Why, Wes?

“Think she’ll be alright Wes?”

“She’ll live.”

“We need to get her to Whales.”

“No hurry.”

“Her father’s dying.”

I slowly came to my senses. I recognized the voices to belong to Hans and Wes. Wes didn’t seem too sympathetic of my position.

“What do we know of her Hans? Really? A rich girl shows up, bribes the captain onto letting her onto the ship, has some wild story about her dying father in Whales, and she acts like she’s a perfect snob and is entitled to everything. If you ask me I’d say she’s running away.”

Wes was coming down hard on me. I pretended I was still unconscious.

“Wes, you’re bound to be the most suspicious person I’ve ever known! Tell me, who did you think I was when you first met me?”

“A thief of course!”

Both laughed.

“But really Hans,” Wes’ voice grew serious again. “I know you well enough to know you’ll believe anyone. Especially pretty girls with long blond hair.”

“Wes, I just can’t figure you out! You’re the one so determined to save her. Now you act like you’re afraid she’ll kill you in your sleep.”

I had heard enough. I stirred pretending I was slowly regaining my consciousness.

“She’s coming around,” Hans noted, excitement in his voice.

“Get her some water.”

I couldn’t believe it! Here Wes was taking care of me but the whole time suspecting me of being a liar. He didn’t even know me! Maybe I was a liar but it wasn’t his business. I resolved once again to keep to myself about my problems and mission and try to get away from Wes and Hans as soon as I could.

“Where am I?” I croaked, just realizing my voice had deserted me somewhere between the ship and the land.

Hans put his hand behind my back and helped me into a sitting position then placed a skin of water at my lips. “Not entirely sure Elady,” he replied as I drank. Wes had his back turned to us.

“Thank you Hans,” I smiled.

Hans set me back down onto the sand I had been lying on for awhile. I glanced around. I was lying on hard sand, almost dirt. All around me, there were rocks. Huge looming boulders in the distance and tiny pebbles interspersed with the sand, digging into my already sore back. We were on a beach, perhaps just beyond the tide-line. There were trees behind me. Tall trees which had grown in peace without any disturbance for centuries at least. We were in rough land filled to the overflowing with rocks and trees.

Wes turned around. “Time to go.”

“I’m exhausted,” I whined pulling a cloak tighter around my shoulders. It was Wes’. “We haven’t had anything to eat yet,” I added after my shock of wearing a man’s cloak passed me.

Wes rolled his eyes. “Why else do you suppose we’re going?”

My eyes widened in fright. “You mean we have no food?”

“Oh the genius that she is!” He exclaimed.

I glared at him.

“Alright that’s enough! Cut the sarcasm, Wes. Can you two go for just a few minutes without killing each other?” Hans said, at wits end over our bickering. Standing up he offered me his hand to help me to my feet.

“Thank you Hans,” I said and smiled in my sweetest way.

Wes growled underneath his breath and began to walk over the slippery rocks. Hans nodded for me to follow him. Then he walked behind me.

I stared at Wes’ back. It was true; he had placed his cloak on me before I’d passed out yesterday. Why was he so rude and unkind to me? Why was he so suspicious? Perhaps I was a liar but he didn’t know that for sure. Just because I didn’t know how to be a rugged animal like him didn’t mean I was any worse than he was. In fact, I was better, I thought. For, I had an inheritance. Well, my brother did anyway. The thing dangling underneath my dress was the promise of a life of luxury. As soon as I found my brother it would be mine! ‘See how Wes treats me when he realizes I am an heiress,’ I thought. But as he glanced back at me with his steely eyes I wondered if Wes was the sort to care anything about riches. Or care about family. Making friends was obviously far from his priority list. Survival and the sea were the only things he understood. Two things I had no idea about.

He stopped at a boulder. Wordlessly he began to climb it. Hans followed and helped me up. I couldn’t see what was so special about that rock. Until I spied some green vines growing on it. Something colored was growing on them.

“Berries!” I exclaimed.

“Took you long enough,” Wes muttered while busily gathering his breakfast.

