Free Secrets of the Realm by Bev Stout Page A

lowered into their graves. She knew no well-intentioned words could take away the pain.
    Silently, Doc extinguished the candle.

 
    CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
     
    Three days' worth of grease clung to Annie's clothes. Delivering meals to the captain's cabin had been her only break from working in the galley.
    "Good evening, Captain Hawke." Annie kicked the door shut with her foot as she balanced the cumbersome dinner tray in her hands. "Good evening Mr. Montgomery."
    Sitting at the gate-leg table, the first mate touched the tip of his nose with his finger. "Flour," he said.
    "Oh." Annie put the plates down with a clatter before wiping off the smudge with her sleeve. "Is it gone?"
    Mr. Montgomery nodded.
    "Andrés did you cook these chickens?" Captain Hawke asked.
    Annie forced a smile. "No, but I plucked them."
    The captain leaned back in his chair. "Mr. Waverly is quite pleased with your work in the galley. In fact, he wants you to work there for the remainder of our voyage."
    "Captain, I beg of you, I would rather die than pluck another chicken as long as I live."
    "And to think, I thought you had found your life's work."
    "Jonathan," Mr. Montgomery interrupted. "Don't tease the lad. Tell him."
    Annie placed the back of her hands on her hips, then realizing how she must look, put her arms by her sides and shifted her weight onto one leg. "Tell me what?"
    "While 'tis true Mr. Waverly is pleased with your work, Mr. Allan is even more impressed with your knot-tying skills. Tomorrow, after you have tidied up my cabin, you will report to the bosun." He shook his finger at her. "Don't do anything rash this time."
    "Oh, no, Captain. I promise I will behave myself, and I will eat two bowls of porridge so that I am extra strong to climb the ratlines. And…"
    "Whoa, boy. He said nothing about sending you aloft."
    Annie thought a moment. "Whatever Mr. Allan wants me to do, it will be better than working in the galley. No offense to Mr. Waverly." This time Annie's smile was genuine as she refilled the captain's and Mr. Montgomery's tankards with Taylor's Port. "You won't regret this, Captain."
    "I had better not." Captain Hawke clanked his tankard with Mr. Montgomery.
    "Can I get either of you gentlemen anything else?"
    "No, we are fine," Captain Hawke said.
    Annie walked toward the door. She looked at Captain Hawke over her shoulder. "Will you be playing chess with Doc this evening?"
    "Aye." His eyes fixed on Annie's cap. "Andrés, take off your cap. There has not been a spit of rain. Besides, you have not been outside for days."
    "I will remove it if you wish, Captain, but I have grown quite fond of it."
    "I see." Captain Hawke stroked his short beard.
    "Let the lad be, Jonathan," Mr. Montgomery said. "At least Andrés isn't running around half-naked like Ainsworth. I have often wondered if that sailor even owns a shirt."
    Annie cleared her throat, trying hard not to laugh. "If there isn't anything else, Captain, I will be on my way," she said as she opened the door. "Enjoy your chess game with Doc."

 
    CHAPTER NINETEEN
     
    Captain Hawke hunched over the table, staring intently at the chessboard. A smile crept across his face as he moved his bishop. "Checkmate."
    "Ah, good move," Doc said. "When are you going to play a game with Andrés? I have been teaching him, you know. He is a quick learner."
    "Speaking of the boy," the captain said. "It is time he moved into the fo'c'sle with the rest of the crew. His infection , if he ever had one , must be gone by now."
    "Andrés stays with me!"
    Captain Hawke could not hide his astonishment at the outburst coming from his mild-mannered friend. "Since when do you give me orders?"
    "When it comes to Andrés' safety, I will do whatever is necessary."
    "What does this have to do with Andrés' safety? All I said was that he needs to move into the fo'c'sle."
    Doc fidgeted with a chess piece. "I apologize, Jonathan. It's just that given the lad's frail build and his tender age, I feel it better he remains