Page 56 of Stilettos & Secrets on the 7 Seas

“Who said that?” Ace rolled his eyes upward.

“You have a friend.” I pointed at the parrot.

Behind Ace, the boatswain stepped out of the tavern. “And I’m about to make one.”

Twenty

The boatswain paused in front of the tavern, gazed up at the sun as if checking the time on the town tower clock.

“But I thought we were making a deal?” The tavern owner rushed out of the tavern after the boatswain.

“You tricked me. I told ye, no’ of yer ladies. I need a woman wit’ no experience. Ye git me? No know how.”

“She’s the best I’ve got fir ye.” The owner gave an open-arms shrug.

“Then I canna deal wit’ ye today.” The boatswain shook his head, walked away from the man and in my direction.

“Guid luck findin’ yer maidenhead on this island,” the man shouted after him.

“Geesh,” Ace muttered. “Sounds like the boatswain is looking for his vestal virgin bride.”

“Excuse me, sir.” I clomped up to the boatswain, blocking his way toward the harbor.

He stopped, ran his eyes down my body and back up, stopping at my chest hidden beneath layers of ruffles. He glanced at Ace and scratched his head. “I paid the proprietor.”

I sucked in some air and gained control of my temper. “I’m not employed by the tavern. You’re with theSea Storm, right?”

“Aye.” He stared at the puffy white dress. “Yer no a wench. Are ye part of the local ministry?”

“No. I heard you require a doctor.”

He looked at Ace, and his face soured. “What kind of doctor are ye?”

“Not him, me. I’m a healer.” I hiked a thumb at myself and heard Ace groan behind me.

“Yer a witch then?”

“Not a witch, a healer. I’ve studied under the most experienced of medical experts.” My brother counted, right? A chiropractor was a doctor. And my dad had pumped his knowledge of herbal remedies into me since I could walk.

He spat on the sidewalk. “Yer British.”

“No. We’re from New England.” Ace explained, drawing out his accent a bit.

“Are ye married?”

“No.” Geesh! What did that have to do with healing his injured captain?

He stared for a contemplative moment. As if associating with the woman in white and her Captain Morgan sidekick might get him in more trouble than he bargained.

“Follow me.” The boatswain walked briskly ahead.

I breathed a sigh of relief and inhaled the fresh sea air as we left the ramshackle town and started toward the beach.

“A healer. Bloody ’ell,” Ace mumbled beside me. “You go green at the sight of blood. We’ll walk the plank before dawn.”

“Stifle it. We’ve got to get on theSea Storm.” I shuffled ahead in my stilettos and ruffles, trying to keep up. Ace trailed behind me, grumbling every few steps.

“If’n the men accept ye, ye’ll come accordingly to the ship,” the boatswain told me over his shoulder.

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