Chapter 2
All was quiet save the occasional call of the night watch and the slapping of water against the hull of the ship. Katrina peered around the cabin to see that her father was asleep and quietly got up. She grabbed her robe before stealing into the night.
Walking alone, she looked around spotting several sailors going about their duties but she didn’t see the one person she was looking for. Her thoughts had been entirely of Jack ever since they’d met. Over dinner, she dared to ask the captain about him only to have her father reprimand her. She hadn’t tried to ask her father to go for a walk knowing he would only send her brother with her or accompany her himself and that was the last thing she wanted. Reaching the bow and not finding Jack, she stopped to look up at the stars.
Jack had been standing on the deck above the cabins hoping Katrina would come out and when she did, his heart stopped. He didn’t dare approach her right away. He knew that her father would never approve of them being together since he was just a lowly sailor, not even an officer, and they were one of the wealthiest families in London. Looking around, he saw that she was alone and followed her at a safe distance until she stopped at the bow.
As she looked out at the stars, he moved to stand beside her. “I didn’t think you were going to join me,” he said softly.
She had sensed his presence and now turned to look up at him. “I had to wait for my father to go to sleep.”
“He doesn’t approve?”
Katrina shook her head, “He scolded me for dallying with you in the hold….he said James could have gotten my brushes for me.”
“Why did you come out….if you know your father doesn’t approve?”
“Because you asked me to join you.”
Looking around, Jack said, “Maybe we should go somewhere where no one will see us. I don’t want to get you in trouble.”
“But where?”
Jack looked around as he thought. Taking her hand, he said, “Come with me.”
Katrina allowed Jack to lead her towards the stern ducking in and out avoiding his crewmates. Reaching a secluded spot, they slipped in, sitting side by side and looking up at the stars.
“It’s so beautiful,” whispered Katrina. “Is this why you’re a sailor?”
“Part of it.”
“So tell me all of it.”
“I came looking for my father after my mother died.”
"How old were you?”
“Eight.”
“I just lost my mother…. A couple months ago.”
“And now you’re going to Barbados?”
“My father took the appointment the King offered as governor….so he could get away from the memories. Did you ever find your father?”
“Not yet,” whispered Jack as he looked off at the stars, fingering the cloth wrapped around his waist.
Katrina heard the ‘distance’ in his voice and decided not to pursue it. Looking up at the stars, she asked, “Show me the stars.”
The two teens sat together and Jack pointed the different constellations out to Katrina. Time slipped away and as eastern sky began to lighten, they realized they’d spent the entire night together.
“You need to get back to your cabin…before your father wakes,” whispered Jack.
“I don’t want to go,” protested Katrina as a yawn escaped.
A soft chuckle escaped as Jack said, “I don’t either but I don’t want you to be caught.”
“When can I see you again?”
“Tonight….meet me here when you can get away.” Katrina started to get up but he stopped her. Timidly, he tilted her chin up and leaned in touching his lips to hers. “Be safe, my love.”
Staying where he was, Jack watched as Katrina slipped back down and into her cabin. He waited a safe amount of time and then he too went to his cabin to get some sleep before he had to report to duty.
