Chapter Six
Brody slept all night with Gwen cuddled up against his chest. After he had confronted her with the truth about her family last night, he thought he needed to give her time to accept it all.
But he planned on asking her this morning to marry him. It felt like the right thing to do. She awoke a few minutes after him. Stretching and yawning, she reminded him of a cute little kitten waking from a nap.
“Sleep well?” he asked, running his hand up and down her back.
“Aye. And you?” She wiped the sleep out of her eyes with the back of her hand.
“Sure.” After collapsing from sheer exhaustion, he had slept most of the night. But when he awoke in the dark with Gwen pressed up against his body, there was no more sleeping. He wanted her badly. But he wouldn’t take her until they were married. She deserved better than a romp with a pirate before they’d taken their vows.
“Brody?” Her long lashes blinked. “Is something troubling you?”
“Nay. Not really.”
“Oh, my.” She sat up on the bed. “I was so distraught about my problems, I’ve forgotten about yours. Is your leg hurting?”
“Just a little.”
“Let me take a look.” He took her hand in his to stop her.
“There is something on my mind after all.”
“It’s about your childhood and being taken by pirates, isn’t it? Tell me about it. Please.”
“I already told you. I was an orphan, so I fought off the pirates to make them release Edwin. They took me instead.”
“You explained that in the cave?” She looked at him in awe. “That was such a noble thing to do for a friend.”
“I had less to lose than Edwin. And I know it sounds strange, but the pirates ended up replacing the family I lost.”
“That’s preposterous. How can you say that? Were these the same pirates that made you walk the plank and tried to drown you at sea?”
“No! Yes. Well, that’s only partially true. Two pirates managed to escape the dungeon when my captain – Rowen – put them there. Old Man Muck and Lucky Dog.”
She laughed. “Are those their names?”
“They are to us. That’s all anyone has ever called them. They came back and convinced the crew that Rowen ordered me to be dumped at sea.”
“Did he?”
“Nay, I’m sure he didn’t. Rowen was once a boy like me who got stolen by pirates at a young age as well. We were like brothers growing up.”
“He didn’t have siblings either?”
“On the contrary, he is a triplet. And they happen to be King Edward’s bastards.”
“That’s right,” she said, nodding her head. “I forgot. They were the Demon Thief.”
“I need to find Rowen and talk to him. I’m sure he never gave such an order.”
“You need to find Muck and Lucky.”
“Aye. And when I do, I’ll kill them.”
She jerked backward a little. “Spoken like a true pirate.”
A knock at the door had them both bolting from the bed. Gwen got there first and was about to open it, when Brody’s hand shot forward, holding the door closed.
“You need to always be certain there isn’t anyone on the other side of the door that will hurt you.”
“Brody, open up, it’s Edwin,” came the muffled voice through the thick wood.
Brody swung the door open. “What is it that can’t wait until we’re out of bed?”
“It’s Gwen’s father.”
“Did you find him?” she asked, excitedly. “Is he alive? How are the ship and crew?”
“The ship just sailed into port, but it’s busted up badly,” announced Edwin. “The crew was lost at sea, but the old man managed to bring the ship in by himself.”
“Papa!” shouted Gwen. “I’ve got to see him.”
“We’ll be right down,” Brody told Edwin and closed the door.
“I’m so glad he’s still alive.” Gwen pushed her feet into her shoes and then headed over to a trunk with a boar’s bristle brush sitting atop it. “I hope Marta won’t mind if I borrow her brush, but I want to look my best for Father. He’s never seen me in a gown before.”
“Never?” Brody limped over to join her.
“Nay. My family didn’t have a lot of money. I grew up wearing the old clothes of my brothers. I must say, I like the way I look in a gown.”
“So do I. Here, let me.” He gently took the brush from her, running it over her hair, using his other hand to smooth it down. “I thought you’d be angry at your father after everything you found out.”
“I know I should be, but he’s the only family I have. Besides, when I tell him I’m the one responsible for my mother’s death, it’ll be a weight off his shoulders. Mayhap he’ll stop drinking.”
“Gwen, I don’t want you to get your hopes up,” he told her, brushing out her hair. “Sometimes, it’s hard for people to change and they never give up their old ways.”
“Are you going to give up being a pirate?” she asked, surprising him by her question. His hands stilled on her hair.
“I’d like to,” he said. “Although, I would like to get my ship back as well.”
“Then forget about killing Muck and Lucky. Go talk to Rowen and find your ship, but no more killing.”
He put the brush down on a trunk and turned her to face him. “That’s part of what I wanted to talk to you about last night. I feel as if I’m ready for a change in life.”
“Will you give up the sea?”
“Nay.” He shook his head. “The sea is in my heart. I don’t ever want to stop sailing.”
“Then be a fisherman like my father.”
