Graeme frowned. “Ye could be right.”
He closed the book and sighed, walking over to where Captain Massey was tied up to the mast. “I’m going to give ye one last chance to save yerself. The last three pages of the leger are torn out, what did ye do with them?” he asked the captain angrily.
The Englishman sneered. “I’m not telling you a God damned thing. You’re all liars and thieves anyway.”
“That’s a shame,” Graeme told him while shaking his head. He glanced up to one of his men was standing and gestured toward Captain Massey. “Bruce, would ye like the honor?”
The man smiled and raised his hand to slap Captain Massey hard across the face. After spitting out a mouthful of blood, the man looked up at them defiantly. “Bastard!”
Graeme glanced over at Bruce one more time and said, “Again.”
Bruce slapped the man again, leaving a red welt upon his face, and then punched him in the stomach. Bartholomew came running up from the deck below and hurried over to where Graeme was standing. “Captain, there’s a load of treasure down there.”
The captain’s eyes widened, giving the messenger his full attention. “Bring it here fer me to see.”
Bartholomew stepped aside with a grin so Valan and Alistair could carry a wooden crate over to him. When they lifted the lid, sunlight reflected off the pieces of gold and silver, casting a prism on his face.
“There are eleven more chests like this below deck,” Alistair told him in a whisper.
“But without the pages from the leger there’s nae telling how much it is, or if that’s all of it.”
Graeme frowned, wondering if there was some other way to glean the information he needed. “Very well, start loading it on the ship. We’ll have to count it when we return.”
The men nodded and dispersed to finish carrying up the crates. The deck was slick with blood of the fallen sailors and Graeme turned back toward the carnage. Elspeth was kneeling by one of the MacNeil pirates as she stitched up one of the cuts along his arm. He stepped over the fallen bodies and approached her, saying, “I thought I told ye nae to leave our ship.”
Elspeth didn’t even look up from what she was doing when she responded. “I thought ye weren’t going to need my help. I guess we were both wrong.”
Graeme tried to hide his smile, but damnation that woman knew how to play him like a deck of cards. “Aye. Thank ye fer that.”
The patient flinched once she threaded the needle through his arm. “Ack! Bloody hell, Ellie. Would ye get this over with?”
She smacked him on the back of the head and scolded him by saying, “Hush, ye’re going to be fine. I’ve seen worse cuts than this on my younger brother, and even he dinnae make such a fuss. I’m almost finished.”
Before the man could swear at her again, someone on the deck called, “Sails!”
Graeme snapped his head around and stormed over to the side of the ship where the call rang out. He stared off to the calm blue waves, searching for the threat. “Where?”
Seamus pointed out into the ocean. “On the horizon, Captain. It’s an English war carrack. They must have been waiting a few leagues away.”
Graeme’s face paled when he caught sight of the armored ship. There were at least thirty cannons loaded on the side and a hundred men on board. If the ship caught up to them they’d be sitting ducks. The birlinns were no match for cannons or gunfire, their only hope was to outrun them.
He called back toward his crew, “Everyone drop what ye’re doing and get back on the ship. There’s nae time fer any more treasure, we’ve got to go now.”
“There’s still a load of crates down there,” Bruce protested.
“It dinnae matter. Either we leave now with the treasure on board, or we’ll nae live to see another day.”
“What is it, Captain?”
“A warship,” Graeme told them honestly. “A big one.”
Instantly, his crew sprung to action and climbed back over the side. Captain Massey laughed and said, “Serves you right, you filthy pirates.”
Graeme pulled out his dagger and marched past him to cut the lines holding the main sail. The look on Massey’s face was a perfect blend of surprise and horror as the rope snapped. Without the use of their sail the Mary Rose would not be able to follow in pursuit. He grinned at Massey’s expense and cut two more ropes before following his men.
“Go on, they’ll catch you anyway,” Massey sneered.
Graeme’s smile widened as his crew whizzed by, carrying the remaining crates. “Perhaps, but it would be worth it to see the others find ye tied up to mast of yer own ship.”
