There was rustling behind us, and I peeked over his shoulder to see four faces dimly lit by the oil lamps.
“I think Captain’s talking to the ghost,” one of them muttered.
I shivered again, causing the Captain to spin around to face them. “Willy, grab a blanket from my bed.”
“Aye, Cap’n.”
He was back before the other three men finished creeping closer, staring at me curiously. The Captain wrapped me in the blanket tightly, sitting me beside him, which was a bit more appropriate, but I immediately missed his warmth.
It was strange that he was so familiar with me, holding me, and caring for me. I knew that I should be appalled, but I wasn’t in the slightest. It felt so deeply wonderful to have someone caring for me.
Every time the Captain looked into my eyes it felt like fireflies were swarming through my chest and belly. It was terrifying and wonderful at the same time, yet I wasn’t sure what it meant.
“Lads, those crates we picked up today contained a little extra treasure.”
I looked up to see his dark eyes gleaming at me strangely. The look wasn’t lecherous, as I’d come to expect from most men. Was it admiration?
“This is Maggie,” he announced. “She’ll be sailing with us for a bit.”
“A woman?”
“She’s but a wee girl.”
“She’s awfully pale, Cap’n. Did you check to see if she’s a ghost?”
A tiny laugh bubbled out of me. “I’m a real person. I’m nineteen now, so if that’s old enough to marry me off, that’s old enough to ask for a job on a ship, isn’t it?”
The five men all exchanged pointed glances.
The Captain turned to me. “First off, let’s put Dwyer’s mind at ease.” He leaned in to whisper in my ear, “Dwyer’s heart is sometimes in control more than his head.”
He reached out to gently poke my shoulder. “See? She’s not a ghost. She was trapped in the last round of crates we loaded.”
I’m not sure why there see
med to be slightly shifty glances circulating among them.
“We’re responsible for her safety, since we took her away from Claytonsfield and we’re not going back there for a spell. We’ll be taking care of the wee lass for the time being.”
“Will she be taking the spare rack?” Cookie asked.
“What’s a rack?” I asked, instantly nervous from the sound of the word.
“It’s a hammock,” the Captain explained. “Once you get in, it wraps around you so that you’re quite safe as the ship rocks, and can’t fall out.”
I shook my head, unable to suppress my shudder. “No, Captain, please. I can’t stand being locked in small spaces. That’s probably why I fainted dead away in the crate.”
“Easy now, my lass,” he said gently. The warmth of his big hand on my shoulder was truly soothing. “You can stay up in my quarters astern if you prefer.”
The other four men had been murmuring amongst themselves, but became absolutely silent at that.
“Don’t worry, Maggie, we’re a bunch of scoundrels, but each man here will keep you safe.”
“Just don’t fall over the rail,” the slim man with short black hair and bright eyes said. “I’m the fastest swimmer, but I can’t guarantee I’d get to you in time.”
“That’s Dobbs,” the Captain said. “And then we’ve got Dwyer.”
The big man with sandy hair nodded, but still didn’t quite look like he trusted me.