Page 8 of The Pirate's Daughter

Devin covered her hand with his, “As I was saying, it was made more than clear the two gentlemen accompanying my wife are duty and honor bound to protect her,” he paused and looked pointedly at the man whose face was turning red, “from any and allunpleasantness.”

“And you were very unpleasant,” Mia threw in and again the crewsnickered.

“Mrs. Winthrop,” Devinwarned.

“For no reason at all,” sheadded.

“Mia,” Devin added more bite to thewarning.

“Well he was,” she mumbled and steppedback.

“So they’re allowed to commit mutiny?” Coventon seemed stunned. Devin couldn’t blame him. But Mia’s father was extraordinarily clear about the two men he forced onto Devin’s ship. They were first and foremost there for Mia, as they proved today. They wouldn’t let so much as a harsh word be tossed at her. It was for them to die in his wife’s protection and being on a ship of sixty-two men, Devin was glad to have their help. Men at sea too long could lose discipline quickly under the right circumstances. And he couldn’t rightfully expect Mia to stay locked in his quarters for however long she was aboard. He’d not yet gotten orders to return theIron Roseto Portsmouth. Though given what the commodore said, he expected them. They only started the circuit through these waters and were normally at it four months or better depending on what theyfound.

“It is hardly mutiny to perform one’s duty,” Mr. Quiggly said, steppingforward.

“You have some opinion on the matter, Mr. Quiggly?” Devin asked. He knew the old sea dog was as irate as the Lieutenant over Mia coming on ship, but the last week saw him mellow. More often Quiggly could be found with either one or both of Mia’s mates discussing ship matters and how to repairdamages.

“Only to say, these men are willing to perform services not required of them and are greatly above the skill of most on this ship. I, myself, am not surprised they perform the duties they’re shouldered with so…elegantly.

“They’re useful then?” Devin knew they would be. The commodore said besides Mia, he was to have command of them and they were more than well-skilled in all aspects of sailing and ships. It was made clear to both men too, that Devin commanded Mia. He was her husband and these two couldn’t stand between him and his wife. And he knew they wouldn’t, for while they shook their heads at him every day they did nothing, not even after he’d paddledher.

“Very, Captain,” Quigglyconfirmed.

“Then let us call this matter settled. And if you will, Mr. Quiggly,” Devin said looking around at the crowd gathered, “see everyone back to their duties. Perhaps some work will keep parting simple.” Coventon wasn’t going to follow Mr. Hong down into the bilge where the man was working to counter cracks found in several planks of the hull. Devin’s best course was to keep Mia’s men and his officer apart until they too were more adjusted to the way ofthings.

“Get back to it, you whelps. Snap to,” Quiggly shouted and the crew scurried like rats not willing to challenge the quartermaster, whom theyrespected.

“I assume you’ve your own duties to attend, Lieutenant?” Devin asked the man still glaring at hiswife.

“Aye, Captain,” he grumbled and spun away. Devin didn’t miss the painful way the man moved. Mr. Hong was more capable than helooked.

“He was mean to me,” Miapouted.

“They were only words Mia. He hardly attempted to toss you overboard, now didhe?”

“No.”

“Then it’s over,” he said softly, only to see her cross her arms over her chest and again stomp her foot. He opened his mouth to start breaking her of that childish habit when Grim reached out and patted her on theshoulder.

Mia huffed, dropped her arms and huffed again. “Fine, it’sover.”

“Come,” Devin said, taking her elbow. He guided her up to the quarterdeck then further on towards the stern. “Your father did you no service by allowing you to be so sensitive to criticism,Mia.”

He’d not said the words harshly, or even to be critical. Only instinct allowed him to catch her hand before it hit. If he was stunned by the act, he was sunk by the fury on her face. “Theonlypart of that sentence you have correct is that myfatherdid me no service and if you should like to not wake up dead tomorrow, you’ll not mention that man to me again. Notever.”

“If you wish to not have the skin removed from your backside,” he hissed back and yanked her close, “you won’t threaten thecaptain.Ever.” His threat had no visible impact on her. She looked ready to spit in his face, or slit his throat. He wasn’t sure which she was capable of, being a pirate’s daughter. He stepped closer, grabbed hold of her other wrist and forced both her arms behind her. Of course this pushed up her shoulders and with them her breasts and once again Devin’s shaft twitched and hardened. “Now explain this seething hatred you have for a man who quiet obviously cared for you far better than you deserved and who I saw, with my own eyes, treat you with nothing but fondness. A man whom you greeted with as much delight as anydaughter.”

“I’ve never greeted my father,” Mia ground out. “I’ve never met him. Well enough, I hope him dead and with Davy Jones.” She struggled now against his hold, and Devin loosened his grip enough that he wasn’t distracted by her wigglingbody.

“Mia, I met your father.” Those words not only stilled her, they caused her to go as white as the sails aloft. Her stormy, pale green eyes filled to the brim with tears and not until he felt her trembling did he put it together. “The commodore isnotyour father?” She shook her head at him, causing tears to splash down. “You call himpapa?”

“Because that’s who he is. Mypapa.” She said the word like she was praying he’d magically appear. Was she not actually a pirate’s daughter? Had the commodore stolen her from her family then? Was she perhaps how she was because she had to learn tricks to survive being kidnapped by bloodlettingsavages?

“Mia, I don’t understand. If the commodore isn’t your father, who is?” Did he need to return her to her family? Why did that idea make his guttwist?

“I don’t know. Mama said he was the devil, like her own father. Like all men. All men but Papa. My papa is the only good man. The only man to never hurt me,” she said that then lifted accusing eyes to him. “Papa is the only man I trust, but now… now…” She shook her head and struggled more to get free. “Now I don’t know. He let you steal me away. He let you have me and…and…”

“Mia,” Devin whispered as he pulled her against him. Her sobbing rocked her whole body. Turning, he perched himself on the lower railing along the deck, put his back against the top rail then stretched his legs out before him. It made it possible for him to lean Mia against him even as the sea started to pitch and rock the ship. Nothing at all explained why there was a sudden squall abounding. No clouds were in the sky. Devin hugged his wife closer and let the ship rock them. “Mia, hush. The commodore didn’t let me stealyou.”

---