Sail With Me (A Discovery Series Book) by Christy Major

Its head was
soft against my still slightly bruised jaw.
    “I think he wants you to name him,” Daniel said around a chuckle.
    I held the cat at arm’s length and studied him for a long moment.
    “Let’s call him… Ghost.”
    “Ghost,” Daniel repeated, trying the name out.
    A loud meow echoed among the three of us.
    “I think he likes it,” I said with a firm nod. It probably was a pretty
girlish thing to do, but I couldn’t resist nuzzling the top of Ghost’s fuzzy
head.
    “We’d better get to the galley. We’ll have some hungry sailors a-knocking
soon enough.” Daniel nudged me toward the passage again. “Ghost can come too.”
    Nodding, I set Ghost down and wouldn’t you know that silly cat did follow
us to the galley.
    First day at sea and already my life seemed fuller.
    ****
    I spent the morning helping Daniel arrange our food provisions in the
galley. He was organized about it, making sure the small rations of meats and
vegetables we brought stayed in the front so we would use them up first before
they spoiled. Unfortunately, for most of the voyage, we would be eating dry
biscuits that were slow to spoil but tasted like nothing. A small price to pay
for an adventure. I never had much of an appetite anyway so I wasn’t concerned.
    “Can we go to the top deck now?” I asked Daniel for what was probably the
fifth time at least.
    Glancing around the galley one final time, he let out an exaggerated
huff. “Go. Feel like your missing the show stuck down here with me, do you?”
    “No… uh… it’s not that. I just…”
    “You’ve never been on a ship like this before and want to see everything.
Is that about right?”
    “That’s exactly right.” Could he read my thoughts? Cripes, I hoped not.
    “Go on then.”
    I dashed for the door then stopped and swiveled around. “Aren’t you
coming?”
    “I’ll be along shortly. I’ve a couple more things to attend to first.”
    My exuberance abated. Apparently seeing my disappointment, Daniel said,
“I won’t be long.”
    “Promise,” I said coyly. Too coyly.
    “Promise.”
    I nodded, noting my palms were a bit clammier than usual. I had to focus.
Much too soon to be blowing my cover. We hadn’t gotten that far away from the
coast yet.
    I reached down and picked up Ghost who hadn’t left my side the entire
time I was working in the galley. Scratching under his furry chin until he
squeezed his blue eyes shut, I took us both to the ladder and ascended.
    The simple feeling of weathered wood against my palm as I ran it along
the rail of the ladder sent ripples of excitement coursing through my veins. I
breathed in the salty sea air and emerged from the lower deck. The creak of the
floorboards beneath my boots announced my arrival, causing three sailors off
the port side to look in my direction. All three of them tipped their hats to
me and offered up cordial smiles.
    “Come over here, Charlie,” one of them—Walter, the quartermaster, Jonah
and Timmy’s father—said, motioning with his hand.
    “Sir,” I said as I approached.
    “I see you’ve made another friend here.” Walter tapped Ghost on the head.
“Timmy and Jonah have not met this critter yet. They’ll be delighted.” He
squinted up at the main mast then focused back on me. “Hear you’re the new
lookout. Is that so?”
    “Yes, sir.”
    “An important job. Hope you’ve got good eyesight.”
    “I do.” Eric and Riley had teased me about being able to see a flea land
on a dog from a mile away.
    “Good.” Walter gave my shoulder a gentle shake as he walked away toward
the helm of the Rose . 
    I turned in a tight circle taking in the constant activity of the top
deck. Everywhere crewmen were busy tightening lines, adjusting sails, manning
posts. I glanced up at the crow’s nest and decided a trial run was in order.
    Setting Ghost down, I approached the main mast and placed my foot on the
first peg jutting out from its base. Wrapping my arms around the mast, I
stepped up