Chapter Fourteen

Every morning now, since Sissy had begun suffering from child sickness, Katherine made her way to the young mother's home. Katherine helped get the children's breakfast, she did the light morning chores that needed done to keep the home running smoothly, but only after she had milked the cows. Milly and Tilly were a gift to the young couple that Marcus had brought two years past.

Katherine had just finished that chore and stood up, stretching her back by leaning from one side to the other, before bending to lift the second full bucket of the morning. Patting the bovine on her side, she spoke to the gentle beast, "Thank ye Tilly, such a good girl you are." Tilly turned her head towards Katherine's voice and lowed softly. Katherine liked to imagine that Tilly was saying 'your welcome' in her very own way. It was more likely that Tilly was thanking her, for if they were not milked, it became uncomfortable for them.

Katherine set the bucket down with the other she had already filled, outside the pen that Marcus, Violet and Josh had built. She then handed an armful of hay into Tilly and Milly's feeding trough.

She took the milk to the house, setting the buckets on the back porch, she went back to draw water from the well. She filled their trough for the day, noting the dark, grey clouds that were blocking the sun from shining. When she finished watering the animals, Katherine put the water bucket back on it's hook and drew her sweater tighter around herself, as a cold wind gusted, chilling her and blowing her skirts violently to one side.

Returning to the house, she let herself in the back way to the kitchen, bringing the milk with her. She then retrieved the other bucket before latching the door tightly behind her. Sissy sat at the kitchen table, the young children there with her. They were just finishing their breakfast, as Sissy tried to nibble a biscuit and drink a bit of tea.

"Would you like to try some milk this morning, sweetheart?" Katherine set the buckets at one end of the table and went to wash her hands. She then walked over to smooth Sissy's hair back from her forehead.

Sissy looked up at Katherine, her beautiful, green eyes filled with doubt, "I think I am doing alright with the tea for now, Mama Katy, perhaps after a little while I will try something else." Katherine held the side of Sissy's head in her palm, as the young mother leaned her head into the loving hand that held her. "Thank you so much for your help, I would surely not be able to tend to Tilly, Milly, and the children without ye." Sissy smiled weakly at her sweet babes that sat around her.

Her boy, Jake, the eldest at almost five years, smiled back at her. Jake looked so like his father, it was as if God had made a miniature Josh, just to give her comfort when his father was away. Jake rose from his bench and took his bowl to the sink, coming back for the others, as his sisters were finished also. He had to reach up and drop them in the sink, but he was a good little helper.

"We have a storm approaching so 'tis a good day to stay inside and make your butter." Katherine kissed Sissy's forehead, before moving to the drawer and lifting out a clean cloth to wet and wash the little one's faces and hands. "Jake, would you like to play with your blocks while I make us some butter this morning?"

Jake and the girls took off for the front room, there to play with their toys, while Katherine rinsed their bowls before dragging the churn out of the pantry.

Lighting flashed outside the window and the distant rumble of thunder brought Sissy's eyes to Katherine's own, both pair holding a bit of concern.

Katherine brought the churn to where Sissy was and sat beside her. They joined hands and Sissy began to pray, "Father God, we know you watch over all and care for us well, we ask that you keep our men safe and protect them, if this storm reaches them. Please take our fear, and replace it with faith that you have them in Your loving hands and will care for them."

Katherine smiled at the young wife she loved like a daughter, and said her "Amen" before patting Sissy's hand and retrieving the buckets of milk.

These buckets she poured into wide mouthed crocks, corking the tops. She took them in a basket out to the well, hurrying, as the rain was starting to fall softly around her. She retrieved the bucket that hung on a line and took out the milk bottles from the day before, replacing them with the fresh milk from this morning. Yesterday's cream would be made into butter today. She lowered the bucket back down into the well, to keep the fresh milk chilled, then gathered the bottles from yesterday into the basket. Returning to the house, she skimmed the top of the crocks, putting the cream into the churn. The milk left behind would be mixed with the buttermilk from today to make cheese tomorrow.

Sissy was blessed to be able to share milk, butter, and cheese with her neighbours, who would then share with her, what had been fished, hunted or grown by them. The community did their very best to care for one another, each adding an ingredient, to enrich one another's homes with what was needed to sustain them.

Sissy was known by everyone in the community, as just that. Her name was Susanna, but with four older brothers, who had always called her Sissy, everyone else did as well. She and Josh had fallen in love when they were barely teens, and they had never wavered in their love for one another.

Katherine helped Sissy often when Josh was away with Violet, as Susanna's own mother was kept very busy with her other twelve grandchildren that Sissy's brothers had given her. They all lived over the hill, on their father's land, and Sissy had moved to join Josh in a little house by the shore. Josh's mother would be along anytime. It just took her a bit longer to get around in the morning, she suffered from arthritis, and she must warm her bones a bit before starting her day.

