Free To Ocean's End by S.M Welles Page B

glares before he left.
    “Sam, Rammus, make sure the deck runs like clockwork.” I glanced at Jessie, who was halfway through her plate. “I’ve got only a few days. Keep that in mind. Tethys picked a real bad time to delay us. And Sam, keep on eye on Jacobi.” Sam nodded.
    Mido caught up and finished breakfast with me and the others, then cleared the table as Sam and Rammus filed out, leaving just me seated. I looked at Jessie again, huddling near the fridge. “You. Sit. Now. I need to talk to you about something.” Fear played across her dark eyes. She struggled to bring herself closer to the table. Of course she was scared. I’d dropped the “we need to talk” line. Every last subordinate cowered at those words whether they had reason to or not. I’d given up sugarcoating them long ago. “Never mind. Just stand.” Anything to get her to calm down. The shock of her having stumbled onto my ship had worn off, giving way for sympathy. I had a feeling she was a sweet kid under that mountain of fear.
    Mido started filling one side of the sink with hot, soapy water. O’Toole hovered near the sink, gibbering now and then. Jessie’s frightened gaze shot to him every time he made a noise.
    I put my elbows on the table and steepled my hands. “Jessie, it has come to my attention that you’re a good fighter.” Her fear switched to confusion. The side of my head and my entire torso were quite tender from yesterday. My injuries felt worse upon waking from my three-hour nap. I’d popped three painkillers maybe an hour ago. Three hundred years later, pills still did nothing to alleviate pain but, like a sucker, I bought them anyway. “Until I get you home, I’d like to hire you as a bodyguard.” Her mouth dropped open. “For my techies.” I’d thought about this offer long and hard. “And for anyone else on this ship whenever I see fit.” Jessie sat up straighter. “I’ll give you until we disembark to make a decision. You can either go home with no money, or go home with some money. Either way, you’re working off the clothes and boots I’ve provided for you.” I stood and put my trench coat back on, then ran a hand through my greasy hair. Yeah, I needed to make a point to shower before lockdown.
    “Why would you want me as a bodyguard?” She sounded genuinely curious. Mido glanced over a bare shoulder. O’Toole was fiddling with the strings to his hood and keeping quiet.
    I shoved my hands in my pockets. “You’re a girl and you hit hard. Everywhere we go we’re surrounded by greedy opportunists. You’ll have the element of surprise on your side. They’ll all expect you to cower behind the man you’re guarding. Just think about the job. I don’t want you to decide right now.”
    “Do you really think a bunch of guys will let me be their bodyguard?”
    “No, but there’s nothing my crew can do about it if I made it an order. Sam ‘n’ Scully might go all chivalrous on you, but they’d suck it up if I tell them to. Cancer and Jacobi’ll whine but they’ll put up. They know better than to cross me.”
    Mido said, “I think it’d be hot to watch you beat up a pirate.”
    Jessie gave him a flat glare.
    He raised his soapy hands in defense. “Just sayin’.” He turned back to the dishes. O’Toole stuck a finger in the water then stuck it in his mouth. “O’Toole, don’t do that.” O’Toole spat and a few flecks landed on Mido’s shoulder, who made a disgusted frown. He flicked some soapy water and the Irishman made a monkey-like whimper, then ran off in the direction of the cargo hold. Mido brushed off his shoulder and resumed dishwashing.
    I said to Jessie, “Start thinking. I’ve got two crew members to cremate because they didn’t know how to fight.” Nope, guilting people into doing what I wanted wasn’t beneath me. “Now go tell Sam what you need added to the supplies list.”
    *     *     *
    I oversaw preparations from the wheelhouse while organizing my charts