Taken by Pirates

Adjusting the firm bulge in my trousers, I gave my shoulders a shake and marched out to get to work.

Today was going to be a big day, but tonight might be the most exciting night of my life.

~ Chap ter 21 ~ Maggie ~

* Rosemary and Oregano *

When the Captain first indicated that he wanted to chat, I thought for certain he was going to break it to me that he was leaving me in Tegarren Point.

To discover that he wanted me to stay on board, and wanted us to be even more intimate, made my heart sing like birds in a meadow.

My exhaustion of yesterday had disappeared completely, as I hurried down to the galley. By the time Willy and the Captain joined the crew, breakfast was already being served.

“I have to say,” Willy grinned, “a man could get used to having these good meals on time.”

A spoon rapped against the back of his hand as Cookie shot him a glare. “Watch your tone, boy. Respect your elders. I don’t need that kind of sass today.”

The entire crew laughed loudly, as Cookie’s attempt to be stern didn’t suit him at all, and he burst into chuckles himself.

“Clear sailing today, lads and miss,” the Captain said smoothly, giving me a wink.

“Do you think aunt Clementine will have one of her delicious pies ready?” Dwyer asked, his eyes growing huge.

“Well, she doesn’t know we’re coming,” Dobbs said. “But I bet if she did, she’d remember to make an extra apple raspberry just for you.”

“Your aunt sounds lovely,” I said to the Captain. “Do you visit her often?”

“Whenever he has an extra barrel of rum to hide,” Willy chuckled.

The Captain shot him a stern look, then turned back to me. “It’s true that we use her cellar as an extra store room. But I’m also the only family she has left...”

He trailed off, and I reached under the table to pat his knee. “It’s sweet of you to visit her,” I said softly.

“I got to paint her fence last summer,” Dwyer grinned. “She paid me with two pies, all to myself.”

Dobbs chuckled. “We bring her little treasures and news from our travels, which gives her stories to tell the ladies at tea.”

Even though they were clearly thieves and outlaws to some degree, the crew of the Midnight Treasure was surprisingly wholesome. Who would have ever thought that I would learn more about family through a few weeks on a pirate ship that I ever had in my own home.

Life was certainly a funny thing, and the path through it was always full of unusual twists and turns.

We passed by Claytonsfield at enough of a distance that we were easily spotted, but it didn’t look like we were avoiding that port, just in a hurry to be elsewhere.

It was difficult not to glance at the wee town that I had called home for nearly my entire life. Hopefully someday I could forget all about the terrible men there, both in my own family, and otherwise.

As we approached Tegarren Point a few hours later, I stood at the bow, watching the townspeople gather on the dock.

Instead of the usual pinched faces glaring their distrust and disapproval, I realized with delight as we came closer that they were smiling and waving. There were even women and children on the pier.

Once the ship docked, the men unloaded just three crates and a barrel, as the Captain jumped down onto the pier. He looked so dashing in his long, dark coat, smiling widely as he approached the crowd of townspeople.

The children broke away from their parents, running toward him with a cacophony of squeals. The Captain’s hands shot into the air in surrender as their tiny hands searched his large side pockets.

I found myself laughing and clapping in delight as each child grabbed a boiled sweet wrapped in waxed paper, thanking him politely before running back to their families.

Then the Captain turned to me, coming back to take my hand to escort me down the gangplank.

I was accustomed to any of the men offering me a hand as I disembarked. But this time, the Captain kept my hand in his as we walked down the pier.