“Well, hell,” Allen said sitting down.
“You’re going to give me that ledger, Bronnah,” Chase states.
“Perhaps. That’ll depend on what ya say next, Marshall.”
Aimee moves forward, “Bronnah you can’t possibly be thinking of what I think you’re thinking of.”
"Oui, Mon Ami," yes, my friend, "I'm going to steal them back and set them free," Bronnah states emphatically.
“We spoke about this, Bronnah,” he snarls, “it’s not safe for you.”
“I know what you think, Marshall, but those girls are terrified, isolated, and drugged. They have no one to help them, but we can!" Bronnah snaps when she faces him.
Outside the crew yells as the wind picks up and the anchor is pulled back. The sails inflate, and they are off once more. “Excuse me,” Captain Allen said as he moves outside to pilot the ship.
“Bronnah, you know what those monsters are capable of,” Aimee insists taking her hands.
“I know better than most, but Aimee, five young French girls, one as young as fourteen, all isolated from their families and forced into prostitution. Would you wish that on your kin?”
“No.” Aimee’s eyes fill with tears, “We will help. Let me talk to Allen.” She hurries out to talk to the Captain. Bronnah walks over to the map and stares at it, ignoring the way Chase is looking at her.
“I don’t like these games you’re playing. This recklessness is going to get people killed. You aren’t going anywhere near that train.”
“Washington is important, right?” She replies ignoring his statement.
“Very and that makes this much more dangerous than I’d anticipated. Are you listening to me? These games you’re playing will end up getting someone killed.” Bronnah turns to glare at him.
"This is no' a game, Marshall! There are five lives at stake. I need to do this. I must help them. Why can't you understand that?" He walks over to her and lifts a blonde curl that has broken free of her braid, and he stares at it as it wraps around his finger as though claiming him.
“Because right now, I have a job to do. You are a federal witness, in serious danger and I have to get you to safety.”
“No, you will have six witnesses if we help these girls.”
"I can help, Marshall," Allen calls from the doorway. "You get them to my ship, and I will take them with us to Maine. We will keep them safe until you send for them."
Aimee smiles proudly up at him. “Oui, we can help!”
"That's very kind of you. The government will pay you for your help and time, on one condition. Bronnah stays with you until I return."
"You're off your nut if ya think I'm gonna sit back and…" Bronnah starts to object, but he tugs on her curl, "Not another word, or I will end this right now," he promises.
Bronnah glares at him and shuts her mouth, while Chase struggles not to laugh at her outrageous phrases.
“If you’ll excuse me, I feel like some sunshine.” She stomps from the room and joins Aimee on a padded cushion bench. Purposely ignoring the sound of laughter coming from the Captain’s Room she asks questions and watches the way the schooner works. Chase returns to the room to sleep until they dock. He will need to be alert for the evening’s activities.
“Bloody wanker,” she snarls under her breath when he winks at her as he climbs the ladder below deck. She waits for Aimee to join Allen in his cabin and smiles at a young crew member who has been eyeing her. When Bronnah wonders over to watch him work and begins to ask questions about the ship, he’s only too eager to answer. With a big smile, he offers to show her around the deck and answer any question she has.
“Aren’t you afraid to be out at sea all the time, what if the shipwrecks?” She asked batting her eyes at him.
"Not at all, we have two-row boats, one on each side of the ship in case of an emergency. Lucky for us, the schooner only needs a crew of six to handle her. That's three men per rowboat." He points to each.
Bronnah smiles at him. “I see, but still it must be hard to get the boat into the water?”
“Not really. Once I'm on board the boat, I just pull this lever, and it lowers the boat silently into the sea.”
“Well, Chester, maybe for you, with all those muscles,” Lord forgive me, she thinks, “but it looks too difficult for me.” She waits until he takes the bait and sighs inwardly.
“No, just put your hand here,” he takes her small hand in his and puts it on the crank and lifts. “I have it locked, but you can feel the resistance.”
“Yes, I can. It is certainly nice to know that someone with your experience is helping guide us to our destination.” She blushes and bats her eyes, “If you’ll excuse me, I need to retire from the sun. I’m afraid that with my skin being so sensitive to the light, I have to be careful.” Bronnah walks swiftly to the lower deck and climbs the ladder back down.
Chase is snoring soundly on the bed when she enters the room. Her bag is on the floor, and his massive body is stretched out on the mattress. "Shite," she whispers. The ledger is underneath the mattress. When she tries to stick her hand under, he rolls over and faces her but continues snoring.
She grins and pokes him, "Chase, roll over." He grumbles away to face the wall, and she stifles a giggle. Reaching under the mattress, she digs
