The girls were terrified as they followed Snow back to the room. They knew that it was said that as long as you keep Snow happy, she was great to be around, but if you get her mad, or don't do what she tells you her punishments are very severe. Gina knew that she mostly did as she was told to. It was just that she couldn't leave to help Katie in the room. The meal would have been delayed or she was afraid that Tug would need some help while she was gone. After all, she was with Tug the whole time where she was supposed to be. That was why she had sent Mia with Katie it was not like it was all three of them, but it was better than Katie going on her own.
Mia couldn't look up from the floor all she was thinking was either she was going to be sent back to Miss Kathy or Mistress Snow was simply going to tell her to go away. Or the worst thing in the world that she could imagine was they were going to sell her off again. She would lose everything including her new family, and that would make her want to be dead rather than face loneliness again.
Katie knew that Snow was mostly going to yell at her, but she had no right to do it she didn't own her, and she could do as she wanted. After all, she was not her parent and had no right to try and tell her what to do.
Snow turned to see them walking behind her. She had never seen such a sorry-looking girl as Mia. She wanted to ease her worry a little but then knew that if she had not obeyed what she was told then she deserved to be punished. Sometimes the one getting punished does a better job of punishing themselves than anything that she could do to them.
Snow looked at Gina and she could see a little guilt in her as well. So, it was either that she didn't do that much, or she was showing some defiance in her. That would make finding a way to punish her far more important than anything that she would do to Mia. Making a mistake is one thing but to be rebellious is something far worse.
Snow looked at Katie and she saw that she was not exactly happy or proud of what she had done but there was no way that she was sorry to Snow that she did it. Snow knew that she was going to have to deal with Katie differently. She would have to treat her like a teenage daughter that was growing into an adult. You couldn't just give them a spanking and send them to bed without their supper, but then again it was not like she had to worry about her on the ship. So, if she lets her run wild then it will show Filmore just what a handful that they could be. Just having them onboard without others controlling them.
When they went into the room snow lined them up in front of her looked at them and said, "Well."
They all knew what she wanted from them. It was to confess what they did, and she wanted to know their explanations for why they did it.
Mia was trembling so hard that she couldn't speak at this point. All she kept thinking was that she was going to be cast out. Mia opened her mouth to say what happened, but no words came out.
Gina spoke up she knew that she was ready to take any punishment that Snow would give to protect the others. Gina started by saying, "Well it started like this when you left..."
Snow cut her off before she could finish what she was saying and said, "Hush now you are not the one that I want to hear from. Katie, don't you have something to tell me?"
Katie spoke up with a touch of anger pride and defiance in her voice and said, "Gina and Mia didn't do anything wrong, they just helped me. You are not my mom, and you don't own me I can do what I want when I want." Katie expected Snow to go off on her and she thought that was going to be better than punishing Mia and Gina.
Snow stayed perfectly calm and simply said, "You are correct. You are not my problem to look after. So as long as you are on the ship do whatever with whoever you want, but I warn you to be careful so that you don't wind up with a baby. You may love him, and he may love you, but I am not thinking that you are ready for a baby and its care. As far as it comes once you are off the ship it is in your best interest to let me protect you like the others, and the leash makes things easier to care for you. Don't forget that there are a lot of people still trying to collect you for the reward it is not like it has ever been taken away."
Katie had not expected her to act that way. She was expecting her to start yelling at her and telling her that she could not see Jake anymore. When it looked like she was not even mad at her she was confused and unsure what she was to do.
Snow said, "I realize that you are a young woman and able to decide what you want to do. I am only telling you things to protect you and the others. Gina and Mia belong to Kathy, and I will not see anything happen to them while we are gone. That includes you misleading them and getting them captured somewhere because you are only caring for yourself and not them."
Snow saw that she had said enough as the tears started running down Katie's cheeks.
Through the tears, Katie said, "I'm sorry."
Snow said, "You did nothing to me. I'm not the one that you should be apologizing to."
Katie turned to Gina and Mia and again said, "I'm sorry." But now the tears were running down her cheeks faster making both Gina and Mia cry too.
The three hugged and cried as they held each other. Snow said, "Katie make sure that you take care of yourself while you are on board the ship. We are still here to help you, but you have the freedom that you want so you can do as you want. Just remember that you volunteered to help with the cooking, and teaching of Tug. The rest of the time you are free to do whatever you want, but I still expect you in here to sleep. You will have till 10 bells then you need to be here where it is safe for your own good. By the way, Will is still in charge of the men, and you as well. So don't make him mad to the point he complains to me."
