, strapping, healthy boy. An older version of the babe in his arms, he was a very handsome young fellow, with deeply, soulful eyes. "There are toys in the chest in your cabin, if you would like to take him to play before bedtime."

Timothy nodded, and turned to leave, but then turned back. Tears of gratitude filled his eyes, as he looked upon the kind captain, who sat with two sleeping babes on his lap. "I am so grateful to you sir, I had lost hope, sir, and he means the world to me."

"T'was my pleasure, Tim. 'Tis what I do, every chance I am given. I am thankful to be able to do so." Violet's eyes held compassion, and relief, that these beautiful children were safe now. "We shall talk tomorrow, have a good rest, son."

Timothy nodded to Violet, then made his way down the long hall to the other end of the ship, where the cabin they had been given resided.

Josh took one of the girls from Violet, laying her gently on the window seat cushions, as Vi rose and settled her sister in next to her.

"Thank you, Josh, I had my hands right full there for a moment." He laughed softly, as made his way to his bedchamber. Josh filled the buckets with the children's bath water to dump them over the rail topside.

Violet went to the corner of his sleeping room and drew the curtain aside. The tub was steaming, though the water was still shallow, and Violet could not help but to try and imagine Betsy reclining there. His body began to stir as images filled his mind. Her bottom in the breeches was an image he could not shake. Her shapely legs and arms bared, a sight he still had to look forward to. And her bosom, of which he had not been able to get a feel for, when he had held her in his arms earlier.

He was glad they were getting to know each other better, he just wished it had not had to be under such sad conditions. He knew it had been a rough, emotional day for her, as he had not had time to warn her, exactly what it was he felt a call to do.

He lit a candle for her on the stand, as the light was fading, and took a linen from the dresser drawer, placing it upon the bed next to her things. Then, rather than feed upon the images of his soon to be naked wife, he went topside, to join Brutus for a bit of conversation, leaving her free to bathe undisturbed.

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At this point, Betsy had let her hair down, in more ways than just the obvious. After all that had happened through this day, she now felt as though she were becoming a part of this dysfunctional, wonderful family. That was truly due to her husband, for when he said t'was their ship now, she believed him.

She had washed up earlier, and leaving the belt off, her shirt hung down over her breeches to her thighs. She wore socks, as she padded down the hall, her footsteps quiet on the polished wood.

As she neared the galley she heard it, a man of whom, she did not yet recognize his voice, was cursing in the kitchen. Betsy's eyes widened as she neared the door, getting quite an earful of his colorful language, she entered the kitchen, then burst out laughing.

Paulie was shocked clear to the ends of his hair, which just happened to be sticking up in every different direction, as he had napped the day away in his bunk. T'was her! Nay, t'was not her, could not be her! However, t'was a her, none the less. He clamped his mouth shut, as it had been hanging open, Paulie then turned redder in the face than he had ever turned when he was angry.

"Who ye be? N just what ye be thinkin' is so funny?" He glared her direction and scratched at his chin whiskers.

Betsy quieted her laughter, but there was still a trace of it in her voice, "Oh my, you reminded me of Ol' Mister McVicker, the smithy, my Papa would try to share the Lord with him, and he would sound just like you." Betsy had a good case of the giggles, his hair all wild around his head, was not helping matters any at all, " My Papa used to stand me in front of him and cover my ears, but as I was holding the tray, there was no way I could..." Laughter just kept bubbling up out of her, she knew it was partially her emotions, after having been put through the wringer today, she still felt a bit raw.

"Well, if ye had not been to me galley, ye would have no need to cover yer ears!" Paulie was surly, he had drank another cup of rum laced tea before his nap, more rum than tea, and he was feeling somewhat haggard. The last thing he had expected, was for a fresh faced, young slip of a girl, to invade his domain.

"'Tis our galley now, sir, as I am the Captain's wife. I assume t'was you who made the salty scones!" That reminded Betsy of spitting all over Violet, which did not help to lessen her smile any. She giggled at Paulie. After all, if it had not happened, she would not have had an eyeful of her husband's beautiful torso. Not to mention, she would not have known the way he felt, Betsy smiled at the remembrance of their furtive embrace upon his furs.

"Stop that laughin', what ye gots to be so damn 'appy about?" Paulie demanded to know if she was laughing at him, he did not like it when people laughed at him. He wanted everyone, to be just as miserable as he was, all of the time.

