Page 38 of Paid to the Pirate

“If Charlotte hadn’t bought time by attacking this man, by jumping on his back like a rabid dog, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to slay him. Let the men know. I owe my life to Charlotte,” he said, gravely, holding Johnson’s eyes. “They owe their captain’s life to her.”

Johnson nodded sagely before departing.

“A rabid dog?” I asked, alarmed.

Colt laughed, then stopped when it pained his ribs. “Like a little terrier, climbing onto his back. All bark and no bite. It wasn’t funny at the time, but now…”

“Glad I amuse you,” I snapped.

“It was good to see a glimpse of the old Charlie,” Colt whispered, staring deeply.

Who was this Charlie? A girl with a boy’s name, who lied and thieved and attacked men and possibly murdered them?No, I refused to believe it of myself.

Miguel pointedly cleared his throat. He withdrew supplies from a bag he carried, and I determined to make myself useful. Kneeling, I brought Colt’s head gently into my lap and he winced at the movement.

To my surprise, Miguel handed me a bottle of rum and I looked up at him quizzically.Now is not the time for drinking.

“Pour it where he’s injured,” Miguel instructed, lifting his chin toward Colt’s bleeding arm.

My mouth dropped. “No.”

“It will help. I swear it.”

“You want me to infect his injury with spirits?”

Miguel shook his head. “It will heal, not harm. I don’t know how it works, but it does. We’ve been using rum on the injured for years now.”

I blinked as Colt nodded his agreement.Perhaps a pirate’s soul was so black, the devil’s drink soothed it.

“Wait,” Colt said, taking the bottle from my hands. He brought it to his lips and drank deeply, closing his eyes in relief.

Handing the bottle back to me, he said, “Okay. Now.”

After a moment’s hesitation, I tipped the bottle above the wound, letting the rum spill forth. Colt hissed, baring his sharp canines. I turned my own head in sympathy.

Finished, Miguel set about dressing the wound. Colt filled his surgeon-cook in on what happened and crew came to remove the dead man’s body from the cabin, even swabbing up the mess after they’d carried out my attacker’s lifeless form. I wondered if they’d toss him overboard, without a proper burial or even a funeral.

I didn’t care. Which shocked me, a little.

Miguel had a funny gleam in his eyes when he packed up his supplies and I realized I’d been unconsciously stroking Colt’s hair and his sweaty brow. I immediately removed my hand.

“Well then,” Miguel announced. “I’ll leave you two alone. We’ve got it all under control, captain. It’s as Johnson said. You need to stay down here and… rest.”

With the same twinkle in his eye, Miguel departed.

Alone, I felt even more self-conscious with Colt’s head in my lap.

“How is your arm?” I asked, attempting to keep the conversation on safe topics, such as injuries.

“Had I arrived seconds later, you’d have lost your virtue,” Colt declared, ignoring my question.Did he seem remorseful?

“You’re the one who’s kept me from breeches or undergarments,” I chided. “The man had ready access to violate me.”

“When we reach the next port, I’ll have a chastity belt made.” Colt lifted half his mouth into a small grin. It was frustratingly charming.

“Excellent idea,” I agreed. “It will keep out nasty pirates like yourself.”

“Oh no, Lady Charlotte. I intend to keep the only key.”

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