“Copy me,” he ordered. He glared at her dress accusingly and shook his head in disgust. To Reg and Ben he shouted: “You two go on up. We will follow you.”
“I can’t do this,” Rose protested. “I haven’t climbed anything in my life.”
“Well, you have to start somewhere. We will climb together. Just don’t ever let go. No matter how tired you get don’t let go of the rope, Rose. Use your feet like I do. Push your dress out of the way. There is nobody here to see you.” Barnaby released his hold on the ladder and moved to stand behind her when she didn’t move. Placing one reluctant hand on the ropes, he pushed her bodily against the wooden hull and placed her second hand on the rope when she didn’t.
“Put your feet on like this,” Barnaby growled into her ear.
Rose felt the warm rush of air against her ear and instinctively shivered. It was wonderfully reassuring to feel him so close behind her. It gave her the strength to do as he asked. Although she didn’t look up at them she was painfully aware of several of the ship’s sailors leaning over the side of the boat to watch while others fired at the approaching boats. When she still didn’t move, three of them suddenly launched themselves over the side and began to descend the ropes with startling speed. Realising that she was holding everyone up, Rose gritted her teeth and placed one foot onto the rope. Hauling herself upright, she clung perilously to the side of the boat and began to climb.
“Aye, that’s a lass. Keep goin’ up there now,” one of the sailors called encouragingly as he clambered down to the boat she had just abandoned.
Rose couldn’t bring herself to answer him because her teeth were clamped too tightly together to allow her to emit anything more than a small squeak. With Barnaby close behind her, Rose climbed the side of the boat and readily accepted the help from the waiting men to get over the rail at the top. Once there she turned and watched Barnaby climbed to safety and heaved a sigh of relief. It was then that she turned her attention to the sailors in the boat below.
They threw ropes onto the deck with a dexterity that was awe-inspiring. As a group, the sailors on the deck hauled the ropes and lifted the boat clean out of the water, higher onto the ship until it was level with the deck. Once there, they proceeded to tie it to the deck whereupon the two sailors inside jumped out.
“It is impressive isn’t it?” Barnaby murmured.
“I have never seen anything like it,” she whispered.
Suddenly, the boat began to glide through the water. A huge hulk of a man appeared on a deck somewhere above them and began to yell orders. Sailors scattered everywhere and began to climb the rigging.
“We are on our way,” Barnaby announced in a voice full of admiration and relief.
Rose turned to watch the solitary flare of light from the lighthouse recede into the far distance and, for the first time in several days, began to relax.
“Where is Chadwick’s lot?” she asked scouring the sea for sign of them.
“I think they turned back. The waves are getting rougher, and they didn’t like being fired at.” Barnaby looked up when a jagged streak of lightning lit the sky. “We need to get inside. From the look of it we are in for a deluge. Besides, I think the men would prefer it if we were out of the way.”
To Rose’s astonishment, as though they were out for nothing more extraordinary than a Sunday afternoon stroll, Barnaby held his elbow out and nodded toward a small hatch. Bemused, Rose took his arm and allowed him to tug her gently toward the soft yellow light glowing within the hull of cavernous ship. So many questions ran through her mind but she couldn’t think of a single thing to say.
“Ah, there you are,” a husky voice boomed suddenly from behind her.
Rose squeaked and spun around.
“Pardon, ma’am, I didn’t mean to startle you,” the man mumbled looking abashed.
The only world Rose could use to describe the huge, beefy man before her was grizzled. He was as old as Croesus, weathered and, if the hardened glint in his eyes was any indication, a seasoned sailor. Rose knew that whatever situation appeared in front of this man, he hit it head on and always succeeded in finding a smooth passage through it. Rather than be afraid of him, she felt herself drawn to his practical strength and liked him.
“Noah, as I live and breathe,” Barnaby growled as he hauled the man into a bear hug.
“Noah?” Rose mouthed at him with lifted brows when Barnaby looked at her over the man’s shoulder.
Barnaby’s grin widened as he released his good friend and onetime colleague.
“Noah, let me introduce you to Miss Rose Higginbotham. She is on her way to help us with one of our investigations,” Barnaby explained. “Rose, this is my good friend Mr Noah Gilmore.”
Rose didn’t know whether to curtsey or not, but a bear-hug like the one he had just given Barnaby was out of the question. She suspected that she wouldn’t survive one if the man chose to be that familiar. Thankfully he didn’t.
“Hello,” she said simply.
“Ma’am, welcome to the Dawn’s Rise,” Noah boomed politely, his arms stretched wide. “Come with me. I will show you to your cabin.”
Rose and Barnaby followed him down a confusing network of narrow corridors and steps until he stopped and flung open a highly ornate door and gestured to the room within.
“Please make this cabin your home while you are here. My men will sleep below decks. The ship’s boy is called Sal. If you want anything shout for him,” Noah boomed.
“Where are we off to, Noah?” Barnaby asked curiously.