A forceful yank on my arm brought me close to his chest so our faces met, and the warmth of his breath splashed across my face. “Do not ever call me that aboard this vessel.” His eyes were wild with anger and desperation.
I continued to be dragged across the ship’s deck and over toward the edge where Alfred fell to his death just hours earlier. Suddenly, I realized what was happening and a fight-or-flight response set in. I struggled against Henry’s hold, but he was like a freaking bear.
“Please! No!”
It was no use. The crew came toward us, circling in and getting ready to watch the next show. Henry grabbed me by the waist, his two massive hands like a vice, and hoisted me up on the railing.
“You know too much, Dianna,” he said low enough for only me to hear. “We need to do something about that.”
My voice evaded me, so I pleaded with my eyes, to tell him that the secret was safe with me. I’d never tell a soul. I would cook their food and keep my head down. But all I received in return was a devilish grin as he leaned into my face.
“If you’re going to stay aboard my ship, then you need a bath,” he whispered in my ear, his breath tickling my skin. With arms wrapped around me, I thought, for a moment, that he was hugging me, but soon realized that Henry had tied a rope around my waist.
My eyes widened with a new fear, no longer for my life. But before I could form a response, Henry gave me a shove and I fell to the ocean below. Even though it was the middle of summer, the deep-sea water was still freezing cold and the chill hit my body like an electric shock. I clawed my way to the surface and gasped desperately for air. The force of the waves swooshed my body around as the ship dragged me along. With the breath still knocked from my lungs, I felt a hefty tug at my waist as they finally began to hoist me back up to the ship.
My stomach threatened to heave the very little it contained as the thick rope dug into me. Every tug acted like a weird Heimlich Maneuver, the last couple of yanks rubbing a little too hard against my bottom ribs. Captain Barrett pulled my body over the side and let me fall to the floor like a large fish and I coughed up the salt water I’d sucked in through my nose and mouth.
I peered up at the men who stood around me, laughing at my expense, but I stopped at the captain and narrowed my eyes. He wanted to scare me and it worked.
“You could have given me some warning, you know.”
He let out a gusty laugh. “Now, where would be the fun in that?” He strolled over to me and bent down, scooping me up like a drenched ragdoll and putting me on my feet. “Come, I’ll get you some dry clothes.” We both headed toward his quarters as he yelled to the crew, “Get back to work. We should meet landfall in three days time.”
Once inside, he closed and locked the door behind us. I couldn’t stop the shivering that took over my body and the saltwater still burned the cavities of my nose and throat.
“I’m sorry for that,” he told me. “But the men needed something entertaining after this morning’s events.” I watched as he rummaged through a large chest next to his bed. He pulled out a white blouse and a pair of black trousers, then turned to me and grinned. “And you did require a bath.”
“I thought you were going to kill me,” I replied and accepted the dry clothes from him. I tried to shrug out of Maria’s jacket, but it was soaked and heavy, and I was too cold.
“May I?” he asked. I hesitated, but then nodded, and he proceeded to peel the drenched coat from my body and then hung it on the back of a chair to dry. “And I wouldn’t kill someone without a damn good reason.”
“I just thought… because I know your secret.”
Our bodies were so close, and I was extremely aware of the cool air and the absence of a bra under my soaking wet tank top. Henry’s eyes averted to my chest, taking note of the view. I self-consciously covered my breasts with my free arm and took a step back.
“Just to be clear. I’m to provide meals for the crew. Nothing more.” Henry didn’t reply, only kept his hard gaze on my shivering body, then slowly moved his stare up to meet my eyes. “A-are we clear?”
Finally, he nodded. “Yes, of course.”
When he turned away, I quickly changed out of my wet clothing and slipped on the dry ones. They were far too big, but I didn’t care. They were warm and dry. I grabbed the key chain from my jacket and the belt from my jeans, tightening it around the trousers, then tied the bottom of the blouse together in a knot at my waist.
“You can turn around now.”
