Call of the Sea Page 9

  “Aye, but not because I told him. He recognized me when I released their men from the brig.”

  “Are you sure he can be trusted not to tell the others about you?”

  Ellie nodded. “He won’t reveal my identity.” Daniel respected her father and would do what he could to help her because Papa would have expected nothing less.

  “So what’s the plan, then?”

  The question made her chuckle. Damned if I know. “We head back to Newquay and get the ship repaired. I need to tell Mama, of course.” A task Ellie wasn’t looking forward to. “Mama will be lost without him.”

  Nelson placed a hand on her shoulder. “You’ll know what to say when you see her. I’m sure having you home will help to soften the blow. You’ve grown into a woman since she last saw you.”

  Ellie pushed away from the rail, not quite ready to face what awaited her when she returned home. She needed something to distract her thoughts. “I’m going to see what I can learn from Papa’s logbook. Maybe there’s something in there we can use. At the very least, I should be able to determine what Papa was doing when they were attacked.”

  “As good a plan as any,” Nelson said. “Good luck.”

  Ellie had to stop herself from giving him a big bear hug. Having his support meant the world to her. In the years she’d known Nelson, he’d become not only her mentor and instructor, but her closest friend and ally. She cleared her throat and gave him a light punch to the shoulder. “Thanks, Nelson. I’ll let you know if I find anything worthwhile.”

  Drawing as little attention to herself as possible, Ellie worked her way along the deck to her father’s cabin. Her fingers hesitated on the door handle. She took a deep breath, set her shoulders, and pushed her way back into Papa’s domain.

  She kept her gaze from wandering the room, instead focusing her attention on the logbook lying on the desk. Stick to the task. Don’t get distracted.

  Ellie settled herself in Papa’s chair and flipped through the pages to the last entry. The day Papa died. September twenty-first. Where was I that day? Not where I should have been. Her chest ached.

  Steeling herself for what she might find, Ellie read the scribbled entry. The writing blurred as the tears returned, threatening to spill their burden onto the parchment.

  21st September 1665 - Dawn

  Setting sail from Gibraltar this morning with calm seas and fair winds out of the east. Rendezvous with Keegan’s band yielded a new avenue for acquiring tea from India, and fresh information on the whereabouts of The Surf Runner. Aborted meet with J, will revisit once the house is in order.

  Ellie’s eyes widened. How could Papa have known I sailed with Harris? Did he know I’d become a pirate? The idea settled like a lead ball in her stomach. Sighing, Ellie resumed reading.

  Vessel reported to have only a day’s lead on us, with their last known heading due west along the coast. Reports of a crewmember aboard matching Ellie’s description still unsubstantiated.

  She gnawed her lower lip. Ellie searched her memory but couldn’t recall the mention of anyone named Keegan. Papa had been hot on their tail, only a day behind them when he’d been killed. She swallowed hard. If it hadn’t been for me, he’d never have been there to be attacked.

  Ellie slid the skullcap from her head and ran her fingers through her hair. A swell of guilt threatened to overwhelm her. She focused on her anger and the faceless pirate bastard who’d killed him, her fingers curling into tight fists.

  In a sudden burst of energy, she leaned across the desk, a growl bursting from her throat. Ellie unleashed her rage, sweeping the desk clear of paperwork, and sending the mountainous pile crashing against the wall. Her chest heaved.

  Papa’s spyglass spun on the clutter-free desk like a pinwheel, sending a tiny wooden figurine skittering into her lap.

  Ellie picked up the piece, studied it. The miniature driftwood carving of a whale reminded her of the carving her injured seal had found on the beach near her home. The resemblances between the whale and her seal miniature in size, wood coloring, and style couldn’t be a coincidence. Her brow furrowed. Had Papa made it?

  She couldn’t remember ever seeing her father carve driftwood, and the tiny replicas had been created by someone with a more than modest level of skill. Ellie slipped the little whale figurine into her pocket and pushed up from the chair. A more detailed comparison of the two carvings would come later, when she had the chance to retrieve the other from her pack.

