The sun moved steadily above and the manual labor had her shirt clinging to her and she paused to rub her back and peel the damp shirt from her skin allowing room for a slight cooling breeze. Her hands were rubbed raw from the coarse ropes she had handled along with the others and though they burned she did not complain. Work was difficult at times, boring at others and in the end it was gratifying.
She was her own person, she made her own coin, saw things she doubted she would ever have seen otherwise, and had a large and talented family. Grateful to have even been given the chance at such a life she tried to work hard and keep her spirits high. Though she had kept to herself for most of the voyages she had loosened up around Alan and Ciaran was a wonderful friend and often they sat together and spoke of things seen or done, things they wished to do.
The winds cavorted playfully rifling the reefed canvas, making it snap, the ship creaking as it rocked to and fro sounding more a heartbeat with every creak. Argus bumped her legs pulling her from her thoughts and she glanced down at him with a smile. Already was he filling out and getting stocky, he sat at her foot and whined and dropped his leather toy and she shook her head and bent back to her task.
Nearby a pod of dolphins surfaced and played about the smaller boots still bringing cargo to be loaded. With a sigh she reached for yet another line and listened with half an ear to those about her.