“I’ll be finding ye a glass of water. When I return I want to ‘ear ye story as to how ye came about me ship,” a man said that looked to be in his middle thirties, with dark brown hair.

“Come lass let me help ye sit up,” Branson said putting gentle hands behind my back and slowly urging my still tired body into a sitting position. “Ye be luck Cap’n Crawly find ye when he did. When ye was brought t’me yer lips be as blue as the sea. Ye have hypothermia,” he said while propping a fluffy pillow behind my back. Not long after I was propped up did the Captain return to the room.

“Now lass I want to ‘ear why ye be aboard me ship?” he asked sitting down and handing me a glass of warm water with lemon in it.

Taking a sip a looked at him with a bit of fear, then I spoke “I was trying to run away from a group of traders,” I said quietly.

“And ye thought ye would be safe from ’arm on me ship?” he said leaning forward.

“I was just trying to get away from their guns and out of the water,” I said in a bit of a shaky voice.

“Well lass there be no need for fear from me. I will not be doin ye any ’arm,” he said with a chuckle. I sigh of relief escaped my mouth as I relaxed. “Now where were ye going when ye meet the traders?” he asked.

“I wasn’t headed anywhere. I don’t have any money, or a home. They found me and grabbed me and brought me to the pier. I bit one man’s hand and I ran as fast as I could away. I didn’t know which way to go so I jumped in the water and climbed aboard your ship,” I explained as the kind captain listened.

“That be quite a tale lass. I be very sorry ye had to temper it alone. Ye be welcome to stay aboard me ship, if ye be willing to work for yer passage,” he said, standing up.

“Really you will let me stay onboard as a sailor?” I asked with a hopeful voice.

“Yes, but only as long as ye work ’ard for it. Now what can ye do?” he asked.

“I can cook and clean. Mend clothes. Anything you need me to do I can do,” I said quickly. I needed to stay on board this ship.

“Ye can be the ship’s cook. Our last one quit on the count of no time to stay with the family,” he said shaking my hand. After that he walked out. I felt very safe now. The captain was so kind. I also felt indebted to him for letting me stay aboard his vessel. Branson walked back in and handed me some clothing.

“Here be some dry clothing for ye to put on. Ye other clothes be as wet as the sea,” he said handing me what looked like a young man’s clothing. The jeans were faded blue with a hole in the knees. The shirt was a dingy gray. It looked like it must have been washed over a hundred times.

“Thank you very much,” I said throwing back the blanket, while he turned his back I removed the gown someone had put me in.The jeans were a little long and the shirt was two sizes too big.

“Forgive me for the size. but ye be just a small little thing, that we have nothing aboard to fit ye.” Branson apologized turning around and handing me a weather beaten jacket, and popping a thermometer in my mouth. The glass chinked against my teeth as I lifted my tongue. I sat there waiting for him to remove the bitter tasting glass from my mouth. Finally after what seemed like an hour he took it out, and raised it to his face. “Ye temperature has gone down a wee bit, but not by much. I suggest ye go find yerself some food and a hot drink. Ye can start yer new job in the mornin,” Branson said and walks me out of the room.

“Thank you Doctor, you have been a Godsend,” I said turning to him with a smile.

“It’s just me job lass. Now go straight down this ’allway until ye come up on some stairs. Take’em all the way up until ye reach the top. Walk down that ’allway until ye reach a green door. Open it and you’ll be on the deck. A young lad Seamus will be waiting for ye," he said then walked back into the room and closed the door.