  Stepping over the pile of scattered papers, Ellie headed for the hatch. She needed to speak with Daniel. It was time he came clean about a few things.

  Ellie found her new captain at the helm speaking with a weathered seaman named Jacobs. A coil of heat unfurled in her stomach.

  He stood a least a foot taller than the white-haired helmsman, but that wasn’t the only reason Daniel was easy to spot. The brisk winds played havoc with his hair, tossing the chestnut locks around his angular face with unmitigated delight. The pair bent over a chart of some kind. Daniel pointed to a spot, drawing her attention to the flex of his muscled arm, the way it strained against his light linen shirt. He brushed brown fringe from his eyes, catching sight of her.

  Their gazes met, sending a shiver of fire down Ellie’s spine. She groaned. Try to remember you’re mad at him. Ellie lifted her chin a notch.

  Daniel said something to Jacobs, rolled up the chart and waved her over.

  She took a deep breath and crossed the deck with confident strides.

  His firm lips curled into a warm smile when she reached him. “We should make Newquay by the end of the month. Most of the damage to the ship is superficial, but I have a crew working on the hole in the port side. If we catch foul weather we’ll be sorry we didn’t see to it when we had the chance.”

  “I agree. Where’s Nelson?” She tilted her head back and squinted upward. “He up in the nest?”

  “I put him in charge of the repairs. The other men you brought along seem to respect him.” He shrugged his shoulders. “And you trust him.”

  She couldn’t argue with that. “Implicitly.”

  Daniel smiled, but this one didn’t quite reach his beautiful brown eyes. “Good. If you have a free moment, I think there are some things we still need to discuss.”

  Ellie nodded. “I couldn’t agree more, Captain O’Roarke.”

  ***

  Daniel followed Ellie back to her father’s cabin. He had to force his gaze away from the gentle sway of her slender hips in the form-fitting breeches she wore. How could anyone mistake her for a boy? Even after years at sea, her scent was purely feminine. Completely Ellie.

  He ducked through the hatch. Taking a deep breath, he shut the door and turned to face her. She stood in front of an empty desk; the papers and books once covering it lay scattered about the floor.

  Ellie shrugged and folded her arms. She leaned her bottom against the desk, blue eyes sparkling with mischief. “Unfavorable trade winds.”

  He arched a brow. “Indeed.” Unsure of how best to broach the unpleasant subjects they needed to discuss, he twisted his fingers together and studied the floorboards. Knowing how volatile and unpredictable her temper could be only made matters more difficult. Just spit it out. “I can’t allow you to bunk with the men, Ellie.”

  The light left her eyes. Not a good sign.

  She jumped to attention. “What ma–”

  He held up his hands. “Before you blow that simmering temper of yours, hear me out.”

  Ellie settled back down on the edge of the desk, arms folded. “Oh, don’t you worry your pretty head about that. I’ll be happy to listen to you tell me why you think you have a right to decide what I do or where I sleep. You have my complete attention.”

  Daniel sighed. “Okay, have it your way. I have the right because I’m the captain of this vessel and I say so.”

  “Are you joking? I’m the one that got you this ship.”

  He shook his head. “Oh, no, you don’t. I know you better than that, E
llie. You got me this ship because it suited your purposes to do so. If it hadn’t, I’ve no doubt you would have left me in the dirty cell you found me in.”

  She had the good sense to remain silent, but made her displeasure known when she balled her hands into fists at her sides.

  “For now, I am captain and you will listen. You won’t bunk with the men for a number of reasons. The least of which being your gender and the fact that a man would have to be blind to not see you for what you are. Harris’s men may have been stupid, but I assure you, your father’s are not. We also have plans to make with respect to hunting down your father’s murderer, and I for one would like those plans to remain private. Most important, I thought you might appreciate some privacy while you go through your father’s things and a reason to spend the time here doing so.”

  At her stunned expression, he continued. Who knew when she would remain silent this long again? “On a related note, I think you should consider telling the crew the truth about who you are. If you really plan to sail with them after this voyage, take over for your father, it’d be in your best interest to use this time to earn their trust. Show them Ellie Winters is capable of being their captain.”

