Taken by Pirates

He stepped into her view. “Yes?”

“I need some rosemary and oregano from the back garden.”

A wicker basket came flying out the window, landing neatly in Levi’s hands.

“Er, what does rosemary look like?” he asked.

Taking the basket from him, I waved up at Clementine. “I’ll get it. How much do you need of each?”

“A good handful and a half. I’m making biscuits.” It sounded like the lads were inside crowding her kitchen. She grinned widely at us before shutting the window.

“She’s a great lady to put up with us lot,” he said, wrapping an arm around my waist.

“I can fetch the herbs while you go in and settle them down,” I said. “Just point me to the back garden.”

Levi kept his arm snugly around me as we walked past the roses to a more open area.

Strolling along in the midday sun, I felt something deep inside me relax. Everything was perfect. We were a real couple. I had an incredible new home and new life, with a wonderful man. Plus, his family and crew.

I couldn’t wait to get to know Clementine better. Since the other crewmen had called her Aunt too, I couldn’t help hoping that she would be a bit of an auntie to me as well. Since I’d lost my mother, I wasn’t close with any older women.

Perhaps she could teach me how to be a good wife, someday.

In front of a split cedar fence was a huge vegetable garden with little stone pathways. The herbs were all to the side, giant clusters of fragrant greenery. On the other side of the fence was a thick forest, lush and green.

I took a moment to simply stop and take it all in.

“I forget that you’re a landlubber,” Levi said with a smile, leaning in to kiss my forehead. “Take your time to enjoy the garden, sweetheart.”

As he went inside the back door of the house, I felt my heart jumping unevenly. So much had happened in such a short time that I felt I needed to stop and simply breathe for a few moments.

Kneeling down, I slowly picked the oregano leaves and sprigs of rosemary, letting my fingertips wander along the stems of the beautiful plants.

The scent was invigorating, as was directing my attention on such a simple task for a spell. By the time I hoisted the basket and stood up, I felt full of new energy.

Turning toward the house, a shadowy figure loomed over me. I looked up, expecting to see Levi, then my mouth fell open and I nearly dropped the basket.

Staring into the bloodshot eyes of my former suitor, a terrible dark feeling came over me.

“Mr. Helsby?”

He did not respond, just shoved a strange-smelling rag into my mouth, his wild eyes glaring at me with pure venom as I clutched the basket frantically. Tying my hands behind my back with rope and slinging me over his shoulder, he rendered me utterly helpless.

I tried to scream, kick, anything to save myself.

To no avail. All I could do is listen to the boisterous laughter coming from the windows of Clementine’s house as I was carried into the forest.

~ Cha pter 22 ~ The Captain ~

* Forest Path *

Catching up with my slightly nutty aunt was always a delight. The crew was scattered throughout the kitchen and dining room, gobbling down the mountains of food she laid out for us.

Her kindness was always appreciated, which the lads always repaid with endless stories of our adventures, large and small. Sometimes the large ones were made even larger for her entertainment.

Clementine and Cookie always enjoyed chatting about the various foods and wines they had tasted recently. Willy shared stories of every port we traveled by.

Dobbs liked to describe the strangest people we had seen, and sometimes he could even do the voices. Dwyer rarely told us at the time about all of the different birds he had spotted on our travels, but was excited to tell Clementine every detail later.