She chuckled nervously and turned to him with a smile. “Aye.”
“Well, let’s get to it. The captain has a point about ye walking the roads alone.”
Seamus was one of the largest persons Elspeth had ever met, and he towered over her as they were walking down the road. He had a dark tan and light brown hair cut short above his ears. Elspeth hadn’t spent much time with him when they were on the ship, but his demeanor was warm and friendly.
She gazed down the road at the shops and cottages lining up along the harbor and breathed in the summer air. In many ways the coastal village reminded her of home. Elspeth had never been this far from Oban before, and she missed the sound of her brothers’ laughter.
They came to a small cottage on the corner with broken cart outside and a patch of heather growing wild in the field beyond. Seamus knocked on the wooden door and there was some rustling inside. Suddenly the door was opened, and an elderly woman met them in the threshold. She was petite and had silvery white hair pulled back into a wrapping.
“Can I help ye?”
Elspeth stuttered a response, “Good day, ma’am. I came to see if Jack was feeling any better.”
The woman looked confused and glanced at Seamus for reassurance.
“It’s fine, Sarah,” he told her with a grin. “Elspeth was the one who stitched him up before.”
Sarah’s eyes grew wide and she embraced Elspeth with a hug. “Oh, bless ye, child. I cannae thank ye enough fer taking care of him. God kens what would have happened if ye hadn’t been there.”
Elspeth chuckled when she was released and said, “’Twas nothing. Do ye mind if I take a look?”
“Go on, come inside. Please, help yerself.”
Jack looked up from his cot when she entered the room, his silver hair damp with a trace of sweat. He was still rather pale and had a tattered, woolen blanket pulled up around his shoulders but appeared to be in otherwise good health. When he caught sight of Elspeth, Jack exhaled a tired sigh and shifted his weight back against the pillow. “Oh, Elspeth. It’s good of ye to come.”
Elspeth approached the cot and sat down on the stool beside him. “Hello, Jack. I wanted to see how ye were feeling,” she told him quietly. “Is there any pain?”
“Nae much.”
Elspeth grinned. “Ye remind me of my da.”
“Oh? I reckon the two of ye are close?”
She broke eye contact with him and sighed. “At times. We used to be, but he’s become a different man since my mam died.”
“Ye’re a good child fer looking after him.”
Elspeth swallowed hard. “Have ye been sailing long?”
Jack nodded. “All my life.”
“Then I take it ye ken the men on that crew fairly well.”
“Aye. I’d even consider them part of my family. The men of Clan MacNeil are bound together with salt and blood. We fight and die as one. I doubt there is much about them I dinnae already ken.”
“Well, then…what can ye tell me about the captain? Is he always so…”
“Hardheaded?”
“Intense,” she corrected nervously. “I feel like he’s always watching me.”
Jack chuckled, laying his head back against the pillow. “Ye’ll get used to it after a while. Keep yer head down, man the oars, and neither he or the crew will cause ye any trouble. Graeme kens the sea better than anyone I’ve ever met. There is nae a crew alive he cannae command.”
“Are ye fond of him though?”
“Very much so. He grew up sailing on these ships with his Uncle Jamie and took to it at a young age. It comes as naturally to him as breathing would to other men. It’s a gift I cannae explain.”
“Where is his uncle now?”
Jack flinched, and she wasn’t sure whether it was from pain or the topic of conversation. “He died a couple years ago. It was a quarrel on a neighboring island while they were attempting to rebuild the port. I wasn’t there when it happened, but when Graeme came back…well, let’s just say he’s nae been the same since it happened.”
“Oh…well, enough of that,” Elspeth told him. “I came to take a look at yer stitches and replace the bandages if needed.”
Jack sighed and pulled back the blanket to give her access to his stomach. “If ye must.”
She offered an apologetic smile and glanced down toward the wrapping around his torso before pulling back the bandage. Her eyebrows knit together as she carefully unwound the fabric and then set it on the floor.
Jack flinched at the gentle tugging, but Sarah hushed him by taking his hand and kissing it.
