The Sea Maiden

by Mary Speer

  “Well, men get that way around women they can’t …um…be with. Actually you’re both acting the same way.”

  “What are you a fortune teller?”

  “No, but like you said I’m a man and if I was not enjoying my wife’s company on a daily basis, I would probably be a basket case like the two of you.” Peter winked at Lynnette.

  “Peter!” Lynnette said feeling embarrassed.

  Peter downed the last of his wine.

  “Well fortune telling time’s over…time to play.”

  Peter kissed Lynnette then went to join the others at play. Captain Drake and the officers sat around the beach talking and watching the crew try to best each other. He turned often in Karina’s direction she gave him her back. The meal was ready and Emmett asked the ladies if they would help him serve, both Karina and Lynnette quickly agreed. They complemented Emmett for his excellent cooking skills. Karina and Lynnette passed out the meals to the crew. Karina avoided Captain Drake.

  “Thank you Lynnette it’s good to see that you’re feeling better.”

  “You’re welcome Captain and yes I am feeling much better.”

  “Give my regards to Karina.”

  Lynnette smiled and went back and sat with Karina, Peter joined them again they ate and passed around more rum and wine to complement their meal. The sun started to set. Karina and Peter both drank more than they should, the joking and laughter became louder and more frequent, which further irritated Captain Drake’s already strained nerves. Then Peter stood up and pulled Karina up challenging her to sword match. Karina looked over at Captain Drake who gave her a warning look. He looked irritated but Karina ignored him and agreed to Peter’s challenge. Their display of sword skills was entertaining the crew enjoyed watching them. They began getting a bit loud and out of hand and a little too familiar with each other.

  “I love that you could be like one of men, Karina.”

  Peter placed his arm around Karina, enjoying their friendly banter; Lynnette began to show signs of discomfort, and Captain Drake tensed. Fueled by the crew’s cheers and whistles they continued their swordplay. Captain Drake and Lynnette seemed to be the only ones not enjoying the spectacle. At one point they stumbled and fell together in a tangle, laughing loudly, the crew whistled at their provocative struggle on the sand. Furious, Captain Drake jumped up.

  “Alright I think the two of you have had enough. Peter you’re drunken behavior has upset your wife you’ve been ignoring her for hours now get over there and pay her some attention! That’s an order!”

  Peter looked over at Lynnette who had turned away from him in apparent disgust. Peter suddenly realized he was in trouble with his wife; he immediately stumbled over to see how he could fix things.

  Then the Captain turned to Karina who still lay on the sand nearly passed out. He reached for one hand and pulled her to a sitting position then placed one arm behind her back and swept his other arm under her knees and carried her over to the water and threw her in. She screamed. He made sure she was totally soaked.

  “YOU DESPICABLE…CAD! WHAT THE…HELL ARE YOU…DOING?”

  Karina screamed and yelled between gulps.

  “Sobering you up! I never want to see you like this again!”

  She tried her best to hit and kick him but she was too drunk.

  “WELL I NEVER WANT TO SEE YOU AGAIN PERIOD!” Karina yelled still under the influence. “Where’s my sword?”

  “It’s not your sword! It’s one of the crews. Party’s over love, time to go!”

  “I’M NOT YOUR LOVE AND I’M NOT GOING ANYWHERE WITH YOU!”

  “Oh yes you are! You’ve provided enough of a spectacle for one day. I’m going back to the ship and so are you!”

  “WELL I’M NOT GOING!”

  “WELL I’M NOT ASKING!”

  He put his arm around her waist and carried her off to the rowboat. Kicking and splashing Karina tried furiously to free herself.

  “YOU SCOUNDREL! WHAT GIVES YOU THE RIGHT TO TREAT ME LIKE THIS?”

  “WELL LET ME SEE, BEHAVING LIKE A DRUNKEN TRAMP IN FRONT OF EVERYONE! USING PETER TO BATE ME AND PLAY YOUR LITTLE GAME! AND YOUR CALLOUS DISREGARD FOR LYNNETTE’S FEELINGS! ARE YOU NOT GOING TO BE SATISFIED TILL YOU BREAK THEM UP?” He scolded.

