week had passed since Evie had first been brought aboard the Devil's Spear. After Orin's report to Garson, he had begun to notice a shift in the behavior of the crew. They no longer spoke of the girl or made any indication they noticed or cared when Garson, Radnor, or Ronan brought her small comforts. He felt it safe to allow her a brief time out of the cabin, so he had her with him at the helm that afternoon.

 "What's that over there?" asked Evie as she stood in front of Garson.

 He had his large hands over hers that were placed on the wooden handposts of the wheel. He looked to where she motioned with her head and saw the silhouette of a small island.

 "Looks to be an island," he replied. "The lookout hasn't announced it because we aren't planning on stopping there."

 "Oh," she mumbled. "Why not?" she wondered.

 Garson looked down at her and smiled. "Would you like to go?"

 She turned her head to gaze up at him with a hopeful expression. "I've never been to an island."

 He softly chuckled and glanced over at Radnor and Ronan standing beside them.

 "The men could use a reprieve after making it through the Dragon's Lair," remarked Radnor. "Hackles were high. Would be nice to stretch our legs for a bit."

 "We're no' qui' a league away," Ronan remarked as he peered through the telescope.

 "What's 'not quite'?" wondered Radnor as he leaned on his hands against the railing.

 "Ye know, no' qui' tree miles ... a league," Ronan replied.

 "Then what is it?" huffed Radnor.

 "A bi' over two," Ronan sighed.

 "Then why didn't you say that?" Radnor rolled his eyes.

 "Because league sounded be'er!" exclaimed Ronan.

 He laughed when Radnor hung his shaking head.

 Garson and Orin shared glances at the common banter of the two men. Evie giggled at their mischief and Garson smiled. He was relieved he could count on those two to be on her side. With Orin and Holt in support of her now, as well, he found it possible to breathe just a little easier. 

 "We'll pull in," Garson permitted.

 "We're pullin' ashore!" called out a deckhand who overheard from below.

 Evie watched with a smile as they all cheered and began to work harder at their chores. She still felt afraid of them, although Garson had relayed what Orin had heard.

 She considered the words carefully and understood well that if it weren't for their need of Garson's power, she'd be tortured and killed. They spared no love for her, nor respect. All their kindness was to stay in Garson's good graces. He was the only thing standing between her and a grizzly death, so she had to, as well.

 She took a deep breath to soak in the clean salt air. Regardless of what she had to do to appease him, she couldn't deny how good it felt having him stand so near. His warmth at her back and within his arms that surrounded her to help her steer enveloped more than just her flesh. She wanted to sink against him and get lost within his embrace as if no one else were there.

 She thought of the night before. She had shared his bed every night, sleeping as close to the edge as possible. She would awaken each morning nearly at the center and all bundled up as if he'd covered her. He was usually either dressing or already gone. Not once had he tried to touch her inappropriately.

 She was finally healed, and until she was, he would help her wash and apply the medicine. Having him do such an intimate task made her fearful at first, but he never once made it into anything more than the responsibility he said was his.

 She didn't want to admit his touch was starting to do things to her, nor would she let him know she didn't need it the last time he did it. He had already come to her with the jar in his hand, and she wanted to feel him tending to her one last time without the interference of pain.

 The call of the lookout as the ship drew closer to land echoed out over the water. Garson's commands of the crew to ready the ship's sails made his lungs rumble behind her head. She breathed in the scent of him as she leaned back as subtly as she could without him noticing.

 Garson swallowed as he felt her move to stand closer. He lowered his head just enough to smell the sweet scent of her hair. He had brought her scented oil from the East to add to her bath, and he smiled at how happy the gesture made her. The memory of the night before came rushing back, and he felt his grip around her hands tighten a bit more.

 As he started to apply the medicine, he could see she didn't need it. He had watched the flesh return to its pale pink, and there was no more swelling or trace of abrasions from his forced entry. Yet, she still laid on her back waiting for his treatment.

🌺 He only pretended to take medicine from the jar, but he'd really only used a generous amount of saliva on his fingers to rub over her. He glanced up at her to see if she would notice and saw her clutching the blanket to her mouth.

🌺 As his fingers slid across her, the little nub began to swell and darken. He continued and she didn't stop him. He watched as her opening softly pulsed and hot liquid oozed out. She had orgasmed beneath his touch, and it made him smile.

🌺 Her breathing was fast as she struggled to remain quiet beneath the bunched-up blanket over her face. Her grip on the bed with the other hand finally loosened and he gently patted her thigh. He pulled her new bloomers up and covered her before laying at her side. Neither said a word as they both fell asleep.

 He had awakened early that morning to find her nestled against him. He was on his back and she had wedged herself between his arm and his side, laying her head against his chest and resting her arm across him. He had carefully wrapped his arm around her and laid as still as possible so she wouldn't wake up.

 Looking toward the island almost upon them, he realized it would give him the perfect opportunity to be alone with her.

 "Garson," she said in her sweet, soft voice.

 "Yes?" he asked, squeezing his arms closer a bit as though to hug her.

 "Radnor and Orin taught me about the keel and sandbars," she said. "If the ship can't get close to the shore, how do we get there?"

 "We take a jolly boat," he answered. "Did you see the small rowboats hanging off the sides of this ship when you boarded?"

 She shook her head.

 "I was too afraid to look around," she answered quietly. "I don't even remember what the outside of this ship looks like."

