Allison stood at the bow of the ship, watching the water caress the hull. Swaying easily with the rhythm of the waves, her arms wrapped around herself, she gazed longingly at an island off in the distance and wished she could just leap over the railing and swim for freedom. But...she glanced over her shoulder at the crew bustling around the deck, paying her no mind...but if she moved her foot a little she could feel the heavy chain shackled to her hand at one end and her ankle at the other one. The chain allowed her to walk, would allow her to eat, sleep...do everything but swim. She turned and gazed back over the deck, watching the sailors hoist the sails at an order issued from the stern of the ship.

Allison propped her hip up on the railing behind her as the subject of her ire strode into view, issuing orders on the deck below. She was bare-footed like the rest of her crew, with men's breeches cinched around her waist by a wide belt. A cutlass hung against one hip, a long knife at the other, and she wore a pair of smaller knives strapped to her calves. She also went bare-chested like the men working the deck, a sight that greatly disconcerted Allison. Her skin was tanned a dark gold from the sun and her dark hair poured over her shoulders in sun-streaked waves. Piercing blue eyes observed everything from above high cheekbones making Allison jump whenever she met them. A couple of heavy gold rings hung from her right ear and a matching one pierced the right nipple of her heavy breasts. It amazed Allison that the men working around her hardly gave their curvaceous captain a second glance except to acknowledge her directions. She could study the woman all day and never find a clue to help her crack this enigma who called herself Morgan.

Allison jumped as the wind filled the newly raised sails with a resounding THWUMP! Some of the men on the deck climbed up into the ropes to help secure the sails as the ship picked up speed. Allison could see the slightly smaller shape of the ship on which she'd recently been a passenger being towed in the pirate ship's wake, slowing the larger vessel considerably. The prow of the boat beneath her feet started to cut through the waves as the captain yelled at the steersman and pointed towards the setting sun. She had no clue where the pirates were going to take her, but she was certain it was going to be a far different destination than the one her father had planned for her.

Morgan paced the deck of her ship and observed her crew setting the sails with approval. They were a rough lot, young and hot tempered, and it had taken her months of fighting, threatening and a couple of dead crewmates to earn their respect and loyalty. Now, they were a seasoned crew.... there was nothing they wouldn't tackle for her, and they knew that she would pay them handsomely in return. She almost cackled to herself as she admired the low-slung sloop being towed in her ship's shadow, hearing the gold coins pouring out of her broker's purse when he saw her yield this time. The sloop's hold was full of bales of cotton, as well as bolts of cloth, and the captain's quarters had yielded what appeared to be her captive's rather healthy dowry. The heavy cargo was definitely going to slow down her travel time and make them vulnerable, but the pair of cannon that were her and her crew's pride and joy should keep other privateers from trying anything. Her ship was well known, and her temper notorious. Her decision to tow the sloop to port rather than sink her would pay off, of that she was certain. Morgan turned around and pondered the less certain issue of her captives. Only a handful of the sloop's crew survived the boarding...and those she didn't trust. They had cried mercy and she had granted it...her honor demanded that. Her crew was watching them like hawks, setting them to perform duties that would prevent them from sabotaging the ship. Her other prisoner, however, was something else entirely.

Morgan leaned against the mast and studied the figure silhouetted on the bow of the ship. The setting sun hid her features, but Morgan could picture her effortlessly. An inch or so shorter than herself, her captive had rich auburn hair pulled back into a braid that reached most of the way down her back, pale creamy skin, and flashing green eyes. The captain could feel the young woman's eyes on her, and smiled lazily up at her. She chuckled to herself as Allison whipped around to gaze back out over the water.

"She's going to be a handful, that un will, cap'n," Morgan turned her head to shoot a wry look at her first mate leaning on the other side of the mast. "Can't say I envy you having that un in yer quarters." Morgan laughed and shook her head.

"Ah, Jacob, it will just make the trip back to port more eventful. Everything secured? Who has first watch?" Jacob nodded.

"Yes'm, all lashed down, t'little boat's just a-taggin' along as right as could be. James is taking first watch, but I think a couple of the others will be staying up a bit to keep an eye on our new mates." Morgan nodded knowingly.

I think I'm going to retrieve my guest up there and head below deck. Come get me if there are any problems." Jacob nodded and headed towards the wheel, stopping every so often to share a joke or comment with some of the men.

Morgan shoved off the mast and headed for the stairs up to the fore deck to where Allison had retreated, steeling herself in anticipation of a confrontation similar to the one that afternoon. She had to keep her temper, regardless of the fact that the fiery-haired wench seemed to search out things that would trigger it. Hell, she'd already thrown the woman's luggage over board in a redhead-induced rage. It won't matter to her that I had the trunks retrieved, not that I'm going to tell her. Serve the spoiled wench right to spend a few nights without all her precious belongings. And to think she thought she was going to order me to give up my cabin!!! Taking a deep breath, she shoved her fingers through her hair and tried to calm herself back down. She needed to be cool around this woman, no matter how infuriating she found her.

Morgan reached the top of the stairs and paused for a moment. Allison was sitting on a coil of rope, her shawl pulled tight around her. She looked thoughtful, staring off over the waves while toying with the end of her braid. Morgan decided to wait for Allison to notice her and make the young woman come to her instead of allowing her to use that coil of rope as a throne. She propped her hip against a barrel of rainwater strapped to the railing, crossed her arms and waited for those green eyes to swing her way.

Allison shivered a little in the breeze and pulled her shawl closer. She was seated looking out over the ocean but saw nothing of the view. She played various ideas of how to deal with Morgan over and over in her mind, trying to decide if she should continue her antagonism or if she should try to create some sort of friendly interaction. I just want to go home, Allison thought to herself, I don't know why daddy insisted that I had to be the one to go to Ireland!! I'm betrothed to a man I've never met, and now I'm headed who knows where with my life in the control of "Captain Morgan"!!! Allison shook her head angrily, glimpsing something out of the corner of her eye as she did. She turned and found herself being watched by Morgan herself, who was leaning against the railing. She blushed faintly but returned the captain's gaze defiantly. Morgan lifted her hand and beckoned her with a finger, causing Allison's cheeks to flush hotly. Briefly the redhead pondered ignoring the summons until Morgan cocked her head a little and gave her a dangerous little smile. She rose smoothly, taking her time to dust her skirts off and arrange her shawl before gliding as gracefully as she could manage across the deck to her captor.