" It was a whisper. But Anna heard it. Her heart skipped a beat. Her confidence suddenly took a sharp turn down. "What's her name?" She as...ed. "Anna, it's n—" "What's her name, Gideon?" Her voice was more persistent, more serious. But calm. Oh, too calm for Gideon's taste. He could taste vile in his throat all of a sudden. Her green eyes were wide, patient. And it was that which was his undoing. "Lauren." Anna gulped. "My sister. She was really pretty and she was really smart. She tended to be a loner, she was always in her room with the door shut. Studying, her brother told him, he would wait around until he absolutely had to go home, just to get a glimpse of her. All the boys liked her, she was really fun to be around, but her parents were really strict with her. He was surprised she was able to get any cigarettes.Instead of going out to the parking lot where the older kids gathered to smoke, she asked him if he knew. Probably taking him to the bedroom for a little more mother-son loving.I felt despondent and dejected, and a little shocked, as I walked back to my car. Now I’d seen it with my own eyes, I actually believed it.After sitting back in my car and lighting a cigarette, I decided to ring my sister. I needed someone to talk to and she was the only person I knew that would understand this situation, being a mother herself of a seventeen-year-old boy.My sister picked up and I said, “Hey, Molly, how are. I turned angrily and saw the captain on the foredeck. "Sir," I pleaded. "Have this man whipped for his disrespect and get me the ship's doctor." The captain looked at me and his look was grave and not very welcoming. He glanced at the sailor. "Take her below to her quarters, mate. Lock her in and stand guard by the door. I'll speak with her shortly." Before I could scream the ugly sailor had picked me up and thrown me over his shoulder as though I were nothing but a rag doll. I beat on his.