Chapter 1 - Cabin Boy

She had enough. Since the tender age of fourteen, she had been paraded around, dressed up like a clown, pushed at men – all for her father’s benefit. There were many times that she had a hard time recalling her childhood and the mother that had died too young. A mother who was no longer there to protect her from the greed of her father. Now, at twenty-two, she was on her own against her father and his scheming ways.

Kalinna Davenport, a beautiful brunette with sparking green eyes and altogether too much spirit for her father’s liking, was about to be married off to the richest man her dowry would attract. Her father cared naught about her feelings, just the filling of his coffers. It was as no surprise, therefore, that Kalinna hated the man Richard Davenport had become.

Since the death of his wife Elizabeth eight years ago, Richard had turned his daughter’s life upside-down. Elizabeth had always been the one who was able to fight off Richard; Richard with his crazy ideas and idiotic schemes to make them rich. Elizabeth had been content with their comfortable existence, but alas, Richard wanted more.

So with Elizabeth gone, Richard was free to run his life, and that of his daughter’s as well, as he saw fit. Unfortunately, that put Kalinna between a rock and a hard place. Her father wanted money, a title, anything that would move him up in society from that of a mere merchant. He saw in his daughter’s looks and fine figure, a way to accomplish that goal.

And Kalinna could not refuse him. He was her father, and if she scorned him, she had no other place to go, no means of supporting herself. She would be scorned by her other family members, by society. The wealthy and titled believed that an arranged marriage by one’s father was the appropriate way to go about getting a spouse, after all. Kalinna, however, thought the idea ridiculous.

That was why she couldn’t stay any longer. If refusing every suitor wasn’t going to get the message through her father’s thick skull, then maybe running away would. In her eyes, it was the only option left, short of marrying a man she didn’t love.

She was slim enough, and short enough, to pass herself off as a boy, so that’s what she was going to do. She had heard numerous stories of how young boys were made a part of a ship’s crew if the ship was in need. So she was going to try her luck at the docks. She was dressed in worn boy’s clothing, her long chestnut hair swept under a dirty cap, her face smudged with dirt. She didn’t look remotely like the gently-bred lady she actually was.

She only hoped that she could pull this off. It had to work. It just had to. She couldn’t think of any other option if this plan backfired on her. Although there was one thing for certain; she was never going to go back. Never.

That was one of the two promises she had made to herself. The other was that she would never marry any man unless he truly loved her. Not that she was bound to be worrying about that anytime soon. She was now a boy.

With her shoulders back, Kalinna grabbed her small sack, with some money, her mother's diary, a change of clothes, a bible, and her cherished journal, and crept out of the house. It was too early for anybody to be about in the household, the sun was just barely out after all, so it was quite easy for Kalinna’s leaving to go unnoticed. She breathed a sigh of relief and thanked her lucky stars for the big break.

Now, she just had to get to the docks. Easier said than done. She had been about London many a times with her father, a suitor, or with her traveling companion, Emma-Mae, but they had never ventured near port. It was filled with “unsavory types”, as her father had put it.

She hadn’t understood exactly what he meant about that. Well, she was about to find out soon enough. That is, if she made it there in one piece.

“Where ye be headin’, boy?” a voice suddenly shot into her thoughts. Kalinna looked up to see a man driving a wagon full of fresh fruit looking curiously down at her.

“To port,” she responded in a strong voice.

“What ye be needin’ there?” the stranger continued, surprised at the answer he had received.

“I’m heading out on a ship. I’m a cabin boy,” Kalinna responded, hoping the man would not ask what ship she intended to sail with.

“Ah, goin’ to make yer fortune?” the man teased.

“Hoping to,” Kalinna bit out, trying not to get annoyed.

“Well hop in, old Bess’ll get ye there faster than walkin’ on those short legs o’ yers,” the farmer offered; Kalinna quickly agreed and climbed up beside the man, “I be John Masters.”

“Kip Davenport,” Kalinna revealed as she made sure to keep her voice deep like a boy’s.

“Nice to meet ye Kip,” John stated, shaking her hand.

The two fell in a comfortable silence before John began to talk about his family. He had a beautiful wife named Maggie and three adorable children, two boys and one girl. Kalinna couldn’t help but smile as the man talked; the pride was evident in his tone of voice.

Kalinna only wished her father could have been more like this man. John Masters was content to sell his fresh fruit, and though he wasn’t rich, he had a home and a loving family to go home to at night. She could only hope that she found the same such happiness one day.

Finally, after walking for what seemed like forever, John pulled the wagon to a stop and Kalinna quickly hopped out.

“Thanks for the ride,” she told the man, smiling, “And god bless you and your family.”

