The Ranger was under way soon. They had only limited supplies on board since they had banked on taking the man-o-war so it was decided that they were to return to Nassau to resupply for now.
By now, it was starting to get light and Abigail's exhaustion was back. She had managed a few hours of sleep earlier of course but it was not nearly enough to make her feel rested. She had already sat down earlier, leaning the left side of her body against the staircase leading up to the poopdeck, but now her eyes started to drift close. She tried to keep them open but sleep claimed her within a few minutes.
This was what Vane liked most about being a pirate. Well, besides the plunder. Being out in the open sea, just him, this ship and its crew. The sound of the ship cutting through the water, the wood of the ship creaking and groaning. The sails flapping in the wind. He was still disappointed that his men couldn't keep control over the man-o-war but at the same time, he was happy to be back on his Ranger.
He looked around for Abigail. He and his crew had fallen back into their assigned jobs so quickly, that their newest member had been forgotten for a while. It took a while to locate her but he finally found her nestled against the staircase leading to the poopdeck. She seemed to be sleeping. Charles quietly chuckled to himself. He was not needed on deck so he turned to his quartermaster and said, "I'll be in the cabin if you need me." He made his way over to Abigail and gently shook her awake. "Hhmh," was Abigail's only answer. "Come on. I'll show you somewhere more comfortable to sleep." Half-asleep Abigail rose to her feet and let herself be led into the captain's cabin.
Out of tired eyes Abigail spied the bed. The sheets and blanket still tangled up from the last time Vane had slept in them. Helped by Vane she made her way over to the bed and sat on the edge. She remembered the dagger tucked away in her belt and pulled it out. She looked at it for a few moments with a small smile on her face and then gently placed it on the floor next to the bed. Not realizing that Vane was closely watching her. He was intrigued by her, no, more than that he realized. He wanted to know more about her, how she came to be this way. Why was she here? No sensible woman would voluntarily board his ship.
Abigail turned around and crawled onto the bed. Still not aware that Vane was watching her. He looked like a predator stalking his kill. She slid in between the mattress and blanket, and laid her head on the pillow. Vane's scent was all around her. He smelled of rum, the sea, cigar smoke and something uniquely him. Somehow that scent was a comfort to her. She sighed contently and muttered, "You should get some sleep as well, Captain."
Her muttering broke his predatory musings and he made his way over to the bed. Just like Abigail he was still rather exhausted and he gladly took this opportunity to rest more.
And so, Vane and Abigail shared a bed for the second time this day. They both slept until early afternoon. Abigail was the first to wake. She was terribly hungry. It had almost been a full day since she had eaten anything. The second thing she became aware of was how thirsty she was. She had some rum during the night but that was it. She was desperate for some water.
The third thing she became acutely aware of, was the body she found herself next to. She fought to keep still and to keep her breathing under control. It seemed like Vane was still asleep for the moment. Somehow, they had ended up tangled together. He was lying on his back and her head was resting on his chest, her body pressed against him. Oh, he smells so good was an unbidden thought that she found herself thinking, but she slowly extracted herself from him and made her way out of the bed. Vane's only reaction was to roll over on his side. His arm moving around the area she had been lying in as if it were searching for her. Abigail sat on the edge of the bed and looked at Vane's sleeping form. She had never seen him so relaxed. Involuntarily her hand moved to stroke his face but she stopped herself before she made contact.
She pulled herself together. She would think on this later, why she wanted to touch him. She would analyse this warm feeling that spread through her chest when she watched him sleep, but now she was desperate for some food and water.