Snow thought that turning her loose like this was going to prove a point to the captain. She had to smile at the thoughts of Will chasing after her trying to control the teen girl. Better yet were the thoughts of the captain trying to set up the ground rules and having her comply with them or them trying to punish her when she didn't.
Katie looked at her confused at first. Then realized that she got everything that she wanted. As long as she was on the ship, she could see Jake however much she wanted to. She wouldn't have to worry about Mia and Gina getting in trouble for it.
Snow went over to Katie and said, "I will look after you like you are a child of mine and I do care for you and want nothing bad to happen to you. You are loved here just like the others so make sure that you don't get into a situation that you can't get yourself out of." Snow gave her a tight hug showing that she was not doing this out of being mad or out of malus.
For the first time, Katie truly gave her a hug with her whole heart and thought of her like her mom. A tear ran down as Katie was now missing her mom and when she used to hug her this way. Katie started thinking about her family and that started her missing them.
Snow felt the difference it was like a wall between them had been broken down. Snow knew that Katie had been close to Gina's parents, but most of the comfort had been given to Gina. Since Gina had lost them, but now Snow could see that Katie was hurting from that and more. She loved Gina's family and had lost them, but she had also lost her mom, and dad, as well as her brothers, and sisters.
Snow could see that she needed a good cry and being helped like a daughter for a while, so she said, "Okay you two remember to never leave each other's side. You are both responsible for each other now. I think Katie needs some special attention. Why don't you both go have some fun and relax before it is time to start dinner? I am sure that Katie will be joining you both by then."
Mia was overjoyed that she was not kicked out. Let alone the fact that she had not even been punished. The problem with Katie had been resolved, so she would not have to worry about that either.
Gina took a last look at Katie in Snow's arms and started wondering if that was why it was so important to her to spend time with Jake. Because she was missing the rest of her family. Gina knew that they didn't like her all that much, but it made sense to her. Katie was missing them and the longer she was gone the further away they seemed to be.
Gina took Mia by the hand, and they went to the rail. It was a sunny day, and the breeze was blowing just enough to keep everyone cool and comfortable. Gina noticed Will walking around directing the men. When he got close enough, she asked Mia, "Are you ready to lay out and tan? We have a bikini like the one that Snow was in. We could find a nice spot to tan. Like Snow did I think it was just over there. It looks like the sun is in just the right position to get some good tanning in before it goes down."
Gina held her finger to Mia's lips so she wouldn't say anything as she watched Will stop dead in his tracks.
Will had been hard at work making sure that the ship was in good shape for anything that they faced when he heard Gina from behind him. At first, he had not been paying any attention to them as it seemed like they were being good just talking and then he heard they had a bikini like the one Snow had on. Will stopped dead in his tracks thinking there was no way that he could have them girls going around the deck looking like they didn't have anything on.
Will turned, getting ready to tell the girls that they couldn't wear something like that on the ship. Knowing that he didn't have to worry about them stripping completely like he did with Snow.
When Gina came running up to him and hugged him and said just kidding.
Will shook his head and said, "That was not funny." As he gave her a hard swat on the ass making sure that it stung.
Gina let out an "oww" and was sure that she had a nice red handprint on her ass, but was still all smiles and giggles as she went running back to Mia.
Will shook his head and thought where have the days gone when all I had to worry about was the crew, and the cargo, just protecting them from the storms?
Mia was giggling and having a blast with Gina, but Gina thought that she would not be doing that again any time soon. Gina felt the heat coming off of the red handprint and was glad that he would not be the one to give her a spanking if anyone ever did do that to her.
Mia saw Gina rubbing her ass where Will had swatted it and by how loud it sounded, she knew that it would be tender for a while. Mia couldn't help but laugh at her knowing that it was all done for fun.
Will saw Gina rubbing the sore spot and wondered if he swatted her a little too hard. Then thought that maybe next time she wouldn't try and prank him. As Will watched the men he was glad that they had their minds on their work. With the ones that were not on duty below and not ogling the girls.
Will was sure that each man on the deck was aware that the girls were there, but they knew that they needed to keep to their duties, and it was not like these two were trying to show things to get the guys all horney.
The whole atmosphere on the ship took on a different tone as Katie came up on deck. Within a few minutes, most of the crew was looking over at her and it did not take Will long to see what the issue was.