Could I make it that far right now?
Not yet.
Back at the inn, I’d probably have the town doctor come in and check on me.
He’d be cold. Calculated.
We’d eat food provided by the inn.
But I couldn’t leave yet.
Shouldn’t overdo it when I was healing at a steady pace.
I looked at Ginger and she pursed her lips. It was an awkward moment.
Part of me wanted to go, to be reunited with my crewand figure things out.
And the other part knew I was not yet recovered to take such a journey.
“I don’t want to impose. I’ve been here long enough–” I started to say when Ginger placed her hand on mine.
It caused a million foreign feelings inside of me. And self consciousness too. I didn’t want my men to see me like this.
But how could I get angry at her?
“You should probably wait a few more days–even a week or so,” she said, adding, “And you are welcome to stay here.”
I nodded and turned to my men.
Thatcher grinned. “Don’t get too comfortable here, Captain. You're starting to go soft.”
Was I?
I raised a brow. “Get back out there before I throw something.”
They left with a salute and a bit more spring in their step.
It was good to see each other. To know that we’d all survived.
We had a long road ahead, but at least we were alive.
Once they were gone, Ginger looked at me. I met her gaze. Neither of us said anything for a long while. The wind rustled through the trees again. The waves broke in the distance.
Finally, I leaned back again. Stared at the palm trees.
She lay down beside me.
Silent.
“Your cousin… did you grow up together?” she asked.
I watched the light filtering through the fronds. “Yes. Started out on a different whaling ship, then he jumped on when I started my own business.”
“How did you get the money for a ship?”
“Leased it, then paid it off quickly with the whale oil.”
Those had been very rough times. Rough beginnings.