  Karina quieted down, suddenly feeling ashamed. She tried to get off the rowboat but he would not allow her.

  “I want to go apologize to Lynnette!”

  “You can apologize tomorrow; Peter is trying to repair the damage.”

  “Nothing bad happened anyway.” Karina claimed partly sobered.

  “That’s because I stopped it. You know what the two of you were doing back there in front of Lynnette, the crew and I. It’s called foreplay, a little game couples play to stimulate each other sexually before engaging in intercourse, a moment longer and he would have been on top of you in his drunken state.”

  Karina gasped at his accusation. “THAT’S NOT TRUE! PETER HAS ALWAYS BEEN A GENTLEMAN! YOU’RE THE ONE WHO’S NOT A GENTLEMAN!”

  “NOT WITH TRAMPS I’M NOT AND IF YOU’RE GOING TO BEHAVE LIKE ONE YOU’RE NOT GOING TO DO IT WITH A MARRIED MAN. NOW CLIMB UP!” He ordered.

  Karina tried to stand on the boat wanting to strike him but she was still feeling lightheaded and the boat rocked too much, throwing her off balance she fell back in the water. Eric fished her out of the water from the seat of her breeches, she screeched.

  Back on the row boat she yanked herself away from Eric, straightened herself up as much as possible and started climbing up the side of the ship. Thinking she would just go straight to the guest quarters, happy there was a door she could lock and avoid him. Captain Drake climbed up behind her. She started making her way to the guest quarters but he caught up to her and swung her around, swept his arms under her knees and carried her toward his cabin.

  “WHAT ARE YOU DOING? WHERE ARE YOU TAKING ME? PUT ME DOWN!” Karina yelled and screamed, kicking her feet in the air.

  “You won’t be staying in the guest quarters tonight!”

  “WHAT? WHY?”

  “I told you next time I wasn’t going to be such a gentleman.”

  “I HAVEN’T SLAPPED YOU…YET!”

  “You might as well have.”

  “BUT YOU DESERVE TO BE!” She screamed in indignation, trying her best to free her arms.

  Once in his cabin he kicked the door shut behind him then released her, she quickly ran behind the desk.

  “TAKE OFF THOSE WET CLOTHES!”

  “WHAT! NO! HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND?”

  “Just my patience, if you took them off for Peter without hesitation you can take them off for me. You were naked in front of me before remember?”

  “YOU’RE INSANE OR JEALOUS!”

  “Try disgusted!” He said in a low menacing tone

  Karina knew she had gone too far, her little display with Peter had irritated him beyond reason this time he wouldn’t stop. She scolded herself for angering him; and she shouldn’t have drunk so much either…the wine was working against her. He took a step closer; she backed into the wall afraid he might rip off her shirt she unbuttoned it. Angry but aroused he kissed her until she welcomed his sensual assault, sending waves of desire through her...slowly he removed the shirt.

  CHAPTER 33

  A New Beginning

  The next morning, Karina awoke in a sensual tangle next to him, not sure how to feel about their lovemaking, guilt, pleasure, fear of consequences, what if she got pregnant and he wouldn’t marry her, would she be in the same situation Lavinia Williams was after her father left her to marry another woman. What was clear was that this was not going to be the last time they made love at least so long as she was on his ship. Their proximity on the ship was the true culprit she rationalized but she couldn’t deny the intensity of the experience, it was euphoric or the fact that she sinfully desired it again. In horror she realized this experience could very well have been with Lord Harmon, the thought alone sent shivers of repulsiveness down her spine. />
  Now what was she suppose to do? Behave wantonly at his beck and call? Limit it to once a week…no wait! How would that solve anything…perhaps just leave before it happened again and lock herself in the guest quarters tell everyone she had a religious experience and would be joining a convent upon arrival. She was confused; she looked at him sleeping peacefully. Peter was probably right about him being frustrated. The memory of his caresses was arousing her again. She needed to leave, before he awoke, even though she desired him again. She didn’t want to be just his mistress what respect was there in that. She carefully slid her body from under his bare leg, which lay sensually over her torso and removed herself off the bed as gently as possible. Then she realized her clothes lay in a wet heap next to his breeches. She opened a drawer and pulled out one of his shirts and put it on then opened the door and walked out in it, thankful that everyone had remained on the island except for the man on watch, around the corner and Peter and Lynnette, who had passed by arguing the night before. She took down the clothes she had washed and she promptly went into the guest quarters and locked it, unfortunately the mattress was still out drying, she lied on top of the clothes and went over the details of her sensual encounter with the most alluring and intriguing man she ever met.

