Chapter 20 Returns

The Rose drifted to a stop beside the long quay and Will jumped out to tie off front and aft. People had gathered at the lands end and were waving and greeting their children. The onboard teens were doing the same, they sure had some stories to tell. The storm would become worse and worse after retelling many times, the sea serpent would be fiercer and there would be dozens of them. But that was the way stories went, and the story of the brave captain and his first mate would only grow in the future. Will flipped down the stairs and the tired children piled onto the quay, families were waiting at the far end so they set off with Min and Will.The wide quay creaked with their steps and it wasn’t long until they reached land. Hugs all around and everyone talking at once about their adventures, laughter and tears of happiness.

“We’ll unload ore tomorrow but the fish better be this eve.”. Will said, “that and the float weed, get that out as soon as we can.”.Min tugged his arm and pointed towards the village, where three large wagons were rolling towards them.“Lucky huh dad, get them fishies off, cause yuck.”Laughing Will agreed.“Oh yeah that’s right, they can get pretty yucky.”

Turning, he told the drivers they would only need two wagons tonite , but lots more tomorrow for the ore.There was a quick discussion and one team was unhooked and taken back for the night. Minnie jumped on one of the remaining and Will the other and they rumbled down the quay toward the Rose.

Unloading went fairly quick.The barrels winched up and over then downto the wagons, one at a time.Thirty eight of floaters, ten of weed and one sharp in its own barrel.The hold was washed out, Minnie on the hose and Will on the pump.First thing to do after tomorrows unloading would be to pump out the bilge, it was done on a regular schedule but after a fish run it definitely needed it. After the wagons had been escorted to lands end it was a tired Will and Minnie that walked back to the Rose.Busy days were nice but sometimes it’s nice just to take it easy, tomorrow was not going to to be one of those easy days.An early start and a long day of unloading, cleaning, restocking and preparing for the next trip.For now though…tea and cookies.

Will headed to the galley to start a small meal for them, Minnie had decided it was the perfect time for a thorough brushing. There was a lot of grumbling from where she was sitting, working out the knots. Bad fishies, and dumb dust, yuck water and fish slime…the list was pretty long of things that messed her fur up. She was very patiently getting all of the mats out and only asked Will to cut them out a couple of times.

As they sat in the quiet galley, just the creaking of movement and the splashing of waves to break the silence. Will decided they needed some kind of music, but he had never played an instrument and wasn’t sure I’d such things existed here. Like pianos or fiddles, guitars or flutes, he would have to look into it tomorrow. Just something to listen to. The kettle had boiled, milk had been warmed up. Leftover cake and cookies had been eaten. Fur was finally brushed and set to rights so the tired crew headed to the cabin for an early sleep. Will stepped to the head and when he came out Minnie was a snoring lump, slipping into his side he as quickly dropped off.

Will he was surprised to find that the sun was well up, no waking at all during the night. As he was laying in the warm blankets something popped into his mind, where did Minnie get her brush set that she used last night. A black leather case, with various brushes and combs, scissors and clippers, just what she had needed, but Will had never seen it before. Minnie was of course up and about already so he made a note to ask her later. Dressing in work clothes today, overalls and boots, he climbed up to the main deck. Another beautiful morning, sun warming already, blue skies with a few high clouds. A bit of a brisk wind but that would be appreciated later. He could see Min in the wheelhouse and went up to meet her. All the maps had been rolled up and put in the rack. Floor swept, glass wiped, brass shined and polished.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

“Hey Min, you sure have been busy,” Will said.“Been up for long?”.Min shook her head, “not long, just came up a little while ago, couldn’t sleep anymore.”.Will hmmmed “Bad dreams or did I snore too loud?”.“Nah, I like your snores, I was just achey, too much yesterday”, said Min.“I ran up and down the deck and then in here it sure was messy so I tidied.”.She pointed at the maps and the table between the two big chairs.“It was easy, when you’re not here making more messies”. Will laughed, “Thanks Min, but listen.If you think you are doing too much or getting too tired, just slow down and met me know.There’s no real hurry to do anything.”. Min nodded “remember you wanna talk to Naomi and Chuck yeah?See if they can stay or if the lake will eat them”.Will burst into laughter, “the lake doesn’t eat people, well not all the time…just some times.”.He added “let’s head to town if your ready and see if we can find some breakfast.”.

