Runaway With a Pirate

Chapter 25

Bang!

Thunder roared outside of the boat. Every time the sky would light up and roar with thunder Willow would jump. It's not that she's afraid of the storm, she's afraid of what it could do. Doing her best Willow continued about her day. Her body still ached in protest of walking, but she needed to do something to distract herself from the storm. Only this was the boat was rocking more aggressively than it normally would with another storm. The boat violently jerked to the right and Willow went crashing right into a door. The weight of the impact sent the door flying open. Landing with a thud Willow quietly groans in pain.

"You should have stayed in your room kitten if you're in that much pain," Sawyer's voice said.

Looking up she saw that she was in his room. Slowly she makes herself sit up.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to come into your room," Willow apologized.

"You're in pain and have unstable footing," Sawyer said not looking at her.

Looking more closely Willow saw that Sawyer was very tense. She saw that while he was doing some paperwork he had a few veins sticking out on his neck. That and it looked like he had just gotten out of the shower.

"Are you okay?" Willow asked.

"I'm fine," Sawyer said through greet teeth.

"You don't look fine," Willow commented," and you don't sound fine either."

"Then why the fuck did you ask me if I'm fine?" Sawyer asked with a snap.

"Okay pup what's got you in a bad mood?" Willow asked standing on unsteady feet.

Boom!

Another roar of thunder, made Willow jump with a start. Sawyer must have seen her jump because he was now eyeing her.

"What are you afraid of a little thunder?" Sawyer questioned.

"No, I'm not it's just the thought of this weather sinking the boat terrifies me," Willow admitted," and I can't swim."

"You what!?" Sawyer exclaimed.

"I can't swim," Willow repeated," my mom never took me anywhere that had water that I could potentially drown in."

Sawyer opened his mouth to say something but was interrupted when the boat jerked to the side harshly. Willow closed her eyes as she was once again thrown off her feet by the force of the boat. There was a sound of a chair moving and the next thing she knew there was a strong arm holding her from hitting the floor. Looking at who's arm was holding her Willow saw that it belonged to Sawyer. He helped her to stand on her feet before speaking.

"If your going to be in here at least sit down before you manage to kill yourself," Sawyer said walking her over to his couch.

"Umm, thanks," Willow mumbled sitting down.

"It's the least I can do since I'm the reason you can't stand on your own feet," Sawyer said.

"Well, you wanna sit with me?" Willow asked quietly.

"Why?" Sawyer asked.

"Just sit down," Willow snapped.

Sawyer sat down beside her and Willow stood and moved to stand behind him. Placing her hands on the back of his shoulders she began to gently give him a massage. She could tell that he was very tense and she did her best to help relax him.

"So..." Willow said trailing off before she even started talking.

"Hmm," Sawyer hummed relaxing as she continued.

"I just wanted to say thank you for teaching me how to fight with a sword," Willow said.

"I figured if you were ever going to pull a stunt like you did you'd better know how to fight," Sawyer confessed.

"Still I really do appreciate it," Willow said," and how am I doing?"

"With what?" Sawyer asked.

"Well with training and with this," Willow said.

"You're doing excellent in your training," Sawyer said," and you're doing a good job with the massage."

The boat jerked slightly again and even before Willow was knocked off her feet Sawyer grabbed ahold of her arms keeping her on her feet.

"Okay, that's enough of you standing sit down," Sawyer instructed.

"Yes pup," Willow said walking back around the couch.

She sat back down and spoke," if you still have work that needs to be done you can go finish."

"No, I was just doing something to keep me busy," Sawyer said.

"Oh," is all Willow said.

"Now I have a question for you," Sawyer said.

Willow turned to face him awaiting his question.

"Do you miss your home?" Sawyer asked.

Willow was shocked. She didn't think he'd ask that question. Taking a minute to recover from her shock Willow answered," if I'm being honest no I don't miss living in the castle."

"Good," was all Sawyer said.

"Why do you ask?" Willow asked generally confused.

"You could say Dustin brought it to my attention that your parents are raising the price for your safe return," Sawyer answered," and he thinks it would be a good idea to return you and collect the reward."

"You're not going to send me back right?" Willow asked.

She could tell that Sawyer was reading her face. She knew that fear was written not just on her face but in her voice when she had asked that question.

"No, I'm not, sending you home is like selling one of my crew," Sawyer said," and I don't sell my crew."

"So I'm staying?" Willow asked.

"If you weren't I would not be teaching you how to use a sword," Sawyer said.

They sat there in silence, listening to the now quieting rain. Willow was happy that she wasn't going to be sent home. Making herself comfortable Willow soon felt her eyes get heavy. She rested her head against Sawyer as sleep took her.