Chapter 1
Once upon a time there was a captain named Rosie. Now Rosie was a girl with spunk and sharp brains to back her up. Rosie was only 13- years-old when she first sailed on her ship, the Petunia. Ah, the Petunia, that lovely twelve-foot-long ship with snow white sails that blew in the wind. Captain Rosie was a sight to behold, with her fire red hair and piercing green eyes, known for her quick temper and height. At the age of only 18, Rosie stood only at five feet one inches. But, don’t let the height fool you; with five years of sailing under her belt, she could fight any pirate that dared try to mess with her ship.
Rosie and her crew of twenty men and women had docked port in Winoka about two weeks ago. It was here they sold their wares of Chinese silk they had received from Hong Kong about five weeks ago. Rosie rolled her eyes slightly as she waited for the merchant to stop chattering on about the latest gossip in town and give her the money he owed her. “And a fine silk ye have this sail, Captain Rosie. Are ye going to be putting some wind in your sails afore long?” Tilting her head back, Rosie blew out a loud breath, “As soon as I can, Tom, now will you up and pay me? I’m growing old just standing here, and I still have to pick up one more sailor for my crew.” Tom nodded his head as he gave Rosie her money, “Alright, Captain, I meant no disrespect in making you wait so long. Here’s your money and may the wind be ever in your sails.”
Rosie walked off towards the inn where her crew was waiting for her and probably having a nice drink of the old rum. Rosie smiled to herself. She liked a cup every once in a while but she never drank as much as most of the men who came to the inn. With a lot of new sailors in port, Rosie quickened her pace. It was well-known that Winoka was a fighting port, and Rosie did not want to see her crew land themselves in jail. When she rounded the corner to the inn, a young body rammed into her and sent her flat on her back. Rosie rolled to her side and drew out her sword, her face as red as her hair. “Why of all the low-down, no good, dirty rotten scum, I’ll have your hair for a broom, and your teeth for a necklace. Draw your sword!” As the young body quickly made its way to its feet, Rosie put her sword away and shook her head, “You nothin’ but a boy. Why you land me on my back boy?”
The boy rubbed dirt from his brown eyes and smirked slightly. “Well, had you been watching where you were going, you wouldn’t have landed on your back.” Rosie sputtered slightly, “Why I never - what impertinence! Come here boy and let me slap you one good for addressing Captain Rosie like that.” The boy smiled and when he did, a dimple appeared on the right side. “Captain Rosie aye, what are you captain over, the dinner table?” Rosie was fit to be tied now and was about to strangle the young lad. She gripped her sword handle tightly and said through clenched teeth, “You just come with me and I will show you what Captain Rosie is Captain over.”
On the way to the ship, Rosie made a quick stop at the inn and told her crew to meet her at the boats in ten minutes. With the young lad walking beside her, Rosie made her way over to the Petunia. The young lad would not leave her in peace though. To Rosie it seemed that every couple of steps a new question would leave the boys mouth. “So how did someone as short as you become a Captain?” Rosie kept walking as she mumbled to herself,” Hasn’t anyone ever told you you’re rude?” The boy grinned slightly, egging her on, “Yeah, but not today. Has anyone ever told you you’re short?”
Rosie was about to give the boy a tongue lashing when the Petunia caught her eye. Rosie stopped and gazed proudly at her ship. “There she is lad, my pride and joy.” The boy looked in the direction Rosie was looking and then looked back at her with a raised eyebrow. “That’s it?” Rosie looked down at the boy, who was, much to her satisfaction, still shorter than her. “What were you expecting, canons ablaze with gun fire, maybe a few skulls on the masts, perhaps a man with a hook and wooden leg?” The boy cocked his head slightly, and then turned his back on the ship with one word, “Boring.” Rosie rolled her eyes and then walked towards the boats. The boy followed her and then waited as the crew arrived to manage the boats.
Rosie allowed the boy to sit in her boat as the crew rowed them across. As they rowed, Rosie studied the boy. About three feet and maybe three inches, the boy was all leg and skinny. Aside from his brown hair and slightly high voice, the boy was kind of cute to Rosie, but she would never tell him that. Once on the ship, Rosie took the boy on a tour and his boring turned into amazing and oh boy. His eyes got wide as Rosie showed him the tiller. Upon seeing this, she offered to let him take it in his hand and spin it a few times. The boy needed no second bidding but grabbed the tiller and started turning for all he was worth.
