Passion's Tide (24 page)

Amber emerged clean and re-energized sometime later, wearing a new
pair
of black breeches and a white shirt, with her hair in a messy plait down her back. She had chosen to ignore the boots that had been lying next to the clothes, opting instead to go barefoot. She found Logan on the main deck speaking with Anton.

“Good afternoon, Anton, Logan.”

“Ah Amber, are you dressed?”

“Excuse me?”

“Refreshed. Are you refreshed?”

She shot him a puzzled look. “Yes, thank you. I feel much better.”

Anton cleared his throat. “That was some fight yesterday, Miss Amber, and I was thinking that maybe I could show you some wrestling moves? If you’re interested of course. It would help you be quicker on your feet, and would come in handy if you get your sword knocked out of your hands again.”

“That would be wonderful! When can we start?”

“Amber, I don’t think he meant today—”

But Anton cut him off. “After supper, maybe? I mean if that’s all right with you, Cap’n,” he added, noticing Logan’s less than pleased expression.

Logan looked back and forth between Amber and Anton, and sighed. “Of course its fine with me, just be careful.”

She smiled at him. “Don’t worry,
Cap’n
, I’m indestructible!”

True to form, a week later Amber was proficient in wrestling techniques and had even picked up a few boxing pointers from Pax. Logan found himself wishing that she would be so passionate about a less dangerous hobby, especially after she came into the cabin one night nursing a split lip
.
He had looked up from the book he was reading when she entered, and demanded to know why she was holding a cloth to her face.

“Relax Logan, it’s nothing serious,” she reassured him, showing him the cut. He raced to her side and inspected her for further injuries.

“Who the hell did this to you?”

“I told you it’s—”

“Answer me!”

She shook her head. “Fine, if you have to know, it was Pax. Logan, what are you…come back!” He didn’t listen. He
ran
to the door, threw it open and shouted for the young pirate. Amber rolled her eyes and leaned against the table to watch.

“You wanted to see me, Cap’n?” Pax said nervously as he entered the cabin.

“I want to know what in god’s name you think you were…hold on,” he stopped, looking at Pax for the first time. “Take off your hat.” Ignoring Amber’s snickers, Pax removed his hat and stared at the floor, revealing a swollen eye and a bloody nose.

Logan started laughing. “You’re dismissed, but have Piers check you out to make sure she didn’t break anything.”

Pax made a shame
d
retreat as Logan turned to Amber. “How many more of my men have you injured? Do I have to warn everyone about you now?” She shrugged and made to smile, cringing as the action split open her lip again and fresh blood seeped from the cut. Ignoring her gestures for him to stand back, he hurried over to her and lifted her onto the table.

“I’ve told you it isn’t a big deal,” she tried to explain again as he ripped a piece of cloth from his shirt. “And it certainly isn’t worth ruining a shirt.”

“Better my shirt than your lips,” he muttered as he dabbed the cut. He worked in silence for a minute and then lifted his eyes to meet her cautious gaze. “What?”

“Nothing, you’re just handsome when you concentrate on something.”

“Amber, I—” And then she was kissing him, her hand around his neck, pulling him against her. He tensed beneath her touch, but upon her persistence he finally gave in. With a growl he crushed his mouth closer against hers, but stopped when he felt her wince under the sudden pressure. He pulled away and saw her rubbing her swollen lip. His eyes clouded over with shame.

“Logan, it’s fine,” she promised as she reached for him, but he kept backing towards the door. “Stop!”

And then he was gone
.
She slid from the table with a frown and wondered why she was so fragile to him, and why it bother
ed her so much.

“Come with me
.
”

Amber looked up from the fishing nets she had been repairing. “Where are we going?”

“I can’t tell you
.
I
t will ruin the surprise,” Logan said. She tried to read his expression
,
but finding nothing in his smile, she stood and took his outstretched hand. “Don’t worry, I’m fairly certain you’ll enjoy this one,” he told her as he led her below deck and down again into the hold.
He struck
a match
and
barrels and crates became visible in the small fire’s glow. As he lit the wicks in two lanterns, Amber was struck by the size of the storage deck and the sheer amount of stuff inside it. He began weaving his way through the mountains of wooden containers
purposefully.

Reaching it, he squatted down and pulled from his belt a crowbar she had
not
notice
d that he was
carrying. “How do you know where to go?” she inquired as she held the lamps for him to see.

“Same way you know your way around your library, I would assume. I’d bet you could locate any book with your eyes closed, just by having been up and down the rows hundreds of times.”  She smiled at the accurate guess. “This is my ship
;
I have a specific organizational system.”

“Well, what’s in this box, then?”

