by Merry Farmer
“Ruby. My sweet Ruby. I know you have been angry with me. I know you have the spirit of your ancestors. I see the twinkle in your eye, and that is what scares me. You will always be my greatest treasure and nothing could ever change that.” Leaning in, he kissed her forehead and placed his large hands on her shoulders. The sincerity in his eyes made her tear up, but she choked them back, refusing to cry now for the first time in her memory. “Do recall your departed cousin, and why I must keep you safe. Please do not be angry with me for the decisions I have made. Perhaps travelling with Lord Argyll will satisfy the need for adventure you crave and give you time to accept your reality as William’s wife.”
“Oh, Ruby!” Shrieking like a banshee, her mother ran toward her, embracing her tighter than ever before. “Do behave. Do not slouch or fidget. Remember your manners. And please, be safe.” Ruby rolled her eyes but hugged her mother back, looking up at Callum who clearly fought back his amusement.
“I will have your luggage sent to the ship. I trust Callum with your safety.” Her father nodded at Callum and looked back at her. “I will see you before the autumn, my little treasure. You will be a married woman when next I lay eyes on you.” Her father hugged her, and Ruby lost control. A floodgate of tears ran down her cheeks as she squeezed her father with all she had. She was angry and frustrated that they had taken away all her choices in life, but she loved them dearly and knew they only did what they thought was best. Her father was trusting her to travel aboard a pirate ship and that alone made up for many of his errors.
Still, Ruby was on her way to London to marry a man she could hardly tolerate on his best day and that idea loomed in her mind like a black cloud blotting out the sun. Looking back at Callum, who gave her a secret wink, her spirits lifted slightly. They had plotted together and they had succeeded. And soon, they would be aboard his ship and she would be free for several days to do as she wished before becoming the Vice Admiral’s stifled wife. But, until then, she was as free as a bird with only the horizon as her limit.
Chapter 4
Every man aboard the ship stared as Ruby walked up the gangplank, and Callum scowled a warning at them all. This idea had seemed better by night with several glasses of wine in his blood and with Ruby in a transparent gown. Now, she was dressed like a Baron’s daughter, regally stepping onto a ship full of pirates in the early morning light as a line of servants walked behind them, carrying her belongings.
Escorting her to his quarters, Callum opened the door and stepped aside so the servants could drop off her bags and leave. Ruby looked up at him with confusion in her eyes. “I am staying in the captain’s quarters?”
“Aye.”
“Alone?”
“Nay.” Callum crossed his arms and raised a brow. “This is a ship, lass. Not an inn. I dinnae have spare rooms, so unless ye wish to sleep below with the men, this will have to do.”
“Oh. Right. Of course.” Ruby fidgeted, her fingers playing in the lengths of her silk skirt that were the same color blue as her eyes. Her cheeks were rosy from the wind whipping her face on the journey down to the harbor and her curls were slightly disheveled, yet still somehow regal. One thing was for certain: Ruby Berry was a brilliant star among dull grains of sand on this ship and he was not so certain he had considered this well enough.
“I will sleep on the bed?” she asked, looking around the sparsely appointed room containing little more than a bed built into the wall, a desk where he kept his papers, one small side table, and a chest filled with his belongings.
“Aye, I had assumed so.”
“And you will sleep…”
“I havenae figured that out yet.” Callum sighed and did his best to remind himself that this was his idea. He had wanted to give her an adventure before becoming married to that arse of a man. She was more than a spoiled English lass, though. He saw it then, and he saw it now. He could do this. It was only a few days and he had slept in far worse conditions. He could sleep on his cabin’s floor or with the crew if necessary. “Settle in and prepare for the journey. I need to instruct my men.”
Walking out of his cabin, Callum let out a whistle loud enough to make every member of his crew stop in their tracks and look straight at him. “I hope ye all enjoyed yer time whoring in Cornwall, but ’tis time to take our leave. As ye see, we have a guest on board. She is my guest and no man shall even look at her if he wishes to keep his eyes in his skull, ye ken?”
