Page 43 of Hired by Pirates

Astor giggled. “Don’t worry about it.”

We adjourned for a quick early supper, and as soon as the men were gone, I pulled Astor straight into my arms.

“I can see how much you hate having me help,” she said sweetly, “but I’ll be perfectly safe.”

“The thought of anything happening to you, my beauty...” I murmured, kissing a trail along her throat. “I’d sooner have my hand cut off than have a single scratch upon your skin.”

“Don’t do that,” she said, gasping as I nibbled at her ear. “I rather like your hands, and what they do to me.”

“Like this?” I asked, dipping my hand into the front of her dress to caress the soft curves of her breasts.

“Yes,” she breathed. “Do we have time to go to your quarters, Captain?”

I’d never heard anyone make my title sound so naughty. The things this sweet girl made me feel were larger than life itself.

Forcing myself to pull away, I kissed her softly. “You know that I dearly want to, my beauty. But we need to eat, get washed and dressed, and pack our…gear.”

At the last second I stopped myself from m

entioning that Tobias and I carried pistols during larger jobs. We hardly ever had to use them. Usually simply showing them with a few clearly worded threats was enough to make people stand down.

Today, there was no way I could let my sweetest crew member go into a town that deeply hated pirates unless I knew she had some protection.

Especially since this job was extra important to me. Not only did I want to pay my crew handsomely and be sure that we were well fed for several months, I had a very special extra expense I needed to allow for as soon as possible.

There was a wonderful goldsmith at our next port of call, whom I’m certain could fashion Astor the wedding ring of her dreams.

~ Chapter 19 ~ Astor ~

* She’s a Doctor *

I hadn’t let on how nervous I was to be part of a real pirate job.

Although I certainly wasn’t the sort of girl who thought that thieving was appropriate, in this particular case, it would serve these dastardly families right. Plus, the money we were...taking...was payment for saving the town, in a way.

These two families were not likely to get any more honorable with the passing of time if they’d gotten away with so much for so many years.

Everything went perfectly, as Woods and I strolled around the town square. Although he was keeping watch, I was enjoying myself thoroughly, browsing the arts and crafts, the food, and the posters for the new plays that would be presented on the updated Town Hall stage.

I had almost forgotten what we were here to do when Woods gave my arm a little shake. “There’s Simon. Let’s go.”

We walked over to a gap in the buildings, making sure that nobody was paying us any mind. I opened my shopping basket, and the papers were slipped inside. Before I could say a word, Simon was already gone, skirting the outside of the crowd toward the back of the hall.

Woods checked his watch. “Perfect. Two minutes early. Now all we have to do is wait.”

I had to admit, Acreton was an absolutely lovely town. The people all seemed friendly, even though it was plain that some of them were a bit poor.

Although everyone was clearly wearing their Sunday best, I couldn’t help noticing that some dresses were faded and worn. Some of the gentlemen’s suits no longer fit properly, or were frayed at the cuffs.

I would never think less of a person for not being able to afford nice clothing, but it was a shame that in a town that seemed so prosperous, some had so much, while others looked to have so little.

If the Ledford and Stroud families were set straight, and the prices of basic things like food and household items returned to a fairer level, everything should even out quickly.

“There’s Morty,” Woods said, nodding across the crowd to a strange looking fellow with ears that stuck out a bit from his close cropped hair. He checked his pocket watch again. “It’s just a few minutes before the Mayor begins.”

I looked over to see a few portly men in very expensive attire congregating at the side of the stage. They seemed to be passing out cigars.

Just as the Mayor man began to take the steps up to the stage, a young woman in a plain gray house dress ran into the center of the crowd, shrieking, “Has anyone seen Dr. Colson?”

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