“Very good.” He straightened his jacket and adjusted his black leather hat. “I have some things to tend to, but you’re more than welcome to stay here while you finish drying and warm up. There’s fresh wine and bread on the table. But don’t take too long, the men need feeding and dinner soon approaches. You must pull your weight around here.” Before he reached for the door, his hand came up to my face and held my chin a little too tightly. “And I’m well aware that you know my secret, Dianna. Do not mistake my hospitality for mercy. If you breathe a word–”
I shook my head. “No, I won’t, I swear.”
His grip on my jaw tightened with aggression and he leaned in close, our noses touching. “Good. Because, if you do, there won’t be a rope tied around your waist next time.”
Chapter Nine
After Henry’s warning, I desperately wanted to gain his trust. I had a sliver of it, but I wanted more. I needed it, especially if I were to convince him not to kill The Cobhams. I quickly adjusted to my new role aboard The Devil’s Heart and found comfort in duties.
I cooked and cleaned while constantly on the lookout for Henry, hoping to catch glimpses of him but he very rarely left his quarters. I daydreamed about what he must have been like in those early days after he’d finally escaped The Burning Ghost. Days went by in a blur and I was grateful we had planned to meet landfall soon because the meager food supply I started out with grew smaller by the day.
I found all the tools required to cook, but as far as food went… a bag of flour, a tub of butter, half a sack of stale oats, a few satchels of what I assumed were baking powder or something, a crate of old potatoes and carrots mixed together, and some dried fish was all I found. Most of that was gone in the first two days and I had a crew of a dozen men to feed.
On day three, I wracked my brain to think of something for lunch and found a near-empty jar of molasses at the bottom of a crate. Then it dawned on me. The perfect idea. And easy, too. I began to sift together the basic ingredients for an old bread recipe my mom taught me. One that didn’t need yeast.
I fired up the stove and placed a massive cast iron pan on top to heat up. It wasn’t long before I had a massive basket full of freshly made fried bread, an age-old Newfoundland favorite. Henry’s favorite, from what his journal told me.
There wasn’t enough molasses for everyone to share, but I doubted the crew would have anything to say about it. Before lunchtime rolled around, a few whose names I’d yet to learn came sniffing around and took their seats in anticipation. When the mess deck was full, I laid out a stack of plates on my counter next to the basket of toutans.
“Dig in, boys,” I said loudly.
They raced to the front, pushing one another out of the way, and grabbed handfuls of the dense pancakes. I felt a slight sense of pride that I managed to please a large group of men with such skimpy ingredients.
“These smell good enough to eat,” Finn told me with a wink. He had three in his hand and then stuffed one in his mouth. “Ye keep cookin’ like this and the crew will love ye in no time.”
“Thanks, Finn,” I replied and stuffed one for myself in the front pocket of my apron. Then I grabbed the tray meant for Henry and made my way up the ladder. I knocked on his door but didn’t get a reply. Thinking he was maybe asleep, I snuck in to place the tray on his desk.
“What are you doing?” a voice bellowed from a far corner.
I let out a shriek and nearly dropped the tray. “Jesus! Don’t do tha–” But words escaped me whe
n I realized he was getting dressed. He’d managed to shove on his trousers, but his torso remained shirtless as he stood and stared at me.
Henry’s angry eyes fell to the tray I held and his face softened. “Is that…”
“Toutans,” I replied, holding the tray out toward him. He walked over and stopped right next to me. His half-naked body made my pulse do crazy things and I forced my brain to formulate words. “Your favorite?”
Henry examined my face with strange scrutiny and then smiled, the first one I’d seen reach his eyes. “The journal.”
“Yeah, sorry,” I told him. “I didn’t tell anyone down below if that’s what you’re worried about. I just did my job, cooked the food, and left them to help themselves.” I laid the tray down on his desk. “And I’ll leave you now, too.”
“Wait,” Henry spoke. I turned back around. “Would you… eat with me?”
My brows raised in surprise. “Seriously?”
