The Siren's Song by Jennifer Bray-Weber

enough space for a breeze to pass. “Let the devil lead you through his inner sanctum then speak to me of madness.”
    His reply came more as a threat. The air around them suddenly seemed as chilly as winter’s first frost.
    She swallowed. “I came in search of you. I knew you’d be displeased if I wandered about. You warned me of beasts prowling your ship. I fear I have made a mistake seeking out your company. My apologies.”
    “Nonsense.” He dipped his chin contritely and stepped beyond her to the railing. “’Tis I who should apologize.”
    “Oh?”
    “Captain Lynch and I are not on cordial terms as you may have noticed by our, shall we say, disagreement.” He scrutinized his rival.
    Captain Lynch had boarded his boat and activity increased. What the seamen were doing she could not say. However, it appeared they were not readying to set sail.
    “He may convince other salvagers to go into contracts and divide profits,” Drake continued. “The Rissa will do no such thing. The crew is quite capable of handling wrecks ourselves. We’re not of the mind to share the wealth.”
    He signaled one of his crew to join them. “Willie, see to it the gunners are ready should Lynch be so imprudent as to fire his guns.”
    “Aye, Capt’n.”
    Oh dear. Would the conch, as Captain Drake called him, really attack their ship with her on board, even after he was so kind to her? She shivered.
    “’Twas foolish of you to step between men willing to meet with death,” he said.
    “You might have shot each other if I hadn’t.”
    The captain laughed. “Sweet child, never underestimate hatred between men. A woman, even one as fair as you, wouldn’t stop the pull of a trigger. Be sure of that.”
    Her blood ran cold. Mother of heaven. What had she done? She could’ve been killed! How often did Hyde warn her there was no place for a woman in the business of men? How often did she not listen? ’Twas what got her here. Likewise, ’Twas why she still breathed.
    “You didn’t answer my question,” she said.
    “What question was that?”
    “Is it true? Do you lead ships to run aground?”
    Captain Drake spun from the railing. “Valeryn! Willie!”
    The first mate and helmsman joined him midship. Gilly followed, too afraid to be left alone, especially so close to the edge of the ship where cannons would surely blow her to bits.
    “Get Sam and the others back on board. Leave the rest of the metal parts. We need to get underway. Lynch will be heading back to Nassau to cause us trouble. Let’s not let him stir up too much before we exchange our goods. I want to rid ourselves of Mott and his men, and then make our course to Havana.”
    “Havana,” Valeryn said. “I like the sound of that.” He promptly left to do as his captain bade.
    “We be searchin’ for our own bit o’ trouble in Havana, Capt’n.”
    “That we will, Willie. That we will.”
    Willie straightened and grinned big. He strode away hollering, “Cinch up, scratchlings! We set sail!” Willie pointed this way and that to the men scurrying to their duties. “Yarely, now. Heave ho!”
    “Miss McCoy.” The captain did not turn to face her as he spoke. Instead, with his hands clasped behind his back, he watched his crew toil about. “I’ve given thought to a way you might earn your passage.”
    “I have as well,” she said. “I know how to sew. I can mend clothing, darn stockings, even stitch up sails.” She could be useful not just to him, but to the entire ship.
    “A nice suggestion. But, no. I have something else in mind.”
    Uh-oh. The last time he had something else in mind, she nearly compromised herself.
    Gilly waited, wringing the strings of the bag she still carried, anticipating what he would require from her. Would she be able to follow through with his demands?
    “Tonight, I will expect you to sing for me again.”
    She relaxed, loosening the grip she had on the twisted cords. “Of course.” To watch him watching her with the