No matter. I grabbed a lantern and went down into the hold, surveying the cargo. I heard a strange rustle, and hoped that we didn’t have another rat problem. They were always about, but five years ago, the wee buggers had nearly eaten us out of house and home during a two week stretch at sea.
Approaching the pile of crates, I could hear the rustling was coming from the back row.
“Dobbs, get down here,” I hollered.
His boots rumbled down the stairs as I held the lantern up to the crates. “What is it, Captain?”
“Strange noises,” I said. “If you see a rat, be quick with those boots.”
Setting the lantern down, I lifted the top crate and set it aside. The next one was a bit heavier, and as soon as I got a grip on it, a strange, soft moaning sound emanated from within.
Even I had to admit that it was a bit eerie, sending a slight chill up my spine.
“Dwyer was right – it’s a ghost!” Dobbs yelped, running away at full speed.
I lifted the crate down, pulling the lantern close. There was definitely movement from inside.
Grabbing a hatchet from the wall, I pried the lid open cautiously, then held the blunt end forward as a weapon. Lifting the lid slowly, I expected to smell dusty old fabric, or the dank stench of vermin.
Not the sweet smell of flowers and honey.
Tossing the lid aside, I lifted the lantern to peer in, as a pair of huge light blue eyes stared into mine.
Then a howling scream tore through the room as the most beautiful young lady I’d ever seen in all my days reached out to slap me full across the face.
I blinked hard, annoyed, and not sure what to say to make her stop screaming.
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Then to my utter horror, she did the worst thing possible. The pretty little slip of a thing burst into unbridled, uncontrollable tears. Her warm brown hair shone with bits of auburn in the lamplight, a few bits falling loose from her braid and hiding her face.
Before I knew what was happening, my arms had reached into the crate and lifted her out. Sitting on the floor, I pulled her into my lap.
“There, there, lass.” That voice was unfamiliar in my throat. Gentle. But how could it not be, as I stroked her satin hair, holding her slim, trembling body against mine.
This was the girl who had winked at me last week. The one who seemed afraid of her own shadow, yet stared as if she wished she were permitted to speak with me.
I’d never been tender with anyone in my life. Yet as I held this sweet, lovely girl, something deep inside shifted, locking into a new place. I was going to protect her. Care for her. Keep her safe and happy, no matter what.
Even though she reached up to slap my face again.
~ Ch apter 3 ~ Maggie ~
* Moonlight on a Pirate Ship *
My head was spinning, and my arms and legs were thrashing, trying to escape.
I didn’t know why I was crying, or why this stranger was holding me so warmly, snug in his huge arms.
Through my tears, I blinked hard, then jumped as I recognized him. It was the unusually handsome man from the strange ship that I’d seen at the docks last week.
“Why…” My voice was hoarse, as if I’d been screaming. Had I been?
The man’s huge hands caressed my back gently, changing my tremors of fear into something else entirely. But I didn’t think he meant it that way. He was simply trying to take care of me.
That thought sent a fresh wave of tears streaming from my eyes. No man had ever really tried to take care of me. My father was a selfish bast…er, man. My brothers were constantly horrible to me.
Even the men who offered to marry me were simply doing so because they wanted a young wife to give them children. They didn’t actually care about me.