Katherine came to help earlier, as Tilly and Milly were used to a schedule that Sissy usually kept, when she was not feeling so ill.

"I can churn Mama Katy, t'will help keep my mind off my belly, if I have something to do."

Katherine nodded, and she set about pouring the milk that was left in the small crocks, into the large crock in the root cellar, that was dug out, next to the kitchen. She then warmed a quart or so on the stove for the little ones, and brewed herself and Sissy another pot of tea.

While it steeped, she went outside to fetch more firewood, as it was turning colder by the minute. She fed the oven, which warmed the house nicely provided it was kept burning. Then she stacked more wood beside it for Sissy, as it would need to be fed for warmth throughout this chilly day. The rain had started coming down harder, Katherine knew Josh's mother, Anna, would feel better not being alone. She took the children's milk off the stove to cool slightly until she returned.

"I am going to check on Anna and see if she would like to join us to weather out the storm." Katherine pulled a jerkin from the peg by the door as Sissy nodded and churned.

Anna did indeed want to have the comfort of her daughter in law and her grand babies. It was easier to come together and keep one house warm, rather than sit home alone feeding her own fire. Anna only lived ten meters from Josh and Sissy, as they had built their house with her future needs in mind. Being alone too much was not good for anyone, and this way, Anna could watch her grandchildren play between the two abodes.

As her arthritis grew worse, Anna needed more help with her own chores. Josh and Sissy were able to be there for her, and the things she needed help with around her home, much more easily with her living so close.

Katherine was a blessing also when Josh was gone, and the local men made sure the three women had firewood piled up at all times. They were rewarded with milk, butter and cheese, from Sissy, and the bread Katherine made on Mondays.

Theirs was a community that cared for each other and anticipated one another's needs. No one went without, not if another had something they could share. Some of the women sewed, but had no cow, they provided clothing for Sissy's growing children, freeing her to meet the dairy needs that the other family had. Sissy did very well these days, all thanks to Marcus and his wonderful gift of Tilly and Milly.

Anna was ready, and just about to leave her place, when Katherine knocked upon her door. "Oh Katy, ye did not have to come out in the rain ta fetch me, I was just on my way over." Anna latched her door then took Katherine's arm as the two women made their way back to Sissy's, to gather together, and keep each other company while their men were away.

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Brutus awoke to a calm that was, in his mind, a bit eerie. The ship was not rolling in the ocean's swells, they had come upon calm water in the middle of the sea, and that could only mean one thing. He groaned and rose, stretching his arms as far as he could above his head till he hit the ceiling of his cabin. Then he bent his knees so he could extend his arms fully, yawning, even as he came fully awake. He reached down and touched his toes, then swung his upper body one way then the other. Rolling his shoulders next, as he went to his sea chest and bent down, to chose his clothing for the long night ahead.

He tossed the items on his bed and went to the washstand to rinse his face, shave his stubbled jaw, and clean his teeth.

He then dressed and sat upon the bed to pull on his boots. Once ready, he made his way to the galley where Josh always had a fresh pot of coffee waiting for him.

"Morning." Brutus greeted Josh the same way, everyday, even though it was well into the afternoon.

Josh always replied with a bit of humor, "If ye say so." Then he would hand Brutus his mug and go on with the supper preparations. Josh knew to let Brutus drink that first mug before even attempting conversation.

Brutus yawned once more, before sipping the brew and leaning against the counter. "Has it been like this all day?" He rubbed his jaw, and looked to Josh who nodded.

"Aye, ever since a bit after ye went down, not a wave to be had." Josh went about his business, he had been securing everything tightly, as they all knew what the calm meant. Josh had also been preparing food ahead of time, as he could not have pots on the stove when the storm came upon them.

"Well, I am hoping Miss Elizabeth has been keeping her prayers up, and it blows over quickly." Brutus drained his mug, and poured another, before going topside to check in with Violet.

"I'll have a plate ready for ye on your return." Josh assured him.

"Thank ye Josh, I will not be long in returning." Brutus ascended to the deck, and saw Pete at the helm. He joined him topside and leaned against the rail to drink his coffee and look out over the calm swirling water. "I wonder how long we have."

"I be wonderin' the same." Pete nodded, and looked at Brutus, as he continued to keep them on course.

"Violet?" Brutus asked.

"Below with Miss Lizbeth, giving her a lesson." Pete grinned, remembering their exchange earlier.

Brutus snorted, "I just bet he is."

The men shared a chuckle, Brutus remembering his earlier conversation with Vi, about her not having the first clue when it came to things of a certain nature. "You seen Chaunce yet today?"

Pete shook his head in the negative, so the old man must still be sleeping. Chauncey always had been a night owl. Brutus had taken over the night shift when Violet had taken over command. Now Chauncey slept most the day away and kept Brutus company at night. Brutus did not mind, the old man had some good stories from the old days. Chauncey enjoyed telling stories just as much as he enjoyed listening to them.