“Aye, Capt’n!” his crew responded.
“We sail for Scotland, lads! But first, we stop in London to deliver the lady to her betrothed in time for her wedding to the Queen’s Vice Admiral.”
The men all booed and hissed, before returning to their duties. Relations between the Scottish and English had always been strained, but with the death of their Queen Mary and the English queen wishing to unite the two countries, tensions had run high and the men avoided English harbors whenever possible. They would fly the English flag and get Ruby as close as possible before securing her an escort, but Callum had no desire to step foot on English soil, nor to loiter in their waters longer than necessary. The queen tolerated piracy as long as it was in international waters and she profited, but Callum only shared with her when he needed favors, and none were needed on this day.
“Raise the anchor and hoist the sails! The Devil of the Sea is ready for adventure!” The men cheered and happily did his bidding, always ready to sail the high seas. Taking his place at the helm, Callum looked out to the horizon and took a deep breath of fresh air, the scent of brine a familiar companion. He needed to return home to his lands soon enough, but for now, the sea called to him like a siren beckoned a man to bed.
“May I take the helm?”
Speaking of sirens… Callum opened his eyes and looked down to see Ruby’s golden curls blowing in the wind, blue eyes alight with excitement. Scanning her body, Callum frowned. “Ye are dressed as a lad.”
“I found a pair of small breeches in that chest near your bed. Must belong to a child, but they fit me quite well, do they not?”
Ruby spun slowly, appearing as happy as a cat with a bowl of warm milk, but Callum bit his lower lip when he saw the curve of her arse nestled against the wool of the breeches and never had he envied a piece of fabric before. The tunic she wore was at least loose enough to hide the curve of her breasts, but for the love of all things holy, the lass had an arse made for all manner of sin.
“You do not approve? I simply felt it would be more comfortable while aboard the ship than dresses. I can put them back.” Her face fell and she turned away, ready to walk back to the cabin.
Grabbing her arm, Callum pulled her back against him a wee bit harder than he meant to, and she fell into his arms with a breathless squeal. If he did not know for certain that she was a maiden, he would think her the most skilled temptress in all of England and Scotland combined. “It isnae that I dinnae approve, lass. ‘Tis only that… well, they fit ye like a second skin. They were my wee cousin’s, only he isnae so wee anymore, and I dare say they look better on ye than they ever did on him.”
That made Ruby smile widely and Callum could not help but smile in return. Clearing his throat, he tried not to be affected by her cursed charms. The lass was going to put him under some spell if he did not keep his focus. “Ye will not wander the deck in those, ye ken. The men are not used to bonnie lassies aboard the ship, especially not ones wearing breeches. Ye must stick with me when ye leave the cabin. That is one rule I must force on ye.”
Biting her lip, she nodded and looked over the rail, and Callum did the same. The sun was still low on the horizon but its rays shone upon the water’s surface, making it glitter like a million fireflies. The beauty of the ocean never ceased to amaze him, yet the woman in front of him somehow astounded him with even more beauty than a summer sunset on the Atlantic Ocean.
Clearing his throat, Callum stepped aside and pointed to the helm. “Here. Take it.”
“Really?” she asked with glee in her voice. “I
grew up on ships, yet my papa never allowed me to help.”
“I told ye. Ye get to make yer own decisions. Short of jumping overboard, I will deny ye nothing, my lady.” Smiling widely, Ruby stepped up to the helm and took it in both her small hands, looking out to the ocean once more, the wind blowing in her golden hair.
When she started to veer them slightly off course, Callum moved behind her and placed his hands on top of hers, helping to get back on course. “Oh, I am sorry,” she said with a laugh and he simply smiled, looking down at the top of her head, inhaling her sweet scent.
“’Tis quite all right, lass. Ye are doing just fine. I would just prefer to find London and not Spain,” he said with a chuckle.
Sighing, she looked up at him with sadness in her eyes. “I would rather find Spain. I do not wish to go to London.”