  After a while Karina fell asleep having been up with him most of the night. She began to dream; she saw her father smiling at her, children playing and saw Captain Drake take the hand of young boy with dark hair of approximately 3 years of age. The child ran toward her and called her mommy, she felt her heart leap in anticipation of the child jumping in her arms. She felt his small arms encircle her neck. She tried to hug and kiss his sweet little face but he vanished leaving her with a sense of loss.

  Then she woke up to yelling and the sound of running on the deck. Over the commotion she heard the Captain’s cabin door open and close. She sat up then jumped off the bunk and looked out the small porthole but the sounds were coming from the other side of the ship she would need to open the door. She quickly donned a pair of fresh washed breeches she had been sleeping on and went outside barefoot. Everyone was looking over the side of the ship including the Captain. She came up next to Lynnette.

  “What happened?”

  Lynnette didn’t answer her and moved away. Karina remembered her behavior with Peter the day before, apparently Lynnette was still affected by it. Karina looked over the side of the ship. There was a boat and inside she saw a nearly unconscious woman apparently in labor and about to give birth there was also a little girl approximately 4 years old and a young lad of 15 or 16.

  Dr. Tibbs had come down into the boat with his medical bag. A few minutes later the sound of a crying infant rang out then she heard someone say, “It’s a boy!” There was a lot of blood and the woman looked like she was not going to make it. The little girl was apparently terrified and cried for her mother. Everyone was tense. Captain Drake was also watching, as was Peter. Dr. Tibbs ordered they send down a plank to lift the woman up to the deck. One of the crew came up with the newborn; he turned the infant over to Lynnette who was standing nearby. Then they brought up the little girl who went directly to Karina whose long blond hair resembled that of her mother. The child clung to Karina’s side. Her touch seemed almost familiar and the feeling of her small body against her stirred a deep need to protect her as she tried to comfort the teary eyed child.

  “Is my mommy going to be alright?” She asked Karina.

  Karina didn’t know what to say so she merely smiled and nodded her head, trying to reassure the child. The young boy on the boat climbed up next.

  “Is that your brother?” Karina asked the little girl, she shook her head. “Where is your father?” She asked. The little girl shrugged and sucked her thumb.

  “What happened?” Captain Drake asked the lad.

  “We were caught in the storm our ship, the Mist, went down. Captain Thomas put us on the boat and he ordered me to stay with her and her daughter Amelia. My name is Heath Copley. I’m the cabin boy.”

  “How old are you Heath?”

  “Fifteen sir.”

  “Who is the lady that gave birth?”

  “Gail Barrette.”

  “And her husband?”

  “I don’t know sir, they’re missionaries.”

  “Was he on the ship?”

  “No sir, she was alone with her daughter. Then the storm hit and the Captain let down boats and he ordered me into the one with her and the little girl. We have been floating for a long time luckily I brought some water with me. But she started moaning since yesterday I didn’t know what to do. She started praying out loud and then I saw your ship and I started rowing toward it. I think it helped.”

  “How many were aboard?”

  “75 I believe.”

  “Where were you headed?”

  “Panama.”

  “How are you doing?” the Captain asked the boy.

  “Fine sir, hungry and thirsty, that’s all.”

  “Don’t worry lad we have plenty of food and water.”

  They brought up the woman and they took her to the infirmary, where Dr. Tibbs attended her. Captain Drake and Karina barely exchanged glances, he turned toward the child.

  “Is your name Amelia?”

  The child nodded and lifted her arms to Karina indicating she wanted to be picked up. Karina picked her up and the child encircled her little arms around her neck. Karina was suddenly reminded of her dream except that this was a girl not a boy.