What followed was a string of profanity from the other captain that brought such joy to Graeme’s ears he could not contain it. With the lines cut, and the Mary Rose disabled, he rushed to Elspeth’s side and picked her off the floor. “Come on, we need to go.”
Elspeth snatched up her chest of tools and hurried along with him toward their ship. Seamus helped her over the side and then Graeme climbed over the edge himself. Once they were all on the birlinn, the men immediately pulled away and started rowing to save their lives. Bartholomew was cut across the hand and unable to grasp the oars during their attempt to flee. It was clear from the blood on his palm and the open gash he’d be next to useless when it came to rowing. Graeme didn’t even wait for the man to sit before motioning him to leave. “Catch yer wind, Bartholomew. I’ll take this shift.”
The sailor nodded gratefully and moved aside so Graeme could take his seat at the oars himself. With a man down he knew they’d never be able to outrun the English carrack, so he grasped the wooden handle with a rowing companion and joined his men in their retreat.
The armored war carrack was gaining speed and would catch up to them soon if they didn’t row faster. “Can we out run them?” one of the sailors asked.
“There’s only one way to find out,” Graeme responded. “Row!”
The oars slapped against the water and propelled the Scottish crew away from the Mary Rose. Their ship seemed to cut through the water seamlessly and the wind blew hard against the sail.
“Row!” Graeme instructed. His rhythm kept the men in sync with one another. “Row! Row, fer yer lives depend on it. If we’re to see our wives and children, we’ve got to outrun this beast.”
All of the MacNeil crewman moved together, pulling the oars through water like it was nothing. This is what the men of Clan MacNeil were born to do, this is what they lived for. The birlinn was a small ship and quickly came to top speed within a matter of minutes. All they had to do was make sure the English carrack didn’t have time to come into range.
“Row!”
An explosion erupted from the English warship and a cannon ball splashed into the water on their starboard side. There was a gasp of surprise from some of the men, but none of them even paused for a second from their rowing. A cloud of white smoke filtered out from where the cannon ball was fired, and it appeared the English vessel was giving chase. If there was any question about whether the ship was coming after them, its intention was now made clear.
“Row!” Graeme called out to them again.
For the next several minutes, the Scottish crew rowed harder and faster than they ever had before. The wind continued to aid them and little by little, the warship disappeared in the distance. Graeme exhaled in relief and turned back toward the men. “Dinnae let up now, but I think we may have lost her.”
All of them cheered as they continued rowing.
Graeme’s gaze flickered to the wooden crates and counted them. Eight. They’d only managed to get eight out of the twelve, but at least they were safe.
For now at least.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Oban, Scotland
Elspeth heaved as she pulled back on the oars. They’d been rowing for hours, taking intermittent breaks whenever the wind would pick up. Graeme was still sitting at the oars ahead of her, pulling his weight along with the rest of the crew. Every now and then her eyes would
glance in his direction, and she would look away embarrassed. She thought about what happened on the Mary Rose, and how she’d killed a man. In the moment it happened, all Elspeth could think about was protecting Graeme. Yet, that didn’t ease her conscience. Her whole point in becoming a surgeon was to save lives, not end them.
The sun was sinking low across the sky, and Bartholomew asked, “Captain, where do we make camp fer the night?”
Elspeth’s ears perked up at the question, having wondered that exact thing herself.
Graeme wheezed from exertion and said, “We should rest in Oban and replenish the water and supplies.”
Her eyes grew wide as she turned to him in surprise. “My village?”
As the words escaped her lips, a hush fell across the crew. They all appeared to tense, and several gazes shifted in Elspeth’s direction.
Graeme did not respond, he did not even glance back at her, so she called him out by name, “Graeme, answer me, please.”
Every head turned in interest, not only to hear how the captain would respond but also see his reaction to Elspeth calling him by his name.
Elspeth couldn’t see his face, but his oars stopped rowing for a moment. “Aye.”
“Does that mean ye’re taking me home?”
“I haven’t decided yet. The port will be useful to us regardless.”
Elspeth swallowed hard, and Seamus glanced over at her curiously.