“Yer welcome,” John gruffly replied, “You take care of yourself, son, you hear me?”

“Yessir,” Kalinna responded before she headed off into the crowded streets in the direction of the docks.

She trudged along, and ten minutes or so later, finally got her first good look at the port. Her father was right about the place after all. All around were filthy, bedraggled men, raunchy sailors with awful language, tired-looking prostitutes and little children who looked too skinny to be alive. The whole place reeked of waste and dead fish, not pleasant in the least and it took all of Kalinna’s resolve not to lose the small breakfast she had consumed earlier.

She sighed. There really was no turning back now. But how was she to go about becoming a cabin boy? The only thing she knew besides the gentle ways of a lady was how to wield a sword. And those things weren’t going to get her anywhere.

“Whatcha got in the sack, laddy?” a drunken voice suddenly sneered near her ear. Kalinna whirled around and almost gagged at the sight of the large, dirty man in front of her.

“None of your business, it’s mine,” she spat, mustering the fiercest glare she could manage while she was trembling.

“Me thinks I’ll take a look,” the man stated, leaning forward to grab the few things she had brought with her.

Kalinna wasn’t going to give up that easily. No way was this disgusting form of a man going to lay his filthy paws on her sack. Not if she had anything to say about it.

Without thinking, she backed up, and seeing a man standing behind her, his back to her, quickly grabbed his sword out of the sheath hanging about his waist. She dropped her sack and turned to face her opponent, her weapon at the ready. He had already drawn a wicked-looking sword and Kalinna tried to keep the tremors out of her legs.

“Playin’ hard to git, eh?” the man barked as he advanced.

“Nope, playing skin the idiot for trying to take what is mine,” she spat back, unaware of the audience that had gathered to watch them.

“I’ll teach ye to talk to me like that ye scallywag,” he roared in return.

“I’m waiting,” Kalinna taunted, amazed at her own bravery.

The filthy man took a hacking chop at her. But he underestimated how quick Kalinna was and she immediately ducked out of the way. The man whirled and charged again. Their swords clashed, the ringing of the metal an unpleasant sound to the ears of those still imbibed with liquor.

They continued on in this way for a while, and Kalinna felt herself began to tire, which was not a good sign. Finally, the man swung again, barely missing her thigh. Kalinna quickly parried and angrily, attacked back with a vengeance, backing up the man until he tripped over a barrel. He went flying backwards, his sword flying out of his hand.

It clattered to the ground and before the man could think to grab it, Kalinna walked over and pointed her sword at his throat. The man trembled in fear, knowing he had been defeated.

“Don’t kill me,” he begged as he lay in the street.

“Well, since you asked so nice,” Kalinna sarcastically quipped as she drew the sword closer to the man’s neck.

Abruptly, she pulled back, knowing she was incapable of killing the man, no matter how angry she was. Besides, she did not want this man’s death on her hands.

“Get out of here,” she growled.

The man quickly obeyed, slithering quickly into the shadows to nurse his wounded pride in a pub. Kalinna heard a rumble of rowdy laughter and blushed as she noticed the crowd that had gathered to watch. At her gaze, though, they thankfully began to disperse. This was not how she had wanted to start her day out in port. With a sigh, Kalinna quickly walked back towards the man she had swiped the sword from.

“I believe this is yours,” she told the man as she handed him the weapon.

She quickly gazed up at him, and to her immediate horror, stared. He was a handsome man, with a tall, muscular frame and a commanding presence. Blue eyes sparkled out of a handsome face sheathed by brown curls that were cut short in the French fashion and his lips were curved in all the right places. Kalinna felt her heartbeat quicken as she perused him, and quickly looked away as she blushed. She was a maiden; one who should not be thinking wayward thoughts about this good-looking stranger.

“I haven’t seen such fine swordplay in a long while,” the stranger replied as he sheathed the weapon and held his hand out; Kalinna quickly snapped out of her daze, “Captain Justin Timberlake, at your service.”

“The pirate?” she practically squeaked, her nerves resurfacing as she shook his hand.

“The one and only,” Justin replied, an amused grin lighting his lips, “Alas, I fear you have the advantage over me now. You know me, but I have yet to learn the name of the kid with the great sword skills.”

“Kip Davenport,” Kalinna quickly responded as she got over the shock.

“Any relation to Richard Davenport, the merchant?” the captain questioned, suddenly not so friendly as he withdrew his hand from her’s.

“Never heard of the man,” Kalinna lied, wondering why this man seemed so interested in her father. The pirate seemed to relax after her answer, however.

“Good to hear. Now, how old are you Kip?” Justin pressed as he lounged against the wall of a pub, “I’m looking for a cabin boy, and with your skill with a sword, I’ll be sure to be safe at all times.” Kalinna blushed at the praise.

