The Charlotte Series: Book 1: The Pirate's Treasure

chapter 13

"What is it Cap'n?" Masters charged in with his pistol drawn.

"Put that away Masters." Smith snapped. "Millicent swooned only I fear it is more than a mere swoon. I can't wake her."

Masters pushed past Smith and crossed to the bed. There was no ships surgeon but Masters and Cook managed to cure almost every ailment that afflicted them in their years at sea.

"She's white as a ghost." He touched her forehead with the back of his hand. "Warm too. Might be she caught a chill?"

The cabin boy bounded into the room and stopped short of running into Smith.

"You asked for me Cap'n? I came quick as I could but I was..."

"Good Lad. Fetch me some broth from Cook."

"Aye Cap'n." And like a flash he was off and running.

"Cap'n?" Smith turned toward Masters.

Anger, worry and frustration flashed across his face in quick succession. Masters knew the man well and this was new for him. The man had a good heart and he cared well for his crew, but this was deeper, softer. He said what he knew the man needed to hear.

"She's quite a scrapper, Cap'n. She survived Blakeney and that hole. She'll pull through this too." Masters locked eyes with Smith and in that moment Smith wanted to believe him.

"But she's still not healed from Blakeney's abuse. What if she's too weak? What if this is too much for her? If we acted too late to save her from Blakeney..."

"Cap'n she weren't your responsibility. You didn't bring her aboard and you sure as hell didn't beat her and lock her up. If she dies the fault won't lie with you." He locked held his gaze steady with Smith's "Me sayin' so is one thing but you need to know it. This wasn't your doing. I'm off to talk to Cook about fever powder. Will you be wanting anything else?"

"No. Yes. Bring me another bottle of wine."

Smith crossed over to the window and looked out at the sky. It was beginning to darken. Soon the sun would set, and the stars would be out. He didn't know what was wrong with him. He was behaving like a fool. Something about Millicent touched him when he saw her at her mother's funeral. And later at her home. He hadn't expected to feel this way about her.

After Dorthea he hadn't expected to ever want to feel anything again but this morning when he found her in his bed with the boy... He sighed. Like a Siren song he could not explain what drew him to her nor could he resist its pull. He simply felt himself wanting more and more to be near her, to protect her and...he cursed himself...to care for her.

"Cap'n?" the boy's quiet voice reached out.

"Boy? You have the broth?"

He turned so swiftly on his heel that he startled the boy. He flinched and Smith made a mental note to move more deliberately around him.

"Nay, but Cook is making a batch now. He sent this tea though. It has herbs to help fend off the chill. He said we should keep her warm too."

Of course! Why hadn't he thought of that?

"Well then let's get her warm. Set the tray on the table and help me."

Smith wanted to allay the boy's fear of him without shaming him by drawing attention his fears. The way he'd been treated it was natural he would be skittish. Smith lifted Millicent into his arms while the boy pulled the covers back on the bed. Smith lay her down again and started to pull the covers up over her.