Page 70 of Mardon

“Cap’n, do ye want me to stay here with the ship?” asked Stitch, coming to his side.

“Aye. Ramble will stay here, too,” he said as the boy walked past donning a new weapon belt now that was loaded down with new weapons. Mardon figured those must have come out of the booty from the French ship as well.

“What?” Ramble stopped, looking sorely disappointed. “Ye want me to stay here?”

“Aye. You’ll be the messenger. If Stitch spots Nereus getting too close, run out to the island to tell us.”

“But ye’re lettin’ a wench go,” he said, pointing to Nairnie, waddling down the boarding plank, holding on to Peg Leg Pate. Mardon wouldn’t be surprised if they both ended up in the water.

“Speaking of wenches, have either of you seen Emmaline?” Mardon looked back up to the sterncastle, but she was no longer there.

“Nay,” said Ramble.

“I thought I saw her headin’ to yer cabin,” said Stitch. “I’ll find her, ye go.”

Mardon didn’t like the idea of leaving when he didn’t know where Emmaline was. She had seemed upset with him after their last conversation.

“Mardon, hurry up! The men are already digging at the foot of the angel,” shouted Aaron.

“I’ll stay here and help Stitch look for Emmaline,” said Ramble with a sigh.

“Keep her safe. Both of you,” he instructed. “We won’t be long.” Turning, he ran down the gangplank to meet up with the rest of his men. He had a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach, but had to go. He was the captain, and his crew needed him. He was doing the right thing, he told himself. But if so, why did he suddenly feel like he’d just ruined everything between him and Emmaline?

Chapter 17

Emmaline snuck out of the galley, holding a hammer that she’d found in Peg Leg’s tool box. She waited until the men walked away and then ran out to the stairs leading up to the sterncastle. Quickly, she tried to pry the step open. At first, it was stuck. But then she was able to lift the top enough to get her hand inside. Scooping out the bottle of poison, she pushed the step back into place.

“Oh, there ye are, Lady Emmaline.”

She pushed the hammer into the shadows and stood up and turned around. “Hello, Ramble.”

“Mardon was lookin’ for ye. He was worried about ye.”

“Was he?”

“Aye, but he went to the island with his crew to get the treasure.”

“Not that worried after all, I see,” she mumbled.

“What’s that in yer hand?” he asked, noticing she was holding something.

“Oh, it’s nothing. Well, I guess I’ll go join them in digging up that treasure.”

“Nay, ye’re supposed to stay here,” said Ramble. “Mardon said so.”

Emmaline knew exactly what went on because she’d been watching them and listening in secret. “Nay, I’m sure Mardon told Stitch I could join them. Why don’t you ask him?”

“Stitch? I’m not sure where he went.”

“He went to Mardon’s cabin.”

“All right. Stay here. I’ll be right back.”

As soon a Ramble walked away, Emmaline ran to the bow of the ship, releasing the winch and pulley holding the shuttle boat to the side. It fell down into the water with a big splash. If Mardon didn’t want her here, then she would leave. Why did she think a pirate would want a woman on board, let alone a noblewoman? He wouldn’t. Emmaline had nowhere to go but she realized that staying here with Mardon would only create problems. She had the bottle of poison, and would take it to the king. Hopefully, he would believe her story of how her stepmother poisoned her father. Then, mayhap, he’d let her stay at the manor. Or at least until she found a nobleman willing to marry her.

“Where is she, Ramble?” asked Stitch as the men emerged from the cabin.

“I don’t know,” he answered. “She said she was goin’ to help the crew dig up treasure.”