Carried Home

by Heather Manning

  “I believe we can get up to fifteen knots out of her, at our best.”

  She offered him a blank look. A pirate next to Gage chuckled as he leaned forward, rowing the boat.

  Heat flooded Gage’s face. He was probably speaking gibberish to the poor woman, even his crew could see that. What would a lady like her know about nautical terms?

  “Milady, this ship can sail with exceptional speed when she has been freshly careened. Faster than Captain Archer’s ship, actually. We shall reach our destination in all haste. Don’t worry over it.”

  The bow of the Siren’s Call loomed high over their heads, and Gage’s men stopped their rowing. He assisted Lady Shaw to her feet and she stumbled as a swell roved across the water. She swung her arms about, and he grabbed her waist to steady her. Gage allowed his hands to remain on her middle for longer than what was needed for the woman to regain her balance. Heat flooded over him, and he quickly removed his hands. What was wrong with him, ogling over the poor woman so? Her face shifted to a light hue of purple, and she backed away from him.

  He took a deep breath. A man behind him grunted. Gage stepped forward and gestured to the rope the crew already aboard ship had thrown down for him.

  “Ladies first.”

  After letting out a puff of air, Lady Shaw grabbed the ropes and began her ascent. Gage made sure to follow right behind her, fearful that she would stumble. He wanted to be the one to catch her should she fall, rather than one of his crew members.

  The trek up the side of the ship was slower than most he had witnessed, but Lady Shaw eventually reached the railing. Gage stretched an arm up to give her a boost over the bulwarks before landing on the deck behind her with a light thud.

  He glanced around, noting the barrels lining the decks. The crew that had remained on the ship while he was at port recruiting more men lounged on the deck, some playing cards, others drinking from bottles of rum. When they took notice of the lady, they whistled and offered catcalls and lewd comments.

  “Har, ye went for a crew, and brought us back a treat instead, didja, Cap’n?”

  “All you could find was a lady to join yer crew?”

  Gage frowned. For some reason, he had forgotten how uncivilized his peers could be. Lady Shaw’s face became a dark shade of crimson and her eyes pleaded with him before she bowed her head low.

  He cast her an apologetic look before announcing, “Lady Shaw is our guest, and you will treat her no less. I don’t want anyone bothering her. Do you understand me, men?”

  Grumbles drifted from the men, and Gage decided to leave the matter there.

  “At least this one ain’t a stowaway!” One man who had joined Gage from Caspian’s ship shouted, and others chuckled.

  They were referring to Captain Archer, and his stowaway-turned wife, Eden.

  “Silence, men!” Gage tried his best to use the commanding tone that sent Captain Archer’s men scrambling to do his bidding.

  He would never be as great a leader as Caspian.

  But his men did shut their mouths and went about preparing the ship to set sail at his bidding. Mayhap Gage wasn’t a complete failure after all.

  ****

  Ivy tried to steady herself against the swaying of the ship. She had taken her short moments back on land for granted, she feared. Captain Thompson placed a gentle hand on the small of her back but soon removed it. The man was behaving oddly, but what was to be expected of a pirate? He had no doubt never even met a real lady before his time spent with Eden. Ivy’s father had taught her some men were simply born beneath others and there was nothing to do about it.

  The rest of the ship’s crew climbed up from the longboat and sauntered across the deck. Each thump of their boots sent shivers splintering down Ivy’s spine. What was she getting herself into? At least on Matthew’s merchant ship she knew she was safe. Here she was stuck with a group of uncivilized miscreants. Who would protect her from them should they attack?

  Ivy cringed at her thought. She had no right to be so judgmental of the men, but what choice had they given her, really?

  Captain Thompson cleared his throat. “Milady, may I escort you about the ship, now? Or do you wish to rest?”

  “Nay, Captain, I’m afraid there will be plenty of time for rest on our voyage. Please, do show me about your vessel.”

