Pirate's Golden Promise by Lynette Vinet Page B

now … not her father’s pampered pet.
    â€œWhat do you think they’ll do to us?” Mary’s voice was choked with tears.
    â€œWell, whatever it is,” Old Davey muttered philosophically, “I ain’t going to ponder over it. So far, we’re all fine, and I heard that Dirk fellow tell one of the crew to prepare us a place below. Can’t be any worse than aboard the Mary Jack. I just hope there ain’t no rats in the hole.”
    Wynter hoped that, too. Most of all she wanted a dry place to sleep, not the damp bowels of another ship. She surveyed her surroundings on the upper deck. The crew worked diligently, and she’d have never known they were pirates. They appeared to be hard-working men, much like the members of the Mary Jack, but one thing she knew about the Sea Bride —it was much larger and heavier, a perfect ship for a wayward sea captain.
    From where she and the others sat on the upper deck, the canvas sails caught the breeze and billowed around them like freshly laundered sheets. On each side of the deck stood seven stalwart cannons, and on the quarterdeck above, Wynter discerned four more. Truly a fighting ship, she thought, and for some reason this excited her. She’d had very little adventure in her life at home, but now, here she was on a pirate ship. And all because of Cort Van Linden.
    In reluctance her eyes found his broad back. He stood on the quarterdeck, one foot perched on a barrel and the other firmly planted on the planked flooring. His hands rested easily on his hips as his golden head surveyed the sweeping expanse of ocean. Wynter felt her heart speed up for a second when he turned and his tawny-filled gaze caught hers. He smiled at her, a smile that caused her pulse to race more than ever, and she would have willingly drowned in that gaze had not Fletch grabbed her hand.
    â€œI don’t trust that captain,” he whispered. “Doesn’t he know I’m your husband?”
    â€œI told him that, Fletch,” Wynter said. “Captain Van Linden was a guest in my father’s house once. I had no idea he was a pirate.”
    â€œHmph,” Fletch sniffed. “Then it’s a good thing I took you away from McChesney Manor if you were associating with the likes of him.”
    Wynter’s eyes misted to think of home and all she had lost. “Let’s not talk about home,” she said.
    There was little chance to talk about anything then, for Dirk and two other roughly dressed men appeared and ordered all of them to their feet. They followed behind them down a long flight of stairs and on to a landing which led to one more flight and stopped at the bottom. There was no door here like on the Mary Jack which could be closed and locked at night—only an open room with a porthole.
    â€œThe sky! I can see the sky,” Mary exclaimed and stood on tiptoe to get a better view.
    â€œAnd it’s clean and not damp feeling down here,” Hilda praised.
    â€œJust hope there ain’t no rats,” Davey said and grabbed a blanket one of the pirates handed him.
    Wynter watched as Fletcher huddled in a corner. He began to cough, a wracking sound from deep within his chest. She took a blanket that Dirk handed her and went to Fletcher. Wrapping the rough but warm material around her husband, she enfolded him in her arms.
    â€œI’ll take care of you, Fletch. I promise I will. I’ll make you well again.”
    Fletch laid his head on her shoulder.

    Shortly after biscuits were served them, a tasty luxury they’d never gotten aboard the Mary Jack, and they’d rested a bit, Dirk made a motion to Wynter. Getting up, she left the sleeping Fletcher and followed the brawny man out of the doorway. She could feel the others’ speculative glances as she left the cabin.
    â€œWhere are we going?” she asked him when he pointed up the row of stairs.
    â€œCaptain Van Linden wants to see you.”
    He said