Kieran pressed closer to Jamie and they renewed their efforts, keeping crew members busy until Ewan and Alex had disappeared over the railing with the badly injured Rafe and Andrew. Noting that the injured men were rescued, the village warriors also began to abandon ship, diving overboard in droves.
Kieran turned his back on Jamie for only a briefest of seconds, looking toward the railing, plotting their path to freedom. That was all it took.
When Kieran glanced back, Cuthie had wrapped an arm around Jamie, lifting her squirming body clean off the ground.
“Stop, MacTavish!” Cuthie shouted.
Kieran froze, his eyes winging to the ship’s captain.
Cuthie shifted his hold on Jamie, the man’s eyes flaring.
Realization sank in. Kieran could see it in the man’s gaze.
Cuthie knew.
Heknewthat the person he held was not a boy, but a lass. That Kieran had been aware there was a lass aboard and had said nothing.
Kieran’s hesitation gave Massey time to disarm him. Rough hands grabbed Kieran from behind. Cuthie said nothing—just held the squirming Jamie—and stared at Kieran with that deadly look of his.
“Take him tae the brig, lads. Be sure to chain him,” Cuthie ordered.
The crew were not gentle.
They wrapped Kieran’s wrists in manacles and dragged him deep into the ship, shoving him in the dank, dark brig.
Kieran staggered against the wall, sinking to the floor and resting his bound wrists on his knees. He stared at the door opposite, hands sweating and heart pounding.
Where was Jamie?
What was Cuthie going to do to her? To them?
This was all his darkest fears made manifest.
After what felt like an hour, steps sounded outside. Cuthie’s face appeared at the barred window.
He threw open the door and shoved Jamie inside.
Kieran nearly wept in relief. She was wide-eyed, bedraggled, and shackled but otherwise whole.
“Does this one belong tae yourself?” Cuthie nodded toward Jamie.
“We belong tae each other,” Jamie spat, using her manacled hands to push her hair out of her face.
“I wasnae asking you, brat,” Cuthie said. “Well, MacTavish?”
“Aye. Jamie is mine.” Kieran nodded, playing the only card he had left. “We married in Sydney.”
Cuthie’s eyes narrowed.
Kieran held his gaze.
That’s right, he wanted to say.She has the legal protection of my name, and a ship’s master would be permitted to bring his wife aboard ship, if he wished.
Cuthie stared in silence, clearly weighing his options given the chess board situation before him.
Kieran knew Cuthie was in a bit of a bind. The man may not care what happened to the rest of the Brotherhood, but Kieran had to remain. And Cuthie had to ensure that Kieran felt like cooperating.
“Here is how this is going tae play out, MacTavish,” Cuthie said, his voice holding an eerie calm. “We are going to weigh anchor as soon as the tide turns. But first, the men will pay a wee visit to the village. The islanders cannae go unpunished. As for your obstinate friends, they can remain here, for all I care.Jamie—” He leaned on her name, mockery in his tone. “—will remain chained in the brig until ye see us safely through the surrounding reefs and islands to the open ocean. If ye do that, I will have the courtesy to deposit ye both at the first convenient port. But the slightest waver in your determination, MacTavish . . . I would just as easily toss ye both into the sea. Dinnae test me.”
