Chapter four
Ship life and the truth continues to hide!

Anne woke up the next morning with a bad headache!
She hardly remembered the last nights events except that she had for some reason gone into the Captain cabin to eat with him and had to wear this extremely tight dress! She shook her head she had no idea what came over her but got up and got dressed then went to the cabin door it was unlocked so she opened it and went outside onto the ships deck ! There were men up and working already she saw the Captain on deck with someone next to him she recognized him at once the second mate who had brought her to him who smelled so nice .As if on Que he turned around and she saw a face which made her stumble back. It was hideous covered in scares and a big harry beard! "Why was I attracted to that face"? She thought to herself as the captain also turned and she saw the same face but not as wild as the second mates.

The captain smiled and walked up to her and said "how did you sleep miss"?
"Very well thank you". "Good good well now" he said "if you are going to stay on my ship for some time we need to find something for you to do we cant have no one being idle now can we" ?"No sir" said the second mate his voice also made her start it was not a voice she expected from such a gruff face it was soft and warm just like his smell." But she thought he is very ugly I guess he has a voice and a smell to make others see beyond that I am sure no girl ever got close enough to hear him speak his face would frighten them off he would frighten me off to if I had anywhere to go."

Her train of thought was broken by the captain voice who said can you cook?
"Yes sir I can". "Good we can put you to work with the cook he will be glad for the help". Mate take her down to the cooks gallantry!

The second mate saluted then taking her by the arm his touch was extremely soft his hands were very soft for a man of the sea but at the same time he had a very strong grip she followed him all the while stating at him h was very strange for a Pirate and yet there was something about him that was familiar to her the way he carried himself was proud and important not like a second mate more like a Captain.

"Huph" She thought "I bet they are all like him and think of themselves as self important people they are lawless pirates after all"! She followed in silence after this but could not get him off her mind he knocked on a door and opened it there was a very big but not fat black man covered in steam from a cook pot he looked up and smiled showing golden teeth and holding a huge wooden ladle.

Anne was so frightened she hide behind Edwards back he smiled and said "Mat this is Anne she is going to help you with the cooking"!

"Well how bout that" said Mat "just what I need someone to make my load easier tell me little girl what can you do"? "I can make almost anything" said Anne in a trembling voice "I was the head cook at my house". "All the better" said Mat "so we can get to work then come hear I’ll give you an apron and you can get to work chopping up those vegetables while I continue suturing this broth".

Edward left with a smile on his face as he closed the door behind him.

He had met Mat when he first joined the navy he was only other besides John who knew about his real condition and he trusted him to remain silent .

He went back up to the ships deck and went to John who smiled at him as he said "so how did she take to big Mat"? "She was frightened I could tell from the look on her face that she had never seen a black person before but Mat is harmless and she will warm up to him eventually". John nodded "I remember when we first saw him he was a slave on the Ship and when the Pirates attacked it he jumped ship with us and we built or I should say you built this ship and became Captain of the Pirates"!
"Yes he is as harmless as a puppy but the puppy when angry has the temper of a bull"! ."Well I am sure she will do nothing to anger him they will get along great together unless one of them decides to become master then we will have problems"!

John nodded "But If that's the case I think she will wine Mats weak spot was always woman remember"? "Yes I remember" said Edward with a smile "he could never do anything to hurt them and always gave them what they wanted if they pushed hard enough for it". "Well we shall see if she is like other woman". Said Edward.

The two men smiled as they headed out into the deep sea.