A knock at the door the next morning had them both bolting from the bed. Gwen wrapped the sheet around her, and got there first. She was about to open it, when Brody’s hand shot forward, holding the door closed. He was in his braies.
“You need always to be certain first that there isn’t anyone on the other side of the door that will hurt you.”
“You are starting to sound like my father.”
“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?”
Edwin looked at him and Gwen and smiled. “I see.”
“It’s not what you think,” he said, feeling embarrassed for Gwen. “Now, what do you want?”
“It’s Gwen’s father.”
“Did you find him?” she asked, excitedly, almost dropping the sheet. “Is he alive? How about 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 somehow bring the ship in by himself.”
“My father!” 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 hurriedly dressed and pushed her feet into her shoes. Then she 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 finished dressing and limped over to join her.
“Nay. My family didn’t have a lot of money. That is a good part of the reason I grew up wearing my brothers’ old clothes. 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 with your father after the story you told me last night.”
“That happened a long time ago, Brody. And it was my fault it ever happened at all. I can’t put all the blame on him. It was my decision that put everyone in that horrible position.”
“I suppose you’re right. He stopped and ran his hand over the boar bristles. “But what about the part that he is a pirate?”
“Was a pirate. He’s not one anymore.”
“Once a pirate always a pirate,” he muttered, wondering if he would be able to change.
“I know I should be angry, 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 once again. “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. The sea is such a big part of my life. I don’t know how I’d ever live on land again.”
“Brody, forget about killing Muck and Lucky. Talk to Rowen and find your ship, but no more killing. Please.”
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 I guess 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 have to go 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 since they planned on getting married? Mayhap it was because she wanted it so desperately. She had already envisioned a small cottage by the sea filled with their children.
Sleeping in his arms last night had made it feel as if they were already married, even though they hadn’t coupled. She didn’t want him to walk away from her now. But he sounded as if he would never give up being a pirate. She had secretly hoped he would choose her over the sea, but now she realized 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.
“Father!” She ran to her father, pushing her way through the crowd.
“Gwen, is that you? Thank God you’re alive. I thought you 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, now!”
“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.”
Gwen’s heart soared. Her father had never told her he loved her before. “I love you, too, Father.” She pulled back a little to look at him, smiling, and running a hand over his face.
“What are you wearing?”
“It’s a gown. Do you like the way I look?”
Tears formed in his eyes. “You look so much like your mother. I was wrong to keep you from being a woman, Gwen. I’m sorry for that, as well as all the other horrible things I’ve done.”
“I love you, Father. Please, don’t die.”
“I haven’t 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. You are no longer one.” Gwen stood up proudly.
“You know?”
“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 hand lifted to touch her face, but he dropped it again since he was so weak. His voice became softer, 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 really 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. There is nothing worse than a parent not going after their children.”
“I’ll find them, Father. 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,” growled 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?” Gwen 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 still want to marry me, Gwen. I feel we belong together. 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 and shook his head at Brody.
“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 don’t understand why, but I feel as if we were always meant to be together.”
“I agree to the wedding,” came her father’s faint voice.
The noise from the crowd in the tavern grew. The people 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 now, as his life slipped away.
“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, Father.” Gwen laid her body over his lifeless form, 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.”