“Oh. That can’t have been good.”
“I wanted my father to know that I’d coupled and that he couldn’t control me anymore.” Her tears fell faster. “I never thought he’d kill the boy.”
“He did?” Brody asked in surprise.
“He strangled him with his bare hands. I was so frightened that I did nothing to help. I just stood there and watched. And when the boy’s father came down to the hold next, a fight broke out between my father and his best friend.”
“Can you blame him? Your father killed his son.”
“My father has a bad temper. He never meant to kill the boy, but his anger got the best of him. Because of me. It was my fault the boy died.” She cried harder, hiding her head against his chest. He comforted her and held her tight against him.
“You were young and didn’t know how your father would react,” said Brody. “The boy’s death wasn’t your fault.”
“My father killed his best friend that day, too. But that was an act of self-defense. Then he dumped both bodies overboard and swore the crew to secrecy of what really happened. He said if anyone leaked a word of the truth, he’d kill them too.”
“So, your father’s friend – did he have a wife and other children?”
“Nay,” she said, sniffing. “That was the only good that came from the situation. There was no one waiting for them back home that would miss them. That’s the day my father started drinking whisky instead of ale. His drinking got more and more out of control, and it is all my fault.”
“Shhh, it’s no one’s fault,” he said, holding her close and looking over the top of her head. Now, he wondered what would happen if Cato returned and found out they made love. He didn’t fancy being at the end of a drunken, mad man’s blade.
“That was a horrible thing he did, and I should have known right then and there he was a pirate,” she mumbled into his chest.
“Not all pirates are like that,” he told her.
“Nay, you’re wrong,” she said. “And I’m sure my brothers are like that now as well.”
“Gwen, mayhap we should wait on making love,” he told her, hearing malice dripping from her words. If she hated pirates that much, why had she agreed to marry him? And would she change her mind about him several years down the road?
“I’m sorry, Brody. I should never have lured you to my bed. In a way, I suppose I’m a pirate too - doing whatever it takes to get what I want.”
“I know a lot of people like that, Gwen. It’s not just pirates that act that way. Now, I suggest we both get some shut-eye. We’ll still hold each other tonight, and in the morning we can think about things with a clear head.” As soon as he said it, he knew how addlepated he was acting. God’s eyes, how was he going to sleep with a beautiful, naked woman in his arms and not take her before the morning?
Chapter 8
A knock at the door the next morning had them both bolting from the bed. Gwen wrapped the sheet around her, and got there first. She was about to open it, when Brody’s hand shot forward, holding the door closed. He was in his braies.
“You need always to be certain first that there isn’t anyone on the other side of the door that will hurt you.”
“You are starting to sound like my father.”
“Brody, open up, it’s Edwin,” came the muffled voice through the thick wood.
Brody swung the door open. “What is it that can’t wait until we’re out of bed?”
Edwin looked at him and Gwen and smiled. “I see.”
“It’s not what you think,” he said, feeling embarrassed for Gwen. “Now, what do you want?”
“It’s Gwen’s father.”
“Did you find him?” she asked, excitedly, almost dropping the sheet. “Is he alive? How about the ship and crew?”
“The ship just sailed into port, but it’s busted up badly,” announced Edwin. “The crew was lost at sea, but the old man managed to somehow bring the ship in by himself.”
“My father!” shouted Gwen. “I’ve got to see him.”
“We’ll be right down,” Brody told Edwin and closed the door.
“I’m so glad he’s still alive.” Gwen hurriedly dressed and pushed her feet into her shoes. Then she headed over to a trunk with a boar’s bristle brush sitting atop it. “I hope Marta won’t mind if I borrow her brush, but I want to look my best for Father. He’s never seen me in a gown before.”
“Never?” Brody finished dressing and limped over to join her.
“Nay. My family didn’t have a lot of money. That is a good part of the reason I grew up wearing my brothers’ old clothes. I must say, I like the way I look in a gown.”
“So do I. Here, let me.” He gently took the brush from her, running it over her hair, using his other hand to smooth it down. “I thought you’d be angry with your father after the story you told me last night.”
“That happened a long time ago, Brody. And it was my fault it ever happened at all. I can’t put all the blame on him. It was my decision that put everyone in that horrible position.”
“I suppose you’re right. He stopped and ran his hand over the boar bristles. “But what about the part that he is a pirate?”
“Was a pirate. He’s not one anymore.”
“Once a pirate always a pirate,” he muttered, wondering if he would be able to change.
“I know I should be angry, but he’s the only family I have. Besides, when I tell him I’m the one responsible for my mother’s death, it’ll be a weight off his shoulders. Mayhap he’ll stop drinking.”
“Gwen, I don’t want you to get your hopes up,” he told her, brushing out her hair once again. “Sometimes, it’s hard for people to change and they never give up their old ways.”
“Are you going to give up being a pirate?” she asked, surprising him by her question. His hands stilled on her hair.
“I’d like to,” he said. “Although, I would like to get my ship back as well. The sea is such a big part of my life. I don’t know how I’d ever live on land again.”
“Brody, forget about killing Muck and Lucky. Talk to Rowen and find your ship, but no more killing. Please.”
