Niece

“…Niece,” Red’s introduction caused Brenan to take another look at Cindy, realizing as he saw her up close that there were some definite similarities in the two women’s appearance which would suggest that they were related.

While the resemblance between the two women was definitely tangible, it wasn’t strong enough to make Brenan believe that they could be mother and daughter, particularly not since the main similarity between them was the graceful manner in which they moved about. And while that did suggest that they had spent a good amount of time in each other’s company, with Red having had an influence on how the younger woman would carry herself, it didn’t entail that they had to be closely related.

“I’m glad to finally get to meet you,” Cindy shone at Brenan, although she remained behind Red.

“Uh… thanks,” Brenan remained confused by the young blonde’s cheerful demeanour. He had long since resigned himself to the fact that the sins of his youth guaranteed that beautiful women like her would never act like that towards him unless he paid them to, and that that was as it should be.

“Cindy, could you go wait inside?” Red asked her niece.

“Okay,” Cindy looked both like she was disappointed by Red’s question and as though she had been expecting, her gaze wandering between Red and Brenan for a moment before she offered him one last smile and then began to move towards the house. Watching her leave, it dawned on Brenan that he was terrified that Red might have sent her away because she was terrified that he would try to do something.

“Nice girl,” Brenan said of Cindy once the voluptuous girl had disappeared into the house, “what about her parents?”

“They died,” Red explained as she glanced towards the house, still sounding undecided on whether or not it was a good thing that Brenan had showed up.

“About four years ago?” Brenan’s question resulted in Red nodding her head. Brenan thought that he understood the reasons for her retirement now; Cindy would have been fourteen or fifteen when her parents died, and that wasn’t old enough for her to make it on her own. Brenan had, but it had brought about some pretty unfortunate consequences that made him suspect that his life and his soul might have fared better if he had been part of a family for a few years more.

And at that age, Cindy certainly wasn’t old enough to embark aboard a pirate ship, particularly not with her looks; Red would have been so busy protecting her from the advances of horny sailors that she wouldn’t have been able to do her job anyway.

“I’m all the family she’s got,” Red began, the way in which her body suddenly relaxed at least a little implying that she was becoming less apprehensive about Brenan’s appearance on the beach, “and at least I had enough money to retire and give her a decent enough upbringing.”

“Yeah, this looks like a good enough place to grow up,” Brenan opined as he allowed his gaze to wander across the open beach. It was infinitely better than the rat-infested shitholes where he had spent his childhood and early adolescence.

“She wants to be a sailor and an adventurer,” the expression on Red’s face changed into one which Brenan guessed was maternal pride, “like her aunt. She’s old enough for it, but it’d need to be on a good ship, with people I can trust.”

“And what about you?” Brenan asked, his behaviour suddenly determined by the opportunity to gain not one, but two new crewmembers.

“I’ll manage,” Red’s body stiffened up and she crossed her arms over her stomach, “but why are you here?”

“I’m a captain now, of a sort,” Brenan revealed, “and in need of a good crew, though it would be much more than a handful of sailors. Most of them will probably raw and untrained young hopefuls, but I’d like an old hand or two to help me train them. No whips, no brig, no rewards, just leadership by example and as many curses thrown at them as you can come up with.”

“And you want me to help you train them?” Red appeared to be quite surprised by the prospect, but at least she hadn’t turned it down straight away.

“Red,” Brenan’s curiosity finally got the better of him and caused him to abruptly abandon the subject which they were discussing in favour of something much more pressing, “what did you tell Cindy about me?”