Owned by Pirates

I grinned, unable to resist running my thumb along her fair cheek. “I’m Captain Samuels. But I must admit, I rather like being called sir.”

She blushed, perhaps not used to this much attention. Lifting her skirts slightly to step over the ropes and down the steps, she followed me as quickly as she could.

~ Chapter 3 ~ Flora ~

* The Fortune’s Favor *

What have I done? Or should I say, what has happened to me? I had no choice, but still, I had to wonder. Would the Captain have still taken me on board had I tried to refuse? It was hard to say.

He actually seemed like a decent man. I took notice that he tried to soften his tone with me, and not frighten me more than need be. Those deep eyes made me feel completely drawn to him, in an oddly exciting way. His thick arms and massive chest made me feel something new. Something deep, and strange.

Although a part of me felt humiliated for crying in his arms, it was reassuring that he comforted me. Even now, as he took my hand to help me step down to the lower deck without tripping on my skirts, his focus seemed to be on keeping me safe, and nothing else.

Though his face was rugged, he was incredibly striking as he said with a huge grin, “Flora, this is Little Larry, our first mate.”

I smiled as I looked up at the enormous man. He had very short dark hair, warm brown eyes, and a noticeable scar that ran straight across his cheek to where a large part of the top of his ear was missing. Carefully looking only at his eyes, I held out my hand politely. He shook mine gently. “Hello, Larry.”

“Hello, Miss. Nice to officially meet you.”

“Larry, I need to go over the charts with O’Doule . Could you show Flora around, introduce her to the boys, and I’ll meet you in the galley shortly?”

“Aye, sir.”

The second the Captain left, Larry gave me a cautious smile. “Miss, you’re a brave girl to join a ragged crew like this. Have you been on a ship before?”

“Not a real ship, sir, never.”

He looked amused, then his warm brown eyes softened. “Titles are much more casual on The Fortune’s Favor. Only the Captain is ‘sir’, Miss. I’m just Larry.”

“I’m sorry I nearly giggled when he called you Little Larry.”

“It’s okay,” he chuckled. “Half of the crew does.”

He began leading me to the back of the ship, pausing as I stepped carefully over some coiled ropes.

“Miss, tomorrow we might need to shorten your skirts.” I must have made an expression of surprise, as he laughed lightly. “No, Miss, not to be cheeky. Just a few inches so that they don’t get filthy dragging around the deck, and so you don’t trip on ropes, or tools or the like.”

“Oh. Of course.”

“Or we might find you a pair of slops in the old clothing chest.”

I nodded, though just the thought of wearing men’s pants was exceedingly uncomfortable.

“There are many rules on this ship. Not falling overboard is pretty much number two, after no thievin’ from crewmates.”

I nodded, trying not to laugh. “Okay.”

“But if you do fall into the water, be sure to scream bloody murder on the way down.”

That sounded strange. “You don’t scream after you’re in the water?”

“Then too, yes. But you might be knocked out, or the cold water might seize up your lungs for a second. So if you ever think you’re going over, scream quick and loud. We can’t fish you out if we’re miles away by the time we know you’re missing.”

I nodded. “That’s sensible.”

Looking around, two of the men were beginning to hoist the sails, and we were already gliding away from the dock. I wasn’t used to men punching each other on the shoulders, and acting so rough. But this was their home, and nobody should change because a girl like me was here.

“Miss, I feel that I need to tell you something. It might be awkward, but I see that you’re a bit nervous around all of these men.”