  He beamed and offered her his arm. Ivy hesitated, considering her options. She didn’t want the man to think she wanted to touch him, and yet she did not wish to offend him by not taking his arm. However, without holding onto him, there was a large chance of her toppling to the deck. She squeezed her eyes shut at the vision of her feet in the air, petticoats exposed. Nay, that was not an option.

  Ivy let out a sigh and accepted his outstretched arm. He guided her about the main deck, pointing out the different masts and sails to her. They all passed through her mind without her noting any. She assumed she would never need to know the information, but listened to be polite.

  She detected a certain pride in his voice as he led her about the vessel. Captain Thompson led her down a stairwell, lighting a lantern as they went. The light cast an eerie glow across the dark setting. They passed several doorways until the captain halted before one.

  “This will be your cabin for the voyage. It is meant for some of my officials, but they have agreed to sleep with the rest of the men so you may have your privacy. Many ships don’t have a separate cabin like this anyway unless they are a passenger vessel.”

  “Thank you very much, sir.” Ivy pushed a lock of her hair from her eyes that had escaped her bun. Really, the man was quite kind, offering her a place on his ship and wanting nothing in return, and giving her a cabin for herself as well.

  Captain Thompson nodded his response and moved down a hallway, his heavy boots thumping as he walked, but Ivy stopped in her tracks. Her blood chilled as realization struck her. Was the man being kind, or…or…could he want something—not monetary—in return? Only now thinking of what she had gotten herself into, she shuddered. She would have to discuss this with him later.

  The captain halted, faced her, and raised a questioning brow. Ivy opened her mouth to speak but refrained. She did not want to give him any ideas if they had not yet occurred to him.

  “Milady?”

  She gave him a small smile and shrugged.

  He cleared his throat and continued on their journey. His path led them down a narrow ladder.

  Filthy smells assaulted Ivy’s senses and she quickly pressed the back of her hand to her nose.

  Captain Thompson glanced back at her and chuckled, the white of his teeth glimmering in the lantern light. “You’ll grow accustomed to the stench in time, milady.”

  “I know, Captain, even though I was only off of Captain Emery’s ship for a few hours, I suppose my nose was glad to be rid of it.”

  He smiled. “Well, milady, it’s a long voyage ahead of us so the sooner you get used to it, the better.”

  “Over there is where the crew sleeps.” He gestured towards another dark passageway that wound downward. “And down there is the hold where we keep the supplies, whatever treasure we may find, and any cargo.”

  The further they traveled into the bowels of the ship, the more Ivy felt like gagging. She didn’t understand how someone would willingly choose to live on a ship like this their entire life.

  She allowed her gaze to rove over the captain, who walked in the foul darkness with confidence. Although he was quite handsome, by the way he was dressed and how his hair was disheveled, he appeared to fit right in with this ship of his. But the second he grinned, she couldn’t force herself to concentrate on the fact that he was a rogue.

  She closed her eyes and focused on clearing her mind of such thoughts.

  ****

  Once back on the main deck again, Gage shifted his weight between his feet as Lady Shaw moved to the starboard rail, gazing down at the water lapping beneath them. Seeing the woman on his ship shifted his thoughts to Addie.

  The poor
, sweet girl—young woman now, he supposed, but he knew he would always see his sister as a little girl—widowed at the age of seventeen. He had just received word from her that her husband had died, leaving her penniless in the Carolinas.

  Gage was anxious to reach her and take her on his ship with him, where she would be protected. He hated the fact that she had been married off to a man he had not met. She was his sister, after all, and he had thought he should at least meet the man. But Gage had been away, sailing with Caspian at the time, and had not received word of the wedding until she had actually moved to the Carolinas.

  His mind drifted to the years of their youth. The fact that he had never been able to provide for her on his own still haunted him. Gage had, after all, taken her with him to wander the streets after their mother had died. He still didn’t know what exactly became of their father. The man had left when Gage's mother found out she was expecting another child, and had never returned.

  Gage shuddered as he recalled the months spent running the streets of New Providence, terrified they would not survive to see the next day, wondering how they would find a meal and a dry place to sleep at night. Finally, they were taken in by Caspian’s family—but those months had been the worst of their lives by far.

