Chapter 10

Chapter Ten- On the Seas, 1802

"My name is Mack Gallagher. I am Captain Josey's first mate, and I will also be your humble servant throughout our journey, as will the other crew members." Mack gestured towards the crew, all of whom were either on their knees, bowing to her, or standing up with their heads bowed low.

"Thank you, but there is no need for all this bowing. I'm not a princess or anything special like that." Dianna blushed.

"Ah, but you're the closest thing to a princess any of us will ever get near, ma'am." Mack gave her a charming smile and Dianna returned it with a nervous smile of her own. "Ma'am, is something wrong?"

"No, it's just..." Dianna felt the last of the adrenaline fade from her body, and she turned to look back at the pier where they had left the very angry Inna.

"He won't come back for you." Dianna turned to look at Josey, who had spoken for the first time since they had climbed aboard his ship.

"How can you be so certain? You don't know him. He's evil, and--"

"I know gypsies. He's not going to waste his time coming after you when he can just pick up some French girl hanging around the fair. He's going to take the easy way out, and that would mean forgetting about you." Josey said this all with a sense of ease and Dianna could read a bit of his personality just from the way he said things. She could tell he was a bit cocky, and thought extremely highly of himself, but she also could tell he knew what he was talking about. But she still felt a bit spooked, and continued.

"Yes, but I wasn't just any girl for him. I was the only one he never--" Dianna stopped mid sentence and blushed. She was going to say she was the only girl Inna had never been intimate with and he might want to find her and take her virginity just so his record wouldn't be tainted, but felt embarrassed about admitting her innocence to Josey. If she was going to live on a pirate ship for a period of time, she would have to seem tougher than she actually was. She needed to take care of herself, and admitting her virginity would make her seem weak and vulnerable.

"It's fine, he's not going to come for you. You said yourself, you're nothing special, right?" Josey smirked and Dianna felt stung.

"You twisted my words."

"Josey, maybe this isn't a good time to--" Mack began, but Josey interrupted.

"No, this is the perfect time. She needs to know right away that this is my ship, and I lead it with a firm hand. I am a tough man, and if she doesn't like it, she can take her own chances on the open seas. Now show her to the cabin we cleared out for her, so she can unpack and receive the other clothes and toiletries her father sent." He now turned to Dianna herself. "But don't fall asleep just yet! We're going to dock at the nearest messenger's stand and send your father a note that he will receive tomorrow morning, letting him know we are on our way." Josey didn't wait for a reply. Instead he strode strongly, and in a manly manner towards the steer. Dianna's voice stopped him.

"I understand and accept your conditions. I can tell you are a strong leader, and I will follow the rules of your ship. But I have my own condition." Josey raised an eyebrow at her boldness. " I am a lady, and I shall be treated as such. I may have lived with gypsies for the past year, but I very much remember my position, and your lacking of one. Just as you demand respect, I demand it as well. Now, if Mr. Gallagher will please show me to my cabin," Dianna turned to Mack, who looked shocked at Josey, then grabbed Dianna's clothes sack and offered his arm to her. She took it like the gracious lady she said she was, and Mack led her away to the small cabin the men had cleared for her.

All the men stared almost timidly at Josey. Josey shook his own shock out of his face and yelled, "Well, and what are you doing? Start the sailing!" The men quickly scrambled to their positions while Josey walked slowly to the steer.

As he began steering the ship, he wondered what lay ahead for them on the open seas, and if both his and Dianna's fiery attitudes would be able to stand each other.

***

-Back in Manchester-

Walter's eyes cringed in the sunlight blazing in through his bedroom windows. He opened them and blinked a few times before his eyesight adjusted to the brightness. He sat up in his bed and checked the grandfather clock in the corner of his room. It was after ten o'clock in the morning. Walter shook his head and laughed.

Ever since he had met Josey Thatcher, he had felt a certain understanding pass between them. He knew the pirate would stop at nothing to find and save Dianna. Since then, he had actually been able to get full night's rest. It was a week since Josey left to find Dianna, and every night of that week, Walter found himself waking up in the late mornings, sometimes even early afternoons. He hadn't been able to sleep so soundly in such a long time, but his firm belief in the rescue of Dianna made it easier for him to relax.

After Walter had bathed and was eating his brunch in the dining room, Klara the housekeeper came into the room and said, "Sir, a telegram for you." She put the note next to his plate, bowed, and left the room. Walter wiped his hands and mouth, took the last sip of his bitter black coffee, and opened the note. It read:

Dear father,

Captain Josey Thatcher has found me and has saved me from the gypsies. We are sailing home now. Should be home in a little over a week. Cannot wait to see you.

Love,

Dianna

Walter smiled and then chuckled loudly.

"Klara! Klara, come in here!" Klara ran into the room.

"Yessir, what is the matter?"

"Prepare Dianna's room, and get me in contact with a planner of some sort! I want to plan a ball for my daughter! She's coming home, Klara! She's coming home!" Walter couldn't help his joy. He grabbed Klara and spun her around the room.

"Sir!" Klara stepped back and straightened herself up, always being a proper housekeeper. "I will send for the planner straightaway!" She dashed out of the room, leaving Walter alone to dance around by himself and sing "She's coming home! She's coming home!"

~