“Are ye sure that’s a good idea, Captain? What if the lass jumps ship?” Bruce asked him.
“Do ye think it wise to be questioning my judgment?” Graeme demanded with a scowl.
Bruce hung his head and responded, “Nae, of course not.”
“Then I suggest ye leave the decision making to me. I’m well aware of Elspeth’s relations there—'tis nae a problem.”
As she listened to them discussing her, Elspeth pursed her lips together and sank into the bench. Alistair cleared his throat behind her and hummed another song. In the distance, she could make out the faint outline of the Scottish hillside. She hadn’t thought seeing the village again was a possibility until her debt was paid.
As Elspeth’s eyes drifted over to Graeme, her chest felt tight. She wondered if he was planning something, or if there was more he hadn’t told her about the opportunistic visit. Was this some kind of test?
The wooden oars slapped against the water as they sailed closer to the coast. Soon, they were approaching Oban’s harbor and she recognized Dunollie castle on the hill. With every pull of the oars, her stomach churned.
Eventually, they steered the boat into the dock. Elspeth pulled in her oars, watching the men stand and step out onto the wooden platform. Seamus and Valan secured the ship to a post and wandered off toward the market. Carefully, she walked out onto the dock herself and wandered over to Graeme. When Elspeth approached, he glanced up in her direction.
“I need ye to tell me what is happening,” Elspeth told him. “Why would ye bring me here if I was nae to return?”
“I ken ye want to see them,” Graeme responded softly. “And ye should go.”
Her heart skipped a beat at the thought of seeing Glen and Hamish, but it was bittersweet. The offer came so suddenly it felt like a slap in the face. She wasn’t sure why his response hit her the way it did, but it felt like a rejection.
Elspeth stared at him for a moment without knowing what to say.
It wasn’t until that moment, she felt the sting of separation and knew what leaving him would mean. When Graeme kissed her she allowed herself to hope, she allowed herself to feel something. Now that she was faced with the prospect of returning home Elspeth didn’t want to leave. “Really?”
He nodded without looking up at her. “Elspeth, ye’ve done more than enough fer me and my crew to pay off yer father’s debt. If ye want to return to yer family and leave all of this behind, then go. I would bear ye no ill will.”
“W-where is this coming from?”
Graeme finally turned to face her and fixed his gaze on hers. It was the first time she had ever seen him vulnerable. She always thought of Graeme as confident and sure of himself, but now, he looked at her as if she had the power to completely crush him. “It’s time,” he whispered. “I dinnae think it would come so soon, but the opportunity has presented itself, and I want ye to ken ye’re free.”
“I dinnae understand. I thought…” She shook her head. “It dinnae matter. I do want to see my family though. Give me the night and I’ll return.”
Graeme shook his head and reached up to place his hand against her cheek. “Dinnae make any promises. Once ye get there, and ye see yer brothers’ faces, it could change yer mind.”
His thumb grazed her bottom lip and Elspeth gasped, swallowing the lump rising in her throat. “I’ll be back when the sun rises. Just give me a few hours.”
Graeme looked at her as if he was trying to force a smile. “I guess we’ll see.”
She didn’t move, she couldn’t bear to pull herself away from him. Suddenly, he dipped his head to kiss her gently on the lips. Elspeth closed her eyes and met him halfway there. It was soft, but she left him feeling breathless.
He glanced up in the direction of her family’s cottage on the hill and tilted his head toward it. “Go.”
Elspeth exhaled a nervous breath and slowly backed away from him. The disconnection left her feeling cold and alone. It was the same feeling she’d had the first night she’d sailed with the MacNeil crew. At the time, she’d felt small and frightened, leaving everything she knew behind…leaving a part of her behind. This time, it wasn’t everything she knew that she was leaving, it was everything she wanted—it was part of her heart.
Before she could change her mind, she turned and walked toward the village. Her feet carried her up the hill, pulling her to the stone cottage. With the ship and the sea to her back, she gained the courage needed to break into a run. Her chest burned with every step, running as fast as she could.
“Da!”
