Page 63 of Stilettos & Secrets on the 7 Seas

Placing one hand on Max’s shoulder and the other on his back, I lifted my hip to his hip, closed my eyes, and pushed down hard on his pelvis. Air pockets released in the kid’s spine and discharged in a symphony of popping bang snaps.

Max yelped like a wounded puppy.

Rowan plucked me off the boy as if I weighed nothing. He held me at arm’s length, my feet dangling, while he kept Max from falling off the bench with his other hand.

Max rolled back on the bench, writhing around like a snake caught under a lion’s paw.

“God’s Teeth! What have ye done, witch?” Rowan’s hands closed around my throat, my feet still kicking aimlessly at the air.

I clawed at the paws around my neck. Suddenly, Max sat up, rubbing his back. “It feels better.”

Rowan relaxed his grip, staring wide-eyed at Max.

“Miss Jennifer has healed me.”

No one was more surprised than me, but I gave Rowan a smug look anyhow as I sucked air into my deprived lungs.

“Good,” Rowan grunted, then lowered me to the floor.

Max stretched his body side to side, then grinned wide at his mobility. “Have her things moved into the aft cabin.”

Rowan stepped toward Max. “Captain, the men?—”

Max stood tall. It was an effort on his part because I suspected the pain wasn’t entirely gone. “On my command.”

“Maybe you’d consider the woman for the other matter at hand?” Rowan raised his eyebrows and cocked his head at me. Max’s chin jerked up, and his face reddened.

“How old are ye?” Rowan asked me.

“It’s rude to ask a lady her age.” I snapped my hands to my waist. And why the hell did he want to know?

“A lady, are ye?” He walked around me, studying me like I was the Venus de Milo on exhibit at the Louvre. He stopped and looked down his nose. It had a slight crook to it. The result of too many breaks, I presumed. “I’ll see to the cabin.” Rowan nodded at Max and left the room.

“What the fudge was that all about?” I turned toward Max. The color had faded from his cheeks.

“What’s fudge?” He angled his head, curious.

“It’s a sweet from my home. You should take it easy. Your back may still spasm.” When he looked at me funny, I rephrased, “Cramp.”

“If it does, ye weel rub it again, aye?”

Geesh. He looked entirely too excited about the treatment I’d given him. “Aren’t you a little young to be the captain?”

“I’m six and ten.” His chest puffed out. “’Twas my da’s ship. He bought it. Until someone takes it from me, ’tis mine.”

“You mean like a raid?”

“Willnae happen. Not with Rowan on board. The others are feared of him.”

“The others?”

“Captain Hornigold, that bloody traitor. And Blackbeard and Captain Vane. They respect Rowan and me.” He puffed again.

“I’m looking for a man.”

Max’s face fell.

“He’s a friend.”

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