"You're going to hire me."
Rick had been studying charts when the woman's voice sounded over him. He looked up into the most determined face he had ever seen. A young girl stood in front of him, her thumbs hooked in the back pocket of her hip hugging jeans. Rick noticed this as his eyes traveled up her body.
"And why would I do that?" This kid couldn't have been more than twenty-seven or twenty-eight, and was wanting a job on a crabbing vessel. She had to be crazy.
"Because you need me." What a smart-ass, Rick thought to himself. She'll fit in perfectly with the boys.
"That's not an answer." Rick had heard about this kid. Her name was Maggie Webber; tall, thin, with short brown hair that tucked neatly behind her ears, her bangs falling into her fierce, hazel eyes.
"I'm a psychologist working on my dissertation, a lifeguard and a paramedic, and I can take anything these guys can throw at me." She paused for what Rick figured was dramatic effect. "More importantly, I can cook up whatever you want me to." She gave Rick a look that told him she already knew what his answer was going to be. He thought a moment.
"I'll try you out for a season. Then I'll decide if you can handle this lifestyle. You'll get two hundred a day, same as any other greenhorn."
"Agreed."Maggie's handshake was firm. It told Rick that she was a girl, a young woman really, who knew what she wanted and was going to get it, no matter the challenge. She would be perfect for this boat. Rick watched her leave the bridge. At least she was dressed sensibly - Notre Dame hoodie, jeans and sneakers. And it wasn't like she was bad looking either, quite the opposite actually. The boys would be happy. Provided she was telling the truth about taking them on, she'd be fine.
Rick turned back to the helm and sighed at the sight of the dark, choppy water of the Bering Sea. Donna loved this job, loved the boys as her own, probably because she couldn't have any. So instead she had made her life out here with Rick. Twenty-nine years before she fell sick. Breast cancer was the culprit, and it took her hard and fast, just as the sea would have. The entire crew has cried just as hard as Rick had when she had finally died; they all loved her that much.
Tomorrow, the first day of king crab season, her ashes would be spread from the bow. Maybe it would bring them a little luck , just as Donna always seemed to. Rick wiped the tears from his eyes. Thank God none of the boys were up here to see him. The captain was supposed to be the strong one, right?
It didn't really matter anymore. Rick guessed that this would be his last season before he retired. Besides, Blake Painter was ready to be captain. He had earned the respect of the rest of the crew. He had the experience. It would work out alright.
Down on deck, Maggie had her cell phone to her ear.
"Yeah Mom, I got the job. Two hundred a day for at least a month. I should be able to pay off my loans in no time, especially if I get signed on for another season. And it'll give me time to write my dissertation. Yes, I have all the information I need, but listen, I have to go get my stuff put away. I'll call you the next chance I get. I love you. Give Michael a hug for me. Alright. Bye." Maggie hung up the phone, staring at it for a moment. She wouldn't talk to anyone she loved for a month or more, and considering she was used to talking to them daily, this was going to be hard. But she needed this job. She had loans from Sterling undergrad and her Notre Dame graduate and doctorate work to pay off. She was bound and determined to finish her dissertation without debt. Without anyone's help. She looked out over the Dutch Harbor, Alaskan landscape. It was beautiful, crisp and clear, but Maggie knew that it was going to get cold and rough out on the sea. She slid her hands into her hoodie pocket and stared off, just thinking.
"Who is that?" Blake asked, nodding his head towards some girl standing on the deck of the Maverick.
"Her name's Maggie Webber. She's been looking for work on the boats. But no one will hire a girl. Bad luck and whatnot." Scott told him.
"What, pulling in crab?"
"No, taking care of the crew."
"She ain't bad looking, that's for sure." Mike said, nudging his brother.
"She's too young for you." Marvin told him. "But Blake on the other hand."
"Knock it off, guys. You haven't even seen her face."
"With a body like that, I don't have to see her face." Mike chuckled. Blake looked back at the girl, the wind blowing through her hair. She didn't even bother to try and hold it back, or contain it. She just let it blow around her face. He looked up and down her body. She might have been wearing a bulky hoodie, but her jeans hugged her hips and her backside nicely; not too tight, but not falling off. Blake shook his head. This was soon to be his boat, he had never heard about a girl being hired. That was a disrespect to Donna's memory. He walked towards her, suddenly angry.
"Aren't you a little young to be on a crabbing boat?"
Maggie turned to see a young man standing behind her, about thirty-years-old, with three older men behind him. They all stared at her with a questioning glare. Maggie grabbed her bag and threw it over her shoulder, looking the young man up and down. He was tall, taller then Maggie, built and muscular, with brown eyes and hair. He was cute. No, Maggie thought, I have to share space with him. Keep it neutral.
"I think I can handle it. Thanks for your concern." Without another look, Maggie walked past him and down to where Rick had said she would be bunking.
"Who is she?" Black demanded, stepping onto the bridge. "I don't remember any discussion about hiring a girl."
"Young woman, she's twenty-seven. And I do believe that I'm still captain. I didn't think I had to discuss anything with anyone." Rick didn't even bother turning around to face him.
"But who is she?"
"She's the new cook, medic and caretaker."
"Where did she come from?"
"Did you ask?"
"Well… no."
"So go ask. And ask nicely. I don't know her very well, but I know enough about women to know I don't want her pissed off before the season even starts." Blake turned to walk off the bridge. "And apologize for whatever you already said to her!" Rick yelled after him. Blake paused and rolled his eyes. Just because this kid was a girl, she should be treated any differently from the rest of them? Yeah, right. Black checked his watch. He had another twelve hours before he had to be back on the boat. Just enough time to get a drink or two, and maybe to consider the strange feeling in his stomach that he got the second he laid eyes on that girl.
"Come on Blake, pick up your feet, you're on the boat now, stop goofing around." Marvin and Mike were on either side of a thoroughly drunk Blake, staggering through the close quarters of the Maverick at midnight. Blake seemed to find this hilariously funny.
"What in the name of hell is going on out here?" Maggie emerged from one of the bunks. She saw Blake and grimaced, her arms crossing at her chest. "I should have known, the prodigal son returns."
"Hey look," Blake slurred as he straighten and stepped up to Maggie. She looked up at him. He was towering over her. She guessed him to be six foot four or five. "It's the new princess of the Maverick. You know, I was told to be nice to you." Maggie stepped away from the stench of alcohol on Blake's breath.
"Well you should, I can poison your morning coffee." Mike and Marvin snickered. Blake threw a glare over his shoulder at them, then looked back at Maggie, noticing for the first time what she was wearing. She had on a pink tee-shirt with the word "Sterling" scrawled across the front, and black flannel pants. She was bare foot.
"You should put socks on or your feet will freeze." Blake slurred. "Or you could curl up with a warm body." He smiled mischievously.
"Or I could curl up with my heated blanket, and you could go back to your own bunk alone to sober up." Maggie motioned to Marvin and Mike who grabbed Blake under the arms again. As soon as the boys had pulled Blake clear of the door, Maggie closed it, leaned back against the metal and sighed.
He's a jerk, she thought, just a drunk jerk. Just keep reminding yourself of that. Maggie sighed again, and crawled back into bed. Tomorrow she would start work.