“How’sThe Hellatreating ye?” Lochlan asked, referring to the galleon he’d turned over to Colin when pirating was no longer his first love.
He had been working on Lochlan’s crew for a few years when his friend was granted land that had been promised to him after taking on the mission that eventually led to his marriage.
Colin would always remember the day Lochlan asked him to take over the helm ofThe Hella. Despite his doubts about being the right person to master the ship and its crew, his former captain was confident in his abilities, and would not take “no” for an answer. He would be forever grateful for the education he’d received under Lochlan’s command.
The ladies seemed to have taken well to his new position. No complaints from him in regards to that. Except for tonight. But that was the lad’s fault. Not his own.
“She’s a fine vessel,” Colin said with a smile. “I thank ye for trusting me with her.” He worked hard to do the job right, to make his friend proud, and to never give him reason to regret entrusting him withThe Hella.
“I canna think of anyone more fitting,” Lochlan said. “I’ve no doubt I made the right choice.”
“Ye dinna know how much that means to me,” Colin admitted, then took a long swallow of ale. “A dream I never thought would come to be.”
“Jesus, what the hell, man? Are ye going soft on me?”
Colin threw his head back and laughed. It had been way too long since he’d had reason to do so.
Glancing around the great hall, he took in the colorful tapestries hanging in front of the long, narrow windows. The pine rushes on the stone floor, and the walls tinged red due to the sandstone the castle was built from, hence its name. The tables were scrubbed clean. The keep was definitely being run by a lady.
“How’s Isabel?”
Lochlan’s face softened at the mention of his wife’s name. “She’s well. She’s visiting her ma.”
“I’m surprised ye dinna have any wee bairns running afoot.”
“’Tis no’ for lack of trying.” He waggled his eyebrows.
Colin chuckled. “I’ve no doubt.”
“How about ye? Ye usually have a line of lassies following you around, hanging on yer every word,” Lochlan chided. “Dinna tell me ye’re losing yer touch.”
“My plans got,” he paused and finished his ale, “interfered with.”
“Ye dinna say?”
“Aye, a young lad looking for work onThe Hellaapproached right as I was about to… Well, let’s just say I was interrupted, and leave it at that.”
Lochlan raised a brow in question. “I know naught of any lads looking fer work.”
“He was quite insistent. Didna ken the meaning of no.”
“Did ye offer him something?” He tilted his mug back for a long swallow.
“Aye. I’ve no idea what yet, but I told him to meet me at first light on the morrow. He’s just a scrap of a lad.”
Lochlan shook his head. “Still have that soft spot I see. No wonder they still call ye Honey.”
He took the pitcher and refilled both their mugs. “Ye and I both know that’s no’ the reason for the name.”
“Well, ye surely didna live up to it tonight.” Lochlan slapped his knee, laughing so hard tears sprang in his eyes.
Chapter Four
It was stilldark the next morning when Seonag woke to get ready to meet Honey and his crew at the ship. She hadn’t slept much the night before. Too many thoughts ran wild and rampant in her head, never allowing her to relax enough to sleep well.
“Do ye know what ye are doing, Seonag?”
“Aye, Ma.”