My heart dropped down to my stomach. Why did he have to make me feel so stupid?

“Here,” Hans placed a big juicy berry into my hand. I could tell he was trying to make me feel better.

“Thank you.”

I could tell Wes thought little of Hans’ gestures. Even though I couldn’t see his face I could tell. Just by his posture I understood his opinion of me was rapidly declining if even that were possible. I decided to be tough and clever and then he’d stop looking down on me.

“We’ll find something dead along the shore and fish with it,” Wes informed me after we’d cleaned the vines of berries. “We also need to do some scouting to find out where we are. We’ll get back to civilization as soon as we can. Got to get to Whales for your father as soon as possible.”

“Thank you.” I was relieved he didn’t voice his suspicions to my face. For a moment I thought he was being nice.

“Get rid of you as soon as possible,” he growled as he turned away to continue over the beach.

Well, I’d beat him to it. I’d get rid of him first.

The day passed, my stomach was full, and my legs were aching. My heart sank as I gazed at Hans’ handsome face in the firelight. He was asleep but that did little to dim the effect of his fine features. I shivered and moved closer to the fire. My dress had dried since the ship-wreck, but the fall wind blew on my skirts, chilling me.

I glanced one more time at Wes’ rugged form. He didn’t look as intimidating when he slept. If he didn’t look and act so much like a beast he could be considered almost handsome. But as it was, he was too rough and hairy to be considered good anything except a good bully.

Silently I slipped away from them. I knew as long as I stayed along the beach I would eventually find a harbor, perhaps a town that would allow me to work for them and I could earn my way to Spain. I remained near the shadows of the forest in case Wes and Hans tried to find me again.

The rocky terrain was frightening in the dark. Once I found myself shivering at the height of a cliff-top staring down at white water churning and crashing against the rocks below. Another time I almost passed out from exhaustion on the sharp rocks along the shoreline. I was barefoot.

For the first time since the Jeanette Marie I began to feel lonely. So lonely in fact that I was sure even Wes’ company would be welcomed. It was such a dark night. Clouds were covering the moon and stars and my only guide was the sound of the roaring waves. What I would’ve given to see a living soul, or at least hear one. I wanted to talk to someone, confide in someone. But my journey was one I had to embark on alone. I couldn’t risk my brother’s discovery or the discovery of the Anthony stone. Besides, nobody helps anyone out of pure motives. I had lost my money in the shipwreck so I had no money left to get help with. I had to fend for myself. But I was merely a sixteen year old girl with a stone lying at her ******. Nothing else. The world was so vast compared to me. So much stronger than I was.

I stepped under the shadow of a boulder trying to ignore the pain in my bleeding feet. How easily I could be hidden in only a dark shadow. The shadow of something bigger. I tried not to think how easily I could be hidden in the vast world I was going up against. Would I ever find my brother?

In that moment the dream of riches in the Anthony estate faded from my thoughts and all I wanted was my family. My brother. But the chances of finding him in the vast, uncontrollable world was slim. Very slim for the slender figure hidden in the shadow of a boulder.

I sighed and leaned against the rock. I had enough of a head start on Hans and Wes that I could rest. I was ready to sleep for eternity. The waves lapped against the shore near me and the trees swayed in the wind. All seemed peaceful for a moment and I fell asleep.

I awoke to the sound of a roar. My eyes flew open to behold the terrifying form of a bear. My first instinct was to scream. So I did. That didn’t seem to calm or dissuade the beast. He lunged forward at me. I had never been taught how to deal with a bear so I did my next most natural instinct. Run. Crashing into the forest and scrambling over old logs I ran from one of my greatest fears. I had never known what a terrible runner I was until I glanced behind me. The bear was only a few feet away from me. How I wished I’d had a weapon of some sort. I saw a long stick on the ground. Perhaps it would ward off the brute.

With loud shrieks I wielded my weapon at it. The bear almost seemed amused at my effort to be frightening. In a matter of seconds he had me disarmed and flat on my back on the forest sod. I closed my eyes, expecting to be torn to shreds by claws of terror.

