Quartermaster©

Free Online Short Love Story

Written by American Author Sky Taylor

Story Starts Here

A band of silver gulls gliding towards the warming rays of the western horizon suddenly captivated Pepper’s attention and she paused on the jutted pier to study them at length.  The piercing cries slowly vanished with their flight as a moaning blast from a ship heading towards the harbor echoed endlessly, filling in the gap, the sound seeming to take an eternity to finally fade away.  

It was noisy by the sea, but the sounds were peaceful, a mix of the gift of nature and man’s giant water toys – ships and sailing vessels of all types.  Pepper supposed that she was most fascinated with the shrimp boats than any of the others, though the power of the small tug was astonishing with its ability to haul the huge ships inland, into the harbor.

Pepper struggled with the overstuffed brown case, finally setting it onto the pier.  It was cumbersome and during the last hour as she had searched the wharf for a white and indigo craft christened ‘The Blue Dolphin’, she considered that she had packed far too much for the journey. ‘The Blue Dolphin’ was to be her home for the remainder of summer, as she was assuming responsibility for the niece and nephew of billionaire Landon Seavers.  

The children’s father had interviewed Pepper for the position, and had finalized the arrangement with his brother, Landon, for the journey. ‘The Blue Dolphin’ would be charting a route from Galveston in the Texas Gulf, to Corpus, where the children would be reunited with their mother in time for fall classes.  

Pepper continued to observe in awe the sunset sky in the distance.  It was difficult pulling her gaze from the picturesque sky scape before her.  She noticed red tails spiraling from the rim of the yellow setting sun and knew that darkness was settling in for the night.  It was getting late…she was late.  With effort she pulled her attention from the sky scape and concentrated on finding the boat.  As she edged away she didn’t notice the stranger peering out to sea until she walked into him.  

"See here, Missy!  Ain’t it enough for a seasoned old sailor not to get a bite without the likes of flighty mermaid waltzing into him!"  

Pepper regained her senses and stared curiously at the man.  Though his voice had sounded gruff, she was aware by the kind look stamped on his face that his words had been meant in a teasing banter.  The accent had been heavy and sounded Scottish to Pepper’s ears.  He was dressed in outdated navy blues and the still-handsome face supported a white clipped beard.  He was perhaps around seventy, the teal blue eyes imbedded with years of wisdom, and presently surveying her with open interest for the moment.  In his left hand, dangled a stiff cane pole. "I’m sorry," she offered, setting down the heavy case again as she smiled at him.  "I’m a bit lost, you see.  Perhaps you could be so kind as to direct me?"  

He shrugged.  "It depends, Missy.  I’m not a landlubber, so unless it concerns the sea, I won’t be of much use to ya," he supplied, casting the short line back out into the choppy ocean.  

There was a light breeze and they were misted with salt spray, the cool dampness welcome amid the humid heat.  

"Well, I’ve searched the harbor for the past hour for a boat-"  

"A boat, you say?  Then you’ve come to the right man," he told her, extracting the whalebone pipe from his right shirt pocket and stuffing it into his mouth.  

"Yes, a boat," Pepper echoed, relieved that she had finally located someone that might be of assistance to her.  The pier wasn’t a busy spot and until now she’d been more or less on her own.  

"What’s her name?"  

Pepper knitted her brows together thoughtfully and eased out in a questioning tone, "The…er, boat?"  

"Aye, the boat."  

"The Blue Dolphin.  Have you heard of it-"  

"Heard?  Of course, I’ve heard, Missy," he told her, his attention suddenly drawn from her as he whirled around, almost dislodging the sailor’s hat, when his line suddenly jerked.  He smiled and whispered in a confident tone, "It’s the first bite I’ve had all day.  Guess that you’ve brought me some luck, Missy."  

Pepper swallowed the knot in her throat, liking this man but wishing that he’d get on with it.  She was running late and desperately wanted to make a good impression with Mr. Seavers.  If she didn’t meet the boat soon, he would probably terminate her for being tardy.  Then again, perhaps he had already cast off…  

"It’s my own boat that you are seeking, Missy.  If you’ll wait a minute, I’ll guide ya there."  He knitted his bushy brows together thoughtfully and asked, "You wouldn’t be the new Missy for little Frankie and Penny?"  

"Why, yes I am," she nodded, the west sun warm on her back.  

"Ms. Pepper Prescot, I presume?"  

 At her nod, he extended his free hand and introduced, "I’ll be Pappy to you, Pepper.  Nice to meet ya."  She shook his hand and smiled as he continued, "Let’s go find your boat, Missy.  I’m sure that Landon is anxious to meet ya."  

She watched him draw up the fishing line and fasten the hook into the cane pole, a bit more relaxed now that she had located the whereabouts of the boat.  

She bent to collect her case but Pappy beat her to it.  He told her, "After you meet Landon, I’ll introduce ya to the rest of the crew and get ya settled in before we cast off."  

"I would appreciate that, Pappy," she smiled, her heels clicking against the wooden planks of the pier as she rushed to keep up with him.  He had a fast stride for one so far along in years.  

She tensed as he suddenly complained about her heavy case, "Women!  All you needed, Missy, was a swimming suit and an outfit or two."

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