The Scattered Leaves Series: Under Pressure Chapter 2 The Sinking Ship

One month later... Bridget felt nauseous! Her stomach churned as the ship rocked back and forth and the smell of urine and vomit didn't help any. Isabelle (the pregnant lady) held her tight with her strong, soft arms. "We should turn back now. We have already been blown off course,lost at sea is what we are" Mr Chedder argued so loudly, Bridget jumped and climbed closer to Isabelle. "I told you before, we can't. We have to keep going, turning around now would be a death sentence for us all." Mr Hopkins argued back as Mr Chedder's fist hits him square in the nose.Blood splattering on the arms of a young girl behind him. Bridget moved to run and help her father but Isabelle pulled her tighter, as the two men rolled to the floor fighting. The ship suddenly turned on it's side sending them across the room and slamming both men into the wall. The wind was whistling around them and the waves hit the ship with force. A chamber pot of urine turned over, spilling all over Bridget and Isabelle, but their wasn't anything they could do about it.The good thing was the men had quit fighting for now. The room grew quite as the sound of thunder roared in their ears, and the room lite up as lightning flashed through the one small window. Bridget clang tightly to Isabelle as she watched the streaks touch the water and the ship tossed and turned with the ocean waves. The woman sitting next to Isabelle gaged heavily and throw up what looked like green water. How much more could she throw up? Bridget thought to herself, for they had been down to rationing of bread ( stale and sometimes molded ) once or twice a day. "Man over board" came an alarmed voice from above. All eyes looked up, but no one moved to help. They couldn't only one person a day was allowed to leave the room, and only to empty the chamber pot. "They are all empty" Bridget whispered as she nervously twirled a blond curl through her fingers. "Hu" Isabelle ask. "Nothing" she answered and hopelessly closed her eyes.****** After dozing off for a moment,Bridget was suddenly awoken by the sound of heavy foot steps running down the stairs.A crew member stood at the bottom of the stairs and looked at the tired and disgruntled travelers then shouted "We need help, the ship is taking on water, there's a hole in the side." A large burly looking man who Bridget had never heard speak answered holding up a piece of what looked like a small pipe. "Sir I have a piece of iron here in my hand,I believe I can fix it, if the hole is not to big." "You come with me" the crew member said pointing at him,"and two more" he pointed at Mr Chedder and Mr Hopkins."Lets go hurry before we sink." Bridget closed her eyes again to try and hold back the tears, as she listened to the foot steps running up the old wooden stairs.She heard sobs all around the room, but she didn't open her eyes to see them, she didn't feel the need.***** Uneasy Isabelle had been moving around all over the place for hours, when she suddenly griped her stomach tighly. "Bridget, Bridget " the tone of her voice was different, frantic almost and her face was pale with anguish. "What is it mam?" Bridget ask "The baby I' Isabelle stuttered "I think the baby is coming." "Oh no I don't know what to do."Bridget said alarmed, and quickly rushed to and older lady shaking her with force. "Wake up, please wake up the babies coming." With the assistance of two younger ladies Isabelle was moved to dry linens.Then they fashioned a make shift tent for privacy and quickly went to work. They calmed Isabelle,holding her hands and telling her to breath slowly. Bridget backed against a wall, not knowing what to do or how to help her friend. Helpless is how she felt. Her mind was racing with thoughts between the sinking ship and the baby about to be born in the middle of a stormy ocean. Chapter 3 coming soon Copyright Donna Hale 2013