It's Tuesday again. How does that always happen so quickly?
Also, it's chapter TEN. Woah. Feels like just yesterday I was clicking "publish" on chapter one! Time flies when you're having fun.
Read on homies, read on.
XOXO
sophie9630
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TEN
Abbie found sleeping to be very difficult that night.
Not only was the caffeine still coursing through her veins, but there was also something about the way Finn looked at her while they danced that made thinking about anything else nearly impossible. There was something hidden behind his usually chilly blue eyes; something warm, something...genuine.
It was a look so unlike those of which she received often from Haughtington that Abbie could not place a finger on what it may be.
Her chauvinistic fiancé often gazed at Abbie as though she were a prized mare. She was appealing to look at and served only the purpose of carrying the prize stallion's colts.
She meant nothing to him unless she was on his arm, staying silent, ever obedient to her future husband's wishes. The things Abbie dreamed of never occurred to him.
Finn had a way of making Abbie feel like he could see all the way down into her heart, to see the things she wanted and feared and loved and hated. Despite the fact that he often annoyed her to no end, Finn was the first man Abbie could ever recall who seemed to deeply care about Abbie's perspective of life.
They had talked well into the night, long after the men had wearied of dancing and had taken to poker below deck. The sound of crashing waves on something other than the wooden hull of The Iron Lady was enough to keep Abbie above deck.
Moreover, she was far too bouncy from drinking three cups of coffee to think about sleep. Added to the exhilaration of the presence of land, the evening felt as though it were ripe with opportunity.
The conversation hadn't started out with the intention of continuing all night. But when Abbie shared about her life and as she listened to Finn talk about his, suddenly the caffeine wasn't the only thing keeping Abbie from sleep.
"Abbie," Finn started, gripping the banister and heaving a sigh. "Things are very complicated right now, and I wish they weren't. It makes explaining them very...Complicated. Because I wish I could explain everything that is going on right now, but I can't." For the first time since they'd met, Abbie had been surprised to find Finn scrambling for words.
"No, I understand. You're ready to be home. I don't blame you; staying away from home is not easy." She replied, resisting the urge to lay her hand over his.
"It isn't that, Abbie. Though I must say I agree with you. I can't admit this to the guys but, I miss home more and more the longer I stay aboard this ship..."
From there they'd talked about his father, and then what lead Finn to choose piracy.
Abbie was surprised to learn that Finn had been working at the docks with his father since age ten. He'd hauled cargo to and from ships as they sat in the harbor, lifting boxes and crates that Abbie guessed had weighed more than Finn at the time.
It made sense then, how Port had found him so quickly; an eager young boy, devastated by the loss of his father and ready to prove himself a man for his family.
She then had discovered that Finn had a younger sister named Shannon, who was married three years after Finn made The Iron Lady his home. She had been thirteen. Abbie shuddered to imagine a life of wifehood for such a young girl, but Finn spoke as if there had been no other choice.
Abbie recalled that for the poor, often marriage was a way to come into wealth and power. Whereas the people she knew married almost for sport, people like Finn's sister did it out of necessity.
Two years later the man deserted Shannon with no warning, leaving her pregnant with their second child in her dying mother's home. Finn had been away six months before returning home to find his niece born to a very distraught Shannon.
"From what I could tell, Shannon was very lucky to have even been alive. My niece, Molly, she's a big 'un." Finn said with a chuckle. He grew sober again as he continued. "Nearly killed her mum bein' born."
But somehow, Shannon had prevailed and now there was another hungry mouth to be fed in the household. Finn tried to stay home as often as he could, but Port was not appreciative of his finest crewmember staying behind as they cruised the seven seas. Visits home became less frequent and Finn soon found life aboard The Iron Lady unfulfilling.
"But, 'at's enough about me," he said. Finn had been fidgeting as he told his story, and Abbie could tell by his frequent throat clearing that he was uncomfortable.
And so she delved into her own life story.
"You already know my mother died when I was thirteen," she mused. "Life afterwards was one big blur. I recall vaguely my grandmother staying with us for the next few months, but the specific details... Well, it's like I can see them, but they are hidden by a curtain. I know what's behind the curtain...but because I cannot see, I don't believe it."
Finn tilted his head to one side and stared at her through squinted eyes. Abbie had feared that he would laugh at her, but she saw no judgment in his eyes. They stayed focused on her as she continued speaking, intently watching as she delved into her past.