“A fisherman?” He laughed. “That would be so boring after the exciting life I’ve lived.”
“Then you don’t want to give up being a pirate after all.” She stepped around him and rushed to the door.
“Wait, Gwen. I’m not done talking.”
“My father might be hurt. I need to get to him. He needs me.”
Gwen rushed from the room, not waiting for Brody to answer. Why had she thought he’d agree to change? Mayhap it was because she wanted it so desperately. Sleeping in his arms last night had felt as if they were a married couple. She didn’t want him to walk away from her now. But he sounded as if he would never give up the sea. She had secretly hoped he would choose her, but now she could see that he’d always be a pirate in his heart.
By the time she got down the stairs, the door to the inn had opened. Several men carried her father into the building, laying him atop one of the long tables.
“Papa!” She ran to her father, pushing her way through the crowd.
“Gwen, is that you? Thank God you’re alive. I thought you were drowned at sea.” His head had a deep gash on it and his clothes were tattered and wet. His skin looked like worn leather and his teeth were broken with his lip split. He looked so frail.
“Don’t bring that bloody pirate in here,” spat Edwin, coming to the front of the crowd. “Get him out of here.”
“Nay!” Gwen covered her father’s body with hers, stretching out her arms. “Leave him here. He’s wounded.”
“Gwen, Daughter.” Her father could barely keep his eyes open as he struggled to take her hands in his. “It doesn’t matter because I’m near death.”
“Don’t say that! You’ll be fine.” The tears dripped down her cheeks.
“The only thing that kept me alive was my will to find you and tell you I love you. What are you wearing?”
“It’s a gown, Papa. Do you like the way I look?”
Tears formed in his eyes. “I do. You look so much like your mother. I was wrong to keep you from being a woman. I’m sorry.”
“I love you, Papa. Please don’t die.”
“I haven’t always been honest with you, Gwen. I need you to know the truth before I’m gone.”
“I know everything. I don’t care if you were a pirate.” Gwen stood up proudly.
“You don’t?”
“I know you only did it to support your family. And you weren’t the one to kill Mother, I was. I told her I saw you and my brothers in the tavern that night.”
“I don’t want you ever to think it was your fault.” His voice became weaker and he could barely keep his eyes open now. She could tell he was in a lot of pain. “It’s my fault she’s gone and also my fault that your brothers are still pirates.”
“Is it true, then? They are pirates?”
“I’m afraid so,” he said with remorse in his eyes. “I only wish that I had gone after them and brought them home.”
“I’ll find them, Papa. I swear I will.”
“I’ll help her.” Brody stepped forward, putting his hand on her shoulder.
“Who better to find a pirate than a pirate himself,” spat Cato, ending up gagging and coughing. “You stay away from my daughter.”
“I wasn’t always a pirate and I don’t plan on being one any longer,” Brody said, surprising her.
“You don’t?” She looked at him quizzically as he continued to talk to her father.
“I’m not sure what I’ll do. But I promise you that if you agree to let me marry your daughter, I will not only protect her, but I will lead the search in finding your sons.”
“Brody?” Gwen looked up with tears in her eyes. “You would do that? For me?”
“I hope you want to marry me, Gwen. I feel we belong together. This is what I was trying to tell you upstairs. I don’t quite understand how it happened so quickly, but I do believe I’m falling in love with you.”
“I felt that ever since we touched the cave wall.”
“Not the silly legend and the wall. Really.” Edwin rolled his eyes.
“Edwin, I’m sure you love Marta and couldn’t imagine a life without her,” said Brody.
“Aye.” His friend nodded.
“I feel as if I’ve been waiting a lifetime for Gwen. I can’t understand it, but I feel as if we were always meant to be together.”
“I agree to the wedding,” came her father’s faint voice.
Noise went up from the crowd and they moved in closer to hear more.
“Thank you, Sir,” said Brody.
“I want you to have not only my daughter but also the Desperado.”
“The Desperado?” asked Brody.
“That’s my father’s ship,” explained Gwen.
“It’s broken up pretty bad. However, if you fix it, you can use it to find my sons. Please say you’ll do it.” Cato’s grip loosened. His voice was barely above a whisper.
“I will,” answered Brody, pulling Gwen closer. “You can count on me. I will always love and take care of your daughter.”
“Then I . . . can die . . . in peace.” Cato’s hand slipped from Gwen’s as her father’s life left his body. His eyes stared at the ceiling, but he didn’t blink. His face was ashen and his chest no longer moved up and down. Nor could she hear him breathing.
“Nay, don’t leave me, Papa.” Gwen laid her body over her father, hugging him, willing him back to life.
“He’s gone, sweetheart.” Brody reached out and, with a gentle hand, closed her father’s eyes. Then he pulled her into his arms and kissed the top of her head. “He’s gone, but you’re not alone because I swear I will never leave you.”