He put the brush down on a trunk and turned her to face him. “That’s part of what I wanted to talk to you about last night. I feel as if I’m ready for a change in life.”
“Will you give up the sea?”
“Nay.” He shook his head. “The sea is in my heart. I don’t ever want to stop sailing.”
“Then be a fisherman like my father.”
“A fisherman?” He laughed. “That would be so boring after the exciting life I’ve lived.”
“Then I guess you don’t want to give up being a pirate after all.” She stepped around him and rushed to the door.
“Wait, Gwen. I’m not done talking.”
“My father might be hurt. I have to go to him. He needs me.”
Gwen rushed from the room, not waiting for Brody to answer. Why had she thought he’d agree to change since they planned on getting married? Mayhap it was because she wanted it so desperately. She had already envisioned a small cottage by the sea filled with their children.
Sleeping in his arms last night had made it feel as if they were already married, even though they hadn’t coupled. She didn’t want him to walk away from her now. But he sounded as if he would never give up being a pirate. She had secretly hoped he would choose her over the sea, but now she realized that he’d always be a pirate in his heart.
By the time she got down the stairs, the door to the inn had opened. Several men carried her father into the building, laying him atop one of the long tables.
“Father!” She ran to her father, pushing her way through the crowd.
“Gwen, is that you? Thank God you’re alive. I thought you drowned at sea.” His head had a deep gash on it, and his clothes were tattered and wet. His skin looked like worn leather, and his teeth were broken with his lip split. He looked so frail.
“Don’t bring that bloody pirate in h
ere,” spat Edwin, coming to the front of the crowd. “Get him out of here, now!”
“Nay!” Gwen covered her father’s body with hers, stretching out her arms. “Leave him here. He’s wounded.”
“Gwen, Daughter.” Her father could barely keep his eyes open as he struggled to take her hands in his. “It doesn’t matter because I’m near death.”
“Don’t say that! You’ll be fine.” The tears dripped down her cheeks.
“The only thing that kept me alive was my will to find you and tell you I love you.”
Gwen’s heart soared. Her father had never told her he loved her before. “I love you, too, Father.” She pulled back a little to look at him, smiling, and running a hand over his face.
“What are you wearing?”
“It’s a gown. Do you like the way I look?”
Tears formed in his eyes. “You look so much like your mother. I was wrong to keep you from being a woman, Gwen. I’m sorry for that, as well as all the other horrible things I’ve done.”
“I love you, Father. Please, don’t die.”
“I haven’t been honest with you, Gwen. I need you to know the truth before I’m gone.”
“I know everything. I don’t care if you were a pirate. You are no longer one.” Gwen stood up proudly.
“You know?”
“I know you only did it to support your family. And you weren’t the one to kill Mother, I was. I told her I saw you and my brothers in the tavern that night.”
“I don’t want you ever to think it was your fault.” His hand lifted to touch her face, but he dropped it again since he was so weak. His voice became softer, and he could barely keep his eyes open now. She could tell he was in a lot of pain. “It’s my fault she’s gone and also my fault that your brothers are still pirates.”
“Is it true, then? They really are pirates?”
“I’m afraid so,” he said with remorse in his eyes. “I only wish that I had gone after them and brought them home. There is nothing worse than a parent not going after their children.”
“I’ll find them, Father. I swear I will.”
“I’ll help her.” Brody stepped forward, putting his hand on her shoulder.
“Who better to find a pirate than a pirate himself,” growled Cato, ending up gagging and coughing. “You stay away from my daughter!”
“I wasn’t always a pirate, and I don’t plan on being one any longer,” Brody said, surprising her.
“You don’t?” Gwen looked at him quizzically as he continued to talk to her father.
“I’m not sure what I’ll do. But I promise you that if you agree to let me marry your daughter, I will not only protect her, but I will lead the search in finding your sons.”
“Brody?” Gwen looked up with tears in her eyes. “You would do that? For me?”
“I hope you still want to marry me, Gwen. I feel we belong together. I don’t quite understand how it happened so quickly, but I do believe I’m falling in love with you.”
“I felt that ever since we touched the cave wall.”
“Not the silly legend and the wall. Really.” Edwin rolled his eyes and shook his head at Brody.
“Edwin, I’m sure you love Marta and couldn’t imagine a life without her,” said Brody.
“Aye.” His friend nodded.
“I feel as if I’ve been waiting a lifetime for Gwen. I don’t understand why, but I feel as if we were always meant to be together.”
“I agree to the wedding,” came her father’s faint voice.
The noise from the crowd in the tavern grew. The people moved in closer to hear more.
“Thank you, Sir,” said Brody.
“I want you to have not only my daughter but also the Desperado.”
“The Desperado?” asked Brody.
“That’s my father’s ship,” explained Gwen.
“It’s broken up pretty bad. However, if you fix it, you can use it to find my sons. Please say you’ll do it.” Cato’s grip loosened. His voice was barely above a whisper now, as his life slipped away.
“I will,” answered Brody, pulling Gwen closer. “You can count on me. I will always love and take care of your daughter.”
