Greenhorns and Rivals: Weathered

So I had this idea (thanks to my amazing friend Emily) about a story centering on the ever-growing tension that we've seen between Sig and Edgar this past season. Then I had an idea to include my OC Ms. Jack Harper in the story as well to add some more depth to it. Basically this story goes right along with the "Greenhorns and Rivals" saga. I'm going to have it placed right after Edgar and Jack become engaged. She's been on the Northwestern for three years now and that's when the following events occur. I love Jack Harper and the stories I've written about her and the crew of the Northwestern and I missed writing about her so…here it is! The fourth installment of my Greenhorns and Rivals saga! Please read and review! : )

Weathered – By Creed

Cause we are rusted and weathered,

Barely holding together…

The sun shines and I can't avoid the light,

I think I'm holding onto life too tight,

Ashes to ashes and dust to dust,

Sometimes I feel like giving up…

Prologue

Morning crept up on the crew unexpectedly. The sun threw bright, orange rays across the bow of the gleaming white boat as the crew finished tying a stack of pots together on the long deck. With a final tug of the line, a young woman with auburn hair smirked triumphantly. She gazed up at the wheelhouse and saw her captain standing on the upper deck, leaning on the rail and watching his crew prepare for the new Opillio crab fishing season. His thinning blonde hair moved slightly as a light breeze blew over the boat from the ocean that lay beyond the harbor. He rolled down the sleeves of his light blue button-up shirt and crossed his arms over his chest, attempting to gain a bit of warmth from the action.

"Wooooohooooo!"

Jack Harper nearly jumped three feet in the air as an overly hyper man ran over and snatched her up, tossing her into the air and catching her as she landed back on her feet.

"Edgar Hansen!" she screeched as she took a few careful steps away from him, attempting to avoid another attack, "What in the world?"

"Oh don't tell me you aren't psyched!" he laughed as he punched her in the arm, "I mean, we're going back out to your favorite place: the ocean, and you're gonna marry the handsomest Alaskan crab fisherman in the world!"

Jack smirked at that, "Not that there are many Alaskan crab…"

"Oh stop," said Edgar, cutting her off as he hugged her.

Jack laughed and pushed him away, "Stop it! Your brother is up there watching us," she hissed quietly, "We have to at least pretend like we're working or he'll freak out…again."

Edgar frowned at that. Sig had been unusually edgy lately and it was starting to play on everyone's nerves. The crew chose to ignore it and just do as they were told. Even Sig couldn't destroy the excited and upbeat mood on the Northwestern. Since Jack had joined the crew, things were moving smoothly and everyone was learning to get along…well, everyone except Edgar and Sig, but what else was knew? Sig and Edgar were known to feud once and awhile. They had similar personalities and above all that, they were brothers. It seemed only natural that the two had squabbled a little last night.

"Oh, Edgar let it go," murmured Jack, "He meant well, you know that."

Edgar sneered and rolled his eyes, "Yeah…okay."

Jack sighed and shot Edgar a disapproving look, "Oh come on…you two always bicker at least once on a trip. Last night was no different."

"Yeah, I guess," muttered Edgar, "It's awful early for him to be this tense though."

"He's probably just worried about the crab…he always worries about crab," said Jack with a good-natured laugh, "Once we haul our first money-making pot he'll loosen up a bit."

"Tie her off boys, let's hit the road!" shouted a rather chipper-looking Matt Bradley as he, Norman and Jake began to untie the Northwestern from the dock. Edgar and Jack rushed over to help them as the roar of the engine signaled the beginning of the season for the Northwestern crew.

"Sig's heading out early this year," said Nick as he walked out from the galley.

"You mean earlier than usual?" laughed Jake as he flashed a bright smile in his uncle's direction.

Norman smirked, "Well, he is being rather irritable," he said as he glanced in Edgar's direction, remembering the little feud from the night prior, "That's a clear sign he wants to take off and take off as soon as possible."

Edgar muttered something unintelligible under his breath at that and finished coiling the line as the Northwestern slowly pulled away from the dock. He looked up just in time to see his fiancé give him a knowing and expectant look. Edgar cocked an eyebrow in confusion as he watched Jack walk over to the side of the boat. She flung one leg over the rail and started climbing around to the front. Edgar smirked as he followed her. If Jack held on to any superstitions at all, this was the one she was adamant about keeping. Every season she stood on the bow of the boat as it pulled out of the harbor, the crew had been incredibly successful and caught their entire quota in a timely manner. She wasn't about to quit her little tradition now.

Jack climbed up to the very point of the bow and closed her eyes as the wind rushed through her auburn hair, making it gleam in the early morning light. The smell of the salt water and the bitter cold that tainted the wind made her heart soar. There was nothing quite like being on a crab boat…nothing in the world.

Jack felt warm hands grip her from behind and she smiled as she recognized the way the hands fit perfectly around her thin waist.

"Keeping up tradition I see," murmured Edgar into her ear.

Jack trembled slightly at the sound of his gravelly voice so close to her face. She should be used to this by now but she wasn't. She wasn't sure she ever would be and that was just fine with her.

"You know it," she replied, "Gotta make sure we get the crab again."

"We always do."

"Knock on wood," said Jack with a smirk as she leaned back to give Edgar a light peck on the lips.

She turned back to face the opening of the harbor and took in the sight of the vast Bering Sea. Her heart soared as the boat picked up speed, racing for the entrance to the open sea. Feelings of fear, uncertainty, exhilaration, excitement, freedom and, strongest of all, love, coursed through her as the Northwestern left the safety of the harbor and made its way out to the fishing grounds. She was on the best fishing vessel in the crab fishing fleet with her closest friends and the love of her life, doing what she lived to do…nothing could take this away from her, nothing…or so she thought…

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