Page 55 of The Pirate's Daughter

“How much detail can you give me, Mia? Crew size? Cannon? Anything more?” Devinasked

“I can’t say anything with certainty. There are always survivors, civilians, passengers mostly. The ship’s crew isn’t usually left. What they say is useless and inconsistent from moment to moment. If I’d had to estimate, I’d say sixty, maybe seventy crew. Forty guns all carried on a singledeck.”

“That makes sense,” Mr. Wilshire told her. “If they aren’t taking on any armed vessels then putting all the guns where they can be best viewed and scare people. They’d get compliance right quick from the ship theytake.”

“Oh yes,” Mia said. “I have no idea if it’s true of this ship, but it was Captain Mains who was saying it. Seems when they went after theSea Dovea year back, but they didn’t realize the captain was old Spanish Navy. When they boarded his ship, he sent a squad over to drop grenades through the stern castle. They rolled forward quite a bit before they went off. Mains swears the ship has a cracked crosspillar.”

“Making their stern even more vulnerable,” Coventon said and now his voice too held the edge ofexcitement.

“Oh, I don’t know that it’s important,” Mia started not knowing if it mattered. “Not once has anyone said they’ve been fired on. Everyone says they’re armed but the ship set on fire is the only shipdamaged.”

“Not a single shot?” Devin asked withdoubt.

“Not cannon, captain,” Mia confirmed. “Again, they’ve only hit private ships. What need to fire if you can make them surrenderwhole?”

“It’s a point to remember,” Devinsaid.

“This is all well and good, but how are we supposed to come round north, with the wind blowing due west and without being heard until we’re on them.” Mr. Brinksasked.

“We row and tow,” Mr. Wilshire said and everyone around him groaned before their faces broke out with the wickedestgrins.

“Get the crew ready,” Devin stated. “Tell them what the plan is and make sure they are quiet as can be. I’ll be on deck in aminute.”

“Aye, Captain,” they all said and tossed up asalute.

“Damn me if she didn’t do it again,” Mia heard Mr. Brinks say as he climbedtopside.

Mia dropped her head to hide the smile until she heard Devin clear his throat and looked up to see him glaring at her. “What?” sheasked.

“It’s the middle of the night, it’s a hundred miles out, how in God’s name did you come bythis?”

“Well it’s not the middle of the night, everyone went to bed early. Remember?” she said. “And it’s perhaps sixtymiles.”

“Mia,” hewarned.

“Something woke me. I didn’t know what, so I got up to see. I think now with how the ship was still burning it might have been the sound of an explosion,” Mia said, knowing that made sense. The unusual sound would’ve woken her as she slept easily enough to the common sounds of the ship andsea.

Devin scrubbed at his brow with his finger, “Well, I’m a little lost as to what todo.”

“Why?”

“Because I can’t leave them go, but I don’t want to take the ship into battle with you onboard.”

Mia’s eyes went wide and she drew in a sharp breath. “What do you think? You can just set meadrift?”

“Mia, we did bring back your raft, and if it’s better supplied you can make it toHaiti.”

“No. No! Are you mad? If you go up against them and lose, who knows which way they’ll turn. I could end up directly in their heading with nothing save my drawers to fend them off. No Captain, I’ll take my chances with the crew and with you, thank you very much,” Mia said and barely remembered not to stomp herfoot.

“All right, Mia,” Devin said stepping over to pull her into his arms. “All right. I must weigh it all out and you’re right.” His arms tightened around her. “Whatever odds we have here they should be yours, too. But,” he said kissing the top of her head before stepping back, “if we do lose, you’ll have not much but your drawers to fend them off. So perhaps you should put some on.” Mia snorted then giggled. “And perhaps you’ll be so kind as to put something else on along with them before you meet me at thehelm.”

“Aye, captain,” she said and smiled as he walked out thedoor.

He turned back a moment then with a shake of his head said, “Damn I’m a lucky man.” He walkedaway.

Mia joined him at the helm thirty minutes later and while he scowled at her pants and shirt he said nothing until she tucked most of her hair under thehat.

“They’ll never take you for a boy, but at least you’ll not stand out. Take the wheel,” he told her, stepping away and heading for the bow where the lines stretched forward from the ship to the row boats. Mia listened again. This time to the sound of the oars pulling through the waters. The crew were good. It came off as one easy noise which blended with the natural sounds of the waves. Mia worked the wheel and rudder to give them the best advantage. Once they had the wind and could raise sails, they’d make a full twenty knots or better, but it was going on midnight and the sun would start to rise in five hours. Time wasn’t on their side if they wanted the full advantage of surprise. All they could do was give it their all and hope for thebest.

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