Chapter Five

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He was still scowling when Morgan walked in carrying Claire. She had fallen asleep leaning against her as they were watching the stars. Morgan hadn't seen anything like it before.  Nothing around for miles and the stars lit up the sky. Their light danced upon the ocean water. Morgan stayed in the doorway unsure of what to do. She scanned the room quickly . Then she started towards an empty space in the corner. Gavin raised an eyebrow at her as she went to set Claire on the floor.

He sighed "What are you doing? Put her on the bed." 

"It's fine we've slept on much worse. " She whispered.

"The bed." He growled 

She didn't argue she would be happy if Claire could sleep in a bed for once. She laid her down and covered her with the  blanket and kissed her on her head. Claire smiled in her sleep.

Gavin watched the scene. Morgan may not be her mother but treated her like she was hers. The softness that she had when dealing with Claire warmed his heart. She saw her shifting awkwardly and he grinned slightly. She wasn't sure what to do with herself now.

"Tomorrow if you and the girl could help Jack clean the upper deck. Then our "cook" could use some of your help." He said, making his way to the door.

Morgan wanted to ask where he was headed too but didn't. She nodded as she watched him. He lingered by the door as he wanted to say something else but headed out. Morgan curled up next to Claire. The bed did feel amazing. She laid on her side watching the door. She felt safer than she had in a long time. Which was absolutely crazy seeing how she was on a ship full of pirates. She still didn't trust anyone. She knew she was on a ship filled with men. Men who wouldn't be seeing any woman for a while. Men who lived a life of breaking rules. She focused on the door; nervousness settling in the pit of her stomach.

Gavin grumbled to himself walking to the top deck. He was still grunting when he motioned to take the wheel. Jason was to do the night shift. He steered the ship when Gavin was not. He was a tall man with broad shoulders. He had light green eyes and shaved his head bald. He chuckled scooting over.

"What's the matter with you Gavin?" He laughed scooting over.

Gavin glared at him which made Jason laugh harder.

"Don't  even start." Gavin said, still glaring.

" I've known you too long for that captain." Jason said, whacking him on the back.

"Well good maybe I should just string you up then. It will be a great lesson for everyone." Gavin said through his teeth.

"Now now, Capt.  I didn't mean to make you upset. " Jason chuckled.

"We're three days behind." He said, his eyes narrowing on the horizon.

"And now I have to babysit." He said, sighing.

"Well then why are they still on the ship?" Jason shrugged.

A look of annoyance washed over Gavin's face. If he could clench his jaw any tighter it would pop off. Jason squeezed his shoulder. Gavin hadn't named any one first mate after Travis. He would never have one again but Jason was second in command.

"Calm down man." Jason chuckled.

" We are three days behind. I now have to watch the men more because of this woman. And all I wanna do is get to Blind Man's Passage so I can kill Travis." He said his knuckles went white on the wheel from his hard he was squeezing.

"I know. We will get there and you will have your revenge. Just take it easy or you'll kill yourself before we even get there." Jason said, squeezing his shoulder tighter.

"You go  ahead and sleep, I'm going to take the night shift." He nodded to Jason.

Jason didn't say anything back and went on his way. Gavin stared off into the dark horizon watching the stars.

Morgan stared at the door and couldn't take laying there anymore.  She slowly got out of bed and began looking around at the cabin. She wandered over to his desk . The map he had been  studying was rolled out. It was only half a map. He had a piece of paper connected to it with drawings. He must have drawn the missing sections from memory. She looked over both of them. He had notes and dates of where he wanted to be by when. He was three days behind. He wanted to be by what was marked Blind Man's Passage. She settled in his chair sitting and gazed over the map.

There were no docks anytime soon. There was one just before the passage she sighed. She wanted off this ship as soon as possible. There had to be something. She traced different paths and routes but still no other docking sites. She stumbled upon something called Sirens gully. He would catch up if he went through there. She thought of tracing the passage with her finger.

" If we were here......and the openings here. . . Then it should be less than a day from here." She said, whispering to herself.

The sunrise was peeking through the cabin windows. She hadn't slept at all. She was nodding out slightly still looking at the map. Her head touched the desk and she was out. She didn't hear the cabin door open. 

Gavin  walked in exhausted. He glanced at Claire, she was still asleep in his bed. He scanned the room and his eyes narrowed at Morgan. She was passed out on his desk. He felt a little unsettled about her being near his map. She was reluctant to tell him anything. Her back was proof of a horrible life but that still didn't mean she couldn't be involved with Travis. Could she even read a map? He thought trying to calm himself. His hands were in fist by his side debating on to let it go or go shake her. He began walking over to her not sure what he was going to do. Just the thought of Travis sent a fire raging inside of him. He paused at her side. Her red hair sprawled over the desk, her lashes fanned over her cheeks. Her lips were perfectly pouty. She was beautiful. Her eyebrows quickly frowned and she began to tremble.

"No. Stop. No!" She said as she began to twitch slightly 

"No! No...Claire..stop it. Please stop!" She was saying softly in a sleepy confused voice but it held so much pain.

He reached out and carefully shook her.

"Morgan." He said.

 She began to try to push away from him.

"Morgan." He said louder as she shook her a little bit harder.

