“Mydear, Dianna,” he spoke through chewing, “these are to diefor.”
“Thankyou, I’m glad you like them.” I relaxed and then tore off a piecewith my fork and shoved it in my mouth. I let out a slight moan.“God, I forgot how good these were.”
“I aswell,” he replied. “Such a simple dish but sosatisfying.”
I nodded andcontinued to pile it in my mouth. I had been starving, with nothingmore than a few bites of bread and watery broth over the last fewdays. “That reminds me,” I spoke up, “Did I hear we’re going tomeet landfall today?”
“Yes,”he answered hesitantly, “Why do you ask?”
“Well,if I’m going to keep cooking for you guys, I’m definitely going toneed more to work with. I mean, as awesome as these are, I doubtthe crew will survive off fried bread for long. I need qualityingredients.”
I wassurprised to find that Henry appeared… relieved. Did he think I wasgoing to run away when we met land? Now was my time to establishsome more trust. “You can send one of the men with me if you want.To… keep an eye on me?”
He seemed tomull it over, examining my face for any sign of deceit.
“I won’t knowwhere to go, anyway. Probably best if I don’t get lost,” I addedand gave him a wink. He brightened, and it aroused an odd sense ofjoy in my gut.
“Yes,probably best not to get lost,” he agreed, “we cannot afford tolose two cooks in one week.”
We continuedto eat, letting a comforting silence hang between us. Occasionally,I caught him staring at me, but his eyes would flit away. When I’dfinally felt full, I laid my fork down and blew out a deepbreath.
“So, doyou know where to find them?” I asked.
“Who?”Henry replied, setting his fork down and wiping his face with anapkin.
“TheCobhams. We’re reaching land today, is it because you know where tofind them?”
“No.”
Good. Thatmeant I still had time. And, according to every science fictionmovie I’d seen, the fact that I still remained meant that theactions of the past had yet to catch up with my future.
“We arestopping for supplies, a good night’s rest, and to suss out theword on land.”
“Theword on land?”
“Yes, ifThe Cobhams have been mucking about, there’s bound to be whisperson land. We may get a sense of where they are.”
I nodded inunderstanding. Then something else he said came to mind. “So, we’restaying on land overnight? Like, in a real bed?”
The thoughtmade me weak in the knees. I was beginning to despise hammocks.Especially ones I had to share with a giant Scotsman.
Henrychuckled. “Yes, we’ll take rest in a nearby tavern for a night ortwo.”
I stood andbegan clearing the plates, stacking them back on the tray to bringback to the kitchen.
“I’msorry about the accommodations aboard the ship. But there are noextra hammocks. Finn suggested you bunk with him for… obviousreasons.”
Istopped and rested a hand on my hip. I had worried a little for mysafety as a woman aboard a ship full of men but never knew forsure if it should bea real concern. “You mean to protect me from getting raped? Is thatseriously something I have to worry about?”
The captainstood, his massive stature towering over me, and I tipped my headto meet his gaze. “Not if I can help it,” he answered. “I’ve toldthe men to keep their hands off you.”
I chortled.“Wow, I can’t believe this.” But I had to remember the era I wasstuck in. “And how well do they listen to you?”
Hisblack eyes narrowed. “They willlisten.” But there was a hint of uncertainty in hisvoice.
“Great,”I spat, and scooped up the tray, “I guess I’ll just go back to workand try not to get raped.”
Henry’smassive hand grabbed me by the waist and swung me back toward him.The nearness of the man made my head spin with conflicting thoughtsof danger and desire. “If anyone is to touch you in a manner youdeem unfit, then they shall be met with my blade and a waterygrave. Do I make myself clear?”
A shaky nodwas all I could manage. My eyes were locked on his mouth as hespoke the words. I had to pry my mind away from wanting to closethe short distance between us and touch my lips to his. When myeyes averted upwards, I found a similar yearning mirrored in hisexpression.
I pulled awayfrom him. “Yes, thank you.”
Isecured my shaky grip around the tray’s handle and grabbed my apronbefore leaving. I couldn’t get away quick enough but the further Igot the more I could think straight. Getit together, Dianna. You’re not here to get involved with a damnpirate. Gain his trust and save your family. Then find a way to gethome.
But thetightness in my chest and the fluttering of my heart never ceasedas thoughts of Henry refused to leave my mind. I was in a whole newworld of trouble.
Chapter Ten
We made landfall later that evening, shortlyafter suppertime. I didn’t bother to cook as the crew had beenboasting about the feast they would indulge in once we got to thetavern. I was thankful because it took me the rest of the day justto clean up the kitchen and wash their dishes. They were like abunch of slobbery children. But I didn’t mind. It gave me somethingto do. A purpose.
CaptainBarrett had assigned Finn to watch over me during our time on land,and he would be the one to escort me around to get all theingredients on my list. The captain refused to even look at me,even when he handed Finn a small satchel of coins for me to use, hespoke through him, not directly to me.
I made nosecret of my distaste for the way women were treated in this era.My constant eye-rolling and frustrated sighs never seemed toregister with them, for which, I was somewhat grateful for. Butthis time… I’d offended Henry somehow, or made him feeluncomfortable. Or perhaps he was ashamed of the attraction
