“How did you come to sail with the captain?”Gabrielle faced Soot again.A wave splashed against the hull, showering her with sea spray.Ah, but it felt wonderful on her hot skin.
“That’d be a long tale, Miss.”He scratched his neck beneath a filthy blue bandana.
Gabrielle glanced over her shoulder at the quarterdeck and found the captain’s gaze focused on her.Uneasy beneath his scrutiny, she faced the sea once again.“I have all day, Mr.Soot.I’d love to hear it.”
He chuckled.“I’ll give ye the jist of it, Miss.I am a deserter from the royal navy.Should they find me, I’ll be hung fer sure.The captain brought me on board, made me master gunner, an’ keeps me safe from capture.”
Gabrielle huffed.The captain seemed in the business of rescuing the downtrodden.“May I ask why you deserted?”
He shook his head.“Weren’t the life fer me.Too strict.Pure slavery it were fer most seaman.”
“What position did you hold?”
“Gunner.”
Shielding her eyes from the sun, Gabrielle smiled.“I’m impressed, Mr.Soot.Many able seamen never move up in rank to petty officer.Must have taken you awhile.”
“Four years at sea.”His right eye began to twitch, and he pressed a thumb to it.“Me parents were so proud o’ me.Now I’m disgraced.”
Sails thundered above, drawing Gabrielle’s gaze to the men in the yards.“Where are you from?”
“Dartmouth.They was good people.Godly people.Raised me right, but I’ve been nothin’ but heartache fer ’em since birth.In an’ out of trouble.They finally sent me to sea to straighten me out, an’ I let them down again.”He frowned and rubbed the back of his neck.
Gabrielle could relate.Her parents had been the best parents anyone could want.They’d raised her right, but she was the one who had gone astray.“Perhaps there are some of us who are destined to be the black sheep of our families, Mr.Soot.”
He smiled and nodded.“Aye, I figure both my parents an’ God are done wit’ me now.”
Odd that she had more in common with this master gunner on board a pirate ship than most people she met.
He glanced toward the quarterdeck.“But the captain gave me purpose again.Had faith in me.”
“Soot!”The captain’s shout stiffened the man, and he tipped his fingers upon his forehead at Gabrielle and scampered off.
She would not grant Cadan the privilege of gazing his way.Instead, she watched Soot leap upon the foredeck and speak to a pirate cleaning one of the carronades.
“Watch your Luff, Mr.Pell,” the captain shouted then added, “Lay aloft and loose the mainsail!”
Lazy-eyed Smity marched across the deck, shouting orders to the men in the tops to adjust sail.His gaze focused back on the captain, and for a brief second, Gabrielle thought she saw hatred in his narrowed eyes.But how could that be?From what she was seeing, Captain Hayes inspired naught but loyalty among his crew.
Chapter 11
Aloud rap sounded on the door to Gabrielle’s cabin, jarring her from her rest.Not that she was able to sleep with her babe doing flips in her belly and her heart doing flips in her chest.Childbearing and fear made horrid bedfellows.After two hours above deck trying to balance on a heaving ship, her feet had swollen to the size of melons, and every muscle in her back ached.Besides, she’d grown weary of the lecherous stares of the crew—including the captain’s.
Omphile rose from the chair beside the bed, where she’d been reading, and slowly opened the door.Moses slipped inside, though Gabrielle doubted the large man slipped anywhere.After smiling at Omphile, he nodded toward Gabrielle.
“The cap’n wants you to join ’im an’ ’is officers for dinner in ’is cabin at sunset, Miss.”
What?Surely she was hearing things.Reaching for Omphile’s hand, she allowed the woman to help her to sit.“Why?”She rubbed her temples where an ache had formed.“What could he possibly want?”
Moses shrugged.“Dat’s all ’e said.”
“It’ll be alright, Miss, you’ll see.”Omphile patted her leg.“We’ll get you cleaned up an’ I’ll fetch another one o’ my gowns.I knows jist de one.”
“I care not for my appearance!”Gabrielle snapped, instantly regretting her tone.“Forgive me, Omphile.I know you’re only trying to help.”
The mulatto gave a gentle smile.“Dat’s all right, Child.I knows you are scared.”
Gabrielle stared up at Moses.No way she could stand, for the man consumed the entire cabin.“You may tell Captain Hayes that I decline his invitation.”
