Follow Julien

(this thread only edited slightly from the thread originally written by whizzper)

Julien rode much faster than his captain had several days ago, Davies' horse sensed almost from the moment the young rider saddled him that Julien was a trusted rider and the two made good time along the roads leaving Freeport. It wasn't until he was most of the way to Red's that he slowed the pace and payed more attention to the landmarks.

"Looks like we should be there in an hour or so, if the Captain's directions were accurate. Then you'll get some good water and some rest before we have to get you to a farmstead." Julien said to the horse. As though it understood what was said it let out a whinny. "I just hope these ladies are better conversationalists. I'm pretty sure if someone were to come by right now, they'd give me a wide berth. I know I would." The horse snorted.

Finally the horse was moving down the hill, and Julien could see Red's beach shack. The windows were now boarded up, and there were bags on the front deck. Sitting on one of the larger bags was a blond, her hair in a pony tail. She was eating something juicy as she sat a little hunched over to avoid getting anything on her cream colored tunic over a brightly flowered skirt.

As Julien rode the horse down the hill the girl, whom Julien assumed was Cindy looked over at Julien. She breathed in deeply for a moment then shook her self. "Aunt Claire, someone's coming!" She yelled and dropped what she was eating and hopped up, a small dagger appearing in her hand. "Who the frack are you?"

"Whoa! Calm down! Who's Aunt Claire?" Julien asked, had Brenan given him the wrong directions? Or was this another shack on the beach? Then the buxom Aunt Claire stepped out of the shack, a larger board in her hands. She matched Brenan's description of Red perfectly. As though Brenan knew every detail of her appearance, and relished in thinking about each of her splendid features.

Red set the board against the shack wall, "Cindy, calm down. What can I do for you?" Red said, though she was still wary of Julien.

Julien hopped off the horse and fished out the map James had prepared along with the captain's note. "As the Captain said, there's a bit of a snafu in the timing." Julien said, walking towards the woman his hands out where she could see them.

Red accepted the map and opened it Kilgore's letter. She read the orders and looked over th map for a couple of moments, whilst Julien stood awkwardly, feeling Cindy's gaze on him.

"Soooo...you're gonna be on the ship too?" Cindy asked, biting her lip.

Julien swallowed, "Yes...though from what I've heard I'll probably be under you."

"Well aren't we forward!" Cindy exclaimed.

"What?" Julien asked, blinking confusion.

"We haven't even exchanged names or anything and you are assuming that we'll go at it?"

"OH! No....that's not what I meant! I have very little experience."

"Don't worry, I'm sure we'll figure something out."

"Wait...I think we should start over. I have very little experience in ship life. So from what the Captain said my brother and I will be the lowest on the totem pole."

Cindy blinked. "What's a totem pole? Is that...is that what you call it?"

"It?"

"You know, your..."

Red, who had been watching this exchange finally decided to come to Julien's rescue. "Cindy, quit giving the man a hard time. You know what he meant. You were doing that on purpose. But if all of us are going to be on the same ship, we can't be uncomfortable with each other. You can't have him and the others on the ship watch what they say at every time they talk to you. In a serious situation communication is key. Clear?"

Cindy nodded soberly, "Yes, ma'am."

Red turned to Julien. "What can you tell me about the crew?"

"Well, apart from my brother, James I've only just met the others. Second Mate is Mr. Michaels. Then there are Half Lantian brothers Tyler and Kyle. We also have a cook in Sasha."

"What's your brother like?" Cindy asked.

"Cindy..." Red said in a hard tone.

"What? No undertone. Simple curiosity. And expedient. Since he just said that he's the only one he really knows..."

Red shook her head. "Right. So...what is he like?"

"To head off Cindy...He's a book smart man that is engaged and about to have a child. He's the epitome of loyalty. He's also the navigator. While he will be helping out as a deckhand, he is also in charge of the maps."

"And you? What's your profession, I guess." Red asked.

"Deckhand, of course. And I have a trained sword hand."

"You look strong. Come, you hold that last board in place while I hammer it in."

Julien and Red ignored Cindy's giggle.