  “I’ll consider it. Speaking of my father, when were you going to tell me it was my fault he died?”

  Daniel blinked. “How the hell did you come to that preposterous conclusion?”

  “I read the log entry for the day of the attack. You followed us to Gibraltar. We were even in the city at the same time. If he hadn’t been chasing me, he wouldn’t have been there.”

  “We’ve been tracking you for years, Ellie. Believe me, it had nothing to do with why we were attacked.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “You know why you were attacked?”

  Jashir’s laughing face flashed in Daniel’s mind. His jaw twitched. “I not only know why, I know right where to find the bastard.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  How can he be so sure? Ellie’s eyes widened. “You know him, don’t you?”

  “I know who he is, yes. Your father knew him. The man who shot him was a business associate. Their affiliation had nothing to do with you.”

  Could he be more cryptic? Ellie moved around the desk, taking her time while she collected her thoughts. She settled in her father’s chair. Despite the hardness of it, sitting there, in her father’s place, soothed her spirit. Ellie took a deep breath, leaned on her elbows, and leveled a cold stare at Daniel. “Stop being coy. I’m not the little girl you fished out of the ocean anymore. I can take care of myself and I don’t need you to shield me from the truth. What kind of business associate?”

  Daniel strode to the other side of the desk and dropped into the upholstered chair facing her. “I’m afraid I can’t tell you that.”

  Her fists crashed down onto the desk. “Are you insane?”

  He had the nerve to grin, sending shards of anger through her limbs. “Not that I’m aware of.”

  The only thing she found more infuriating than his flippant attitude was her heartbeat’s reaction to the way his wide smile changed his face, softened it. The twinkle in his eyes sparked a chord of familiarity, a sense of comfort. She shook it off and clung to her annoyance. “You think this is funny?”

  His smile faded, the teasing light left his eyes. “No, not really. I’m sorry, Ellie. I can tell you everything except what business your father had with Jashir.”

  “Jashir? Is that the bastard’s name?” A tingle raced along her spine. Something about the name was familiar. She searched her memory. Where had she heard it before?

  Daniel nodded, folding his hands in his lap. “Yes.”

  “Why can’t you tell me the rest? Did you promise Papa?”

  “No, but I did swear an oath I can’t break. One I know your father would also expect me to keep.” He straightened in his seat. “You don’t need to know why they were acquainted to avenge your father. I promise to help you in any way I can.”

  “It doesn’t appear I have much choice in the matter.” Ellie huffed. “You can tell me where to find this Jashir?”

  “Yes.”

  She gathered her brow. Why did he have to be so contradictory? “And you’re willing to aid me in killing him? Because make no mistake, Daniel, I’ll not rest until I have spilled his blood and watched the life drain from his murderous eyes.”

  His brown eyes hardened. “If you didn’t, I would. Captain Winters was like a father to me. I want that cur dead as much as you do.”

  His words relieved some of the weight on her shoulders, thought she’d never admit as much to him. “Good. So where do we find him?”

  “He calls Gibraltar home. He won’t be hard to find, but getting close to him might pose a problem. Jashir is well-connected and very well guarded. The Spaniards ignore his activities because he keeps their pockets well lined.”

  Ellie rubbed her temples. Great. “Where does the money come from?”

  Daniel hesitated, quirked a brow. “Any imaginable dark place. He has his hand in everything from politics to slave trading and is much more dangerous than a mere pirate.”

  Needles of grief stabbed her flesh as she thought about her father, raising gooseflesh. She centered on her rage, using it to melt the pain. “Let me guess. You can’t tell me why he’d want to kill my father.”

  “You’re getting good at this.” Daniel manufactured a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

  Ellie rolled her eyes. “So glad to hear it.” What could her father have been involved in that would warrant an assassination? Not likely Daniel would be providing that information.

