Page 10 of The Pirate's Daughter

“And we’re going to turn course south and come around Trinidad,” Devin said and Mia became morefocused.

“A Spanish port might not be as welcoming,” Asher told him. It was true a British ship might be harassed, but it wouldn’t be fired upon. And for Mia she could simply get off this ship and straight onto one ofpapa’s.

“We won’t be going to port,” Devin said and Mia turned to look at him. Curse him to Davy’s locker, he knew what she was thinking. And curse him twice because he winked ather.

“Captain?” someone at the tablequeried.

“I think we’ve become a little too predictable in our ways. If we will be effective in our duties, we need to be more subversive in where we might happen to be on the horizon,” Devin said lifting his arms to fold his hands behind hishead.

“Then we better take on as much as we can,” Asher said pushing his plate back and setting his elbows on the table. “It’ll take us no less than two full days to carry the barrels up, fill them and bring them back, and if the timing isn’t good with each load the tide could causedelays.”

“That’s Bahari off the bow, is it not?” Mia asked and felt everyone look at her. “You intend to get your water fromthere?”

“Yes, Mrs. Winthrop, that’s what we’ll do,” Coventon growledout.

Mia ignored him. “It shouldn’t take so long to fill the water stores. Two days is ridiculous and the tide shouldn’t have an impact on the landing.” She looked around to see everyone looking at her like she was stupid or insane. “Exactly where do you intend to comeashore?”

“Where everyone comes ashore—the small bay right on the east side of the island,” Coventon said and the men at the table chuckled. Perhaps thinking he’d pointed out hernaivety.

“Maybe all ofyougo ashore there,” Mia said catching Coventon’s stare and holding it while she spoke, “but taking the risk a rogue wave won’t push you broadside onto the shoals is stupidity worthy of drowning.” Mia turned her head to glare at her husband who’d claimed it was merchant sailors who werestupid.

“Where exactly would you put ashore, Mrs. Winthrop?” Devin asked and she knew it was achallenge.

“Where I always do, the cove on the northwest corner. The island drops off sharp on that side, the waters are deep enough to take a full brigantine clear up to the walls and fresh water pours directly from the cliffs to the beach. If you go inland maybe sixty yards, there’s a large grove of mango and smaller guava and plantain.” She stopped as the men at the table started stacking dishes and making room as a map was carried over and rolled out. “There are other things too. The pigs like thegroves.”

“No she said the northwest,” a man she thought named Brinks said and as the map was turned to orient, Mia reached out and put her finger down exactly where shemeant.

“Right here,” she said tapping her finger. “Have you never used thiscove?”

“No,” Devin said and leaned in to look at the map. “But we’ve only had a reason to stop here—what—three times in as many years. We put ashore where we’d been told it wassecure.”

“Well, it’s secure if you don’t mind getting rolled onto the shoals or putting anchor down so to spend half the days rowing to and from.” Mia sat back and worked to remember what else she knew about the east side of the island. “And don’t you have to climb up a good ways to find a freshwater stream on thatbeach?”

“Yes, we do,” Devin said nodding hishead.

“Stupidity,” Mia said. “The only reason to climb those cliffs is to jump from them.” Again she felt everyone look at her. “But that’s fun, we should have time forthat.”

“No one will be jumping from anyplace, Mrs. Winthrop,” Devin’s warning wasplain.

“But,” Mia pleaded. It wasn’t like she’d not spent great amounts of time climbing every scalable cliff on all of the many islands and jumping from any cliff that lent itself to theactivity.

“No,” Devin stated flatly, ending thediscussion.

“You can’t be seriously listening to her,” Coventon said pushing away from the table to stand. “For all you know she is steering us right onto the rocks. What can she possibly know about how deep waters might be or what ship can be served? Just because a spoiled girl is given a pleasure craft to sail around doesn’t make her asailor.”

“I’m not spoiled,” Mia snapped, then took a breath. “Ascaptain, I’ve put a frigate loaded full with cargo in those waters, sir. They’re deep enough,” Mia countered and watched the man’s eyesnarrow.

“I’ve little doubt my wife is a competent sailor, Lieutenant,” Devin said and again set his hand over hers. “There’s no harm in learning if the cove exists. It takes only a few hours to sail all the way around theisland.”

“She did know it was only four degrees,” Mr. Asher said with a nervous laugh, catching her eyes. “How did you knowthat?”

“Know what?” Brinksasked.

“Know turning exactly four degrees would put us perfect with thecurrent.”

“It is basic seamanship to know how to adjust to such things,” Devin said, standing and moving behind Mia’schair.

“Aye, but she saidfourdegrees. Anyone of us would’ve said five or more likely ten and simply stopped when we found it. Probably correcting back for passing it.” Asher’s eyes came back to herface.

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