Page 21 of The Highlander's Pirate Bride

“And I wish the same tae ye, MacNeil.”

This time it was Aileen who blew out the candles. The curtain was shuffled aside and she grunted as she swung herself into the hammock. After that, the only sound was the banshee howl of the wind and the waves slapping on the hull as the ship rocked them to sleep.

Maxwell woke with a jolt. He sat up, listening, then it dawned on him. The wind that had been their accompaniment for the past two days had ceased its howling and all was quiet. He rolled over, pulled up the rug and attempted to return to sleep.

But it would not come.

Instead of enjoying the peace and stillness, his mind began to whirl. Now that the weather had improved, they would soon set sail again. Each sweep of his oar would bring him closer to Castle Dunrobin and his anticipated encounter with Andrew Sutherland. He still had to find out the reason from Aileen behind Sutherland wanting his brother, yet he understood the man’s motivations were malevolent. His mind wandered into the past. As far as he was aware, there had never been any contact between them, so it was a puzzle to be unraveled. Part of him wanted to reach Dunrobin and understand what the damned laird wanted with Everard.

After spending some time tossing, he decided to give up the unequal battle. A walk in the still, night air might be enough to settle his thoughts and help him back to the land of dreams. He shoved aside the rug and scrambled to his feet.

Not wishing to disturb Aileen, he stole silently out of the cabin and walked toward the ship’s prow. The tide had gone down and the rocks were a mere step away. It occurred to him that if escape was on his mind, with little effort he could step from the ship and with only little further effort, he could be on land. And what next? He had no wish to escape. He would see this journey through and pray his brother would not follow.

If he was honest with himself, he not only wanted to deal with Sutherland and settle the notorious laird’s quarrel with the MacNeils for good, but he was fascinated by Aileen. A woman of contradictions, aloof and charming at the same time. Powerful yet vulnerable.

A longing came over him when he allowed his thoughts to dwell on her. He wanted to experience a kiss like the one they’d shared outside the tavern. She had fired up his senses and he wanted more of her. Plus, he wanted to see the hurt and distrust fade from those cat’s eyes, to see them replaced by the darkness of desire. His heart beat faster at the thought of taking her in his arms.

He shook his head to dispel the foolishness and leaned against the high curve of the prow, his eyes becoming accustomed to the darkness. In the distance he spied a flickering light, no doubt from a crofter’s candle casting a dim glow from his tiny cottage.He was considering the peaceful, dutiful, life of a hard-working crofter when he heard someone behind him.

He turned in time to deflect a blow from the stout ebony truncheon, the same club Aileen had used to render him senseless when he first came on board. Only this time, it was Séamus who swung the weapon in his burly arms.

Despite the seaman’s strength, he was no match for a battle-hardened warrior, and in a trice, Maxwell had seized his wrist and twisted it. Séamus grunted in pain and dropped the heavy rod.

Maxwell drew in a sharp breath through gritted teeth, keeping hold of the man’s wrist. Séamus grunted in pain as Maxwell tightened his grip. He experienced little more than a modicum of surprise at the attack. The man had thrown enough disagreeable and suspicious looks his way throughout the voyage.

“What in the name of all that’s holy are ye about, lad?” He had no intention of releasing the man until he’d got to the bottom of what he’d been planning. “What did ye think ye’d achieve by braining me? Were ye planning to toss me to the fishes?”

It was then he saw Aileen standing silently behind Séamus. He squinted, looking to see if she held a weapon and, to his disgust, heard the clink of a chain.

His blood was rising and there was an alarming pounding in his temples. His voice was harsh. “And ye, Captain. Was it yerorders this simpleton was following?”Why, if I wished, I could break both these two nincompoops in half.

“Ye were planning to escape.” Her tone was almost petulant.

He gave a sharp laugh. “If I’d been planning to escape, I’d have been over the rocks and long gone before now, and ye’d never have kent I’d left ye until the light of day.” He snorted. “Did ye think tae chain me again? Did I nay give ye me word that I’d nae escape?”

A disbelieving grunt came from Séamus. “Ye only gave yer word nae tae escapeat the market.”

Maxwell gave the man’s wrist another sharp twist. “Ye little bobbin’ churl, I should snap yer wrist. When a MacNeil gives his word that should be the end of it. I’ll nae tolerate yer disrespect.” He lifted his head and peered at Aileen with a snarl. “And that goes fer ye, as much as fer him.”

He heard her sharp intake of breath but was unable to make out her expression. “Mayhap we’ve been hasty MacNeil. But ye must realize there is much riding on us taking ye with us on our journey.”

“Oh? If I was aware of what ye want wi’ me that might make sense. As it is, I have nay patience wi’ ye.”

She seemed to think about this, as there was a pause before she spoke again. “Until I can trust ye, I’ll nae be giving ye our secrets.”

He still held Séamus in an unyielding grip. “Shall I snap yer man’s wrist, or will ye trust me enough fer me tae release him?”

“Release him.”

Maxwell slowly unfurled his fingers from the other man’s hand.

Séamus growled, rubbing his arm. “Ye’re strong, MacNeil. There’s few lads who can best me.”

“Well, remember that if you think of coming at me again.” He turned to see Aileen’s dark shape retreating along the deck, and strode after her. She wouldn’t escape his wrath so easily.

He caught up with her as she reached the cabin, following, as she flung open the door and stepped inside. She took off her cloak, tossed it over a chair and lit one of the candles, the chain still dangling from her fingers.

“And ye thought to tether me again?” His voice held a touch of menace, and she looked up, her mouth a round with surprise. “Dinnae deny it, Captain, fer I see the chain in yer hand.”

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