I never felt those claws. Only the heavy weight of over a ton fall, limp, on top of me. It was wet and stank of dank fur.  Someone moved it off me allowing me to breathe. I stared up, dazed, at the stern face of Wes glowering down at me. In that moment I realized I’d rather been eaten by a bear. Shoving his sword back into his sheath I watched his face. He was not pleased with me. His hand pulled me up roughly. I glanced down at the scarlet heap of fur next to me and felt like vomiting.

“Have you caused enough trouble yet?” He hissed still holding onto my wrist. He held me close to his face. Sweat was in streams falling down his face. He’d been running hard. “I’ve been tracking you down since sunrise!”

“I…I,” I stuttered. How I longed to drop dead at that moment.

He let go of my hand but he was still furious. “What on earth would possess you to run off like that?”

“I was fine!” My voice came back since my fright. “I didn’t need you.”

“Indeed,” he snarled. “So the next time I see a bear roaring over your quivering figure I’ll know not to interfere with his meal.”

“I meant I was fine without your sarcasm and your beastly ways!”

“Well I’m tired of currying for the favor of a snob.” He heaved a breath still recovering from his scuttle.

“Well this is news!” I exclaimed. “Wes, is trying to curry favor. Indeed!”

He grabbed my arm again making it ache and yanked me closer to him. “I don’t need your sarcasm either, Elady.”

“Alright Wes!” I cried wrenching myself from his grip and backed away. “I’m fed up with your rude behavior. I left because I never wanted to see you again.”

“Rude, rude, rude,” he chuckled. “What if I’m fed up with your behavior?”

“You don’t have to bear it.”

“Yes I do! Because the moment I turn away you’re drowning or being mauled.”

At that moment Hans appeared. “Wes, don’t be so hard on her. She’s found us our food for the next little while.”

I glanced at the heap of mussed fur and my stomach lurched. Hans and Wes were expecting me to eat that thing!

“Any meat looks disgusting when it’s first killed,” Hans said trying to comfort me. Then he took out his knife and began to skin the bear. Wes knelt down and helped.

I turned away. I had no idea how I was going to survive the horrible land I was in. Not only was Wes the worst person to ever walk the earth, but I had to eat revolting bear. Bear that had almost eaten me.

Alright, so bear meat wasn’t so bad when cooked fully on a hot fire. But it was definitely not my meat of choice.

“Just imagine it’s beef and you won’t mind it,” Hans told me.

I tried, really I did. But visions of my meal’s wild eyes passed through my imagination when I stared at the sizzling meat, making me lose my appetite. It was somewhat tough and very greasy. Maybe that was just the opinion of a girl who was almost her meal’s meal. Hans and Wes liked it.

Wes seemed to have almost forgiven me for causing him so much trouble. I never really knew because he didn’t talk. Hans tried his best to keep things lively. I admired him for his worthy efforts. But I was in no mood to be cheerful. I was angry at Wes. Wes was no doubt angry at me. Poor Hans was caught in the middle of it.

I couldn’t believe it when Wes began to clean the bearskin. “You won’t be cold in this.”

I pulled Wes’ cloak around my body closer. “I can’t wear that! It tried to eat me.”

For once a tiny bit of sympathy passed over Wes’ hard face. He placed his left hand firmly on my shoulder. “Keep my cloak, I’ll wear the bearskin. If you get cold let me know and we’ll trade.”

My eyes met Wes’. For a moment I saw the sadness in them that I had once seen on the Jeanette Marie. What was going on behind that hard face? “Thank you,” I said, ever so quietly.

He shrugged and turned away. Wes was decent enough when he didn’t talk. Perhaps I would survive until we found civilization after all.

We were on an island Wes told me. When he climbed down a tall tree. “The only way off is by another ship,” he said. Disappointment sank down to my toes. Not only would I be stuck scavenging for food, but I’d be stuck doing it for I didn’t know how long with Wes. Would I ever find my brother?