“Ye truly do not want to marry William, aye? He is a pompous arse, I ken. But he isnae so bad looking and will give ye a fine, kept life.” The man was evil, but Callum bit his tongue, not wishing to poison her against a man she must live with the rest of her life.
Taking her hands off the helm, Ruby quickly turned and looked up at him. With their faces only inches apart, he was reminded of their kiss and wished to kiss her once again, be damned the consequences, though he resisted. “I do not wish to be kept. What is it with everyone around me? Do I look like a spoiled woman who wishes to be catered to? I thought you understood me, Callum.” Ducking under his arms, Ruby stormed down the set of stairs leading to the main deck, already breaking the one rule he had set for her.
Letting go of the helm, Callum commanded Samuel to take over as he followed Ruby down to the main deck, catching up with her in time to grab her arm and pull her to him. “Let go of me!” she demanded and tried to jerk out of his grip.
“I told ye. If ye want to be on deck, ye stay by me.”
“Then do not insult me, and perhaps I shall.”
“This is not up for debate, lass.”
Walking toward his cabin, she opened the door and looked back at him. “Then I shall stay in here if it means I do not need to be near you.” Ruby slammed the door – his door – and he blinked in disbelief. What had just happened?
Pushing the door open, Callum stepped in, confusion and irritation controlling every step. “I do understand ye, Ruby. Why else would I have offered to take ye to London?”
Pacing back and forth in his cabin, Ruby shook her head and placed her hands on her hips. Callum watched her hips sway with every step and she suddenly stopped, looking him in the eye. “There. That is why you brought me along.”
“What is?” He frowned, crinkling his brow.
“I see how you look at me. This was all a ploy. You plan on bedding me.”
Tilting his head back, Callum let out a laugh that made Ruby take a step back. The woman was out of her mind. “Dinnae flatter yerself, lass. Ye are bonnie, but so are many other women, and I can have one who is more experienced. I dinnae need to bed a maiden, nor do I wish to. I will get ye to your wedding and never think of ye a day in my life ever again. Ye can count on that.”
Ruby narrowed her eyes at him and then just shrugged. “Good. Then we agree on that, at least.”
“Indeed, we do.” Callum inhaled and ran a hand through his hair, wondering why women had to be so damned complicated. “Now, I will return to the deck. If ye wish to join me, ye may now, otherwise ye will be required to stay in here until the evening meal. What will it be?”
Plopping down on the bed, Ruby kicked off her boots and Callum looked at her wee perfect toes before she climbed into the bed. “I will stay here. I was up early hiding from my fate. I could use the rest, and some distance from you.”
“Fine. As ye wish.” Turning away, Callum shook his head and slammed the door harder than he meant to. But the lass ran hot and cold and he had no time for her tantrums. He had men to command and a ship to run. He did not regret offering to escort her, but he wondered if he had clearly thought through the situation. And, as much as it pained him, she was right about one thing. He had been in a cloud of lust when he decided to escort her. He was drawn to the lass, and her wild spirit only made him want to kiss her more.
Shouting a curse when he walked back to the deck, he saw his men staring at him with concern on their faces and he scowled, stomping up the stairs to the quarter deck where Samuel was at the helm. “Going well with the lass, aye?” Samuel raised a gray brow and smiled widely at Callum.
Looking askance at his first mate, Callum took the wheel and huffed out a frustrated breath. “I dinnae ken what I was thinking bringing her along.”
Scoffing, Samuel put his hands on his hips and shot Callum a knowing look with his gray eyes. “I ken exactly what ye were thinking.”
“Aye, well. She is… different. Not like most lassies. And yet, she is just as fickle, apparently.”
“Aye, ye say one wrong word and the day is shot to shite,” Samuel agreed. “But I never heard ye say a lass was different. Perhaps ye have yer heart placed above yer cock for the first time in yer life.”
Callum looked at Samuel and shook his head. “This is the last time I make that mistake ever again, I vow. I only meant to give her one last chance to experience the life she clearly pines for, yet now I find myself facing sleeping on the floor of my own cabin.”