Brutus was never sure though, if some of the stories Ol' Chauncey told were his own, or ones he had heard, that he thought he had experienced himself. Brutus did not really care, just having someone to talk to in the dead of the night was good enough for him.

"Well, hold her true Pete, I am about getting some vittles for myself whilst I can." Brutus took his mug and went below, where he knew Josh would have some food ready for him.

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The sea remained calm for two more days, swirling and peaceful, allowing the boys to practice with their slingshots, after making sure everything aboard ship was tightly secure.

Violet had shown Timothy and Johnny how to make their own slings, as they had joined the cabin boys at their schooling, chores, and play.

Betsy was a little later joining Violet at the helm, as she practiced with the foil in her cabin for a little while first.

Last eve Violet had brought out a vial, similar to the one that held his spiced oil blend, but this one held a fragrant jasmine oil. He rubbed it into her arm softly as she made funny squeaking noises when he hit a particularly sore spot. He had missed that funny little squeak of hers, it made him smile, even as he lightened his touch on that particular spot. He had then proceeded to rub the oil into her skin wherever she let him, her back and legs received the treatment, then her small feet. She had purred when he rubbed her feet, making him smile wickedly, as he became incredibly aroused by the sight of her satiny, oiled skin laid out before him.

They had spent a lovely evening of sharing body massages, before giving themselves over to a very restful sleep.

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Violet knew a storm was coming, but the ship made good time in the smooth water beforehand. He had been hoping they were outrunning the tempest, not knowing they were racing directly towards it. They had shaved a day or two off their journey, as long as the upcoming storm did not push them back out.

Violet stood at the helm and finally saw the bank of clouds that hovered on the horizon, still a good ways away, yet they hung over the sea, directly in their path. He and Brutus had both noted the red skies this morn and knew it would only be a matter of time.

He saw Betsy come up on deck and go to the boys. They each had to show off their skill, as she either praised them, or encouraged them to try again, if one had missed. After each boy had accomplished his goal to impress her, she was coerced into trying it herself.

"Do not hit yourself in the head." Davey remembered to screech at her, right before she started swinging the strap.

Violet laughed at Harp's warning, as Betsy turned to laugh with him. If she figured correctly, the boy was speaking from experience.

She swung the sling and released as Davey had shown her, hitting the target dead center. She and the boy's whooped at her accomplishment, as Violet shook his head in disbelief.

"Try it again, Kitten, I must know if t'was luck, or if you sling as well as you shoot." He had to think it was beginner's luck that she had hit it dead on. It had taken himself many months of practice to find his own accuracy.

Phillip ran to retrieve the stone, he gave it to her, then ran back to the rail. She looked over her shoulder at Violet and shrugged both her shoulders as she made a funny face that had, "I do not know." written all over it.

She narrowed her eyes on the target, and spun the sling, concentrating very hard as she released, once again hitting the center. She turned and smiled at Violet, as he shook his head again.

"And that was her first time ever!" Vi heard Davey bragging to the other boys, as she handed him his sling back and ruffled his hair.

"Thank you for being such a good teacher, t'was surely your directions that made it go so well for me." She was gracious in her praise, including the others also. "Not to mention getting to watch all of you do so finely first."

The boys glowed in her praise, surrounded her and telling her how well she had done, and that they could not believe she had not done it before. She laughed and rubbed a lot of heads before joining Violet at the helm.

"You really are amazing, you know that do you not?" Violet let her slip in front of him and share the wheel.

"I must be, to be married to you, my love." She turned her head for a kiss, which he gladly obliged her with.

"Flattery will get you everywhere, ye saucy wench." He chuckled behind her, as she grinned at his rejoinder.

"I am just as amazed as you, as I was when I learned I could shoot. It just must be the one thing I do well." She shrugged her shoulders, giving him a humble smile, as she truly felt any gift she had came from God, and must be respected as such.

"'Tis not the only thing you are good at, Vixen." Violet nuzzled her neck as she giggled, not knowing if he referred to her skill at cards, or their loving between the furs at night. But she was glad he thought of her as he did and that he found pleasure in teasing her.

"You are not so bad at a good many things yourself, Violet." She turned in his arms and hugged him, he taking one hand from the helm and hugging her back.

The fact that he could do so, reminded him of the smoothness of the sea. "We are approaching a storm, love. I will need you to go below and secure anything in our cabin we do not want tossed upon the floor."

She looked out at the horizon and saw the dark storm clouds for herself. Turning back to him she whispered, "Aye, aye, Captain." She then gave him a sweet, lingering kiss, before returning below to follow his instructions, and to pray while she did so.

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We're going in deep here for a bit, I hope you enjoy what's to come!