As she inspected the wounded area, Elspeth noticed a red stain seeping through the material. The stitches, however, were clean and did not appear to have any discoloration.
“Oh Jack, it’s better than I hoped,” she exclaimed. “I was worried they may have ripped out yer stitches when carrying ye to the cottage, but it’s absolutely perfect.”
“That’s wonderful,” Sarah told her.
Elspeth nodded. “To be safe though, I think ye should drink some willow bark tincture and stay abed. Ye should nae be up and moving until ye’re fully healed.”
“What about my oath to the men?” he argued. “Graeme will want to sail again soon, and I’m expected to go with them.”
“The men want to see ye alive,” Seamus assured him from the doorway. “Dinnae worry about the oath right now, just take the time ye need to heal. Sarah needs ye too.”
Jack let out a defeated sigh and said, “Thank ye, Seamus. Let the captain ken, will ye?”
The sailor shook his head and cast Elspeth a playful grin. “Nae. I’m going to let Elspeth tell him.”
She grinned at him, turning her attention back to the wound at hand. After cleaning the stitches with fresh water, Elspeth wrapped it again with bandages.
When she finished, Elspeth stood up and turned to his wife, saying, “Ye need to change the bandages every day. If ye see any yellow on the fabric, or it starts to bleed, come get me immediately.”
Sarah’s blue eyes crinkled around the edges when she smiled, resting her hands on the dingy apron of her skirts. She nodded and thanked Elspeth once again for all her help before walking them both outside.
As Seamus was taking her back toward The Salty Wench Elspeth couldn’t help but smile. She felt like she could walk on air—anything seemed possible.
CHAPTER NINE
When Elspeth made her way downstairs that evening the tavern was full of men all celebrating their safe return. She heard them talking from her room upstairs and decided to face the crowd anyway, so she could get something to eat. Moments after she stepped out on the wooden floor Bess met her with a smile.
“Oh good, ye decided to join us,” the woman chuckled. “I suspect ye’re hungry.”
“Starving,” Elspeth allowed.
Bess smiled, picking up some dirty plates off a table and said, “Take a seat wherever there’s room. I’ll bring ye out some supper.”
She glanced around the room, finding an empty seat near the back at the corner booth, and headed over to it without making eye contact with anyone. Elspeth made her way toward it by skirting the edge of the room and slipped in, glad to rest her still-weary body. She took in the scene around her, smiling at the familiar jesting and heaved a tired sigh. Before she knew it, Bess was back and set a piping bowl of beef stew and herbed bannock in front of her.
Elspeth stared at the meal, incredulous, and said, “Thank ye, Bess. It smells delicious.”
The woman smiled at her with a little wink. “Ye’re welcome, dearie. Now eat up before it gets cold.”
Elspeth grinned when Bess walked away and picked up the spoon from the side of her dish. The blend of herbs and meat was exactly what she needed. A few mouthfuls of hearty stew warmed her from the inside out. She didn’t even realize until she was halfway through how hungry she really was. The warmth and comfort of a home cooked meal was amazingly cathartic, and it brought a flood of emotions rising up inside her.
Elspeth wondered what Glen and Hamish would be eating tonight, and if their da’s cooking was even close to as good as this. Her heart sank at the thought of them and a sob rose within her chest.
She missed them terribly, her sweet, rambunctious brothers. She had to steal herself away, knowing she’d make the same decision again. She was in Castlebay to protect them from years of hard labor as a pirate’s slave, even if it meant taking on the fate herself. To survive her indentured servitude, she’d have to lock her thoughts of them away and focus on getting through each day.
As she ate another spoonful, one of the men sitting across from her at another table curled his lips into a leer. His greasy, blond hair and beard were wild and untamed. Dark brown eyes sat beneath heavy brows. Like the rest of the men, he was dressed in a linen shirt and hose, with his plaid draped over one shoulder.
“What’s yer story, lassie?” he called over. “I’ve never seen ye around the village before.”
Elspeth tensed and did not dare turn to look at him. Her eyes remained focused on the meal in front of her and she hunched over defensively, but the man didn’t seem to notice or care.