“Ah, that’s shite. Ye can sleep in my cabin, son,” Samuel said, looking out at the ocean’s horizon, covering his eyes against the bright sun.
“Oh, ye would give me yer bed, aye?”
Samuel smacked Callum on the back and snorted in amusement. “Och, I said ye can sleep in my cabin, not my bed.”
“Why would I choose yer floor over mine, ye old goat?” Callum said, smiling at the man who was more like a father and trusted companion to him.
“Why? Because I ain’t a bonnie lassie who is going to torture ye all night with unnecessary thoughts! Ye can fall asleep instead to the sounds of my snores, lad.”
Callum smacked Samuel on the back and shook his head. “Ye are too kind. Now, keep steering. I have a ship to run.” Walking away, Callum was tempted to go back to his cabin and check on Ruby, but he knew better than to interrupt an angry woman. Nay, his goal in life was to avoid storms. Not just the ones that would toss a man overboard, but also the ones that would bring a man to his knees.
He would leave the siren alone. He had promised to allow her freedom, and clearly she wished to be away from him as much as he needed to be away from her.
Chapter 5
Staring up at the wooden planks on the ceiling, Ruby huffed with boredom and sat up in the bed when she heard a creak outside the door. Was Callum finally coming back? She had waited all cursed day for his return to apologize for her outburst. She knew he had taken his own risks to help her escape being stuck on a ship with William. Instead, she was on a pirate ship with the most handsome man she had ever seen and he was giving her the opportunity of a lifetime. Rather than being grateful, she had stormed off in anger and he had left her here to rot.
What she really wanted was another kiss. She still felt him on her and being alone in his bed had been a torture she could no longer bear when every creak she heard failed to be his return. Hours had gone by and she grew restless, knowing she had to seek him out and apologize for her behavior.
Slipping her boots on, Ruby adjusted her breeches and tucked in her tunic before heading out the door. The sun that had blinded her earlier had been replaced by dull blue moonlight that subtly lit the otherwise dark void of the night. Stepping onto the deck, Ruby saw no men and frowned. Her first day aboard ship had been spent in solitude and it was all her own fault.
“Callum?” she called softly as she walked up to the quarter deck, but nobody was there. Voices and laughter drifted to her on the wind and she strained to locate its origin. Remembering her time aboard ships with her papa, she knew immediately where to find the men.
Descending the stairs down to the crew’s quarters, the voices became louder and she heard
singing and the very poor playing of what sounded like rudimentary instruments. A wide smile spread across her face as she remembered hearing similar songs sung by her papa’s men aboard his ship while they were working on the deck, keeping pace with the rhythm of their words.
When she reached the sleeping quarters, Ruby saw the men clapping their hands while one man played a flute and another banged what looked like a stick against a tin can. Ruby laughed to herself but appreciated their will to make merry with what little resources they had. This was the pirate life she longed to live. The fulfillment of a hard day’s work, a less than appetizing meal, yet knowing a new adventure lay ahead on the next day… and perhaps a merchant ship loaded with food and coins to be had.
The itch to join the men in their fun had Ruby tapping her toes along with the rhythm of the tin can, but she remembered Callum’s warning to stay close to him. Looking around the room lit by lanterns attached to the walls, she saw no sign of the captain, so she began to back up slowly and head back to his cabin. She had no idea where he could be, but clearly he was not here. A man like Callum did not blend into a crowd.
“Oy! ‘Tis that English lass the captain brought on board!” one man shouted and the music stopped as the room went silent. Cursing under her breath, Ruby plastered a smile on her face and turned to look at the crowd of bedraggled men who all stared back at her with some sort of anticipation.
“Uh… hello.” She wiggled her fingers instead of a wave, not certain what she was to do or say.
“Ye looking to join the fun, aye?” a man with a thick Scottish brogue asked, and Ruby looked around the room once more.
“I… uh… was looking for Callum, er… Lord Argyll.”
“Och, we just call him Capt’n here!” One man laughed and the rest followed suit. “He isnae here, lass. But ye are, and ye should have yerself some fun, aye?”