Stowaway [Mm] [oral] [reluc]

Cold and sore from his father’s belt, Eric Mcfree had been walking the dark streets of Brewton for hours. He shivered as the wind blew and cursed his father’s name under his breath. Penniless, Eric refused to go back home and beg forgiveness.

*I’ll bet that’s just what he expects me to do.*

Eric’s bruised cheek swelled with pain as the scene replayed in his mind. His father, Vernon Mcfree, was home from a sailing voyage. He and Eric were eating a late supper and discussing the allocation of new cargo. The bulk of it would be traded away for gold or finer goods. Only the highest quality items would be kept and sold in the family’s shop, of which Eric ran day to day operations.

A frugal trader and excellent negotiator, Eric had a knack for earning maximum profits. He was proud to announce a new trade deal to his father, one that gave them access to the fine silks of the West. He expected his father to praise his ambition. Instead, Vernon stared at Eric as if he had never known him.