They traded off horses every time they made a stop, so everyone had a chance to ride Tesoro and give their horse a rest or give Tesoro a rest. Nick finally got his first chance to ride the Andalusian, and quickly realized the difference between his docile, rented chestnut gelding, and the fierce intelligence and spirit in the black stallion. As a rider Nick was in charge of the chestnut gelding, whereas the stallion nearly unseated him before Nick recognized and acknowledged the degree of cooperation required between Tesoro and rider. He’d have to learn the signals Zach used so he didn’t inadvertently ask the horse to do one of his dramatic airs above ground maneuvers.
Harriet continued to use the ground mount technique, asserting her independence from needing a boost or mounting block, and preventing Nick and Zach from silently arguing over who got to give her a boost.
The first time she tried the maneuver on her rented horse, the grey gelding stepped to the side just as she was swinging up and she fell to the ground, flat on her back. She was still for a moment and Nick was about to dismount to come to her aid, certain she was injured. Then she sat up.
Laughing.
Instead of mortified at being shown to disadvantage, she let out full-throated laughter as she got up and dusted herself off. She offered a bit of carrot to the gelding and tried again. And they were off.
They made it to the stable at the edge of Porto as dusk was falling.
Nick had another bout of vertigo when he dismounted. This time he was expecting it, and disguised it by patting his horse. Once the yard stopped spinning, Nick took care of the rental fee for the horses, including the one Jonesy had returned the day before, and arranged for the hostler to stable Zach’s stallion and Tesoro overnight. After confirming Zach intended to take his stallion back to England, Nick also negotiated for the quantities of straw, hay, and grain they’d need for the voyage to England, and arranged for it to be delivered to the ship tomorrow. He nudged Zach to pay for his horse’s share.
They ate a hot meal at the same cantina as on the first day in town. Nick fought the urge to hurry everyone, especially when Zach requested another refill of his tankard. His impatience must have shown on his face.
“Keep your shirt on, lad,” Zach said. “She’ll still be there in an hour.”
Harriet at least finished without dallying. To Nick’s surprise, Zach paid for the meal, and they were on their way to the dock.
Riding about the beautiful countryside was nice, finding and claiming the treasure was good, and spending time with Harriet was even better. But Nick didn’t fully relax until the masts of the Wind Dancer came into view, and he was across the gangboard. He patted the railing as he stepped onto the deck. Home.
“Welcome back, Cap’n,” Jonesy greeted him. He looked him up and down, as well as Harriet right behind him. “I don’t see no masterpiece painting. No treasure chest.”
Zach had dallied on the quay, checking the ship from bow to stern in the growing twilight, and finally stepped on deck. “Don’t I count?”
“Mister Langston, sir!” Smiling broadly, Jonesy reached out and they shook hands. “I did not expect to see you again so soon.” A puzzled frown marred his brow.
“Alas, I am not the treasure,” Zach said, hand to his heart.
Nick snorted.
“But it was fortuitous meeting up with you,” Harriet said.
“A lass after my own heart,” Zach said, giving her a fond smile.
Nick did not growl. Some sound must have emerged from his throat, however, given the sharp glance from Jonesy. No one else seemed to have noticed.
More of the crew came over, greeting them and exclaiming over Zach, who had not sailed with them since Nick had given him a ride to Aberdeen last autumn, to attend a Scottish friend’s house party.
“Have the center hold cleared in the morning and set up the braced stalls,” Nick told Jonesy. “We’re bringing two horses back with us. Supplies should be delivered before noon.”
“Aye, Cap’n,” he said, not batting an eye.
While Zach and Harriet went below to stow their gear and settle, Nick satisfied himself that all was as it should be with the Wind Dancer. Dieter and Bos’n had finally had time to properly repair and paint the starboard gunwale. All the damage to the masts had been repaired, at least as well as Nick could see in the darkness. Now they just needed a gun.
With a final pat to the tiller, he went below, greeting crew as he went.
Harriet had tossed her saddlebag and coat on the bunk, and someone had brought his down and draped it over a chair back, but his cabin was empty.
Just as he stepped into the passageway to go looking for her or Zach, he heard a burst of laughter from next door. He slid open the door to Norton’s cabin. The three of them sat at the long rectangular table that was also used for surgery, with pewter mugs and a half-empty wine bottle.
“Nicky, what took you so long?” Zach hooked the last chair with his ankle and dragged it up to the table, and patted the seat.
Luigi came up in the passageway behind him, a tea tray in hand. “Good to see you back, Capitano,” he said.
“Good to be back,” Nick murmured, and sat at the table.
Harriet poured tea for herself but did not pour for anyone else. In her sailor’s togs, she didn’t feel the need to play hostess. It was Norton’s cabin, and Nick’s ship, and she just wanted to drink something that wasn’t going to muddle her brain. If they wanted tea, they could pour their own.
