Free Seacrets by Adrianna Wingate

his mind was otherwise engaged in matters awaiting him in his cabin. The more inebriated Daniel became the more he focused on Maura and less on the histrionics of he and Donny’s friendship. Finally Captain Robertson began to wane as the hour was becoming late. He begged forgiveness from Daniel, but needed to get some shuteye for the long journey back to Ireland. They had their men transfer the prisoners from their ship to the Avalon's lock up, below deck. The two old friends bid each other farewell and hoped to run into one another, again, soon.
    Daniel entered his cabin to find Maura sleeping on her bunk, curled up in a wool blanket. It was evident the fire in the woodstove had gone out a while ago as it was cold in his cabin. He wasn't feeling the effects of the cold, as he had quite a bit if liquor in him to keep his body warm. He threw a few logs in the stove and began to stoke the embers.
    He looked over at Maura and was absolutely captivated by her innocence and her natural beauty.  He had thought for a brief moment he'd confide to his friend, Donny, of his predicament and send her back to Ireland with him . But something inside would not let him. He reasoned with himself she'd only end up in the same quandary she was presently in, which is to hide her identity from the men aboard Captain Robertson’s ship. But if he did send her with Donny, then she'd no longer be his problem.
    He went back and forth in his mind. Should he let her stay with him or have her go and become someone else’s problem? Looking over at her, right now, he couldn't see much of a problem. But he knew living in the same quarters, with her, for the next few months would definitely be a test of his will to be able to keep his hands off of her, for sure. He wanted to go to her right then and there and awaken her with lustful kisses, to climb in beside her and warm her body with his own. To give Maura her first lessons in the pleasures of lovemaking. But he knew he was too consumed by all the liquor he had ingested to be able to make good judgment of his thoughts. He would wait to see what the light of day would bring. If he took her before they landed in Boston, it would be when he was sober and she would hopefully be willing and unafraid. He continued to stoke the embers in the stove while reasoning with himself over how best to manage this delicate dilemma. He was not a rapist, he told himself. But he did think back to earlier in the day, when she was assisting him with his bath that she seemed willing to succumb to his passion for her. But, that too, could have been a young woman’s curiosity, and should he have advanced further, would it have become rape? He knew, in earnest, he would not have been able to stop, once he got started. So he relented to himself he had made the correct choice to stop and walk away.
    The cabin was beginning to warm, nicely. He undressed and climbed into his bunk, but sleep would be very difficult with Maura just feet away from him and this morning's lustful kiss still burning in his memory.
    §
    The sunshine poured through the panes of the bay window above Daniel's bunk. He awoke to the smell of pork, eggs, coffee and freshly baked Irish soda bread.
    Maura had awoken hours before the cook and rest of the crew. She went to the galley and collected all the ingredients she needed to make a most wonderful breakfast. She even coaxed the hens into giving up a few extra eggs. In order to assemble the soda bread, she had to make a few substitutions. But all in all the bread didn't turn out too awful bad. It was warm, that's all that mattered to her. She was tired of the same breakfast of warm cornmeal and weak coffee. 
    "Good morn to ya sir", Maura greeted Daniel with a soft voice and a warm smile. Maura sensed she may have better luck not angering him if he were gently awoken with a smile and a decent meal. She was definitely more happy this morning if for no other reason than she did not have to be careful of giving