Page 78 of Of Magic and Rum
Securing an arm around her waist, I breathe her in, salty and sweet. I’m increasingly grateful this woman chose me. I let my lips brush hers, soft and fleeting. “I still don’t know what I’ve ever done to deserve you.”
“Maybe it’s not because of what you have or haven’t done. But what we’ll dotogether.” Anne cups my face and presses a kiss to my temple.
Another knock sounds at the door, this one harsher and with purpose. “We’re ready for you, Captain,” Red says without stepping inside.
Reality comes crashing against my chest like a ruptured dam. Anne takes my hand, securing our fingers tightly together, and curls my arm to her ribs, guiding me to the broadside of my ship, where five bodies wrapped in cream sailcloth rest on the deck. Ragnar and Mary hover near one in particular, and I know it’s Duke, but I can’t bring myself to stand by them.
Anne rubs my arm and delicately tugs me along. One crewman recites the funeral prayer we’ve always done, but it echoes in my ears, the words drifting in the wind. Other crew members lift one body at a time, letting it slide down a wood plank into the water.
Thy kingdom come…daily bread…forgive us our trespasses.
One after the other meets their sea burial, and my throat hardens more with each passing body. I’m choking, not breathing, by the time they reach Duke.
Lead us not into temptation.
Snapping out of it, I pat Anne’s hand and hurry to help lift Duke’s body onto the plank, resting it on the railing with Mary, Ragnar, and Aranck.
“Goodbye, old friend. May wherever you’re going be filled with mermaids and endless rum.”
“Amen.”
And with a final nod to each other, we tilt Duke, and I watch his shrouded body plunge into the sea, the waves enveloping him like an embrace, welcoming him. And I don’t look away until he’s so deep I can scarcely make out his outline. My palms squeak against the railing, knuckles cracking as I twist and grip, reining in the fury I know I need to swallow—for now.
“Everyone,” I shout, slapping my hand against the wood and turning around. “Pay attention. We need to repair the ship but don’t have the proper supply on board.”
Glog’s mouth gapes. “How the hell do we get supplies with the Navy at every turn?”
“We go to the only place we can.” Brushing past those standing near me, I make for the ship’s wheel, the wind picking up enough to fill the sails. “London.”
The gasps and stunned expressions are well warranted. I’d be lying through my teeth if I said the idea didn’t terrify me to my marrow, but we have little choice.
“Jack, with all due respect,” Red slides his hat from his head and holds it to his chest. “That’s suicidal.”
Locking my eyes with Mary, I don’t need to give a command because she sees me at the wheel. In a breath, she’s ordering crew members to ready the rigging and drop the sails. “No. So long as we’re not caught.”
“Not caught?” Red barks a laugh. “Cap, The Revenge isn’t the biggest ship in these waters, but it’s certainly not the smallest.”
I frown at this.
“And it’s known by the community at this point. We can’t simply lower our colors and pull up to the dock,” Red finishes, holding his arms at his sides as several mumbling crew members agree.
Anne steps to my side, arousing the urge to feel her skin against mine. I pull her to my side and kiss her cheek. Her smile in response is glorious and heart-shattering.
“We’re not making port at the London dock,” I announce.
Anne raises a quizzical brow, and I wink.
“There’s an island not far that I’ve used in the past. We dock the ship without colors and split up disguised as fishermen within what dinghies we have.” Reluctantly, I let go of Anne to use both hands on the wheel, turning us in the oppositedirection. “As long as we’re not recognized as pirates and caught with no King’s permission papers, we’ll befine.”
The crew goes silent, and my neck tenses. I’ve never worked this hard for their trust and approval.
Anne steps forward when several beats go on with still nothing but shaking heads and murmurs of disapproval. “I agree. Wewillbe fine. This’ll work so long as we do precisely as the captain says.” She tosses me a sidelong glance. “Thiswillwork, right?”
“It has to. We’ve no other choice.” Though my confidence wavers, I flash her a cocky grin as reassurance. “But it’s under control. IamCalico Jack, after all.”
Ragnar raises his fist into the air. “For fanden. We need supplies. And unless you all want to float around waiting for our asses to be handed to us by the next Navy ship we pass, you’ll agree on this too.”
Red and Glog hang their heads but start the sea of “Ayes” from the crew. And now that I have them all on board with the only plan I can muster, it’s time to prove why they trust me as their captain.
