Rodger, having the money that he was supposed to get from the sale of the house, as well as the girls and their care, was cut off, and he was left with nothing. Stan had summoned him to his house to make the arrangements for the capture of the girls. Stan had given it a lot of thought and knew it would be better to send Rodger after them who knows maybe they would come back willingly seeing how tuff the real world would be and having a loving father there to wipe away their tears would be a plus. Stan didn't trust Rodger, not in the way of being betrayed, he had enough on him to put him on death row, didn't trust him not to mess it up and come back empty-handed. Stan said, "I think you are going to need some help on this venture. First, I will be arranging for you to use one of our ships. You should easily be able to overtake a trader's vessel. especially since we have their route and all their stops. You will take along some men to assist you. I will loan you what cash it takes to recover the girls, but I will be sending someone along with you to take care of my interests."
Rodger nodded he was not asking if he wanted or needed the help it was being arranged for him. Rodger knew that he was not being asked he was being told. Stan walked over to Rodger and handed him a sheet of paper that left the amounts blank but was a promissory note to repay the costs that are given. Rodger looked up at Stan and so Stan explained. "This makes things easier for you, so your wife won't be able to object to you parting with the girls. When you recover then the costs will be so high that you will have to give them up. To be able to keep the money from the sale of the house."
Rodger knew he had to accept whatever Stan determined was fair. He knew that he was Stan's unwilling puppet to dangle wherever he wants. Knowing that didn't make anything that he had to do any easier. He was starting to believe that even if he would get some money from the house Stan would see that it winds up in his pocket. It didn't matter now. He had to find the girls. Rodger knew that the guy that was along to protect his interest meant that he will be along to make sure that the girls come back with them or that they will never be able to return at all. As much as Rodger couldn't stand Freddy, he was going to need that weaselly nose of his to search out the girls. That left him with getting 2 guys that he could trust he wanted to make sure at least there would be a couple of guys to help him and have his back if things went wrong.
Stan said, "You have one day to get things together. The ship that will take you will be here in the morning, and you will leave at dusk."
Rodger nodded in compliance then thanked him for the help.
Stan let out a laugh, "Yea help." and walked away shaking his head. "Let yourself out," he said in a pissed-off tone.
Rodger signed the paper and left it lying on the table, not knowing what else to do with it. Rodger made his way back home he was thinking hard about it the whole time. He needs them for the house if he didn't, he would make sure to miss direct the ship and make sure the girls get away. Right now, he had to concentrate on getting the men gathered, and with any kind of luck he would bring them back quickly.
Gina and Will were close to the ship when they heard the bell ring. Will had planned to be back on the ship long before he heard that sound. Will was glad that the shopping was over. It was hard to keep track of her while trying to get everything that he needed. He saw that Gina needed to touch and feel everything. He had never been so frustrated trying to get someone to just get the things that they needed and then just go.
Gina was the happiest that she had been since her parents' deaths. She had picked up a few things special for Katie knowing that she had been so sad. She felt that they were getting distant with her taking all her time with Tug training him how to cook. With all the new things that they just purchased, there was more than enough that she could teach him how to spice properly. She knew that his sense of taste had been ruined in his youth, but he still had a great nose. The spices that they got were fresh and he could learn to spice it according to the way things smelt. It would be a little harder for him, but he was improving every day.
Gina had caught Katie looking at Jake and even flirting with him. Gina was not sure just what she saw in him. She thought to herself yea I guess he was cute enough, but it seemed like he was dumb as a box of rocks. He had no real skills when it came to anything other than mopping or running errands and if you didn't tell him every detail then he would screw it up. She saw Katie liking him and he seemed to be making her happy, at least some she had still caught Katie crying hard and night when the light was off. She could hear her crying in the dark trying not to be heard. Gina had to admit that was the time that made her hurt more than any other time and she too would be crying silently in the dark trying not to let Katie over here her.
Gina entered the room and thought that there was a strange smell in the room but looking at Katie she forgot all about it. Katie was smiling from ear to ear and her hair was all tussled like she had been wrestling with her brother.
As Gina looked at her, she seemed happier than she had ever seen her, she just had to find out what was going on.
Katie was brushing her hair madly trying to get it back under control when Gina took the brush from her hand and said, "I'll do it. Now tell me what's going on."
"Well, you know how Will took you to town? I kind of planned that." Katies' smile disappeared, and she could no longer look at Gina and her face turned completely red.
Gina didn't know just what to say about the fact that she had the best time exploring the town. "I wanted some alone time with Jake and without Will looking over my shoulder," Katie said.
It was like Will heard his name called and there was the same familiar knock on the door. The girls giggled and said, "Yes Will you can enter."
Will walked in surprised that they knew it was him. As he thought about it, he was the only one that was allowed to go to their room. "We have all your things moved to the gally and Tug is waiting for you to tell him what to do for lunch."
Katie looked up at Gina, "I'll fill you in on everything later. Is that okay?"
Gina smiled, and nodded her head, and then said, "I almost forgot when we were in town, I got you something." she said while winking when she mentioned the town and let out a little giggle as she looked at Will.
Katie took her hand and let out a little giggle as well. Will looked at them and just shook his head. Girls he thought. Then he just walked away never knowing what is on their minds. Gina held out her hand and Katie saw the cutest little earrings that she thought that she had ever seen. Gina handed them to her, "I saw them and knew that I just had to get them for you."
Katie started crying. Gina said, "Now stop that. They are going to make you look so beautiful."
Katie was having trouble getting her emotions in check when Gina said, "I just have to go and deal with lunch. It is going to be something special." Katie knew the look in her eye and knew that this was going to be one of the favorites that she had that the cook had made for them. just the thought of that made her mouth water with anticipation. Gina giggled watching Katie being so happy and then left the room to go meet with Tug to fill him in on the preparations that they were doing for lunch.