Page 59 of Mardon

“Och, I suppose ye’re right.” She handed it to him and Mardon tossed it over the side of the ship. There was another whip hanging on a post that Tristan had once used on crewmembers gone bad. Mardon hesitated, but then tossed that whip over the side of the ship as well. Things were going to be different from now on, he decided. He didn’t want Emmaline reminded of the pain she’d had to endure at the hands of that evil bastard.

There were a few gasps from the men and several of them ran to look over the sidewall.

“Leave it,” he warned them.

“Let’s see what’s in here,” said Aaron, opening a trunk. “Damn, it’s all stuff for wenches.”

“Let me see.” Nairnie pushed her way through the crowd, swinging her new ladle, hitting a few of the men.

“Are there clothes in there?” asked Mardon, coming up behind her.

“Aye, there are clothes as well as beautiful headpieces and even some shoes.” Nairnie held up a pink soft slipper.

The men all moaned.

“Oh, here are a few jeweled necklaces as well,” said Nairnie, looking down into the trunk.

“Jewels?”

“Necklaces?”

Excitedly, the pirates all pushed each other, running up to look into the trunk.

Nairnie slammed down the lid and plopped down atop it. A large smile spread across her face. “I was just jestin’,” she said with a chuckle. “My, ye all can run fast when ye want to, canna ye?”

“I don’t believe ye. Let us see for ourselves,” said Goldtooth, reaching out and taking her by the arm to move her.

“Aye, I want to see what’s in there, too,” said another man.

“Stop it! Leave me alone!” Nairnie started swinging the ladle and the pan at the same time.

“That’s enough,” said Aaron, breaking up the commotion. “Since I’m the quartermaster, I’ll decide who gets what.”

“I’m sure it wouldn’t hurt to let Emmaline take a look in that trunk,” said Mardon.

“She said she didn’t want anything,” complained Aaron.

“She also has nothing to wear,” Mardon reminded him.

“Mayhap she can go naked then, like that whore in the paintin’,” yelled out one of the men.

“Enough!” Mardon called out, not wanting any of them to even think of that painting, because he didn’t want them to know it was Emmaline. “I tossed the painting overboard, and I’ll not hear another word about it.”

“Tossed it?” asked Coop.

“Whatever for?” asked Goldtooth. “Every man here loved that paintin’.”

“That’s why,” said Mardon, clearing his throat. “It was . . . too distracting. I need you all to focus more on your duties.”

“I didn’t see ye toss it,” said one of the crew.

“Aye, neither did I,” said Ramble. “And I’m always with ye, Cap’n.”

“Aaron, get that trunk to my cabin,” Mardon instructed. “Nairnie, as soon as you change into something dry, I’ll expect a hot meal today for all the men.”

“Hot meal? So I get to cook again?” asked the old woman, sounding excited. “Guid. I’ll try out these new pans.” She held up the pan and knocked on it with the ladle.

“Good. No more cold fish stew,” complained one of the crew.