Burn turned around and flashed me a smile, then turned back toward the monitors.Her shift was just ending.“Morning.”
Curious what held her attention, I glanced out the windshield, then looked at the monitors.A handful of men and a number of loaders waited outside the cargo hold.“That the cargo?”
“Yep.It arrived a couple of minutes ago.”
“You’re not dealing with it?”
Burn spun around in her seat.“Me?”She shook her head.“They asked for the cargo master.I decided that meant Lacy, so I went to wake her.But she was already up.”She gestured at a plate that held a few crumbs.“I think she’d already gone out to get us breakfast too.”
I’d wondered where the pastries had come from.“So what’s the holdup?”
“Relax, Sarge.There’s no holdup.Lacy just took a few of the workers into the cargo hold.”
I bit into the flaky pastry while I pondered Burn’s words.So far yesterday’s realization still held.I trusted Lacy.Trusted her to make the right decision for the ship and the crew.But I also needed to know how this worked.As much as I’d like her as a permanent asset, I should know how to load cargo on my ship.
“You okay to hang out here, while I check things out in the cargo hold?”
“You think there’s a problem?”
I shook my head.“Not at all.First cargo load forFortuna.I need to see how this works.”
Burn nodded.“We had no fucking clue what we were getting into, did we?”
My laugh was heartfelt.“I’m still not sure we do, Burn.”
I shoved the last of the pastry in my mouth and waved at Burn as I turned to leave.Coffee in hand, I made my way to the cargo hold.The closer I got, the more I could hear voices.
Lacy was in the hold with a couple of men.“Mornin’.”I lifted my cup in greeting as I joined the trio.
“Good morning.”Lacy sent an apologetic look toward the delivery team.“Need something?”
I shook my head.“Just observing.”
She sighed.“Fine.Just stay out of the way.This is dangerous cargo.”
“Be careful,” I said.
Her smile was fleeting.“Thanks,” she said.Then I was dismissed as she and the others returned to their conversation.
I stepped back so I was along the wall.Everyone’s warning about the cargo rang in my ears as the cargo loaders started entering the hold.Each and every box that was placed in our hold was stamped with multiple warning labels.The delivery crew worked quickly and quietly.There was none of the jovial chatter that I expected.
Its absence made me feel both better and worse.Better, in that these men were professionals who took their job and their safety seriously.Worse, because what the hell had I gotten my ship into?
In the middle of the delivery ballet was Lacy.Her coveralls looked fresher and cleaner than usual.Maybe she’d gotten a new one.It fit her well, highlighting her curves.But they were barely noticeable under the air of authority she wore like she’d been born to it.
She was in charge and every single one of these men knew it.Knew it and respected it.
Watching Lacy work was a lesson in cargo handling.And coming from someone who’dbeencargo, it was damn impressive.
And it raised a lot of questions.
“That’s everything, boss.”
She rewarded the speaker with a big smile.“Thanks.You guys did a great job.”
“It’s a pleasure to work with a pro.Let us know next timeFortuna’sin port.”
“Will do,” she said with a bittersweet smile.Was she thinking about not being with the ship?
