The Aftermath

Chapter 2

April 11th 1912

The next day was less eventful.  We had no problem sailing into Queenstown, Ireland.  All the people who were becoming the new additions to our passenger list were already on a boat that sailed out to meet us.  Nothing really happened, except whenever I saw Sam, he would make jokes or faces at me.

"Before we go any further, who is this Sam?"

"Oh.  He is my best friend on the Titanic.  He was another officer.  We bunked together...until that night."

Just when I thought that all my hopes were dashed for seeing Bridget again, until I went up onto the Boat deck.  One of the officers on my way up said that they saw a couple of kids up there.  Me, being the officer with the least seniority, I always got stuck with the jobs no one else wanted.  I didn't spot any children up there.  However, I did see Bridget just leaning over the edge.  I raced over hoping that she wasn't trying to do anything stupid.

Apparently Bridget did hear my thundering footsteps because she whipped around to stare at me.  I honestly tried not to gawk at her, but she was very pretty.

"uhhh.....Hello again."

"Hello.  I came up here to think, not try to jump overboard."

One of her eyebrows waggled accusingly at me.  I gave a nervous chuckle.  She burst into laughter too.

"I didn't mean to accuse you of anything, it's just my job to make sure that no one gets hurt."

Bridget smiled.

"Thank you for your concern."

I was about to ask if she wanted to continue the tour, but a shout drew my attention away from her.  A man was running towards us, and yelling about something that I couldn't quite understand yet.

"Oi!  Bridget, get over here!  You're supposed to be in the cabin.  Not disappearing to make trouble."

I glanced at Bridget to evaluate her reaction to this.  What I found was unnerving.

Bridget appeared to diminish in size, and had suddenly gone pale.  I may not have understood who the man was yet, but I wasn't about to let him scare Bridget.  To prevent this, I stepped in front of her hoping that she would realize that there was not anything to be afraid of.  When the man came closer, it was apparent that he was very muscular, and about an inch taller than me.  Cripes, what had I gotten myself into?

"Excuse me, who are you?"

My voice apparently masked the inner turmoil was feeling inside, for the man noticed that I was blocking his way.

"I am her brother-in-law, and currently the guardian of this wretch."

Now I was angry.  No man had a right to insult a lady, especially not on my watch.

"That is no way to talk in front of a lady."

"You think she is a lady?! She can't use letters, or do anything else for Christ's sake! She is just a useless piece of..."

I lost my temper, I'll admit.  But I did manage to get a good right hook into the man's face.  He went down but came up with a lot of fury in his eyes.  He tried to lunge at me.  Fortunately I was quicker and jumped out of the way.  He wasn't so lucky and hit the railing dead on.  The brother-in-law was rendered unconscious.  Bridget had moved as well, and was now clutching my arm trying to force me to stop fighting.

"It isn't worth it.  You'll only make him mad.  I don't want to see you get hurt."

It was touching that she cared enough about me, to not want to see me hurt myself on her account.  Sam just happened to pass by at that moment and saw the mess I made.

"Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!  What did you do?  You're going to get it for knockin' the man's blinker out!"

Bridget turned to Sam, while still clutching my arm.

"Can you get him out of here?  I can take care of this."

Sam nodded, and grabbed me by my collar.  I protested vigorously but wasn't a match for Sam's determination.  Bridget called out as I was being drug away,

"I'll meet you by the 2nd class dining saloon!"

I gave up struggling long enough to reply before entering the door to the stairwell,

"I'll hold you to it, Miss Bradley!"

*****

Slam!  I was grinning like a mad man.  I had another chance to see her.  I was staring dreamily into the distance, and was only brought out of my imagination by Sam pinning me against the wall.

"What is the matter with you?  I never have seen you act so scatterbrained.  Why did you punch the man?  You know you could get into serious trouble for a stunt like this."

I took a deep breath knowing that Sam would lose it when I told him my reason for punching the man.

"The man is her brother-in-law, and he insulted her."

My betting odds were correct and Sam immediately started ranting.  If I wasn't friends with him, I would probably tell him that he was acting like a mother hen with his head cut off.

"He insulted her, and you felt the need to attack him.  No matter that he could have you fired, or worse!  Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!  I hope I never fall in love,"

He gave me a look over like I was an abomination.

" 'cause if I ever start to act as crazy as you do, I might just jump overboard."

I laughed at him.  After he finished talking, I thought who would have him?

When I told him this a few seconds later, he socked me in the arm.  Regaining our composure we walked down to the promenade deck to make sure that the first class passengers weren't being pestered by the lower classes.  Sam was quiet.  I felt a little remorseful for teasing him like that.  I was only joking.  Finally he turned to me.

"Are you really in love with this girl?"

I thought for a minute.  Did I love her?  Bridget was all that I could think about.  Every minute that I had to think, was spent on her.  When I was with her, all I wanted to do was get to know her more and apparently protect her as I did against her brother-in-law.  The bottom line was that she evoked strong feelings in me; feelings that I had never felt about anyone.

"Yeah I guess I do."

"Do you think that she loves you back?"

This was another hard question.  I sincerely hoped that she did.  Otherwise, what was the reason for promising to meet me?

"I hope so."

At this response, which clearly wasn't what Sam had thought I would say, peered up at me as if I were going to break down.

"I think she does mate.  Why else would she care about your safety above hers?"

He had a good point.  Only time would tell if he was right.