Dinnae look at them, she told herself. Eventually they’ll get bored and walk away.
The blond sailor didn’t take kindly to being ignored and whispered something to his companions before standing up from his chair and walking over to her table. He put his shoe on the bench across from her and leaned in, saying, “Come on, love. A pretty face like yers cannae stay hidden long. What brings ye to Castlebay?”
Elspeth kept her eyes trained on her bowl and said nothing. The man’s presence frightened her and she tried to conceal her heavy breathing.
In a bold move, the man reached out to grab her chin and tried to force Elspeth to look at him. “Are ye ignoring me?” he chuckled. “I could do something about that. What do ye think, lads? Should we show this beauty around the village?”
The men at his table laughed and his smile widened at their encouragement.
When she refused to answer him, the man leaned in closer so she could smell the whisky on his breath. “I’d be sure to make it worth yer while—ye’ll be thanking me before we’re through. Ye’ve never kent anything like the love of a MacNeil.”
“Leave me alone,” she demanded, snatching her face away from him so the man was no longer touching her. “Cannae ye see I’m trying to eat my meal in peace?”
The group of men with him stopped laughing and blond sailor drew his face into a scowl. “What’s that now? Mayhap we should teach ye some manners instead and show ye how things are done around here.”
His companions nodded in agreement.
Elspeth’s heart was racing as she plotted her escape, when out of nowhere a loud clang rang out from the booth on the opposite wall. A tankard slammed down against one of the solid wooden tables and an eerie hush fell over the room.
“She said to leave her alone,” a voice said mildly.
Elspeth swallowed the lump in her throat and whipped her head around, pleased because Graeme had come to her defense. Slowly, Graeme rose to his feet and scowled at them.
“I heard what she said,” the blond man told him. “What’s it to ye?”
“Nae of yer concern. But ye’re going to pick up yer things and leave, or end up dealing with me—the choice is yers.”
“And what are ye going to do about it?”
A smile crept across Graeme’s face, sending a shiver down her spine when he responded. “Are ye sure ye want to find out?”
It was then Elspeth noticed the music had also stopped, and Bess stood in the doorway of the kitchen holding a musket across her chest. Her face was like stone as she scowled at the troublemakers. One by one, the members of Graeme’s crew stood up in a sign of solidarity with their captain.
Elspeth’s breath caught in her throat when she realized the entire bar was filled with them. The man who’d been harassing her must have noticed too, because he glanced around growing paler by the second. His jaw was clenched as he and the captain stared one another down. The tension in the air was so thick it was nearly palpable.
Eventually, a decision was made, and the troublemaker snapped his fingers. At once, his compatriots rose to their feet and followed him out the door.
“I dinnae need this,” he spat back over his shoulder. “The lass isn’t worth the trouble.”
Elspeth breathed a sigh of relief when the door fell shut behind them and the music started playing. Graeme had slowly made his way across the room and was standing next to her, shaking his head in exasperation.
“Thank ye fer doing that,” she told him quietly.
He nodded. “It never should have happened in the first place. James kens better than to come around here causing trouble.”
“Whatever yer reasons, I appreciate it.”
Graeme turned to her with a quizzical expression and raised his eyebrow. “I told ye I would keep ye safe. What did ye think would happen?”
“I remember what ye said, but…I dinnae think I believed ye until now.”
“Why?”
Elspeth scoffed embarrassedly. “Ye took me away from my family, I dinnae ken what to think! What am I supposed to expect from a village of pirates?”
Graeme’s eyes narrowed. “Ye’re an intriguing lass, Elspeth. First, ye compliment my honor and then turn around and insult me with the same breath. Do ye want to ken what I think? I think ye wanted to escape yer da’s reckless behavior and jumped at the first opportunity to leave. I think the moment I showed up at yer door ye knew what was going to happen. Ye kent what was going to happen, because ye wanted it to. I dinnae put the words in yer mouth, all I did was take ye up on yer offer. I dinnae bring ye out here kicking and screaming, ye offered to come. I think it’s easier to blame me and pretend that I’m a villain, instead of admitting ye wanted to leave.”
