Wind in My Sails

Chapter 8

Shue lifted his head. Sunlight glinted off a window and hit him square in the eye. He groaned and sat up. His crew members stood in a circle around him. "Ah, men! What time is it?"

"It's time to go!" Malcolm stressed.

"My head." Shue felt his head. It felt as if a blacksmith had used it to forge weapons.

Finn and Noah dragged their captain to his feet. "We've news!"

"What is it?!" Shue grumbled. He needed to freshen his breath immediately.

"We've seen the pirates!" David and Azimio exclaimed.

He groaned again. "As have I." His eyes flew open. "As have I! I was here! Last eve! With the captain! We spoke of many things. Where is she?!"

"They are long gone." Samuel said.

"We lost them again?" Shue was distraught.

"We have to find them." Malcolm ground out.

"Why? I thought you would like nothing more to never clap eyes on them again?" Shue found his balance.

"One of the pirates had my seed."

Shue's eyes widened. "You bedded a pirate?!"

He flushed but his expression didn't change from anger. "Yes."

"How many of you have?!"

Noah, Michael, Samuel, Arthur, Jacob, Ryder, David and Sebastian flushed.

"Well!" Shue was stunned. "What are you thinking, Malcolm?"

"I want my babe. I'm honorable, dammit!" Malcolm was furious.

Shue nodded. "We have to find them anyway. Luckily I was able to coax where they're going from the captain. I just need coffee to remember."

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"Captain?" Q stuck her head inside of Sly's quarters.

Sly stopped spinning a coin and looked up, embarrassed to find her thoughts on a curly haired sea captain. "Aye! What is it?"

"Z says the weather is fair enough to keep going. It shan't be long."

"How many months?"

"Two. Three at most."

"Good-" A horn sounded. Sly sat up. "Attackers?"

Both she and Q raced out onto the deck to see a ship pull up parallel to theirs. Shue waved his hat. "Ahoy, ladies!"

Sly was gobsmacked. "Are you attempting to overtake us?!"

"We've just come to talk." Shue shrugged.

"You want to chat?!"

"Yes." He grinned.

Sly waited but that's all he said. "What?!"

"One of my men has a question for one of your crew!"

Malcolm stepped forward and cleared his throat. "MA? Will you marry me?"

MA burst out laughing. "What?!"

That didn't go as he'd planned... "Will you marry me?"

She saw he was serious and lost her smile. "No!"

He really didn't expect that. "Why not?!"

"Why in blasted hell would I marry you?!"

MC shook her arm. "Stop being crabby and say yes!"