The Captain's Lady by Lorhainne Eckhart Page B

pick up.
    "He really pisses me off. He needs to have someone knock him off his high horse. I don't know who he thinks he is, but you know as well as I do he only treated me that way because I'm a woman."
    The four women around the television stilled, then looked at each other hesitantly before focusing their attention on Gail.
    Petty Officer Jennifer Hampton stood up from the couch and strode over to Gail. “Would you keep your voice down?” She leaned against the bunk and gave a hurried smack to Gail's thigh. “I agree with you, as do most of us girls on this ship. He's a bastard when it comes to women. But you need to watch your step, girl. He's the captain. You need to be careful of what you say."
    Gail shrugged and then rolled off the rack to stand beside Jennifer. “Not if we go together and file a discrimination suit against him."
    The silence was piercing, and so were the stunned looks on each of their faces.
    "You're crazy, girl. What's wrong with you, coming up with something stupid like that?” Petty Officer Mary-Jo Johnson murmured as she rose out of the chair.
    "No really, please listen. I heard that there is a woman commander out there who is next in line to command a ship like this one. If we can get rid of the S.O.B., then we don't have to worry about being passed over for promotion just because we're the wrong sex."
    There was some interest in the idea; two of the women looked at each other in agreement.
    "We all know he's made his position clear regarding women. He has never hesitated to spell it out. You all know I'm right. He believes we were born to stay at home and wait for our husbands, holding their slippers in our hands, bearing their kids, wipe snotty noses, and waiting hand and foot on them like bloody slaves. It's like something out of the Dark Ages!"
    Gail waved her hands animatedly as she spoke. Only Mary-Jo's disapproving glare remained aloof and on guard. Gail didn't miss the three other women's shared looks of agreement, acknowledging that yes, she was partly right about the captain's views. She rejoiced inwardly. The captain's one mistake would be used to her advantage: his voiced objections opposed to women in the navy, including his damming statement that they “lowered the integrity of the service.” She smiled as the thrill of victory appeared within her grasp.
    She was startled from her thoughts as Mary-Jo planted herself abruptly in front of her, arms jammed in her pockets in mock challenge. “Okay girl, you got a point about the captain. He does have a problem with us women and he has said some stuff that has right pissed me off, too. But don't you forget, he's the captain and if he says jump, we ask how high. So I wonder whatcha think you're gonna do about it?"
    Swallowing, Gail wanted nothing more than to take a step back, but was trapped with her back to the bunk. She fought the urge to cower, heart pounding, very aware of Mary-Jo's intimidation tactics. Pulling in a deep breath, Gail wondered about the best way to manipulate and handle the woman. Somehow she needed to—would—find a way to win her over. She was the one person on this ship impossible to read, and definitely no one she wanted to piss off.
    With a gleam of mischief in her eyes, she continued, “Ladies, I got a plan, and I'll be counting on your help. You know we have to stick together.” Gail donned a somber demeanor intended to convey the need for a united front.
    Mary-Jo held up both hands. “You can just stop right there, girl. I'm not interested in any dirty business. Nor will I get involved in any scheme of yours to hurt the captain. You can count me out. I had enough of these games with my sister back home; I'm certainly not gonna stoop to doin’ somethin’ that's surely gonna start trouble. Especially when it's not based on any fact.” Looking pointedly at each of the women, and not masking the disappointment and disgust she felt for their not standing up to Gail, she turned without another word