They set off down the quay when Will remembered what he wanted to ask Minnie.“Say Min, you’re brush set.Where did you get that from?”, he asked.“Oh yeah, in the little store room.” said Min, “just by the engine room, there’s a room with all sorts.”Now that she mentioned the room Will of course remembered it.That’s where all the undefined stuff went, along with previous crew’s possessions.He made another mental note to check it out when they got back. As they had been rambling along they reached the village outskirts.The place was busy as usual and greetings rang out as people caught site of the pair.Will noticed there were no young people around and tried to work out if it was a school day.“Hey Min, you didn’t happen to see a calendar anywhere on the boat did you?”, he asked.“No ideas dad, what’s a calendar?”, replied Minnie.“It’s a paper thing that tells you what day it is”, he told her. Will could tell that his description told Minnie nothing.“How does paper tell me that?”, she asked.“Well, it works like this…hey I wonder if Regina has sausages today”. said Will, trying to change the subject.“Ooo yummy, let’s go go go.”, yelled Minnie and took off toward the tavern.Will followed a little slower, thinking that he might have to enrol Min into the school or find a tutor for her.

He could see that Minnie had reached the tavern and gone in to find breakfast, and after a couple of minutes so had he. It was a little darker inside and a lot cooler.A few people were sitting at tables and one of them was someone he had been looking for. Regina was sitting at a table for once and with her was Naomi. Minnie was also with them and waved at Will to join them.

Now that the two were together he noticed a strong resemblance between Regina and Naomi. Hmmm, he thought, other and daughter or younger sister. Do I risk guessing… but luckily Minnie had no qualms. “Hey are you Naomi’s mom?”, she asked. Regina laughed, “she’s my little sister. Our parents passed and we live together.”. “Ah I see”, said Will. “I wanted to ask Naomi something, but I should ask you first then.”. Minnie asked “why?”

“Why what?”, said Will. “Why ask Regina if Naomi wants to come along with us on trips and stuff…we like her right, and she’s really nice and helpful. And she is nice to me and gives me cookies and milk. She’s not too scared of the lake too, not like Chuck, he’s nice too though. He lifts stuff….”. Will patted Min on the back, “slow down sweety, slow down”. Will looked over to see Naomi and Regina had covered their mouths to stop laughing at Minnie’s yammering. “It’s just the right thing to do, to ask someone’s family permission to do something.”, explained Will.“Sometimes there are reasons that you might not know, that things can’t happen like you want.”.Minnie looked sad “That’s really confusing, I don’t really get it.If she wants to come along then she should, right?” Will sighed, “Yes, but”.Min growled “I hate but. Always a but. Why but this time dad?”.While they had been talking Regina had waved a server over and Will had coffee and Min had warm milk…her favourite.Taking a sip he said “There could be things that we don’t know going on, private things between a family.This would be why families need to talk things over, by them selves”.

Turning back to Regina and Naomi he said “Minnie might have been a little early to ask but we did want to talk to you about that. Naomi, we would like to offer you a spot on the crew of the Rose. “Yeah” said Minnie “ I promise not to let the lake eat you!”.

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William Harris

Age 48

Intelligence 15/50

Strength 24/50

Vitality 24/50

Stamina 25/50

Affinities for gardening, cultivating, fishing, knitting, swimming, mariner ,

Captain of the heartboat Rose

Navigation 2

Mechanic 3

Minnie

Best dog of all

Age 5

Intelligence 6/25

Strength 11/25

Vitality 18/25

Stamina 18/25

First Mate of the heartboat Rose

Piloting 3

Mechanic 2

Fisher

Crab Catcher