“Presents,” he said as he pried the lid off and moved it aside. The light from the lanterns hit the metal objects in the crate and reflected into Amber’s eyes, blinding
her
until she lowered her gaze and saw that it was filled with swords. Her eyes widened and a smile spread across her face. Without a word he took the lamps and stepped aside, motioning her to find one that she liked. One by one she lifted out cutlass and rapier, broadsword and hangar, testing each for weight and balance as Logan watched in silence. She decided on a simple yet elegant cutlass with a curved blade and a leather scabbard, though she kept eyeing the extravagant cavalry sword with the carved inscription.

He insisted she take both, and, ignoring her protests, led her over to another open crate that contained smaller blades. He helped her choose several daggers and then handed her a baldric to hold most of them. On top of the pile in her arms he dumped several strips of leather, which he explained were used to secure the smaller knives about her body so they would remain hidden but accessible. He added a boarding axe, a wide brimmed hat and a thick, long jacket.

“I’ve come to terms with the idea of you fighting amongst my men. In fact, I can see no other way around it, if I plan on making it to England without you slitting my throat while I sleep.” She chuckled. “But I refuse to allow you to enter a battle resembling a woman in any way. Your hair will be plaited and pinned to the top of your head, and you will wear a scarf around it to conceal the color. The hat will further ensure nobody sees your hair, and also will cast a shadow over your face, hiding your feminine features. Here, give me those and try on the coat,” he told her as she shifted the pile from her arms into his and slid into the jacket.

“It’s heavy,” she noted, lifting up her arms and folding back the sleeves to reveal her hands.

“I know it is, but it won’t look too out of place, and it masks your figure. I thought about binding your chest, but realized that your hips would still give you away.” She blushed as she shrugged out of the jacket and placed it with her other things, taking the pile from him.

“Logan, I don’t know how to thank you for all of this.”

“Just do your best not to get yourself killed,” he responded with a cocky
smile
, which faded as she gave him a light-hearted kick in the shins. “It isn’t as big a deal as you would think, I mean, just look at this place.” He lifted the lantern to illuminate the room. “There’s far too much stuff in here, and it just keeps piling up. In the past few years we’ve stopped stripping down the ships we capture; instead we steal only the provisions that we foresee needing, like food and water, and on occasion, goods of exceptional value that we can sell upon making port. Other than that, anything you want that is down here is yours
.
There are some crates with books over there, and the boxes stacked in this corner are stuffed with yards upon yards of fine fabrics and laces and satins…why we ever thought we would need six bolts of embroidered silk escapes me. But, nevertheless, if you want it
,
it’s here.

“Oh, and look at this! This is interesting, a whole trunk of wigs
.
If pirating doesn’t work out for you, you always ha
ve a future as a royal judge. I think the look suits you very well,” he
said as he adjusted a white powdered wig on her head. She giggled as it slid over her eyes.

“Thank you, but no.”

He shrugged and tossed the wig back into the trunk. “Suit yourself. How about some...buckles! Oh yes, every girl loves to adorn herself from head to toe with buckles. It’s the newest trend, all the girls are doing it this Season. And now you’re giving me that look again.”

“What look?”

“The one
that says
you think I’m crazy.”

“Not crazy, just…different. Silly, fun. I like it
.
I
t’s a side of you I haven’t seen before.”

“What, now pirates can’t be silly?” he asked with a straight face as he placed a large purple hat, covered with feathers and fake birds, at a jaunty angle on his head. He snapped open a fan and pretended to cool himself, sending her a coy glance over the top of the gilded blades
,
like a fresh debutante. “Why Lady Amber, may I say you look striking in that ensemble,” he said in a distinct British accent
.
“
W
here on earth did you find such a creation?”

“Your accent is flawless,” she noted, dusting off a leather tricorne hat. “Are you from England, originally?”

“Yes. But listen, I have another present for you if you’ll head back on deck with me.”

She placed the hat back into the trunk and eyed him with suspicion. “Are you attempting to distract me from asking questions about your personal life by dangling pretty baubles and gifts in front of me?”

“I’m not sure
.
I
s it working?”

“Yes.”

He
laughed
and offered her his arm. “Then that’s exactly what I’m doing. Come on, I’m proud of this one,” he said, leading her up the stairs. Back in his cabin, he instructed her to place everything on the bed and stand with her eyes closed and palms extended. “I can see you peeking,” he scolded as she snapped her eyes shut.

Something dropped into her hands, and he told her to open her eyes. “What do you think?”

“It’s incredible,” she exclaimed, as she gaped at the pistol with the carved ivory handle that she had noticed in Tortuga. Even now, it somehow felt like it was constructed for her alone, so perfect did it feel in her hands. “But Logan, this is a priceless weapon, and it must cost a fortune. I can’t accept this.”

“I already told you, I’ve acquired more wealth than I could spend in five lifetimes. I remembered you liked it, so it’s yours. I had William take a look at it, and he was able to adjust the trigger so that it’s not so responsive. I can show you a few things tomorrow, if you’d like.”

“That would be wonderful, thank you.” she met his eyes and a look of understanding passed between them, bridging the gap the tiniest bit.