And those eyes were now still crystal clear in Abbie's mind as she stared up at the ceiling trying unsuccessfully to fall asleep.
She wondered what Finn was thinking about at that particular moment. He was probably fast asleep having not had a single cup of coffee.
But if he were awake... Was he mulling over what Abbie had shared the way she was with what he'd shared? Abbie liked the idea of Finn thinking about her. It gave her a strange sensation in the pit of her stomach and warmed her face with a crimson blush.
She rolled over on her side contemplating what this might mean. No one had ever successfully managed to capture Abbie's attention the way Finn did. Even when he was being an unbearable git, somehow he was still the first person she wanted to talk to whenever she was lonely.
She figured it was perhaps the fact that she wanted to prove to him that he could not scare her away with his rude comments and harsh demeanor. Or perhaps it was because unlike every other man in her life, Finn seemed to take genuine interest in what Abbie had to say.
Whatever it meant kept Abbie awake long into the evening until muffled voices from the poker game began to fade and the sound of the ocean meeting land gently lulled her to sleep.
"Where are you going?" Abbie leaned overboard as Finn descended the rope ladder. He had risen especially early for breakfast duty not bothering with the fact that half the crew had yet to rise.
It was silly of her to ask; she knew where Finn planned to go.
"I believe you know where I am going, Abbie," he replied with an exasperated sigh. He hopped down into the rowboat with caution and looked up at her through squinted eyes.
"Well, can I go?" She called as he turned to release the ropes holding the boat to the ship.
"I also believe you know the answer to that, but just in case you don't; no. The answer is no."
"But Finn, why not? You're going to leave me here with grouchy pirates who are going to wake up to realize breakfast has already been sitting out for an hour? Getting covered in salt water and bird droppings and sand..."
"Abbie, I put a cloth over it, so please don't act like I'm trying to poison my men with the elements." Her guilt wasn't working. Finn was already adjusting the oars and looked as though he had been ready to leave two hours ago.
"The answer is still no!" He called, pulling away from the ship with a mighty stroke of the oars.
With a dramatic sigh for emphasis, Abbie crossed her arms and twirled around, hoping to appear irritated.
Of course, she had known what Finn's response would be to her asking to visit his home.
And naturally, she had devised a plan to go anyway. She smiled wickedly as she scanned the deck for Tom.
On their way up from below deck last night, Tom and Joe had made mention of visiting some friends ashore. If her I-haven't-been-on-land-since-my-wedding act would work on anyone, she was certain it would be Tom and Joe. They seemed to be the most sympathetic on board; a characteristic Abbie felt no shame in exploiting.
Growing up in the lap of luxury, Abbie had become accustomed to getting what she wanted. And if what she wanted was not available, finding ways to obtain what she wanted by using any means necessary. She had shed many a fake tear over China dolls not received and ponies not ridden.
Some people called it spoiled; Abbie preferred to think of it as being resourceful.
Indeed, as she began to pout and sniffle, Tom and Joe became wet clay in her hands. She could tell by their furrowed brows and awkward lack of eye contact that they felt genuinely obligated to help her. Unfortunately they didn't seem too willing to actually assist her.
"Uh, Miss Abbie, well, these aren't the kind of 'friends' I think you need to be spending time with..." Joe stammered awkwardly, the light brown skin of his face turning red with embarrassment.
"Yeah," Tom said, clearing his throat. "They ain't the sorta company ladies like yourself oughta be hangin' around."
Abbie bit her lip and sighed. "I...I suppose I understand. I just thought that perhaps it would be a treat for me to stretch my legs on shore and spend some time around other people." She placed a hand over her heart, lowering her tone slightly. "It's not that I haven't enjoyed my time getting to know you gentlemen...It's just that I've missed having real conversation..."
Hoping she sounded as though she'd been thinking aloud, Abbie paused for effect. She watched as Joe eyed her quizzically and waited for her words to register with Tom. When they did, she quickly stumbled out an explanation.
"I just meant with another woman! It has been so long since I've been able to share interests with women like myself!" Their eyes flooded with guilt over having thought otherwise, and Abbie knew she'd won.
"Look, Miss Abbie," Tom began, still avoiding her gaze. "We'd...love...to have you go with us but, you're gonna have to check in with Port about leaving the ship. You are our prisoner and we usually don't let prisoners just waltz around unattended..."
