Page 38 of Rose
“I said you couldn’t climb the rigging,” Tristan said, appearing at her side. “I never said you couldn’t go aloft.”
Smiling, she whirled around. “What are ye proposing?”
He unraveled a rope and wove it through a small iron wheel. Then he waved Piper over. Piper plodded across the deck, holding his red handkerchief.
“Aye aye, Captain,” he said as he wiped the beads of sweat off his shiny bald head.
“Take this aloft?” Tristan said, holding out the pulley and line.
Piper quickly retied the red fabric around his neck. Then, he grabbed hold of the rope and, in a flash, scrambled up the rigging and hooked the wheel through one of the iron rings along the yard. Just as quickly, he scurried back down while Tristan knotted a loop in the bottom of the rope and slid his foot into the hole. Then he turned to Rose. With one hand gripping the rope, he flashed her a heart-stopping smile and opened his arm, inviting her into his embrace.
She squealed, unable to contain her excitement while she wrapped her arms around his neck. He gripped her waist firmly. They locked eyes. His danced with warmth. Smiling down at her, he continued to hold her gaze as he called out. “Steady as you go, men.”
She glanced over her shoulder. Piper and Jacob, whose thickly muscled arms were on display in his tunic with cutoff sleeves, began to slowly pull the rope, and up they started to rise.
“Don’t let go,” she cried, clinging to Tristan’s neck as they rose higher and higher. When they neared the crow’s nest, Davy scampered out onto the yard, which he straddled while they took over his perch.
Tristan put his foot into the rigging before lifting her into the crow’s nest. Then he climbed in behind her, his arms wrapped around her waist, holding her flush against his body.
“Despite Davy’s claim, there is really only room for one in here.”
She smiled up at him. “’Tis snug, but I prefer that. I feel more secure.” She glanced down and a shiver shot through her. They were towering above the deck.
“Don’t look down,” he advised. “Look out.”
The moment her gaze lifted, she forgot their great height. A jolt of wonder shot through her. The sun beat down overhead, casting beams of light that danced like stardust across the water’s surface. The ocean surrounded them. Never had she felt so powerful and so insignificant in her whole life—a feeling that was at once freeing and terrifying. Exhilaration coursed through her veins, causing her heart to thud against her chest. She raised her arms high above her head, reaching for the puffy white clouds that dotted the bright blue sky.
“Look,” she exclaimed, pointing toward a family of dolphins leaping above the waves in a beautiful display of elegance and strength.
It was so glorious that it was almost too much to bear. Tears stung her eyes.
“Are you all right,” he said softly in her ear, his lips brushing her skin.
She nodded. The endless blue water now blurred in her eyes. She blinked the moisture away. “This is more stirring to my soul than anything I could have dreamed.” She turned away from the rippling waves and swooping seagulls and tilted her head back to meet his gaze. “Thank ye,” she said. “Ye cannot know how much my soul needed this.” A soft gasp escaped her lips as he reached out and slowly stroked the backs of his fingers down her cheek.
“Captain!” Jacob called up, snaking their attention. “Timothy found a small leak in the bilge.”
A regretful smile tugged at his lips. “It would seem your ship requires my care.”
She cleared her throat. “I do insist ye keep her seaworthy for me.”
He hoisted himself up on the rail of the nest with ease before balancing on the yard next to Davy. Then, taking hold of the line, he reached for her.
“Remember,” he smiled. “Don’t look down.”
“Unless you want to,” Davy chimed in.
She buried her face in Tristan’s neck as they glided down to the deck. When her feet touched down, his arm lingered around her waist. “You worked hard today. Will you consider resting before the evening meal?”
She nodded. “I hate to admit it, but my strength has not fully returned.”
He released her and stepped back. “I will send Davy down with a fresh pitcher of water for you to wash, and I would like to request that you change for supper.”
She looked down at her tunic. “Why must I change?”
He smiled. “When we reach London, you will have to change for every meal. I thought it might be wise to start practicing now.”
“Ah-ha,” she said, smiling. “Now I understand why ye bought me so many tunics.” She lifted her chin in the air. “I will do my best to make myself presentable for the evening meal,” she said mimicking his accent. Then with a wink, she crossed the deck and disappeared down the hatch to their cabin.
