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Four
The Mexican sun beat harshly down as the Savage Devil drifted into the port. The men were weary, sweat dripping off their brows and sticking to their skin, as all were weary with exhaustion.
Susannah, on the other hand, was anything but tired. This was her first trip away from Carmel and, whilst she too had outdone her physical limit, Mexico was too beautiful to ignore. Her green eyes were wide as she saw the sparkling clear blue water, and the busy port.
“All right men,” Jesse commanded. “Good job. You know what happens now.”
The men all cheered as Jesse smirked. Adam looked over at his friend, who was too entranced with the view to have heard anything that the captain had said.
“Simon,” Captain De Silva barked. “Follow me.”
It took a jab in the ribs from Adam for Susannah to process the comment, and jarred back to reality with a sigh and a blush staining her cheeks as she followed with Jesse’s request.
“Are you excited to be here, boy?” Susannah nodded, hating the derogatory term Jesse had taken to calling her.
At Jesse’s raised eyebrow, Susannah reiterated.
“Yes, sir.”
“Good,” he nodded, raising his hand to dismiss Simon.
“Captain?” Simon’s teenaged voice cracked as he said the word. “What happens when we dock?”
Jesse smiled. “I forget that this is your first time.” He mused. “After the crew unload the ship, and re-stock, they’re free to do what they want.” He paused, watching for the boy’s reaction. “Remember where you found me back in Carmel?”
Susannah nodded, the sight of women writhing in the laps of the crew flashing behind her eyes. “The tavern?” She confirmed.
“Yes, the men choose to get drunk and find a woman.” Jesse chuckled. “I’m sure you’ll join them. It can get terribly boring alone on this ship with no women around.”
Cringing, and averting her eyes as she pulled her cap lower down on her head, Susannah nodded and left the captain’s quarters leaving Jesse staring curiously after her.
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“Simon!” Adam slurred drunkenly. “Try some.”
Susannah shook her head, having already tried a gulp of the bitter tasting ale and instead opting for a glass of water.
“Well, at least choose a woman – let me live vicariously through you!”
Susannah laughed as she shook her head, remembering Adam telling her about the childhood sweetheart he’d left behind – Cee Cee Webb. Adam had joined Jesse’s ship in an attempt to prove his masculinity to her father, ready to ask him for her hand in marriage. Sailing was something Mr. Webb greatly admired; Adam had chosen a pirate ship to make it more exciting for him.
She caught Jesse’s eye across the room, noticing that he was disregarding the attention of the women in the bar and was drinking a clear liquid – either water, like her, or a stronger spirit, like vodka. He raised his eyebrow at her drink choice and raised a long, slender, tanned finger to beckon her to him. Sighing, she obeyed, excusing herself from Adam’s less-than-aware company.
Her hair was messily pouring out of her cap as she sat down opposite her captain.
“You never did get your hair cut, did you Simon?” Jesse’s voice was amused as Susannah just shook her head. “Why not?”
“I like it long.”
Jesse considered for a moment before responding. “Long is less practical, have it cut before we set sail again.”
Susannah’s eyes widened at the thought, heart pounding as she thought for ways to get out of it. Jesse watched her response critically. He knew that there was something different about this boy, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.
“Do you enjoy this life, boy?” He asked, taking a long gulp of his drunk before chuckling sardonically. “Do you enjoy this life of piracy?”
Susannah was hesitant in her answer. “I have yet to experience … that part of it, sir.”
Jesse nodded, acceptingly. “True,” he murmured, his eyes studying the oak table in front of him.
“Sir?” He glanced up sharply at the voice, hardly believing it came from the boy in front of him, it sounded so feminine. “Is there anything in particular that you wanted me for?” She glanced worriedly back at her friend. “I think Adam might need to leave now.”
His eyes narrowed but he gave his consent, letting Simon tend to his inebriated friend as he watched the pair leave the tavern, Adam leaning heavily on Simon’s slight shoulder.
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Normally, when the ship arrived somewhere, the men stayed off the ship – thankful to get away from the sometimes prison-like feeling of it. Jesse relished in these times, when the ship was well and truly his. His small light flickered in the dying wind and he heard footsteps tread lightly in front of his door.
“Stop.” He called out and listened for the creak that told him his order had been followed. “Enter.”
The door to his quarters opened slowly, the intruder’s identity obscured by the dark shadows.
“Who is it?”
He heard a sigh before the stranger answered. “It’s me, sir,” the familiar voice spoke. “Simon.”
Jesse smiled and gestured for Simon to walk in further. “And what are you doing here, Simon? Why aren’t you on shore, with the other men?”
“I brought Adam back to sleep off all he’s drank,” Susannah replied instantly. “I didn’t know where else to take him.”
A dark eyebrow rose slowly.
“How old are you Simon?”
“I’m sixteen,” she bristled a little at the question.
A nod was her response as Jesse noted that he was the same age when he’d ran away from home to choose the same way of life.
“You know, Simon,” Jesse began conversationally. “I get the distinct impression that you’re hiding something.” She froze where she stood. “Or running away from something.”
Her cheeks flamed, knowing that both accusations were true.
“But whatever it is,” he continued. “You should know, your secret is safe with me.”
The relief was instantaneous and the urge to react as she did was reflexive.
Without a second thought, Susannah tiptoed towards her captain and kissed him softly as thanks, smiling as she pulled away and left the quarters.
It took her five steps after she shut the door behind her to remember that she was supposed to be a boy – and boys don’t kiss other boys. Her eyes fell shut as she realised that Captain De Silva would be angry with her come tomorrow.
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Jesse sat, shocked, at his desk, knocking back a shot of whisky – his first taste of alcohol all night – as he thought of Simon’s kiss.
He should be angry, furious. He should be disgusted that Simon would even think about kissing him.
But he wasn’t.
The alcohol that he was drinking was to numb his feelings, yes, but it was only because he wasn’t repelled by the action. It was because he actually liked it.
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