  One day during that time, they stepped inside a store, trying to find a brief respite from the heat of the Caribbean summer. Before they were shooed out by the shopkeeper, seven-year-old Addie had pointed to a bolt of vibrant pink taffeta. Young Gage had taken one look at his sister’s brown, tattered, filthy frock she was outgrowing by the minute and wished with all his heart that he could get the pretty fabric for her, but he did not even have enough money to find them something decent to eat.

  Well, before he found Addie, he wanted to bring her some fabric for a new dress. It was probably a foolish notion, but he felt compelled to do it. However, he had no idea how to purchase fabric for a woman.

  But luckily, Lady Shaw stood before him, dressed in a pleasant lilac-colored gown that he thought must be fashionable. She had to be a God-given gift, sent straight to him.

  Gage cleared his throat, and the lady twirled around. She wrung her small hands together.

  “Milady—"

  “I—"

  They spoke at the same moment before Lady Shaw interjected, “You first, Captain.”

  Gage paused for a moment, giving her a chance to speak if she wished to. When she stood there simply staring at him, he voiced his thoughts.

  “Lady Shaw, I was…I beg of you to consider going back into the town with me, just for an hour or so.”

  Her eyebrows slowly rose, and Gage continued after studying her for a few moments. “I…I wish to purchase some fabric, and I wanted a female’s opinion on which to choose. If you don’t mind, I was hoping you could aid me …”

  “Fabric? What would you need to purchase fabric for?” She furrowed her brow, still wringing her hands.

  Gage felt heat rush to his cheeks. What a fool he was, rambling like an idiot in front of this woman. He stifled a groan.

  “I-I’m sorry, my lady. I plan to present it to my sister so she may have a new dress, but I am afraid I am not familiar with ladies’ fashions, so I was wondering if you could…would …”

  The lady smiled, the first time he had ever seen her do so. Her face glowed pleasantly and Gage suddenly wished he could make her smile more often. They had a long voyage ahead of them for him to try.

  “Yes, Captain, I will help you. I have always enjoyed shopping with my friends back home.”

  Gage grinned. At least she did not think him a complete fool.

  Chapter Four

  Ivy was grateful to steal another few hours on land before her long, torturous voyage back home. Remembering the seasickness that wreaked havoc on her appetite the first few weeks of her search for Eden, she stifled a groan. She prayed conditions would be far different this time.

  But now she had a pirate captain to worry about in addition to her health. She studied the man as he ambled in front of her, his well-worked muscles moving as he did. His curly brown hair rustled beneath his tri-corn hat in the ever-present breeze.

  The man led her through the town toward the shop from which he insisted they purchase fabric. She wondered exactly why he so desired to make this purchase. He certainly seemed to be an eccentric man.

  The captain stopped suddenly and whirled around to face her. “Forgive my horrible manners, milady. I don’t know what got into me.” He offered her his arm, and she hesitated.

  Ivy did not wish to be improper, allowing a pirate like him to escort her, but there was nothing else to do. She knew she was being completely foolish. No harm could come from accepting his arm; the sailor was no doubt attempting to be a gentleman.

  She tucked her hand over his arm, and a grin illuminated his face. As they continued their stroll down the muddy streets, Ivy held her skirts up as modestly as possible both to keep up with the captain’s fast stride and to avoid dirtying one of her only two gowns.

  They passed farther into the town than she had been so far, and both the changing scenery and the darkening sky sent a shiver of fear down her spine. Taverns lined the streets, and drunken, raucous men flooded into them; women of questionable morals spilled from balconies and porches, displaying their wares.

  Ivy inhaled a deep breath before looking away, but choked on the stench of rotten fish mingled with alcohol, urine, and filthy body odors.

  Captain Thompson grinned at her. Did the man never stop grinning? “I suppose the smell here isn’t much more pleasant than back on the—my ship. I apologize. Just be sure you stay close to me at all times. I don’t want anything happening to you on my account.”

