She fascinated him.Her words, her manner of speech, her independence and intelligence.It had taken much prayer last night and reliance on the Almighty not to go to her and offer to hold her, to reassure her of her safety, or to at least attempt a kiss.
Knowing she found him appealing made it more difficult.But he’d sworn to God that he would keep himself for marriage and to honor all women who crossed his path.He’d been doing just that when the last woman he cared for had stabbed him in the back.
And then twisted the blade.
Miss Starr continued her whispers, and he wondered to whom she spoke.Was she praying?Nay, she admitted to not believing in God.Struggling to rise, he stretched the ache from his back with a groan.
The woman spun around.Morning light still surrounded her as she stared at him.“You must be sore from sleeping on the floor.”
Caleb shook his head.“I’m used to it.Who were you talking to?”He walked toward her, but she pivoted to look out the window again.
“No one.”
“Praying, perhaps?”He slipped beside her, smiling at the disheveled hair fluttering about her neck, every strand pulled from her pins.
She offered him a smile.“Prayers never worked for me.I talk to the sea.”
“And does it respond?”
“Sometimes.It’s very wise, you know.It has never let me down.”
Caleb got the sense this lady had beenlet down, as she said, many times.“I know Someone much wiser than the sea.The One who created it.”
“Preaching already, so early in the morning?”she teased.
He smiled at her playfulness.“Beware, my lady, I shall wait until the afternoon.”He retreated to collect his cutlass and pistol, then gestured toward the door.“Shall we break our fast and then head to theSentinel?I’m anxious to see the progress.”
An hour later, Caleb landed on the deck of his ship, Miss Starr behind him.The lady had insisted she needed no help climbing the ladder, and though she did succeed, ’twas not without moans and sighs, and the occasional curse cast upon her voluminous skirts.
He grinned, scanning the ship, expecting the sight of steady labor.Instead, ragged edges of torn canvas still hung from the foremast, and the few of his crew who were on deck loitered about as if on holiday.At the bow, Keg polished one of the swivel guns.At the helm, Shorty studied something on the binnacle.And Liam leaned against the rail, flashing Desi a grin that faltered the moment Caleb’s eyes found him.
Ayida rose from the galley hatch, crossed arms over her chest, and lifted her face to the rising sun.
Alden approached, his face lined with more than fatigue.“Morning, Captain.Did you have a good evening?”He raised an incriminating brow as his gaze landed on Miss Starr.
Caleb rubbed his stiff neck.“Not the kind you think.”He fisted hands at his waist.“Report.”
Alden frowned.“The tar pot tipped, poured into the bilge.Most of our caulking wasted, and the oakum’s disappeared.Oh, and the sail thread…” He hesitated, jaw tight.“Cut clean through in the bundle.We stitched the canvas with what remained, but we need more, or it won’t hold long under strain.”
An anchor settled in Caleb’s gut.The cheerful morning instantly soured.“Sabotage.”He ground out the word.
Desi drew a sharp breath behind him.“You mean… someone did this on purpose?”
“Looks that way, Miss.”Alden rubbed eyes puffy from lack of sleep.
But Caleb’s fury overcame his concern for his friend.“You were on watch!”His tone was accusatory.
Alden’s shoulders sank.“Aye.I was awake the entire night, taking turns up here on deck and then below to check on the men’s progress.I saw nothing.The night was dark and tired eyes grow careless.”
“No excuse!”Caleb barked.His hand settled on the hilt of his cutlass, not in threat but from habit, the gesture of a man who’d felt the sting of betrayal.“I’ve not come this far to have theSentinelsink by treachery’s hand!”His words cracked across the deck like musket fire, drawing the gaze of all aboard.
Alden rubbed the scar on his cheek.“I doubt it’s one of the crew, Caleb.Your men are as loyal as they come.Besides, why would they sabotage a ship they’ve become a part of?”
’Twas a valid point.But Caleb had learned the hard way that loyalty was cheap.
“We’ll assign more men on watch from now on, Captain,” Alden said.
“Aye.See to it.”Caleb hardened his voice as he raised it for all to hear.“Any man caught tampering with this ship shall forthwith be left to rot in this godforsaken town.Now back to your tasks.”