“Yes, please. I often eat alone. It would be nice to have some company for a change.”
I peered down at my dirty apron and slightly less dirty appearance.
“I don’t–” My breath caught while Henry reached around my shoulders.
My body froze as his fingers brushed the skin of my neck, moving my hair out of the way. I should have backed away, I should have told him to keep his bloody pirate hands to himself. But I couldn’t bring myself to say it, to say anything. He terrified me. But, the big, burly, chiseled pirate before me… I didn’t know that I would have argued if he took me in his arms and demanded my body. And I was sorely disappointed when I realized that he was just removing my apron as he untied the knot at the back and tossed it aside.
“You look perfectly fine to join me for a meal, Dianna,” his raspy voice caressed my ears and I felt my nipples harden.
What was wrong with me? I caught him quickly glance down at my chest, where my body deceived me, and I hastily crossed my arms. Henry just grinned and walked over toward his small dining table, grabbing a white blouse from the back of his desk chair as he did.
The two of us sat across from one another in silence as Henry divided up the stack of toutans I’d brought. My stomach was in knots. I didn’t like the feeling that he was attracted to me, that he could take me if it pleased him to do so because he was used to just taking what he wanted. Being a pirate, and all.
But another part of me twisted in a knot at the realization that… I wanted him to. He was mysterious and dangerous, with a dark and tortured past that only I knew about. It made me feel special but also fear for my life. Sure, he showed an interest now, but he could turn on me in a second if he felt that his secret was going to be exposed.
I watched as Henry drizzled the molasses over our plates and my mouth watered. “Eat,” he ordered.
I waited, to see his expression when that first bite met his tongue. I fished for those slight moments, the ones when he’d drop the rough and tough pirate façade and let his expression soften.
“My dear, Dianna,” he spoke through chewing, “these are to die for.”
“Thank you, I’m glad you like them.” I relaxed and then tore off a piece with my fork and shoved it in my mouth. I let out a slight moan. “God, I forgot how good these were.”
“I as well,” he replied. “Such a simple dish but so satisfying.”
I nodded and continued to pile it in my mouth. I had been starving, with nothing more than a few bites of bread and watery broth over the last few days. “That reminds me,” I spoke up, “Did I hear we’re going to meet landfall today?”
“Yes,” he answered hesitantly, “Why do you ask?”
“Well, if I’m going to keep cooking for you guys, I’m definitely going to need more to work with. I mean, as awesome as these are, I doubt the crew will survive off fried bread for long. I need quality ingredients.”
I was surprised to find that Henry appeared… relieved. Did he think I was going to run away when we met land? Now was my time to establish some more trust. “You can send one of the men with me if you want. To… keep an eye on me?”
He seemed to mull it over, examining my face for any sign of deceit.
“I won’t know where to go, anyway. Probably best if I don’t get lost,” I added and gave him a wink. He brightened, and it aroused an odd sense of joy in my gut.
“Yes, probably best not to get lost,” he agreed, “we cannot afford to lose two cooks in one week.”
We continued to eat, letting a comforting silence hang between us. Occasionally, I caught him staring at me, but his eyes would flit away. When I’d finally felt full, I laid my fork down and blew out a deep breath.
“So, do you know where to find them?” I asked.
“Who?” Henry replied, setting his fork down and wiping his face with a napkin.
“The Cobhams. We’re reaching land today, is it because you know where to find them?”
“No.”
Good. That meant I still had time. And, according to every science fiction movie I’d seen, the fact that I still remained meant that the actions of the past had yet to catch up with my future.
“We are stopping for supplies, a good night’s rest, and to suss out the word on land.”
“The word on land?”
“Yes, if The Cobhams have been mucking about, there’s bound to be whispers on land. We may get a sense of where they are.”
I nodded in understanding. Then something else he said came to mind. “So, we’re staying on land overnight? Like, in a real bed?”
The thought made me weak in the knees. I was beginning to despise hammocks. Especially ones I had to share with a giant Scotsman.
