“He’s got eyes, Bix. He can see there is a storm heading this way.”
“But he hasn’t fixed those sails yet,” Bixley countered. “They’ll be ripped to shreds if—”
“Are you actually telling me how to run my ship?” Drew cut in incredulously. He’d wanted these three nervous about why he’d summoned them, but all they wanted to do was talk about the ship!
“We’re sailors, Captain, same as you,” Richard said with a grin. “If we see something wrong with a ship, we’re not going to keep it to ourselves.”
“I’ll fix the damn sails,” Drew replied. “Now answer me this. Which one of you planted your fist in my cheek last week while I was sleeping?”
Bixley started to laugh. “So that’s what that bruise was from? Wondered about it. And here I’d been thinking ye tripped over yer blankets in the dark.”
Drew wasn’t the least bit amused. He moved to stand in front of the Irishman and said, “Shall we start with you, then, Bixley?”
“Start?” The man blinked and, his expression turned wary again.
“Why not?” Drew said. “It’s called process of elimination. I’m sure you’ve heard of it.”
“Ain’t heard of it, and don’t care to be in the front of the line to be experiencing it, either. It weren’t me that punched ye in the dark.”
“No?” Drew said calmly, then glanced at Ohr, then Richard, but those two were both wearing blank looks now. So he added with a sigh, “As I thought, we will have to find out the hard way, then.”
The punch knocked Bixley down. Sprawled on the deck, he made no move to get back up for more.
Richard spoke up. “There’s no need for that. If you want a fight, untie me. I’m the one you’re looking for.”
Drew nodded and signaled the men he had standing by to take Ohr and Bixley back to the hold. He was somewhat surprised. Perhaps there was more between Gabby and the supposed Frenchman than he’d thought.
Bixley grumbled at Richard as he was helped to his feet, “Speak up sooner next time, eh.”
Richard winced and mumbled, “Sorry, Bix.”
Drew studied Richard’s handsome face as the other two men were led off. He felt anger rising up for what he was starting to suspect. What would stir up fighting emotions in the Frenchman? Drew had done nothing more to Gabby than kiss her a few times in England before he sailed. He’dwantedto do more, but she hadn’t cooperated.
Richard grew uncomfortable under the extended scrutiny and finally said in a sharp tone, “What? It was just one bloody punch.”
“I wouldn’t have guessed you,” Drew said now that he and Richard were alone.
Richard grinned. “Neither would I, if you must know. It was an impulse, quite unplanned.”
“Why?”
Richard shrugged. “Felt you deserved it and more.”
Since Drew felt nothing of the kind, he snarled, “You want a piece of me? Let’s hear the reason.”
“Are you joking, man? After what you did?”
That took Drew by surprise and brought forth a thoughtful frown. “I know what I’ve done recently, but we’re talking about last week when I was a prisoner in chains unable todoanything other than stew.”
“I told you, it was just an impulse.”
Drew didn’t buy that, but he gave Richard a thoughtful look. “Why do you pretend to be French?”
The man just grinned wider. “Why do you assume I’m not just because my speech might change a bit occasionally? Maybe I’m a Frenchman who grew up in London.”
“Maybe you’re a liar.”
Richard shrugged. “What difference does it make, eh? We all pretend to be something we’re not.”
