Page 103 of Paid to the Pirate

“Hide alone in the woods if you must, but hide,” Miguel instructed as we rowed across the bay toward the place I’d once called home. “Everyone knows Arbuckle won’t stay in Nassau long. The crew will eventually give up the search for you in order to catch him before he departs. But it could be a day or two.”

Nodding vigorously, I clutched the side of the boat’s rail, riding increasingly tumultuous waves as we made our way to shore.

“What about you and Conks? Won’t you be in danger for helping me?”

Miguel smiled, though not widely enough to flash his dimples. “Trouble, yes, danger, no. They depend on me to take care of each growl in their stomachs and every scrape on their skin. And Conks is like a father to all. He’s too beloved by the crew for them to punish him harshly.”

Something hung in the air as Miguel trailed off. Something unspoken.

“Unless?” I prodded.

Miguel gave a small smile. “Unless things turn out very badly down there and Sedge takes command.”

I swallowed. My stomach lurched and it wasn’t just from the increasing waves.

“Come with me,” I pled, already knowing he’d refuse.

“My loyalty is to the captain. Always has been. Same as Conks.”

I didn’t want to ask. I didn’t care.

“What - what will happen to him?”

Miguel shook his head. “Nothing that would be worse than seeing you hurt. So if you care about him, you’ll do as we instruct and run. Hide.”

Bristling, I lifted my chin and replied, “I don’t care about him.”

A small, sad smile played at Miguel’s lips.

When we reached the beach, Miguel couldn’t pull the boat ashore by himself, and especially not against the force of the rising waves. Not to mention, he needed to save his strength for the return trip toThe Dread Night.

“Hurry,” Miguel warned. “I don’t know what will happen back on the ship.”

He pulled me into a tight hug as he said goodbye, and I was forced to trudge toward the beach through cool waves that rose nearly to my waist.

What should I do now? Where should I hide?

My feet sunk into the wet sand as I stood with indecision. My heart thundered, matching the booming sky behind me. My upper half grew slick from the rain and my lower half was soaked from the sea. My dress stuck to my skin and my hair was a tangled fright.

Where should I go?

I couldn’t run to Mrs. Penningham. Not only was I completely opposed to putting her in danger, it was the first place the crew would expect.

Daniel,I thought. He might have been disappointed in my recent behavior, but he would protect me from harm at the hands of the pirates he so hated. His lashing out had been a response to my betrayal and I couldn’t blame him for that.

I gathered my sodden skirts and raced up the beach, heading toward Daniel’s elegant home on the outskirts of our settlement. The muddy path squished under my feet and I was thankful for the sturdy boots I wore.

I knocked on Daniel’s door and I was surprised that he opened it himself, and to see that he had company. Four other men stared back, just as startled to see me -- likely from my shamefully bedraggled appearance. I recognized the men as business acquaintances of Daniel’s, though I had never been formally introduced.

“Charlotte?” Daniel shook his head and as if remembering himself, he opened the door wide, ushering me inside. “What are you doing here?”

“I need your help,” I said, sloshing into his home and feeling guilty as I dripped water on the fine carpets. The air hummed with tension and the back of my neck tingled as I studied the assembled companions. Somehow, being alone amongst this elegant gathering of gentlemen felt more foreboding than when I’d been on a boatful of murdering pirates.

“Where are your servants?” I asked.

“I sent them home so that my friends and I could chat,” Daniel replied, enigmatically.

Daniel can help,I reminded myself, shaking my odd feeling.

---