“Four and ten,” she replied, quick on her feet.

“Would you be interested in joining my crew? That is, if you don’t have any family that would object to the ways of pirating,” Justin announced as he studied her reaction.

“My family is dead,” Kalinna flatly replied as she thought dark thoughts about the greedy father of her’s that was probably still fast asleep in his bed in their townhouse.

“Well then, you have a place in my crew if you’d like,” Justin offered as he suddenly stood up and placed his hat atop his head, “We leave port in an hour, you have that much time to make up your mind.”

“I don’t need an hour. I’m set to go now,” Kalinna responded as she picked up her sack of belongings. She was amazed at how lucky she was.

“Good, I’ll take you aboard the ship and my first mate, Jackson, will show you around,” the pirate stated as he pushed off the wall, “Well, follow me then.”

Kalinna quickly trotted along to keep up with the man’s long stride. In no time at all, they came upon the most glorious ship she had ever laid eyes on. She stood there, her mouth hanging open as her eyes roamed appreciatively over the vessel.

“That’s your’s?” she demanded in awe.

“She. She’s mine,” Justin corrected, grinning at the mistake, “Her name’s Christina.”

“Christina. Meaning my god is abundance. How fitting,” Kalinna commented. She could have kicked herself, however, for saying that.

“Yes. How did you know?” Justin questioned, surprised at her knowledge.

“Before my parents died, my father would bring books home for me to read. One of them was the meaning behind names,” she stated, quickly making up a believable lie.

“Interesting. Was your father a scholar?” Justin continued as they began to board.

“He was a blacksmith, but he traveled a lot to other villages to shoe horses and things along that line,” Kalinna explained, “Unfortunately, he and my ma passed on before he could teach me any of the tools of the trade. He taught me sword fighting, but I think he was hoping that I would become a scholar, just like he had once dreamed of doing.”

“It’s a shame you never got the chance,” Justin commented, a little puzzled by the story, something about it nagged at the back of his mind for some reason. But he shoved it away; the lad was only fourteen, “Well, welcome to your home for the next six months.”

Kalinna glanced around, trying to take in all her surroundings at once. Her eyes traveled over the sleek, clean deck, the massive wheel at the helm, the tall rigging and the unfurled sails, which billowed in the slight wind. It was a sight she would not soon forget.

“Jackson, this is Kip, my new cabin boy,” Justin introduced as a big burly man came walking over, a curious glint in his intelligent eyes, “Kip, this is Jackson Cromwell, my first mate.”

“Nice to meet you kid,” Jackson stated, patting Kalinna roughly on the back; she was amazed she didn’t topple over, “You ever been on a ship like this before?"

“Nope,” Kalinna squeaked out, intimidated by this hulking man.

Jackson Cromwell, in Kalinna’s eyes, was huge. The man was tall, though not taller than the pirate captain, and had huge, muscled arms that appeared to be the width of her neck. His chest looked like an unmovable barrel and his huge hands looked capable of breaking her in two. His dark brown eyes sparkled with intelligence from a slightly rounded face that was shrouded in a cape of jet black hair.

“You’ll learn real quick,” Jackson said with a smile, then laughed, “Lord, don’t look so frightened kid, I ain’t gonna bite you.”

“Be nice Jackson, you’re three times his size,” Justin said, landing a solid punch on his first mate’s beefy arm. “Don’t worry Kip, for a pirate, he’s a softy at heart.” Kalinna laughed.

“Hey now, don’t go spoiling me secrets to everyone,” Jackson scowled, pretending to be angry. But Kalinna couldn’t help but notice how the corners of his mouth twitched as if itching to turn up in a smile, “Well kid, let’s get you acquainted with this hunk a junk.”

“Whose ship are you calling a hunk of junk?” Justin demanded, frowning.

“Lighten up captain, I ain’t insultin’ your dead mother’s name so don’t get your breeches in a bunch,” Jackson shot at the younger man, who grinned a rather boyish grin back.

“Better not or I’ll have to make you walk the plank,” Justin threatened good-naturedly before he made to leave the ship, “I’ve still got some business to take care of, but I’ll be back in an hour so be sure the ship and all the men are ready to sail by then.”

“Aye aye captain,” Jackson concluded, giving his superior a goofy salute. Justin rolled his eyes before vacating the vessel. Kalinna wondered if the reputation of the infamous Captain Timberlake and his rowdy crew was somewhat overrated…but who was she to know?

Instead of pondering over the intricate man that was Captain Justin Timberlake, Kalinna quickly followed after the first mate Jackson as he began to take her below decks. She had to worry about learning to become a pirate before she tried to figure the man out.