Owned by Pirates

Larry explained, “We’re near a few relatively narrow passages, Miss. We’re totally safe, but the Captain wants to make sure our course is clear for Teeth and Davy to steer as they take the night shifts.”

“Well,” Teeth drawled, “You’ll be safe on my watch. Come sunrise, who knows where Dirty Davy will have us.”

“Don’t you start,” Davy sneered with a lopsided grin. “I’m not the one who nearly bottomed us near Fleeryville.”

Larry and McGee both rolled their eyes, and the conversation went on for quite some time about who had a steadier hand at the wheel.

I listened to every word with rapt attention. These men were already treating me like a friend, as one of their own. It was fascinating that they seemed to enjoy my company. This was the loudest, rowdiest, most wonderfully impolite dinner I’d ever attended, and I felt more welcomed than I ever had at my table at home.

~ Chapter 4 ~ The Captain ~

* Stars *

"You haven't had your say yet," I said to O’Doule as I met him by the wheel.

"Did you want my honest opinion?” he said carefully, raising one eyebrow in the lamplight.

"Always. You know that."

O'Doule pretended to think very hard for a moment, but then his grin slipped out. "I think she's lovely, captain. I hate to say that she might need to toughen up a bit, but I think the boys will help her."

He paused, regarding me carefully. "And you know, the timing is impeccable. With a delicate, proper lass such as Flora, it will certainly help sell the image that we are a respectable trading outfit. She could pose as a passenger if need be."

I nodded. "Although that was never my intention, the same thought had crossed my m

ind."

O'Doule shrugged as he laid out the maps. "Killing two birds with one stone," he said.

"What do you have against birds?" I asked. "That's a terrible saying. How about, feeding two birds with one seed?"

O’Doule smirked. "If I didn't have my personal safety in mind, Captain, I would say that the pretty lass has softened you already."

I waved my finger in his face but could never really be angry with my navigator. "You know where mouthiness will get you. Know how to make this foolproof for the boys on watch tonight?"

We finished the calculations quickly, and I sent O'Doule back down to the galley. I simply needed a moment to myself. Looking out the window up at the thousands upon thousands of stars, I realized that they did not compare to Flora’s delicate beauty.

The feelings I already had for the clever girl surprised me. I never thought that I’d find a woman who truly warmed my heart. Yet Flora felt like she already lived there, nestled into my chest like a secret treasure.

I’d have to learn to be careful, and let her open up to me. She was obviously a sweet, innocent girl, and there was no way I could allow her to be hurt or upset. I also couldn’t let her think that she was a possession. I wanted her to be a crewman in her own right. Crew woman. Bugger it, I’d have to work on that.

From the second my eyes met hers, I felt something completely new. I needed to protect her. Comfort her. Take care of her in every possible way. I wasn’t the sort of man who ever considered falling to a woman’s feet, but if she asked, I would in a heartbeat.

Yet I also wanted to teach her. Show her the world. Gaze upon the sunset reflecting in her eyes as she sailed with us for new lands.

That likely sounded far more romantic than it would actually be. Our next three trips would be back and forth between Parrinport and Leelard Island, ferrying various not quite legal kegs and certain slightly underground trade items.

I’d been toying with the decision to focus more on smuggling than outright theft. When an opportunity arose for many of the old crew bent on piracy to move on to a new ship, it was fortunate indeed.

Larry agreed that trading and shipping would be both safer and more lucrative in the long run. With the military wanting to show off their power by taking down pirates, there came a day when a man wanted semi-honest work to cut down on the pesky annoyance of being chased all the time.

We’d even been talking of hoisting a new flag with no hint of a skull or bones. Each Captain had their own flag, and there must be a way to have something that states we are powerful without being nasty.

Studying the stars above me, I hoped the men wouldn’t be disturbed by Flora’s presence on the ship. Throwing off the balance of the men just when I had assembled a great small crew was not ideal, but there was no way I could have left her for some bastard to purchase. The men knew that.

~ Chapter 5 ~ Flora ~

* The Captain’s Quarters *