Page 69 of Stilettos & Secrets on the 7 Seas

Shrug whacked me hard on the back. The air whooshed in, and I coughed. “You meanI’msupposed to marry the captain?”

“Ye’ll be wedded and bedded before we leave the harbor. Rowan’s promised a feast for the crew. And he’s payin’ fer the musicians from the village.” Shrug danced a little jig on the deck.

“Wedded?” I questioned but it wasn’t theweddedthat worried me. It was thebedded.

“Aye.” He nudged me with the butt of his rifle. “Get your walk. You’ll be need’n energy for the cap’n.”

Jeez, Louise. “I can walk fine by myself. No need to prod me like an old mare.” Time for a come-to-Jesus meeting with the giant. No way was I marrying a sixteen-year-old boy.

He bumped me again and chuckled.

I pointed a finger at him. “If you touch me with that rifle again, I’ll give you something to think about.” I sounded like my dad, but it was a good threat. Shrug wasn’t a big guy, and he had a limp. I could sweep his feet and take him to the ground, hopefully without getting shot. The empty threat lifted my spirits.

I walked the length of the ship, Shrug’s rifle bumping my butt with every step. I’d almost reached my butt-bumping limit when I saw Rowan and Max with their heads bent over a table. Now was as good a time as any to talk Max out of marrying me and make plans for me and Ace to sneak off this ship.

“What are you looking at?” I peeked around Rowan at the map on the table. Both men straightened and turned at the sound of my voice.

“Keep to yer walkin’, witch. The cap’n’s busy.” Shrug nudged the butt of the rifle into my butt again.

Without thinking, I turned quickly. Shrug reared back, pointing the gun toward the sky. I rammed my heal into Shrug’s instep. As he reached for his pained foot, I swept the other one and flipped him on his ass.

Rowan’s deep baritone came out in a low, rumbly laugh.

Shrug jumped to his feet, scooped up his gun, and aimed it at me.

“At ease, Shrug.” Max stepped between us.

“Innit right to ’ave a witch on the ship.” Shrug tugged his jacket back into place. “Makin’ me a fool, she did.”

Rowan held a hand up. “The crew knows ye slipped on the wet deck. No way could the woman best ye.”

I opened my mouth to protest but caught Rowan’s warning look as I felt the eyes of the crew watching us.

“God’s teeth, that’s the truth. Me feet slipped out from under me.” Shrug flashed his head right and left as if looking for the cause of his poor footing. “I’ll have words with that scallywag swab.”

“I serve punishment on this ship.” Rowan straightened to his full height and pointed to the nearest rails. “Wait there until Miss Jennifer is ready to go below deck.”

Shrug stood a few paces away, as if guarding the captain from the evil doings of the witch.

Max sent a well-trained glare at the crew, and they returned to work. He stepped aside, allowing me a view of the table. The map was spread open, held in place at the corners by a seashell and rocks.

A cup of tea on a pretty porcelain saucer was offered by a young boy and I took it, allowing the tepid tea to soothe me from Shrug’s hopefully mistaken news.

“Is this a map of Nassau?” I ran my fingers across the tattered surface.

Rowan turned his attention back to the map. “’Tis a map of New Providence Island and the islands off the British Americas coast.”

“We’re meeting Captain Vane’s ship here.” Max pointed at the tip of Florida.

Close to the Spanish fleet’s wreckage, I thought.

“How long will it take us to sail there?” My rough calculations guessed several days at the least. I didn’t have time to sail the seven seas. My time travel clock was a-tickin’.

Max sent Rowan a concerned glance, making my heart race a few beats faster.

“I have bonne news.” Rowan grimaced but looked down at me. “The captain has chosen ye for his wife.”

The tea jostled in my stomach, threatening a preview of the Boston Tea Party. Shrug had been right.

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