 He patted her hand and pulled her away from the wheel. Orin took over as he guided her to the side of the poop deck. She followed him to the railing and looked down over the water, where she saw a small boat hanging from ropes and rigging.

 "There are two on this side and two on the other," he told her. "We'll take those from where the ship drops anchor."

 "Oh," she replied as she looked them over.

 She looked at the water beneath her and then farther out to sea.

 "It's beautiful out here," she remarked.

 He leaned on the railing beside her and watched her appreciate the view.

 "I've seen it from the windows in your cabin, but it's different from seeing it out in open," she added.

 "It is," he agreed.

 "Something about it smells familiar, like home somehow," she continued. "My real home," she answered quietly.

 As he watched her in wonder over her words, she shrieked and gasped. He followed her excited gaze to see a pod of dolphins leaping from the water about half a mile from the ship.

 He laughed as he watched her reaction.

 "Dolphins," he informed her. "They like to follow ships for fish that escape the nets. I've seen sailors toss them fish to make them jump into the air."

 "They can do that?" she asked in awe as she stared at him.

 The wonderment in her eyes made him smile.

 "Ronan," he called out. When Ronan hurried over, he told him, "Since you're not doing anything useful, bring a pail of fresh fish."

 Ronan smiled at Evie and nodded his head. "Aye, Cap'n!"

 He was back in moments and Garson took the bucket from him. Others on deck stopped to look over the starboard, or right, side of the ship. They watched along with Evie as Garson tossed out a few fish to get the dolphins' attention. When several broke away to get nearer, he tossed another one high.

 The crew oohed and aahed as one leapt high to catch it. Evie shrieked and laughed as another spun in a circular motion beside it.

 "Try one," Garson told her.

 She took a fish, giggling at how slippery it was to hold onto, and threw it the best she could. It didn't go high but it was enough to bring two playful dolphins closer. Garson took a fish and tossed it high, causing both dolphins to soar upward after it.

 They fed the dolphins until the pail was empty, and everyone went back to work.

 "Thank you!" she breathed through her excitement.

 He and the others on the poop deck laughed as she jumped up and down. Having her cheerfulness was a nice change for them all, and he felt even more protective of her as he looked at the leering crew.

 "You should go back to the cabin and wash up before dinner," he told her, handing the pail to Ronan. "Ronan can escort you."

 Garson watched as they walked down the steps and turned to go through the door to the officers' quarters. A loud shout drew his attention toward the center of the main deck, where crewmen were rolling up the sails to slow their momentum as they neared the island.

 "Mind the boom!" called out a sailor.

 The long timber that held the bottom of the lowest sail in place swung loose from a crewman's grip and headed toward Evie. Ronan quickly pulled her aside as a deckhand grabbed onto a stray rope.

 The man dug his boot heels in between two planks and held tightly as other men rushed to help. By the time they reached him, the thick rope had caused gashes across his palms and fingers. He released the rope as the others secured it again.

 Garson hurried down to see to Evie as she rushed to the sailor and pulled his bleeding hands toward her.

 "It's all right, Miss," he told her and tried to pull his hands away.

 He was afraid, as they all were, of touching the captain's woman. He looked up and saw Garson staring, but before he could say anything more, Evie started ripping the hem of her shirt. It was another that Garson had found and brought to her that morning to be presentable for her outing.

 "Miss..." He started to pull his hands away, but she held firmly to his wrist.

 "Please, let me help you," she told him. "It's the least I can do for saving me from being hurt."

 He looked up and gulped as Garson crossed his arms and looked on with interest.

 The rest of the crew watched as she gently wrapped the strip of cloth around his hand, tied it, then started on the other.

 "Yer good a' this, lass," remarked Ronan.

 "I've done this quite a bit," she admitted as she finished the second hand. "I tended to my cousin after he was given a lashing by my uncle. It happened often because Edgar did a lot of things to embarrass Uncle."

 "This the same cousin who brought ya here?" asked Holt and she nodded.

 "'n after what ye done fer 'im? Ungrateful bloke!" remarked Ronan.

 Garson watched the men shake their heads in the same show of sympathy. He loudly cleared his throat, and Evie turned to see him glaring at her.

 "You're getting too familiar with the crew," he growled, and her eyes grew fearful. 

 "I was only trying to help," she said quietly.

 "They don't need a nursemaid," he bellowed. "Get to the cabin and stay there until tomorrow."

 "Cap'n," interrupted Ronan, but he stopped when Garson glared at him.

 "Tend to this man's wounds the proper way," Garson barked. "Wash it and give him medicine. Don't let it get infected."

 "Aye, Cap'n," Ronan replied dutifully, though he glared angrily at Garson's coldness toward Evie.

 The rest of the men returned to their jobs as they mumbled intolerantly about his treatment of her. As Garson rejoined Radnor on the top deck, he was met with more dirty looks.

 "They should see her as someone to pity and admire," he quietly told Radnor.

 Radnor leaned over the railing to watch the crew and tapped his pipe against the wood in thought. "Our captain is clever and wise, but you've gone and hurt her feelings. Probably frightened her, too, I'm sure."

 "I'll apologize when I bring her dinner," Garson assured him.

 "Is she really staying on the ship?" Radnor asked, turning to face him. "She's the reason you thought to drop anchor. It wouldn't be right to make her stay all alone."

 "Who says she'll be alone?" Garson asked as he looked toward Radnor.

 Radnor grinned and nodded when he caught his meaning.

 "I'll make certain you're not disturbed and the men are good and distracted," Radnor promised.