  She nodded. All the men’s gazes who drifted her way sickened her. Some whistled and nudged their friends, chortling and offering lewd suggestions. A shiver iced down her spine.

  Captain Thompson tightened his gentle grip on her arm, giving her a small, reassuring smile. He ignored the men and urged her forward.

  “How old is your sister, Captain?” Ivy inquired, trying to make conversation as they journeyed to the store.

  He didn’t speak for a moment, and Ivy wondered if he would answer. But eventually, he said, “She is seventeen now. Blast, I cannot believe my baby girl is seventeen years old already.”

  Ivy held back a smile. She knew how the man felt; her brother was three years old but, to her, it felt like he had been born yesterday. “I understand.”

  The man winked at her, an action that betrayed the forlorn look of his face, and finally paused before a wide building. “Ladies first.” He motioned for her to ascend the stairs to the porch.

  She entered the building, which was a shop lined with fabrics of all shades and textures, strewn with ribbons, laces, threads, and sewing supplies. Aimee would love this place. Pretty things such as these fascinated the dear girl.

  Captain Thompson entered behind her. His sailor’s attire and masculine carriage made him appear utterly out of place in this frilly store. He strode across the room and paused before a table covered in heavy bolts of rich fabrics. “What do you think, Lady Shaw? Which is the best?”

  Ivy laughed softly at his male point of view. “That depends on your tastes, Captain. I suppose I find this one exceptionally pretty.” She pulled out floral-printed yellow linen.

  Captain Thompson sighed and pushed the bolt back onto the table, dismissing it with a wave. “Aye, I suppose, milady, but Addie never liked yellow.” Ivy studied him as he dug through the pile, an intent look tightening his handsome features. She grimaced. Had she again thought of the pirate as handsome? At least she had only said it in her head, but there must be something terribly wrong with her to think such a thing.

  He pulled out a sage green fabric that was rather plain, even for Ivy’s simple tastes. “It depends on what this sister of yours likes, sir. I don’t know about that one.”

  His brow furrowed. “Nay, then it will not do. Show me another one you like, milady.”
<
br />   What did her opinion matter? Ivy stopped herself from inquiring. What an odd man he was…

  Ivy shrugged her shoulders slightly and continued her search for a suitable material. She spotted a lavender lawn that peeked out from beneath a pile and tugged it out in front of Captain Thompson.

  His face lit up. “That one. It’s perfect. It makes me think of her just by looking at it.” His eyes searched hers before Ivy finally looked down, uncomfortable at how she felt when she stared into those chocolate depths. She could not describe the strange, yet pleasant tremble that passed through her.

  Ivy finally gave him a small smile, glad to have helped him.

  After asking her how much of the material would be needed to create a decent-sized gown for a woman of Addie’s size, he purchased the fabric, and they emerged from the store.

  Darkness almost completely blanketed the sky, and the streets were lit merely by occasional torches and lanterns that twisted shadows across the buildings. The sounds of the city were more frightening now, and depraved laughter filtered through the buildings they walked near. Captain Thompson seemed to notice her discomfort and offered his arm. She gladly took it, relieved at the rush of safety she felt holding on to the strong stranger.

  A loud, high-pitched cry emerged from beyond a corner, and Ivy felt herself stiffen once again in apprehension. She flinched and sought Captain Thompson.

  “Just a babe, milady. Nothing to fret about.”

  They continued on their way, and rounded the corner. Ivy gasped when she spotted a young woman dropping a cloth-wrapped bundle on the front steps of a building. A squirming, cloth-wrapped bundle.

  ****

  A baby.

  Gage watched in horror as the young lady casually stalked away without one hesitant step or look back. Lady Shaw’s fingernails dug into his skin until he wondered if she drew blood. It was just what he needed to get him moving.

  “Miss! Stop this instant!” He squeezed Lady Shaw’s hand reassuringly before letting it go and starting after the woman. Her curly blonde hair tumbled down her back. When she spun around he understood just what was happening. As he had feared.