Abbie didn't have to hear any more before she bounded off to find the captain. Getting Port to accept her proposal would prove to be a bit of a challenge, Abbie knew, but she hoped today he would be open to listening. She was relying on his eagerness to leave The Iron Lady for dry land.
She found him examining the same iron cannons that little less than a week ago had saved their lives. He was leaning against the wall again, appearing almost to be testing its security with his weight.
"Port I'd..."
The captain threw up a hand. "Ye want to go to land don't ye?" It was frightening how quickly he'd realized her intentions. Perhaps this was going to be more of a challenge than Abbie had anticipated. Port continued.
"Ya do understand when I say 'no' why I must say it, correct?"
Abbie nodded ready to propose her argument.
Before she took a breath to begin, Port raised his hand again. "Look, I don't need ta hear yer reasonin' Abbie. I of all people know how hard it is ta miss the land sometimes. That in no way will change my mind, however." Abbie's face fell and she began to turn slowly.
"Wait, wait, wait I ain't done speakin'. I'm thinkin' yer probably wonderin' where that scalawag Finn has run off to, huh?" Another startling realization. Obviously Captain Porter kept close tabs on his crew, even from below deck.
"Look, 'tween you and me, I think it might be best if he has some...Company this time. I'm more'n a little worried he might actually leave this time, and perhaps if there were someone there of your persuasion," he winked at her and continued, not giving her time to contemplate it. "He might come back. So, for all intents and purposes, the answer is no." Abbie's head was spinning. Port was simply downright confusing.
"But, captain, I thought..." Abbie wasn't all that sure what she thought at the moment.
Port winked again. "Look, ye can go, but...My answer is no." Abbie sighed. She thought better than to question the captain's crazy enigma of a response. She had gotten what she wanted and that was that.
Tom and Joe seemed just as confused when Abbie replied that Port had given her permission to go along. They had told her she could join, however, and begrudgingly lowered the rowboat after she'd settled in.
In less than five minutes the boat slid into the sand with a soft squish. Abbie nearly tripped over the side in excitement. She carefully steadied herself, but no sooner than her feet touched the shore did she sink down to her knees in pure bliss.
Tom and Joe gave her quizzical looks as they hauled the rowboat next to the one Finn had dragged ashore. They secured it with a rope to a small post they poked in the ground and off they went, Abbie close in tow.
There was a small gravel path leading from the sand up to a thin dirt road that snaked its way up a grassy hill. The crunch of the rocks underfoot matched the rhythm of Abbie's quickening heartbeat. Taking a deep breath in, the gentle aroma of dirt and grass and flowers danced in her nostrils. It was wonderful to have such earthy substances tantalize her senses.
Leaves on dozens of trees flapped like sails in the wind; birds crowded in large flocks under their shade. The knee-high blades of grass were shades of dazzling green and cheerful yellow. Abbie could feel it tickle her legs as the road became over-grown.
Other than France, Abbie had never been far away from home. England and Ireland were only a small body of water apart from each other, and yet she had never ventured to her western neighbor. Adventure was not her father's sport any more, and he had chosen to keep travel limited to London, and occasionally northern England.
Excitement bubbled through her veins, and Abbie had to remind herself that she was not here to explore. No matter how terribly she longed to, right now her captain-approved mission was to find Finn.
Hopefully he wouldn't be too frustrated with her if she did manage to find him. She worried for a moment that he would be too far gone, and that she'd have to stay with Tom and Joe as guests with their inappropriate friends. Which led her to wonder just what kind of people the pair spent their time with outside of the crew.
The dusty road soon became visible again, and with it came the sounds of a bustling marketplace. Looking up, Abbie found a quaint little arrangement of merchant stalls and wooden storefronts. Men and women toted children, donkeys, cows, and chickens through the square.
What a grand sight to see people again! Abbie felt a grin pulling at her lips as she followed Tom and Joe into the throngs of villagers.
A foreign language greeted her ears, but Abbie knew what was being said. Men were bargaining for rice, women counting out potatoes. Merchants were selling exotic spices and children were laughing at jokes told with great enthusiasm. Life was all around her and it filled Abbie to the core.
Tom and Joe had come to rest in front of a decently sized wooden building with thick curtains on the windows and a dark wooden door. Their friends lived in the marketplace? Abbie was given little time to wonder as another man stumbled his way past her, accidentally knocking into her and sending her around the corner.