  Her gaze flitted to the pile of books and papers strewn about the floor. The logbook might have the answers she sought. Had Daniel considered that? Maybe that was why he wanted her to stay there, so he could keep an eye on her. Ellie leaned back in the chair.

  A deep chuckle rumbled from Daniel. “You must be terrible at cards. I can see the thoughts chasing through your head.”

  Her cheeks burned.

  “I’m not the enemy, Ellie, quite the opposite. I have no desire to interfere with your investigations. Just because I can’t tell you the whole truth about your father doesn’t mean I don’t think you deserve to know it.”

  She’d never met anyone more confusing in her life. Brow furrowed, she watched him from the corner of her eye as she bent, picked up the logbook, and deposited it on the desk. Her gaze caught on a dolphin carving, reminding her of the matching figurine nestled in her pocket. She removed the whale replica and held it out to Daniel. “Do you know where Papa got this?”

  ***

  Daniel’s cheeks flushed. Why the hell would she ask that? He plucked the carving from her hand. “I gave it to him. It’s a terrible likeness.”

  Her eyes widened. “You made it?”

  He shrugged, studied the figure. His throat constricted as thoughts of the man he’d looked upon as a father rushed in to crowd his mind. “They were my way of repaying him.” He pretended he didn’t hear his voice crack.

  Ellie searched his face, gnawed her lower lip. A smile pulled at her cheeks. “I think they’re adorable. How many did you give him?”

  The way Ellie’s smile lit her blue eyes sent a jolt of heat down to his toes and scrambled his thoughts. “Just the two.” As soon as the words passed his lips, Daniel realized his mistake. The carving he’d given to a spindle-legged little girl years earlier flashed through his mind. Does she still have it?

  His eyes drifted to the logbook resting beneath her folded arms. No doubt Winters was smarter than to write anything down that might reference their covert operations, but he wasn’t as sure it contained nothing about the captain’s knowledge of his own secrets.

  Tension took root between Daniel’s shoulder blades. If she noticed a similarity between the two pieces, she’d be sure to start asking questions he wasn’t prepared to answer. He needed a cover story—fast. “I did carve one other, my first attempt actually, but I lost it through a hole in my pocket before I c
ould ever give it to your father. It was a pretty poor imitation of a swimming seal.”

  Ellie slid her hands along the cover of the logbook, leaning back in her chair. “Oh, that’s too bad,” she said finally. She rubbed her chin, eyes slowly scanning the large compartment. “I’ve decided to accept your offer to stay here on the journey back to Newquay.” Her eyes settled on him. “It’s a smart idea, and will make it much easier to hide my gender. I appreciate your suggestion earlier, but I’m not prepared to tell the crew the truth. Not yet.”

  Daniel tucked away his disappointment. He’d abide by her choice. “You can have the bunk. I’ll take the floor.”

  Ellie shook her head. “That’s ridiculous. You’re the captain. If anyone happened to come in and find us arranged that way, they’d know something was amiss. No, we have to play our roles properly. I’ll bunk on the floor.” She inclined her head toward the corner of the cabin. “I can probably sleep in that chair comfortably enough.”

  For the first time since he’d offered, Daniel really considered the implications of sharing a living space with Ellie. His eyes drifted from her face, along the curve of her neck, dipped to the opening of her shirt, traced her collarbone. He wondered what her breasts would look like unbound. How her fiery curls would look if she’d let them grow long and flowing, like they used to be.

  The image of Ellie in bare feet sporting nothing more than a wide smile sent a rush of blood south. He shifted, trying to hide the sudden tightness in his breeches. Daniel ran nervous fingers through his hair. What have I gotten myself into?

  Chapter Fifteen

  To Daniel’s dismay, Ellie decided it would be best if she slept fully clothed. When it became clear she even planned to keep her boots on, Daniel put his foot down and insisted she remove them. After a surprisingly short battle, she acquiesced.

  Grumbling the entire time, Ellie set the boots within arm’s reach by the front leg of her cushioned perch. After a bit of squirming about for what she called a proper “comfy spot”, she’d finally fallen asleep.