Page 9 of The Pirate's Daughter

“Then why am I here? Why did he make me marry you, make me come with you? I don’t want to be here. I want to go home. I want my papa,” shewailed.

The ship pitched hard to port and Devin clutched the rail to keep them from falling. “Mia, stop. Hush now. Come, stop crying. I didn’t steal you. Your papa gave you tome.”

“No,” she screamed. “No, he wouldn’t. Hewouldn’t.”

Again the ship pitched hard. If this didn’t stop he’d have to secure Mia below decks. But she was crying so hard, she couldn’t hold herself up. “Mia, the commodore gave you to me to keep safe. To keep safe,Mia.”

The sobs mixed with a few gasps. “He did?” she asked raising her head and sniffing loudly. A few more hiccupping gasps and another loudsniff.

“Yes, Mia. He said you were in danger.” More like he said she was putting herself in danger, but he didn’t think scolding her right now would behelpful.

“He did?” She sniffed again and tried to right herself. She ended up mostly sitting in his lap. But the ship found calm waters at the exact moment, and Devin was able to sit them both firmly at therail.

“He told me he needed me to keep you safe, to take care of you until he was done with whatever he was trying to finish,” he said and watched Mia pull her arm back until she could hold her cuff with her fingers and use it to wipe her nose. “Mia,” he chided, reaching into his coat and retrieving ahandkerchief.

“He didn't scuttle me,” she said, reaching to put her arms around his neck. Pulling herself more firmly onto hislap

“Of course not, Mia. Of course not. Your papa wouldn't just set you adrift like that.” He didn’t know that to be true, but it felt right to say. He felt her press against him and the act sent him rocking as hard as the ship rocked. Her deep breath broke the contact between their bodies, but with a relieved sigh, her body curved into his. Just like that, both his wife and the ocean eased. A stiff wind blew past, filled the sails, and the ship lurched forward, riding high andfast.

“Captain,” Mr. Asher called from the helm and the wind strengthened and filled every sail from the top gallant to the main, even the spanker sails filled out, and the jibs bellowed. The speed of the ship became a beast needing to be heldback.

“Haul the studding,” Mia said against his shoulder even as he made to stand and give that veryorder.

“Haul the studding, Mr. Asher.” Devin set Mia on her feet then stood and made his way to the bridge as the call went out over the deck to pull down the sails which had put out to catch what was a moment ago a very light wind. Mr. Asher stepped aside, allowing Devin to take thewheel.

“Mrs. Winthrop,” the man said and leaned down to give Mia a hand up. “The sea seems to have wokenup.”

“The sea never sleeps,” Mia said then stepped up beside Devin. “If you turn four degrees to starboard you’ll turn her enough to run straight to current rather than angled to it.” Not a hint of distress in hervoice.

“And why, Mrs. Winthrop, might I want to do that?” Devin asked giving Mia a sideways glance even as he put pressure on the wheel to shift the rudder and turn the bow in the direction she’d suggested. Exactly four degrees and the ship’s broadside was set in a channel that kept the current pushing strong from behind, and the winds filling the sails. His wife indeed knew how to sail and though not the biggest brig to be had, theIron Rosewas nearly three tons. She was no pleasure craft. Most days it took all sixty-two crew to hold her. Knowing his ship had three more able bodied sailors aboard made life a little morepleasant.

“Why Captain,” Mia said stepping up to the railing that decorated the helm area and leaning forward into the draft created by the pace. “So we might go faster.” She laughed as the wind pulled more strands from the loose braid of her hair and soon had the tresses flying like aflag.

“I think we might run the keel off the ship if we go faster, pirate,” Devin said and turned to look at her. If he’d thought her beautiful before, seeing her lifting her face to the wind, eyes closed with a smile on her lips burned an image in his mind he’d never forget as long as helived.

“You should try,” Mia said, laughing again before turning to leap from the bridge. She landed with a thud, grabbed hold of the decorative post, used it to swing around the corner and send her heading to the quarter deck. If her feet even touched the steps, he could notsay.

“Where are you going?” heyelled.

“To the bow, to make sure the keel stays on,” she yelled back and dashedforward.

For a moment he wanted to call her back as the activity on deck was barely organized chaos, but Mia again proved her seaworthiness. She weaved between sailors and equipment, managed to catch a loose line whipped free of one man’s hands, and handed it back to him hardly needing to pause. She made it as far into the bow as the ship’s construct allowed, but Devin almost forgot every bit of training when he saw her try to climb out on the stem. His hands let go the wheel the exact same time Grim grabbed her round the waist and set her firmly back on deck. Devin’s grip returned, even as Mia stomped her foot. Grim pointed to the deck, patted her on the shoulder and walked away. Mia remained where she’d been put until the call went out that the island they headed for was in sight. Devin barely took his eyes from her. That she stood in line with his heading might have been all that kept him from sailing clear to the IvoryCoast.

Chapter 6

Mia sether fork aside and sat back from the table. The conversation drifted from the excitement of the sailing today to the plans for bringing on water and supplies. She set her hand on the table and let her fingers rub the rough wood. A moment later Devin set his hand over hers and squeezed herfingers.

The warmth that small touch brought swirled through her. Something she needed to feel as she could also feel Lieutenant Coventon’s glare from the other end of the table. She’d not wanted to join the officers for supper but Devin insisted, saying she’d made her general introductions to the crew, and now she needed formal introductions to theofficers.

It was a weighted way to run a ship, in her opinion. Setting people aboard apart from each other. No such thing happened on any of her papa’s ships. Everyone was equally responsible for all duties. The captain had the final say and only when it was time to be paid was any difference had. The division of shares was divided based on how long each man served or according to the ship’s charters. Any man who didn’t pull his weight wasn’t long in service. On a ship owned by the crown, sailors were paid according to rank, so even a useless officer earned more than an efficientlandsman.

“And it might take two days to bring down all the reserve barrels if they’re to be filled,” Mia heard Mr. Ashersay.

“Hm,” Devin made the sound then sat back and folded his arms across his chest. “That cuts our time table rathersharply.”

“If we only fill the main barrels, it will get us back to Barbados.” Mia’s ears perked up at the sound of her desiredport.

“We don’t want to run short on fresh water,” another mansaid.

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