Henry chuckled. “Yes, we’ll take rest in a nearby tavern for a night or two.”
I stood and began clearing the plates, stacking them back on the tray to bring back to the kitchen.
“I’m sorry about the accommodations aboard the ship. But there are no extra hammocks. Finn suggested you bunk with him for… obvious reasons.”
I stopped and rested a hand on my hip. I had worried a little for my safety as a woman aboard a ship full of men but never knew for sure if it should be a real concern. “You mean to protect me from getting raped? Is that seriously something I have to worry about?”
The captain stood, his massive stature towering over me, and I tipped my head to meet his gaze. “Not if I can help it,” he answered. “I’ve told the men to keep their hands off you.”
I chortled. “Wow, I can’t believe this.” But I had to remember the era I was stuck in. “And how well do they listen to you?”
His black eyes narrowed. “They will listen.” But there was a hint of uncertainty in his voice.
“Great,” I spat, and scooped up the tray, “I guess I’ll just go back to work and try not to get raped.”
Henry’s massive hand grabbed me by the waist and swung me back toward him. The nearness of the man made my head spin with conflicting thoughts of danger and desire. “If anyone is to touch you in a manner you deem unfit, then they shall be met with my blade and a watery grave. Do I make myself clear?”
A shaky nod was all I could manage. My eyes were locked on his mouth as he spoke the words. I had to pry my mind away from wanting to close the short distance between us and touch my lips to his. When my eyes averted upwards, I found a similar yearning mirrored in his expression.
I pulled away from him. “Yes, thank you.”
I secured my shaky grip around the tray’s handle and grabbed my apron before leaving. I couldn’t get away quick enough but the further I got the more I could think straight. Get it together, Dianna. You’re not here to get involved with a damn pirate. Gain his trust and save your family. Then find a way to get home.
But the tightness in my chest and the fluttering of my heart never ceased as thoughts of Henry refused to leave my mind. I was in a whole new world of trouble.
Chapter Ten
We made landfall later that evening, shortly after suppertime. I didn’t bother to c
ook as the crew had been boasting about the feast they would indulge in once we got to the tavern. I was thankful because it took me the rest of the day just to clean up the kitchen and wash their dishes. They were like a bunch of slobbery children. But I didn’t mind. It gave me something to do. A purpose.
Captain Barrett had assigned Finn to watch over me during our time on land, and he would be the one to escort me around to get all the ingredients on my list. The captain refused to even look at me, even when he handed Finn a small satchel of coins for me to use, he spoke through him, not directly to me.
I made no secret of my distaste for the way women were treated in this era. My constant eye-rolling and frustrated sighs never seemed to register with them, for which, I was somewhat grateful for. But this time… I’d offended Henry somehow, or made him feel uncomfortable. Or perhaps he was ashamed of the attraction he felt for me. I did, after all, look like Maria. Either way, it bothered me.
The thirteen of us filed into The Thirsty Trout, a local tavern in the small coastal community we docked at. The ceilings were low and the floors waved with the uneven foundation. Some walls were built of stones, some of logs, and a large staircase led to the rooms above the eating area down below. The place was near empty aside from the innkeeper. The captain walked up to the front desk as the rest of us hung back and waited.
“My good man,” Henry greeted, as he sauntered up to the front desk, his long, black leather jacket swaying behind him. “My crew and I wish to rest our heads here for two nights if you have the accommodations.”
The innkeeper lit with joy at the sudden burst of business. I was betting sailors and travelers kept most taverns such as this afloat. “Yes, of course,” he happily replied and bent to fetch the keys from behind the desk. “I have eight rooms free, so you’ll have to bunk up with each other.”
Henry nodded. “Of course.” He scooped up the keys and turned to the men. And me. “Pair up, some of you have to share.” He handed Finn and Gus their own keys. Then Henry looked to me, and I thought he might ask if I would share his room but Finn, thankfully, cut in.
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