“Then I . . . can die . . . in peace.” Cato’s hand slipped from Gwen’s as her father’s life left his body. His eyes stared at the ceiling, but he didn’t blink. His face was ashen, and his chest no longer moved up and down. Nor could she hear him breathing.
“Nay, don’t leave me, Father.” Gwen laid her body over his lifeless form, hugging him, willing him back to life.
“He’s gone, sweetheart.” Brody reached out and, with a gentle hand, closed her father’s eyes. Then he pulled her into his arms and kissed the top of her head. “He’s gone, but you’re not alone because I swear I will never leave you.”
Chapter 9
Brody stood staring at the Desperado the next morning after they had buried Gwen’s father. The ship was in ruins from the storm. It wasn’t as big as the Sea Mirage. Neither would it be as fast on the water even if he did manage to repair it. Why had he promised Cato he would help Gwen find her brothers? He didn’t even have a means to do it right now.
“Thank you for everything,” said Gwen walking up from the gravesite to meet him. The winds were cold since the sky had clouded over. Fall was approaching, and winter would be here soon. There was no way he’d have the repairs to the ship made before spring. “What are you thinking?” she asked, slipping her arm around his waist.
“I’m thinking how much I miss the Sea Mirage.”
“Brody, did you mean what you said about giving up being a pirate to marry me?”
He nodded, feeling the lump in his throat. His eyes remained faceted to the broken-down fishing ship. “Aye. I meant every word of it. But with this barge, we’ll be lucky not to drown at sea, let alone use it to find your brothers.”
“I miss Aaron, Tristan, and Mardon,” she told him. “With every day that passes, their faces fade a little from my mind. I have the feeling I will never see them again.”
“A lot of things can happen over time,” he told her, thinking of the many years he’d spent living at sea.
“I was upset yesterday and wasn’t thinking clearly when I accused you of always wanting to be a pirate. I want to tell you that I was wrong. I only said it because I was frightened that I’d lose you. Brody, I feel like I’m falling in love with you.”
“You do?” He pulled her around to the front of him, embracing her in a hug.
“I do. I can’t wait to be your wife.”
He kissed her, and that warm feeling between them returned. A new type of excitement for life filled his being. He felt as if he’d found a lost half of himself. Aye, he was looking forward to raising a family with Gwen and being her husband.
As he kissed the top of her head, he caught sight of something from behind a cliff. A flag was wavering from atop a pole. A black flag.
“My ship!” He released Gwen and ran down to the shore, ignoring the burning pain of the wound in his leg.
“Wait. Where are you going?” Gwen hurried after him.
“I just spotted the black flags of the Sea Mirage sailing behind the cliffs near the caves.”
“You did?”
“Yes. I’m sure it’s there.”
They rounded the cliff and stopped. Sure enough, there was the Sea Mirage out on the water. A small transport boat with a few people was headed toward the caves.
“I see them,” said Gwen, trying to catch her breath. “What are you going to do?”
“If that’s Muck, I’m going to kill him.” He pulled the dagger from his waistband, wishing for his sword. This was the only weapon he had right now.
“You’re going to kill him with just a dagger?”
“I’ll use my bare hands if I have to.”
He started forward, but Gwen grabbed his arm and held him back. “Nay, wait. Please, don’t kill anyone.”
“He turned my crew against me. He threw me into the sea
to die. Give me one reason why I shouldn’t?”
“Because it’s too late,” came a deep voice from behind him. Brody turned around, not knowing they’d been followed. He was shocked as well as relieved to see Rowen approaching along with Edwin.
“Rowen!” he cried out, happy to see his good friend.
Gwen watched as Brody rushed over to give his friend a handshake and a slap on the back.
“I never thought I’d see you again,” said Rowen.
“Rowen never stopped looking for you, ever since you were dumped in the sea,” Edwin explained to Brody. “When he showed up just now asking if anyone had seen you, I knew I had to bring him to you at once.”
“You must be Brody’s friend that he’s been telling me about,” said Gwen.
“This is Gwen.” Brody came back and put his arm around her and brought her forward. “We’re going to get married.”
“You’re really doing it?” asked Edwin.
“Aye. I love her,” said Brody.
“I love Brody as well,” Gwen told them. “We fell in love when we touched the wall inside the cave.”
“Ah, you must mean the legend of the St. Agnes cave,” said Rowen.
“You believe it?” asked Brody.
“It seems to me that you two are proof enough.” Rowen smiled. “Now tell me all about Gwen.”
“She’s Cato the pirate’s daughter,” blurted out Edwin.
Brody cleared his throat. “Her father just died, may he rest in peace. He was a fisherman and got caught in a nasty storm. This is Gwen. Gwen Banks.”
Gwen looked up and smiled at Brody. She already liked being treated as his wife, and they weren’t even married yet.
“Rowen, you found him,” came a shout from behind them. Brody turned to see Lucky running up the shore. Two more men were getting out of the transport boat.
“You!” Brody reached out and punched Lucky in the jaw, knocking him to the ground. “I’m going to kill you. Mutiny is not tolerated on the Sea Mirage.”
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