I was surprised how easy it was to find food on the island. It was by no means a small island. Probably take about three days to walk all the way around it. Hans taught me how to build a fire when Wes left to do who knows what. I enjoyed Hans’ company.

“Wes cares about you Elady. In his own way. He’s just hard and stubborn,” Hans told me after dropping a load of wood onto the ground beside our fire. “You’ll learn to like him. Just give him a chance.”

“He won’t give me a chance so why should I?” I asked staring sullenly at the fire.

“Look Elady, I don’t want to be stuck on an island with two bickering stubborn blockheads!” I could tell he was getting cross. “Just try to be civil.”

I didn’t. As soon as Wes returned he began ordering me around. This time we nearly came to blows. Hans had to come between us to break it up. He was almost as angry as I was.

“Do you two need to live on opposite sides of the island? Stop it!” He bellowed, his normally soft voice was booming in rage. I had never seen him so angry. “Wes, try to be somewhat nice to her. Elady, don’t act like everything he says is a personal insult!” With that he stormed off and Wes and I fell silent. I admit I felt a little bit ashamed. Not for fighting with Wes, for making Hans upset. Hans was usually even tempered and understanding. Wes and I had brought him to his wits end. Maybe for Hans’ sake I’d try to do what he asked. Maybe.

Hours, days, nights passed. Probably about a week, but I didn’t count. It felt like eternity. I was cold, tired, and hungry for most of it. It was rocky, windy, and rainy for most of the time. Hans said we were somewhere between Greenland and Portugal. I figured that meant he had no idea where we were.

For Hans’ sake I didn’t speak to Wes when Hans was around so we wouldn’t fight. The moment Hans would leave though Wes and I wouldn’t dream of missing an opportunity to bite each other’s heads off.

On a night when Wes and I had had another hearty disagreement I went off to an old lookout rock. I loved to see the bright moon reflect off the silver waters. The waves lapped gently against the shore. From my perch I could see all the way till the sea reached the corner of the starlit sky. The stillness of the scene before me calmed me and my anger toward Wes. My fury towards my sworn enemy who was also my savior, my fear that I would never see my brother again, and the grief of my father’s death, it all melted away.

But in a moment it all came back, that dark cloud, the moment I heard a noise behind me. By the sound of the soft footsteps I knew exactly who it was.

“I don’t feel like fighting tonight,” he said quickly probably when saw me stiffen. “Look, I know you hate being startled but we’ve got to talk.”

I nodded keeping my face forward. I didn’t want to look at him. He took his seat beside me.

“We need to get along,” he began. “I’ll warrant we come from two different worlds but for Hans’ sake we can’t go on like this.”

I didn’t answer.

“I admit I’m suspicious of your sincerity, you probably heard me the first night we landed here…”

I was startled he knew.

“And I guess I consider you a spoiled snob. But I have no doubt you think I’m practically an animal. I have never bothered to prove you wrong. Maybe because you never earned my respect enough for me to care what you thought.”

“Why did you save my life back there with the bear? And why did you save me from the pirates?” I finally said. “And then…why did you make me hate you afterwards?”

“You’re proud,” he replied without hesitation.

“I’m proud?”

“You’re the type of person who won’t accept help from anyone. You think you can do everything. I’m like that, which is why it irritates me so much. I knew the only way I could help you would be if I did it forcefully.”

I wasn’t satisfied. “Why did you help me at all?”

By the silence I knew he didn’t have an answer. “…You’d be dead if I didn’t.”

“Like everyone else on the Jeanette Marie.”

“You were a helpless stubborn girl. The others could take care of themselves if they wanted.” He realized by my expression that I thought his explanation was far from substantial. “You were Hans’ friend. Hans saved my life…many years ago…when I first began sailing…was my only friend,” he sighed seeing the disbelief written in my eyes. “He knew I’d protect you if he made it clear you were his friend.”

“Why couldn’t he do the job if he cared so much?”

He shrugged.

He didn’t say anything else. I knew he hadn’t told me everything. But why should he? I hadn’t told him a thing! But maybe he wasn’t as bad as I thought he was. Maybe.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***