Taken by Pirates

We had always been a good team. Somehow once we were bouncing ideas back and forth, we managed to think of many scenarios, and plan contingencies for almost every potential problem.

“You know,” Willy said, staring down at our notes, “this would be much easier if we could use Maggie as a decoy. Nobody would suspect that such a fine young lass would be up to no good.”

Running a hand through my hair, I sighed heavily. “I can’t use her that way. It’s not right.”

He cocked his head, those black curls bouncing as he looked me dead in the eye. “If you’ll forgive my saying, Captain, is she a member of the crew now or not?”

Just a few weeks ago, my fist would be greeting his teeth for such a remark.

But he was right. If Maggie truly was one of us, she would have to pull her weight occasionally.

Although I would never put her in danger, there were always little ways to draw attention away from the action. No one would ever suspect a woman.

It was the right thing to do.

Yet it made me feel seasick for the very first time in my life.

~ Chapt er 11 ~ Maggie ~

* Learning the Plan *

I honestly didn’t mean to eavesdrop. Over the years I’d become an expert at moving around silently, so as not to alert my brothers. It was always better if they didn’t know where I was.

When I approached the chart-room to fetch the basket of clothes that needed mending, I froze outside the doorway when I heard voices.

After I’d heard more than I could take, I slunk back to the main deck.

My head was spinning with too many questions. Did the Captain consider me a member of this crew? Or was I simply a woman who happened along, so he began courting me out of convenience?

Actually, when I thought about it, this certainly wasn’t proper courting. I didn’t know what it was. And I didn’t know how anything worked on this ship.

The men seemed to do whatever the Captain said without question. Would I be disobedient if I inquired?

If there was a plan he wanted me to help with, he should ask. He should keep me informed. And he should certainly ask me whether or not I wanted to be put in danger of any kind.

And now, just as I was beginning to think there was a man in my life I could actually trust, it appeared the Captain might be devising a plan without my knowledge.

Because I had so little experience out in the world, I had no idea whether this was how men treated women, or Captains treated the members of their crew.

A strange bell rang out, making my heart leap up into my throat. It wasn’t the usual few rings that signalled the time and watch shifts. This bell rang rapidly and continually for a moment.

Dobbs appeared from where he had been fussing with something on the side of the deck. “When you hear that bell, it means get to the galley as fast as you can,” he said as he rushed to the steps.

I followed quickly behind, gathering with the others around the table.

“All right, men,” the Captain began. Then he glanced in my direction. “And woman.”

Everyone smirked, but I simply smiled politely.

“As you know, we’ve been doing more trading, and less outright pirating,” he said. “I believe we all prefer this simpler, less violent life.”

All of the men nodded firmly.

“Aye, it’s a great relief to have some stability, Captain,” Cookie said.

“I’d rather have a bit less money, and a lot fewer swords at my throat,” Dobbs added.

“I was thinking that now, with the addition of a nice elegant young lady aboard our ship, we should probably avoid violence even more,” the Captain stated.