  Lynnette held the baby and followed Dr. Tibbs and the ailing woman to the infirmary. The birth of the child was a humbling experience for everyone especially Peter and Captain Drake who had never witnessed a birth before. They looked at Karina and Lynnette each holding a child, for Peter it was sobering reality of his own impending fatherhood, for Captain Drake a graphic possibility. Although the dance of love and seduction was a powerful stimulant it was also the path to a new and complex life.

  Karina followed Lynnette close behind carrying the older child who held onto her tightly. They could not all go inside the small room so they waited outside. Dr. Tibbs came out and shook his head,

  “Is she…?” Karina asked fearfully.

  “No but it won’t be long. She has lost too much blood. She wants to see her children.”

  Karina and Lynnette went into the infirmary with the children; Lynnette placed the baby on the woman’s chest. Lynnette could not hold back the tears. Karina put the older child down. Amelia placed her head on her mother’s side and sucked her thumb while the baby nursed at her mother’s breast bonding with his mother. Dr. Tibbs asked both Karina and Lynnette to step out and let the woman be with her children for as long as she could. The day went on. Captain Drake sent out boats to look for more survivors but the boats came back empty except for crew. Near sunset Dr. Tibbs came out of the infirmary. Everyone tensed ready for bad news.

  “I don’t know what is happening in there, all my medical training indicates that she could not possibly survive the blood loss…but she’s stronger than I thought and seems to be recovering. I’m not a religious man but I believe we are witnessing a miracle.” Dr. Tibbs eyes grew moist, as did both Karina and Lynnette’s. “All of us have been through some challenging moments on this voyage perhaps today should be a day of reflection of our own good fate and be more grateful and forgiving.”

  Karina approached Lynnette, Lynnette was about to move away but after Dr. Tibbs speech she stayed and remained quiet.

  “Lynnette I just wanted to apologize for my behavior yesterday, please forgive me?” Karina said as she touched her shoulder, “You know you’re like a sister to me, I was angry at Captain Drake but I never meant to hurt you.”

  After a long pause,

  “I know Karina and you know I can’t stay mad at you, and it was not just you, Peter and I talked about it and he has apologized profusely. You both mean so much to me but wine can make even the wisest people behave badly. For your own good please don’t drink like that again…promis
e me?”

  “Yes, I promise with all my heart. I’m sorry.”

  Karina and Lynnette embraced. Then Dr. Tibbs came out.

  “Karina, I need to ask a great favor from you. Mrs. Barrett will be in need of much rest if she is to fully recover and the infirmary is inadequate…would you be willing to let her have the guest quarters for her and the baby? I know that means you would have to stay in the Captain’s cabin, so I will speak to the Captain regarding that. Karina sighed realizing what that meant for her… to become the Captains mistress in everyone’s eyes. Her dream of a story book wedding was fading fast but she nodded her head in agreement.

  “Yes of course Dr. Tibbs. I shall make arrangements for her immediately.”

  “Thank you Karina, I’m sure Captain Drake will be a gentleman and allow you to stay in his cabin.”

  Dr. Tibbs turned, feeling guilty for having to place Karina in the Captain quarters, knowing his attraction for her. Karina knew this new predicament would only fuel the, already, inappropriate relationship, no chance of gentleman behavior anymore.

  “Oh… Karina! Little Amelia will need to keep you company. The bunk in the guest quarters is not big enough for the three of them. I’m sure Captain Drake will be a gentleman about this as well.” Dr. Tibbs added, feeling less guilt hoping the child might deter romantic activity.

  Karina smiled thinking the same thing perhaps the child’s presence would serve as chaperone and help curb the Captain’s sensual appetite.

  They got under way again. Karina went to see Mrs. Barrett and her children.

  “Hello Mrs. Barrett, how are you feeling?”

  Gail Barrett was an attractive woman in her mid thirties with long blond hair much like Karina’s, which was the reason little Amelia gravitated toward her.

  “Thank you all for helping us. I know God placed all of you here. We were the least likely to survive in that storm and in my condition and the Lord in His great mercy placed this ship equipped with a doctor in out path. He never ceases to amaze me.” Karina smiled. “I’m feeling much better thank you for asking and please call me Gail. What is your name?”