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Now, it was Robert that waved to the crowd in victory, but to his horror it was his downfall once more. The minute he released his grip to wave, she brought up both feet and kicked him so hard in the chest, it knocked the breath out of him. He coughed and sputtered, trying to regain his breath, just as he saw her climbing the rope ladder to the ship, and again she blew him a kiss as Captain Drake helped her onto the deck. Damn woman, was there nothing she couldn’t do? She had won this round but darn if he’d let her win the next one, he thought as he swam for the ladder.

“You are quite a swimmer Anna. Wherever did you learn to dive like that? You could be a natural born sailor.” Captain Drake told her, with a big grin.

“Why thank you Captain. Does that mean you’ll hire me?” Anna joked and continued. “Actually I’ve been swimming since I was young. My family lived in the country and we had several ponds, which to swim in. Now if you remember I told you earlier I was a good climber, well that’s because I used to climb up the huge old English Oaks, and dive off them into the ponds.”

Robert saw everyone laughing and talking with Anna, when he climbed back onto the main deck of the ship, and no one came to greet him except Edward and Henry.