Later that day the crew sat in the wheelhouse enjoying a rather large steak dinner provided by Baylee. The moral was high and the crew was pumped up about hauling their first string.

"Hey, Edgar?" asked Matt.

Jack stopped chewing for a second when she saw the mischievous gleam in his eyes. She waited, wondering what he was about to say.

"Yeah?" asked Edgar.

"Could you pass me the eggs….oh no wait, that's right!"

Matt shot Griffin a highly amused look.

Griffin couldn't help but laugh slightly. He pushed Matt in feigned anger while Matt began to laugh hysterically.

Jack rolled her eyes at the sight while Baylee smiled as she sat down a bowl of green beans on the table.

"What's all the ruckus about?" asked Sig as he strolled into the galley, a smile on his face.

The crew raised their eyebrows and elbowed one another in surprise. Sig was actually happy?"

Sig walked over to Baylee and gave her a kiss on the cheek before he took his place at the table.

Jack glanced over at Griffin and saw him beaming happily. She smiled to herself, pleased to see that Sig's family seemed to be getting along much better.

After they finished their evening meal, Edgar stood up and stretched.

"Man I'm really looking forward to some sleep!"

Sig laughed, "Sorry, not happening."

Edgar's shoulders slumped and he rubbed a hand over his tired eyes as he pretended to cry.

"I should of knocked on wood before I said that," he muttered.

"We're hauling the first string in five minutes," announced Sig as he stood up, "So finish up and get dressed."

Baylee stood up and began to take some dishes to the sink.

Sig hesitated and turned around slowly. He opened his mouth to speak and everyone stopped what they were doing. Sig hesitated again, took a deep breath, and then spoke.

"And…Baylee's on bait duty."

Baylee nearly dropped the plate she was carrying. She gaped in shock and stared at Sig in disbelief.

Jack shot Sig a slightly irritated look. She had already expressed her feelings about Baylee being on deck and she had assumed that her captain shared them. It was way too dangerous to allow Sig's wife on deck and the possibilities of something going horribly wrong with seven people on deck were very high. She shook her head and shot Edgar a look. She was relieved to see that he had the same doubtful and upset look in his eyes too. At least someone else shared her feelings on the issue.



Baylee squealed happily and gave her husband a hug.

"Now, now," said Sig, pulling away, "This is all on one condition…you stay at the bait area and at the bait area only. Okay?"

Baylee nodded enthusiastically.

"Yeah that's fine!" she cried, "Oh, thank you so much! I gotta go get ready!"

Edgar, Norman, and Jack exchanged fearful looks. Their faces foreshadowed what they almost new would happen. Sig's hard-headed wife would most likely do something she wasn't supposed to and get herself or someone else hurt…or worse.

Jake, Matt, and Griffin looked rather excited about Sig's decision to allow his wife to work on deck. They chatted excitedly as they walked out of the gallery, leaving Edgar, Norman, and Jack behind.

"This sucks," muttered Norman.

Edgar sneered in agreement and shook his head in disbelief.

Jack leaned on Edgar's shoulder and sighed.

"What in the world is that man thinking?"….

Meanwhile, up in the wheelhouse…

Sig leaned back in his chair and sighed. He was contemplating his last-minute decision to allow his wife to join the crew.

What if something happened to her? What if she got hurt? What if…?

He couldn't bring himself to even think the worst. He shook his head, wondering why he even said what he had said. Part of him wanted his wife to be happy and to feel like her husband wasn't holding her back, but the other part of him desperately wanted her safe inside the galley where forty foot waves couldn't slam into her.

The first buoys were appearing at the bow of the Northwestern and Sig instantly transitioned back into captain-mode.

"Alright guys," he said over the loud hailer, "Buoys on the bow…let's catch us some crab!"

PLEASE REVIEW!!

I typed this while we were on the road! : )

I'll try to update tomorrow if I can and I still hope to start the sequel to So Others May Live on Monday!

Thanks for all the feedback!! : )