When she reached the lawn, Glen poked his head from behind the stables. “Elspeth!”
Her heart swelled with love at the sight of his face and she ran to pick him up, kissing him on both cheeks. “Oh, Glen! Ye’ve grown up so fast.”
As she embraced him, the front door opened with Hamish and their father looking out expectantly. “Elspeth?” Hamish called to her dumbfounded.
She laughed and opened her arms to envelope them each within a hug.
“Elspeth, ye came back! We’ve been so worried about ye.”
“Of course I did.”
“What are ye wearing?” Glen asked her suddenly.
Elspeth glanced down at her shirt and pants and laughed. “Oh, it’s what I’ve been wearing while on board the ship. The leggings are more practical when I’m at the oars.”
Angus gasped. “Those monsters had ye rowing with them?”
She raised an eyebrow and stood to look at him. “Aye, it’s part of the job. What else did ye think I would be doing on board their ship?”
“Are ye back then?” Hamish asked, hurrying toward her.
Elspeth shook her head and sighed. “Nae, I’m only here fer the night on our way back to Castlebay.”
Their father glanced back toward the cottage and said, “Come inside, there is much fer us to talk about.”
Glen and Hamish obediently walked back into the cottage and Elspeth followed, taking in their appearance and surroundings. Glen and Hamish told her about the changes that had taken place around the cottage. “We fixed the shelves in the kitchen!” Hamish told her.
She smiled at him. “All by yerself? That’s quite impressive.”
Hamish shrugged. “Da helped with the nails, but I did most of it.”
“And what about ye, Glen? What have ye been up to while I’ve been away?”
He looked up at her with wide brown eyes and a dimpled smile. “I picked out all the weeds!”
“Oh, the weeds from the garden?”
Glen nodded. “I picked them a
ll up, and then we put them in a wagon!”
“My goodness, that must have been exciting,” she responded. “Did ye have fun?”
He nodded again. “It was so big!”
Elspeth chuckled and glanced over to their father. “Ye’ve been keeping busy.”
“Aye, we’re doing the best we can to make it through the day.”
“Well, ye’re doing a great job with them.”
“Thank ye.”
It seemed that life had improved during her absence, which she was grateful for. Angus did not stink of ale, and his clothes were clean. There was no sign of bruises like before, and even his hair appeared to have been washed. “Ye look well, Da.”
He nodded stiffly. “I’ve done the best I could. It was difficult after ye left, but the lads and I made due with what we had. There is nae a day goes by I dinnae hate myself fer letting those horrible men take ye.”
She smiled back at him and noticed his eyes begin to mist.
“I won’t let them take ye away this time,” Angus told her. “Ye’ve got to run.”
“Da, I’m nae going anywhere,” she insisted. “They’re nae going to come here after me, yer debt is paid. I’m still going to sail with Graeme back to Castlebay because it’s where I need to be. He told me I could go, but—”
“Graeme,” Angus sputtered. “Ye actually call him by his name?”
Elspeth let out a shaky laugh. “Aye. Either that, or the Captain. We’ve spent a great deal of time together, what else would I be calling him?”
Her father shook his head. “If the debt is paid, there’s nae reason fer ye to be going back. Yer brothers need ye, I need ye.”
“I love ye, Da, but I’m nae going to let ye make that decision fer me. Ye dinnae understand, their clan dinnae have a healer. I want to go with them, the people there need me too.”
Angus’ jaw fell open as he stared at her in shock. “Elspeth, it is nae yer responsibility to solve their problem. Ye belong here with yer family.”
She couldn’t help but smile at the familiarity of his words. It was exactly what she told herself when first setting out with Graeme and his crew.
“I used to think that, too,” Elspeth told him. “But…I’ve found something with the MacNeil’s I never felt before. I finally feel like I belong—it’s difficult to explain. At some point, bairns grows up and have to step away from their family to start one of their own. I love Glen and Hamish, but I am nae their mam. I have to do what’s right fer me this time.”
Taken by Graeme (The Pirates of Barra: Highland Raiders Book 1) Page 12