"Oh, just everything! You gave me a sweet memory of my Papa I had not had for the longest time." She smiled at him, her eyes twinkling with joy. "I thank you for that, kind sir, as my Papa has been gone many years now, and I miss him so."

Paulie hrumphed and turned away from her, he did not now know what to do with himself. He had not been around an innocent, young Miss, in a very long time, and he had forgotten all his manners in the meantime.

"Ye have no more need ta be here, ye needs ta go." Paulie had been touched by her words, he did not know how to respond, as people were usually not thankful to him. Most of the time they were disappointed, as he was not a cook in real sense. He tried, somewhat, but he did not have any passion for the task. He realized his face was warm, he had been embarrassed by her thanks, so he had answered her gruffly, as a tiny little chip fell away from his heart.

"I just came to return the tray, my name is Betsy, by the by, may I ask your name, Sir?" She smiled sweetly, and batted her lashes at him.

Damn, but if she did not remind him of his own sweet bride, all those years ago. It brought a fondness, mixed with regrets, and then anger.

"The name be Paulie, but ye can just skedaddle on outta here, I gots me work to be aboot, an I don need ye in the way!" Paulie turned and started banging pots around, dismissing her, in a most rude manner.

Betsy knew there was a story there, she hoped she could figure it out, and help this man with his anger, one day soon.

Her Papa had explained to her how a person's heart could be hardened. That you just had to chip away at the rocky part to find the softness underneath. Mayhap, she could help, when Paulie was in a more responsive mood.

"T'was a pleasure to meet you, Mister Paulie. I look forward to seeing you again, soon." She walked back to the hall, grinning, and winked at Josh, who was standing there as if he could not believe his ears.

"'Tis just Paulie!", the man hollered behind her. Her grin widened, as she had a new prayer to add to her list. Which served to remind her of her bible that had been wrapped in her shawl. It was her Papa's, and her most prized possession. She realized she had not seen her bundle since hopping atop the barrel. She would ask Violet where he had put her things.

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Vi and Brutus sat atop the crate of broken china, Brutus could tell his friend had a need to talk about something, but Vi had yet to share what that was.

"Out with it man, I know you too well to not know something is bothering you." Brutus gave Vi a sidelong glance, as he wondered what troubled his lifelong friend.

"I am at a loss with my bride." Violet admitted, casting his own sidelong glance, back to Brutus. "She does not know the first thing about a physical relationship, and here 'tis our wedding night."

Brutus barked out a laugh, "You, at a loss, when it comes to a woman!" Brutus shook his head in disbelief. He had watched Vi with the ladies for years, since they were lads. Vi had never seemed to have a problem with the ladies before.

"This woman, is more of a girl, she is still so young and innocent, I have not been with an innocent in many, many years." Violet looked up to the sky, the stars were just making an appearance, and the moon had not risen yet.

"Ah, I see your dilemma, not the first thing, hmmm?" Brutus was mildly amused, he could tell Vi was perplexed, but knew not what advice he could give his friend. Violet had always had three women chasing him, to Brutus' one. Brutus was usually the one who got to step out with the 'friend', of whomever Vi was seeing at the time.

"And then there is the whole matter of a child. T'would not be safe for her aboard the ship if she were to be carrying my babe. I did not intend to get her with child, then just leave her with my mother." Vi turned his head to look at Brutus. "I guess I did not think this through very thoroughly before I offered for her. Though I am extremely pleased with her, I have even fallen in love with her, I just do not know what to do now." Vi sat there shaking his head slightly, he still had not found an answer to these things that plagued him.

"I say your boon, is that she does not know the first thing about your worries, you have time, Vi. All the time in the world." Brutus smiled, "Tis not as if ye had a courtship, ya know, you only knew her a few days, man. Take the time to woo her. Slowly but surely, she will learn, and that will give you time to figure out the rest." Brutus nodded at his fine idea.

"I like that, I shall teach her slowly, and court her, as she has never even been courted before. Hell, man, our wedding kiss was her first!" Vi chuckled at the remembrance of the chaste kiss. "However, she is a quick learner." He laughed warmly.

"Yes, well, you just better make sure you do not anger her, that girl is a better marksman than any I have ever seen."

The men laughed together, Vi felt better, having spoken to his friend. "True ye are there, my friend."

"Have ye ever seen the like?" Brutus asked him.

"Never!" Vi replied.

"Neither have I." Both men continued shaking their heads, as they still could not believe what they had witnessed earlier that day.

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