Page 41 of The Moonstone Major
She could not help but smile. “You are obviously suffering from too much sun, and it has boiled your brains.”
“Not at all. Chin up, and be proud of your title.” He made certain she was on solid footing before letting go of her hands.
She smiled, truly loving how gentle he was with her. “I am entirely in your debt…Captain Handsome.”
He groaned. “My men will be ruthless in their teasing if word of my pirate name ever gets out.”
“I’ll never tattle, and I shall make the girls take an oath of silence. I’ll make a pirate ceremony out of it. They will love it.”
As expected, the tide had gone out. They were now able to walk to the cave’s entrance without having waves wash over them.
It was not unusual for visitors to explore the various caves discovered along the coast. Constable Angel maintained this one on behalf of the town of Moonstone Landing and sent a man out every few days to make certain no one had gotten trapped inside.
There was a cupboard at the entrance where one might find lanterns, flint, rope, and even some apples when in season.
“Wait for me to light the lantern,” Fionn said, and held the girls back when they tried to run in. “We’ll be in pitch darkness within ten steps of the entry. Imogen, you are going to hold my hand at all times. Ella, you are to do the same holding on to Chloe’s hand. You must always watch your footing and never let go of your partner’s hand. I want your sacred pirate oaths on this.”
The girls nodded. He knelt beside Imogen, for she was to go first. “Repeat after me. I, Captain Dead-eye Duckling…”
Imogen parroted his words with an adorably youthful earnestness.
“Shall never let go of my partner’s hand…”
“Shall never let go of my partner’s hand,” she said in her sweet, little voice.
“Or ever wander off alone…”
“Or ever wander off alone.”
“I give my sacred promise…”
She bobbed her head. “I give my sacred promise.”
Fionn then repeated the oath for Ella. “I, Captain Pegleg Duckling…”
To Chloe’s surprise, he asked her to repeat the oath, too. “But—”
“Will you dare defy me, Moonstone Marauder?”
“No,” she responded, and took her oath. “Your turn now, Captain Handsome.”
He growled low in his throat and then did the same, speaking with solemnity. Then all four of them spat into their palms and shook hands.
The girls were thrilled.
Chloe whipped out her damp handkerchief to clean off everyone’s spittle, but Fionn stopped her with the stern arch of his eyebrow. He motioned for her to put the handkerchief away.
She supposed he was right, for the girls would equate washing off the spit as washing away the vow.
The cave was not very deep, but anyone could get disoriented in the dark. Who knew what new hollows the pounding waves might have carved out of the sturdy rock? It all felt quite eerie as they edged their way deeper into the cave.
She was glad Fionn led the way and had the lantern in hand, as well as a firm grip on Imogen, who looked up at him with so much trust, it made Chloe’s heart ache for the sweetness of it.
The lantern’s flame flickered each time a gust of wind swept through the cave. How lost they would be if it sputtered out.
It did not help that the wind made a ghostly howl as it traveled through the cave and seemed to bounce off the dank, mossy walls. But it all added to the sense of adventure.
This was also why Fionn insisted on their staying close to each other, especially little Imogen, who was now clutching Fionn’s hand with both of hers.
