Keep off the Grass

Jack Aubrey had to do a lot of sidestepping around that brother in law thing. Bridgid left him alone after the initial comment, but Jason teased him relentlessly.

"Did you know that B lived in the city of brotherly love?"

"You may have to ask our father first, Jack."

"Can you float your brother a loan?"

The generally stoic Captain just took it in stride, after all he was used to speaking before thinking on occasion. It was his only downfall.

He was deep in thought when Bridgid suggested they take Jason into Coffs. The thought of spending the day out with her brother didn’t thrill him very much. At least while he was home he could hide from the aggressive Aussie but it wouldn’t be so if they were trapped in a vehicle together.

It took a little convincing to get Jack to agree to the daytrip but Bridgid managed. She mentioned parasailing and water skiing with a sparkle in her eyes. He gave in after looking at Bridgid’s face. How could he let her down after seeing the excitement in her eyes?

A short while later they were on the way. Jason sat sprawled across the backseat. His bush hat was tipped over his eyes and he let out a snore on occasion. Bridgid turned to poke him once or twice and he finally gave her something of a reply.

He peeked under the brim of the hat, having only one eye open, "Mayas well snooze while I can, B," he groaned "Need my beauty rest."

"I’ll say," she replied "I got it in spades but you were shorted."

Jack glanced away from the road briefly to look at her. He failed to understand why at such an age, she and her brother still acted like children. Perhaps if he’d known a sibling during his youth he’d have realized that it never ends. Though Bridgid and Jason were separated for most of their childhood, they grew very close as they got older. Jason stayed in Sydney with their father, Sean, but Bridgid was taken to Philadelphia with mum, Meg when she was very young.

Meg thought that Bridgid would fare better growing up in the eastern part of the States. She reckoned she’d attend and Ivy league school and the likes and she was correct to a degree but its hard to force a certain element out of kid when its bred in generation after generation. The similarities between her and Jason were significant. The both had the same sense of adventure and the same need for the proverbial adrenaline rush. Meg was highly disappointed when Bridgid left Vassar to join the Marine Corp. Aside from that it riled her father up real good when he was told about it. Getting Sean’s blood up became a game with the Morgan offspring.

He and Meg were estranged over the fact that moving their daughter to the States didn’t make any more of a lady out of her than leaving her in Australia would have.

Jason on the other hand was rebellious in his own right. He’d stayed at Uni and managed a Rhodes scholarship but used it for nothing more than to roll his sheepskin up into his swag to carry it with him on many walkabouts. He never really settled into the family business as his father had demanded. He wrote books about the Aboriginal Dreamtime and the history of Australia. Jason, much like Bridgid just did what he wanted.

Neither one of them relied on the family money for their existence.

*********

Bridgid laid her hand on Jack’s thigh. "Look, we’re here, "she pointed to the sign for the parasailing outfit.

When Jack parked the car, Jason got out first. He tapped on the driver’s window just as Bridgid leaned in to give Jack a reassuring kiss.

"Let’s go, mate. We’re burning daylight. You’ll have plenty of time for that stuff later."

Jack gave him a withering look. He turned to Bridgid and said "Why does your brother insist on this Tom Foolery?"

"It’s because he’s fond of you, Jack."

"Perhaps so, Siren. however I do find his behavior slightly disturbing."

"Once you get to know him better, you’ll see that he’s really a great guy. You have a century and an ocean of difference between you to reckon, anyway, c’mon. Let’s get going. I’m anxious to do some parasailing."

Jack was saying something under his breath about Botany Bay, criminals and scallywags but it just made Bridgid giggle a little. It was all part of his charm and she loved him for it.

Before he could move she was out of the Rover and bounding toward the outfitters.

She was joined by her brother and Jack, who had his reservations about parasailing.

"Siren, I am not at all content with this."

Bridgid shrugged "It’s not much different than climbing a mast. I’d like to go first.

"All yours, love, "Jason grinned.

Though Jack was distressed by her brother’s encouragement, he relented. "Very well," Jack said but there was reservation in his eyes.

In less that a half hour the three of them stood on the deck of a small speed boat. Bridgid was outfitted and ready to go. Jack, still holding his tongue let go just a little bit when he turned to the so called captain of the small boat.

"You are captain, sir?"

"Yep, that I am, mate."

"I trust you have some idea as to what you are doing," Jack asked with his hands clasped behind his back.

The man laughed as he lit a cigarette. "Been doing this for near twenty years, mate. Never lost a customer."

"You will not start today, sir, or I will see you at the end of my sword," Jack said sternly, and then with a twitch at the corner of his mouth he added "With all due respect."

"Right," the captain replied as he looked at Jack then turned to Jason who just shrugged. "No worries, mate. He’s in love."

The boat captain laughed hoarsely. "I got ya. She’ll be fine." He paid his attention to Bridgid who was seated on the stern of the boat.

"Make sure that lifejacket is snug, love. When you’re ready, let go of the bar and grab on to the parachute straps.

She did as she was told then nodded. With a whoop then a whoosh she was airborne and the feel of it made her squeal. She could still be heard as she drifted higher and higher. The woman was laughing and whooping it up until she was too far away to be heard.

Needless to say, the view was so breathtaking that it shut her up. Three hundred feet in the air is a height where there is no sound except the occasional flap of nylon from the chute. Gulls passed below her feet and she could see Jack and Jason standing on the deck. Waving at them once, she then closed her eyes to enjoy the feeling of her flight.

It was Zen like and exhilarating at the same time. When the boat towing her turned she felt the cable follow, pulling her into a slow wide huey. She could see the coast, out to sea, ships, islands, everything for miles. She reckoned she could spot the Glen too. Looking down, she could see the shadows of some large fish, dolphin’s maybe or sharks. Sharks? Hopefully nothing would break. She wasn’t too keen on being lunch for Bruce the great white.

It seemed way too soon when she began to descend. Bridgid thought she could have stayed up there all day.

The boat got closer and closer until her feet touched the water. The captain maneuvered the boat and she popped up a bit then onto the deck of the ship.

"Oh wow!" she chirped as she grabbed onto the bars. "Man that was just brilliant. I didn’t want to come down."

Jack and Jason each took one of her arms and before she knew it she was out of the harness and sitting on the deck. Her face was flushed with lingering excitement. Jack sure felt better about her being ‘feet dry’ as sailors like to call it.

Actually, she managed to talk him into trying it and he went up next. His flight lasted a little longer than hers and the look on his face when he landed proved he had never lost his sense of adventure. He was Jack Aubrey after all. .

"Hahahaha, it is quite enjoyable, Siren. We should indulge this more often," Jack laughed loud and hearty.

Then Jason took a turn. It gave Jack and B some moments alone as her brother sailed above them. With the boat captain busy at the helm, Bridgid curled her arms around her sailor.

"You know what I feel like doing now?" she whispered to his ear. Jack turned to look at the man steering the boat.

"Later," he answered before kissing her.

All in all it was a great day for the trio. They had some adventure, a good meal and a ride home that was full of great conversation. It turned out to be a heck of a bonding occasion for Jack and Jason too. Perhaps they did find some common ground in a little adventure.

When they pulled up in front of the cottage, Bridgid jumped out of the car and headed up the path to the cottage. She had her shoes in her hand and she was still giggling over the fun they had that day. Her guard was down, she didn’t see it coming. She didn’t see it at all until she felt the sharp sting on her calf.

"Ouch, shit!" she whinged, not quite sure what it was until she saw it slither away. Panic began to set in immediately and she cried out.

"Jack, Jack….Jason….snake. Help me! I’ve been bitten by a snake."

TBC