Pirate's Promise

Chapter 7

Alice decided to get out of the water when goosebumps began rippling over her skin. Taking a good look into the woods she noted the flicker of their fire off in the distance and began to make her way out. No doubt her chemise was see-through and on top of it, it was chilly outside. Once back on land, Alice turned to the water, her back facing the fire she'd created for herself.

The thin cotton chemise would dry quickly but it would dry even faster if she rang it out. So, Alice did just that. Quickly she pulled it from her body, and twisted it in her hands. Water splattered on her toes and somewhere off in the distance a twig snapped.

Alice spun, gripping her sodden chemise to her body and scanned the forest. She hoped that it was just an animal wandering around. Didn't matter what kind since it wasn't likely to come near her fire. When she didn't see anyone she sighed a breath of relief and quickly put the damp cotton back on and sat down by the fire to warm her fingers and toes. If only the fire could warm her heart.

Alice folded her arms and placed her head on her knees trying not to close her eyes. Every time she did, she saw those lifeless eyes staring back at her. She'd killed a man... What would her mother think?

 Don't be stupid, Alice. What did you think you were headed to do anyway?

It was true but it didn't make it any easier.

Alice reached down and began tracing designs in the dirt at her feet with a lone twig. How had things come to this? She should be at home fending off suitors, not out in the woods murdering people.

The design swirled out with every flick of her wrist. It reminded her of the ivy that grows and flourishes on the side of her window at home. It clung their even in winter, reduced to brown vines and nothing more. But every summer she could remember it brightened up.

She supposed if the ivy could survive such harsh winters, she could survive this.

Noise behind her made Alice turn. Charlie was making his way toward her and a flush of heat rushed up her neck. She was only in her thin chemise and it hadn't had much time to dry. But before she could say anything, Charlie dropped a thin blanket over her shoulders before settling down next to her without a word.

They sat in silence for a while. A "thank you" died on her lips because part of her wasn't thankful he'd covered her. Maybe he would finally realize she was a woman if he saw that she didn't have the body of a child anymore. Alice wondered if she could be like the women she sometimes read about in novels — if she could act as brazenly as the women of the night. That would surely get his attention.

But no.

It just wasn't in her.

Besides, she would end up acting desperate like the woman only a few hundred yards away. That was the last thing she wanted.

"I almost forgot," Charlie mumbled and then set a cloth down in her lap. Inside was a large chunk of Rabbit, which was saying something since rabbits weren't known for having much meat on them.

"I'm surprised she didn't want this."

"She did. But I didn't give it to her."

Alice met his gaze for a moment and then sighed. "Thank you. I am quite hungry."

As Alice ate she looked back up at the stars and stared at a constellation that had been boggling her. She knew she'd been taught it but for some reason it was alluding her.

Laying back on her bedding she'd laid out, Alice looked back up at the stars and sighed. "Charlie. What is that constellation again?"

She pointed upward as she had done when she was a little girl and he did as he had always done and scooted close to her so he could follow her arm upward. She knew this was probably only reminding him of her being a child but perhaps it would always be so.