Everyone else gave him a significant look, then glanced at me.
“It’s fine,” I sputtered with laughter. “I know that when you say men, you mean everyone on the ship.”
“Good,” he said gruffly. “Forgive me, but we’ve never had a woman aboard before.”
“I, for one, I think it’s working out quite well,” Cookie said with a wide grin. “She’s plenty of help here in the galley, and it’s nice to know if I pop a button, there’s someone to sew it back on for me.”
“I like having a lady around,” Dwyer said carefully, cringing slightly as if he thought the others might poke fun. “She listens differently. Talks differently. I think it’s nice.”
Dobbs nodded, and Willy joined him, saying, “There are certainly many more jobs we could take, and services we could provide, with a nice lady in the crew.”
“We’ll not be using her as a pawn,” the Captain said sharply. “We will never put Maggie in danger.”
“Of course,” Willy said quickly, holding up his hands. “What I meant was, she makes us look more respectable. Certainly more like regular sailors and traders, rather than…”
“I understand,” the Captain cut him off. “And I agree.” He turned to me with a strange smile. “We are headed for Tegarren Point next, my lass. I’ll be taking you to my aunt’s house.”
“Thank you,” I whispered. Looking around, it was awkward having so many eyes trained on me. I knew of that town, since it was very close to my hometown of Claytonsfield. Just around the point, actually.
Thankfully, Cookie served the stew at that point, taking everyone’s attention off me.
My father and brothers had always done their best to ignore me during dinner. They discussed the events of the day, and news of the town, none of which was assumed to include me in any way.
My new crew mates already felt closer than my family ever had. They didn’t find it bothersome when I spoke, or asked questions. The only time I’d ever been silenced was when I was locked in the cupboard with the Captain, and for good reason.
Sneaking a look, he was enjoying the stew, chatting cheerfully with the men. I had to wonder if the extreme closeness we had shared meant as much to him as it did to me. I couldn’t tell.
Shaking my
head, I stared down at my tin plate. The Captain was much older. He had probably had many women over the years. There was no way to tell for sure whether he was interested in me specifically, or whether I was merely a convenience who had appeared at an opportune time on his ship.
It didn’t feel that way. I honestly felt a genuine pull between us.
Yet I had misread men before. And as my brothers had proven time and again, men often took full advantage of how weak and trusting women could be.
I wanted to be open minded. I wanted to feel secure here, and allow myself to fall in love with the most magnificent man I’d ever met.
But I couldn’t let myself be a naïve little girl, and give away my heart to the first man, or pirate, who asked for it.
~ Chapter 1 6 ~ The Captain ~
* Where’s a spittoon when you need one? *
After supper, I left everyone to their chores, and went to the chart-room to double-check the night’s course.
It wasn’t long until Willy joined me. “Today seemed to go well, Captain.”
“Tell me,” I asked slowly, “do you think it was wise to allow Maggie to walk along that long pier unaccompanied?”
His ruddy face turned a bit gray. “I was steps away, sir. I watched her until you approached.”
I felt my hands clench in rage, yet forced myself to take a breath and remain calm. “If she’s ever in your care again, you’re not to leave her for an instant. Understand?”
“Yes, absolutely, Captain. I apologize.”
My head snapped toward him as I blinked hard. Never in all our years together had I heard Willy apologize to anyone for anything.
He chuckled at my surprise. “Captain, it’s clear that you and Maggie are in love. I made a mistake by treating her merely as a member of the crew. From now on, I will treat her as your lady, and be as overprotective as you would be yourself.”