The alley reeked of alcohol and some sort of strange smoke clouded the air. Two scantily clad women held cigars in their hands and at their feet were numerous empty bottles of gin. They hardly noticed the wide-eyed, out-of-place girl and continued to smoke.
A plump, frizzy-haired woman in an exaggeratedly low-cut blouse shoved open a door on the side of the building that Abbie hadn't noticed.
"Break is over, ladies. Let's get going inside again. Time is money and money is walking in the door as we speak."
Abbie was surprised that she had understood the words; they were English. But as she shuffled quickly back around the corner, she let their meaning sink in, suddenly very aware of what sort of friends the men were visiting.
It made sense then, their uncomfortable demeanor when Abbie asked to tag along.
She wasn't sure if she ought to feel disgusted that Tom and Joe would exploit these women so willingly, or saddened that the women would allow men to use them as such.
Neither man could meet her eyes as she rounded the corner again. "Look, Abbie..." Tom began, but Abbie stopped him as Port had done to her.
"Tom, I don't need you to explain. To be truthful, I don't intend to stay much longer. I...I'm going to look for Finn. Port, uh, Port sent me so I'm just going to leave you to your...Business."
"Doya even know whereya plan to go?" Joe sounded skeptical. Abbie was indeed unsure, and she expressed so to him. Tom scratched the back of his head awkwardly, and Joe stammered to find something to say. It was clear that they didn't want her to stay, but the idea of letting her wander around alone on a seemingly fruitless quest was also not a great option.
"Yer not lyin' to us now are ya?"
"No! No, Joe, of course not. I know it sounds crazy, but that's why Captain let me off the ship. He trusted me to keep an eye on Finn when he went home..."
"Ah, well, if ye've got permission from the cap'n then we can't stop ya. But, uh, promise ye'll meet us 'cross the street at that there pub when ye come back?" Abbie nodded energetically.
Joe clearly still believed the whole thing a farce, but his desire to visit his...friends...was more appealing than babysitting Abbie for the next few hours. He begrudgingly grunted his agreement and the pair slinked inside the darkened doorway.
Left to her own devises Abbie decided that she would follow the central road north until she had any better idea. If she hadn't been worried about all the time she'd lost dealing with Tom and Joe, she would have taken the afternoon to browse the village.
Just being around so many people brought Abbie back to life before her kidnapping, and she could feel the familiarity of a marketplace surrounding consuming her. She wanted to sample baked goods and try on handmade bonnets.
But, right now she wanted to find Finn, so all of those things could wait.
It hadn't occurred to Abbie that she could potentially lose her way as she wandered around on her own. She momentarily worried about the possibility of being kidnapped in this foreign place, but then nearly choked on laughter realizing the irony.
As if she could be dragged into something worse than being held prisoner aboard a pirate ship. Her fears were dispelled as she moved through the little marketplace.
As was the case aboard The Iron Lady, it was already evident that Finn would be taller than the majority of the crowd. Surely finding him here would not be a challenge, no matter how long ago he had come to shore. Abbie began wandering up the path that cut through the square and divided it in two.
On one side, she saw stalls overflowing with produce and livestock for sale. On the other side, handcrafted goods hung from stall roofs and climbed up their walls. She noted too, the changing quality of the stands as she made her way down the path.
The wealthier merchants appeared to cluster together closer to the ocean-side of the market. There was probably a dock somewhere close, and the locals were eager to sell their goods to any passing traveler.
But as she continued walking, the condition of the market seemed to worsen. Dilapidated wooden frames that looked barely stable enough to stand housed merchants in unkempt clothing. People moving in and out of stalls were scarcely seen. The selection decreased greatly, too, and Abbie began to wonder how these people could make a living competing with the other more well off merchants.
A baby wailed in hunger from the stall of one woman who had a single crate of apples and one goat to sell. As Abbie moved past her, the woman offered a faint smile and a simple nod. Her eyes were mahogany and her grey hair framed a weary face.
Another couple sat on a cloth blanket with no stall over their head, cheeses wrapped in brown cloths scattered at their feet.
Two women, who Abbie guessed were sisters by their strikingly similar features, held out dresses made from thin light green material as she passed. Abbie's heart broke having to pass them by, knowing that she probably had a closet in England with more dresses than these women had sold or even owned in a lifetime of working.
She was nearing what appeared to be a small neighborhood at the end of the path. Old buildings that didn't seem fit to live in stood sparsely throughout a field of yellowing grass. Cows so frail that Abbie could see their ribs munched lazily on the thinning patch, and chickens clucked as they scurried by in search of food.
