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His friends were still laughing as he spoke. “Don’t mind them. I am flattered by your offer miss, but please excuse me for I have matters to attend”.

She seemed pleased with the answer, and went back to the group of women she had been standing with early. They all looked his way and made eyes at him as they giggled and waved.

“This is going to be one long trip. How did I get talked into going to Jamestown?” He shook his head and sighed.

“The little redhead’s already gotten to you, has she?” Edward remarked in a voice tinged with humor.

“I’m glad to see that I was able to provide everyone with so much amusement today.” He barked back as he looked in the direction of where Anna and the Captain had walked.

Robert raked his hands through his thick black hair as he stood on the main deck. He noticed that the main deck seemed to be bustling with activity. It looked like a group of sailors were mending a torn sail, while several other crewmembers were tending to the normal sailing duties climbing up the steep rigging to secure and tighten the sails. He wondered why he hadn’t seen all the activity earlier when he walked the deck with Anna and he shook his head as though to shake the thought of her from his mind.

Robert continued to visit with his friends and the day went by very quickly. By early afternoon the wind had picked up and the waves were getting pretty rough. He noticed that just about everyone except his friends and the sailors were missing from the main deck. He went down the steep narrow steps to the between-decks, and found that the room was filled with seasick passengers. It was an unpleasant sight with people moaning and retching all over the place. The air in the sleeping area was so thick and hot, and the smell was almost insufferable.