She jolted up, her right hand coming up in a fist and connecting with his jaw. Gavin saw it coming and managed to move back slightly. She didn't miss but it lessened the blow. She was still fighting. Her other hand came around in a fist to the other side of his jaw. He blocked it and held on to her arm.  She was flaying her other arm and he managed to capture it as well. He pulled her against him and wrapped her in a big hug.

"No no stop." She said panicky 

"Morgan! Stop." He said trying to get through to her.  

She brought her foot down on his foot trying to escape. He groaned but didn't let go. She went to throw her head back into his face. He saw it coming and spun her around so they were facing each other. 

"Morgan!" He said, grabbing her face.

"I'm not him." He said moving her hair out of her face with his other hand.

She froze at the soft touch. She looked confused and scared, her eyes were holding back  tears. Then suddenly she instantly realized who had her and another type of panic spread across her face.

"Him....Captain." She whispered trying to take a step away from him. 

"Yeah, you're ok. You were dreaming." He said not moving his hand from her cheek.

"Sorry." She whispered.

"What was that? You were fighting so hard." He said, trying to study the emotion in her eyes.

"Bad dream." She said turning her face so his hand had to drop.

She stepped away from him and glanced at the bed. Claire could sleep through the ship sinking.

"That was more than a dream." He stated.

"Bad dreams, we all have them. I'll get Claire and we'll let you get some sleep." She said walking over to Claire.

She shook her lightly, ignoring Gavin who was still looking at  her. Claire smiled, waking up and seeing Morgan. She hugged her tightly.

"Come on, sleepy head. Let's give the captain his bed back " she said with a smile. 

" That was the best sleep ever. Did you sleep well too? Can we get a bed like this whenever we get to where we're going? It's much better than the ground, " Claire said in almost one breath.

"Oh gosh Claire. It's so early for all those questions but yes we will get you a bed. Come on." She said scooting her off the bed and hustling her along.

" Thank you." She shouted over Morgan to Gavin and ducked out the door.

Morgan shook her head and went to follow her out.

"Morgan....it was him, wasn't it." He said like he had a bitter taste in his mouth.

He watched her swallow hard. "Bad dream" she repeated herself before walking out the door.

She stepped out, closing the door behind her. She looked down at the ship. It was magnificent. The ship's deck and railings wood was cherry in color. There were little star shaped details etched onto the rails. The stairs leading to the main deck had a gold shimmer line across the top of them that sparkled in front of the cherry color.  The mass holding the sails was made out of a light color wood that played well with the gold details throughout the ship. She  raised her eyes following the mass up to the sails. Flying high above them was a flag. It was a dark navy blue flag with a bright sun. In the center of the sun was a star. She gazed at the meaning behind it.

"The ship is called the Morning Star." Jason said behind her. 

"It's amazing." She said still taking everything in.

Jason chuckled. "Come follow me. I'll show you around ."

"But I'm supposed to help Jack and Claire." She said her eyes followed where they were.

Claire had already grabbed a sponge and was laughing with Jack as he scrubbed down one  of the rails.

"They'll be fine." Jason smiled and nodded for her to follow him.

She followed him down the stairs and to the main deck.  Men were shuffled across, coming and going. Some were cleaning, others shifting the ropes. She could hear men below the deck laughing and carrying on. She followed Jason and the laughter went quiet. The chores stopped and they all just watched her walk across. She bit her lip nervously and followed Jason up the stairs to the second upper deck. He went to the back rail and waited for her.

They were at the stern of the ship. She spotted the helm and walked over curiously. The wheel of the ship was a light colored wood and it too had stars and suns etched into. Someone spent a great deal of time and took a lot of pride in building this ship. The man steering handed the wheel off to Jason. Who took over. Morgan stood next to him overlooking the ship. 

"Have you ever been on a ship before?" Jason asked her.

"No." She answered quietly, her eyes now scanning the ship to find Claire.

She saw her and her chest relaxed a little. She watched her and Jack now sitting on the stairs just talking. He reached in his pocket and gave her an apple. She smiled brightly and took it.

"Daughter?" Jason  asked, watching Morgan.

"Cousin." She answered just as quietly.

" So you don't like to talk? First time I've ever met a woman who didn't want  to spend the day chewing at my ear." He smiled trying to bait her.

She smirked back and shrugged. She didn't have much to say. She hadn't had much of a life. They stood in silence just watching the ship life and the horizon.

"Jason." He said quietly.

"I'm Morgan." She answered him.

The sun was now completely up in the sky. Morgan was leaning against the rail of the stern. Claire and Jack had made their way there. The men below seem to be taking a break. Some played dice, others cards.

"Thank you Jack for keeping Claire company." Morgan smiled at him going to sit by Claire.

"No problem ma'am. It's nice having someone close to my age around. Also I'm sorry about what you and Claire had to go through." He said sincerely.

Morgan, frozen, glanced at Claire, how much had she told him. She smiled trying to remain calm. 

"She told me about her father and I just want you to know that I'll make sure she's safe on this ship. No matter what." He whispered to her.

" Thank you Jack." Morgan said back looking up to see if anyone heard his statement.

Jason didn't act like he heard anything. She just didn't want anyone knowing too much about them.