Children with dirt-covered faces squealed in delight as they made sport of throwing rocks at bottles lined along an old brick wall. Women hung clothing on lines, but as far as Abbie could tell they were nothing but rags.
All around her, the world she saw was so unfamiliar. Growing up in a successful businessman's home, Abbie had never seen so much poverty. It wasn't until she had heard the description of Finn's life that anything like this had truly been brought to her attention. She had lived a very sheltered life, unaware of the hardships that people could live through.
As she stared at the tiny market before her, Abbie could feel something change in her. If this was where Finn had spent his early life, she very easily understood the lure of piracy. She no longer questioned his decision to board The Iron Lady.
As her thoughts turned to him, she spotted the familiar bob of blonde hair bent over a patch of wildflowers. Dashing behind a large stack of hay bales, Abbie hoped Finn hadn't noticed her.
By the way he was intently surveying the flowers, though, it appeared as though he were blissfully unaware of the world around him. It was interesting to her that while all she saw was dirt and poverty, Finn had found the most beautiful part of this little neighborhood and reveled in it silently.
Careful to avoid exposing too much of herself, Abbie peaked around the corner again. A happy little grin found its home on Finn's lips, an unusual change to the typically stoic, thin-lipped smirk that never seemed to leave his face. She could almost hear him humming to himself as he bent to break the stems of a dozen flowers. Curiously, she watched as he arranged and rearranged the little bouquet.
He placed three large white daisies in the middle, and surrounded them with several vivid violets. Shaking his head, he threw a handful to the ground and replaced them with pink flowers that Abbie couldn't identify. Finally, he reached for some large sprigs of clover, encompassing the entire bouquet with it. He then tied it at the bottom with a small string. Turning on his heel, he seemed to almost bounce down the road.
Abbie's eyes followed him intently as he made his way to a small shack just barely two strides from the flower patch. There were no windows, only holes in the wall covered by thin blue sheets. The door was not a door, but rather a large piece of wood that rested awkwardly against the frame.
The house itself was only slightly taller than Finn, and Abbie wondered if he was going to be able to fit.
Despite the condition of the house, though, Finn looked positively radiant. His whole demeanor showed nothing but eagerness; from the way he straightened his posture to the way he held his chin slightly higher than usual. He knocked on the wood and bounced from foot to foot, awaiting a response.
A small face peered out from behind the curtain, and a cry of utter happiness filled the air. The door flew away from the frame, landing with a crack against the ground. Two children no higher than Finn's knees barreled out of the house and collided with him.
Knowing that his wound was still relatively fresh, Abbie expected Finn to wince in pain. But all he did was laugh and squeeze the young ones, stooping to kiss each on the head.
Abbie's heart was happily beating in her chest in excitement as she watched the reunion. It was as though she could feel the joy this family was sharing, and she couldn't keep herself from smiling.
The boy, eyes aglow with the purest of delights, was now slung over his uncle's shoulder. He giggled furiously and squirmed to break free from the firm grip that Abbie knew all-too well. The boy's head reared in laughter, and he noticed the wide-eyed girl peaking from behind a bale of hay.
He cocked his head quizzically and raised a tiny hand to wave. Abbie darted behind the bale, heart beating frantically for a new reason. She suddenly regretted having come off the boat in the first place. Who was she to think that she could intrude on Finn's personal life? Finn was going to be furious with her and it was going to ruin the cheerful reuniting of his family.
She hoped against hope that his nephew would make no mention of the strange girl he had seen. However, Abbie knew that the mouths of children were rarely able to keep such interesting information contained.
If I move fast enough, perhaps I can get away before anyone else sees me, she thought. Quickly, Abbie pivoted to face the market. She was about to take off when a familiar Irish accent crooned closely in her ear and a calloused hand grabbed her wrist.
"Now, ya know darlin' when following sum'un it's best to keep yourself outa sight, lest they see you and catch on."
Abbie's heart leapt to her throat. She slowly turned to Finn, expecting to see outrage written on his face. What she found surprised her even more.
He was grinning fromear to ear.
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I can't say enough how much I appreciate all the support you guys are showing NLNP. (hehe that's a fun acronym). Don't think I am not noticing the number of reads go up even when the votes don't go up, or even the fact that I'm receiving your votes at all. Cos I totally am, and I am totally STOKED! :D
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