“What choice did I have?”
“Every choice imaginable. Ye dinnae have to come with us, but I brought ye anyway because I could see it in yer eyes. So, let me ask ye, Elspeth, what exactly are ye running away from? There is a fine line between love and hate. If I were a betting man, which I am, all the anger ye feel toward me is just to mask the fact that ye’re a heartbeat away from kissing me.”
Elspeth’s cheeks felt hot. She balked at his suggestion. “What? Why would I ever want to kiss ye?”
“Because ye’re dying to ken what it feels like,” he responded with a grin. “I would put good money on it.”
She frowned, saying, “I’m sorry, Captain, but ye cannae be further from the truth.”
Graeme’s smile widened with amusement. “Is that so?”
“Aye.”
He leaned in to her seductively. “Mayhap ye’re right, I’ve been wrong before. However, in this particular instance, I dinnae think I am. One day soon, ye’ll be asking me to kiss ye. And I promise ye this, Elspeth—I will nae disappoint.”
Elspeth swallowed the lump rising in her throat and glanced up at his perfect lips. All this talk of kissing made more blood rush to her face. She didn’t want to think of it, but it was hard not to when he looked at her like that.
Graeme set his jaw stiffly as they gazed at one another, waiting for the moment to pass. Eventually, the captain sighed. “If ye’re finished eating then I suggest ye go to bed. I dinnae have time to fend off all yer feminine advances upon my character, and I’ve got work to finish before the night is done with me.”
With that boast of a dismissal, Elspeth rolled her eyes and stomped off as lady-like as she could muster, though not before putting her dishes in the kitchen. She stormed up the stairs with her cheeks aflame and her heart pounding.
Ye’re wrong, Graeme MacNeil. I would never ever kiss ye.
CHAPTER TEN
It had been two days since Elspeth arrived in Castlebay and the horrible incident in the tavern. Whoever “James” was, he never showed his face again. She hardly ventured outside since it happened, but whenever she did it felt like someone was watching he
r. Elspeth couldn’t explain it, even to herself, yet the feeling of eyes peering out from beyond the shadows was ever present.
Late that morning the clash of swords drew her curiosity. She picked up her skirts and walked down the stairs toward the kitchen. Bess was standing in the doorway and gazing out into the field with an enormous smile on her face. She turned at the sound of Elspeth’s footsteps and motioned for her to come. Elspeth ventured forward and followed her gaze to see what was happening.
As she joined her in the doorway, Bess stepped aside so Elspeth would have a better view. Graeme stood in the grass with Valan, preparing to spar. The captain wore a leather jerkin over his shirt and a portion of his hair tied back. Each of the men had a silver rapier in his hand, and a leather glove on the opposing side. Graeme’s jaw was taught with concentration as he thrust his blade a couple times to test its reach. On further inspection, Elspeth realized it was the same one the laird had gifted him.
Valan had a similar weapon, but his reach was not half as far. They swung their weapons side to side in preparation for the fight.
Graeme and Valan approached each other and squared off on opposite sides. Elspeth was not familiar with swordplay, in any sense of the word, but the match did not start at all the way she thought it would. In her mind, she expected them to charge each other and jump into the action. What actually happened was much more interesting; the two of them stared at each other while brandishing their swords. Graeme would adjust his hand positioning ever so slightly and then Valan would counter it. Their swords had not even touched, but already they seemed to be anticipating the other’s move. It was subtle, but she could tell they were both deep in concentration.
In an instant, Graeme thrust forward with his rapier. Valan countered with a flick of his wrist, and suddenly they were exchanging blows.
It was clear from the beginning Graeme’s skill was far superior. He barely had to move his feet while they exchanged thrusts and cuts, yet Valan had to jump back and swing in order to avoid them. Graeme seemed to simply push the attacks aside and would already be in position to lunge again. Valan stumbled occasionally with his footwork and swung down hard from overhead. Graeme parried the strokes easily and at one point he angled the sword toward Valan’s foot and stabbed him in the toe.
Taken by Graeme (The Pirates of Barra: Highland Raiders Book 1) Page 7