“Two moonrises.” He tries not to glower.
That’s when I realize he’s putting on a brave face. He’s worried about the ship or me. Maybe both.
“Will the Jolly Roger be all right?” I can’t imagine all the water filling the lower decks is a good thing. In fact, I don’t know why we haven’t sunk yet. I’m not going to ask him that, though. Things are bleak enough already.
“This is a temporary fix. Once we’re out of this mess with the island, I can dry dock her at Blackbeard’s Cay and give her the attention she deserves.” He pushes my wet hair from my forehead and looks into my eyes. “We have to make some quick repairs and get back to sea, lass. The sooner we get you to the Spinner, the sooner I’ll be able to breathe.”
He’s not concerned about the ship he’s devoted his entire life to. It’smehe’s worried about. It strikes a chord deep within me, one that sings out with a passionate note. I kiss him, just a soft press of my lips to his. Because he’s mine. Because I’m his. Because I’ve finally found someone who feels like home.
“Shiner?” Skylights appears from the water that’s filling the lower deck. “You okay?”
“I’m good.” She gives him a ‘fuck off’ look.
“Guess the pill worked?” He sounds cocky. Interesting. Sky’s never struck me as the cocky sort, but I see Shiner brings out a different side in him. Afeistyside.
“Don’t cream yourself over it.” Shiner stands and stalks away to the front of the ship, probably secretly happy that we’re about to be on land again.
“Is there anyone else below?” I sit up. “Cecco?”
“I’m here, Miss Moira.” He’s turning a large crank that seems to be dropping the biggest sail.
“All my crew can swim as well as any mermaid. You don’t need to worry about them.”
“Mermaids.” I shiver.
“My pirates bite just as much, too.” He squeezes me.
“We’re almost aground!” Starkey yells from his spot in the crow’s nest, and I’m surprised he’s still hanging on up there.
“Hand me a line!” Hook yells.
Widow runs up with a coil of rope in her hands. “Captain.”
Hook scoots back until he’s against the smaller mast, then straps the rope around both of us. “Lower the mainsail!” He yells his order, and the crew moves into action, all of them pulling and hauling to do exactly what Hook wants.
The ship slows even more, the island looming large ahead of us.
“Hold tight, all!” Smee calls from his place at the wheel.
The pirates hunker down, and Hook grips me more tightly as the ship shudders, then continues gliding forward until it comes to a stop.
“Not bad at all.” I suppose I’m used to far more violent maneuvers at this point.
“We’re aground lads! Throw out the lines and get ready to heave until your backs give out.” Hook unties the rope around us, then rises with me in his arms.
“Back on the island.” I stare out at the low cliffs that overhang this section of shoreline.
“The good news is, this is a decent spot to set up camp.” Hook strides to the front of the ship as his crew tosses ropes out into the water. “The stone walls will keep us sheltered from the land, and the narrow shore should give us a good vantage point.”
“So what’s the bad news?”
Several sailors have already jumped into the water and are swimming toward the shore, taking the rope with them.
“Surely, they can’t pull this entire ship?”
“They can, and they will, lass.” He sets me inside the rowboat and pulls on the pulley overhead to lift it over the side. Once it’s in the water, he climbs down the rope ladder and jumps in. “Once we’ve got it good and beached, we’ll wait for the tide to go out. Then we can repair the hull and the keel, depending on where she’s damaged. Cecco is already working on the bilge pump.”
“Sounds like you’ve done this before.” I watch as he begins to row, his strong back making easy work of the oars.
