Page 70 of His Pirate Wife

“Remember the cliffs,” she yelled. Then the struggle was on between her and the man holding her. The waves rolled up tipping the ships apart. Even as it occurred to Devin what Miameant.

“No! No Mia, don’t you dare,” he tried to yell back as the ship pulled apart and Mia fought with her captors. “Don’t Mia. No,” Devin yelled pulling off his coat and pulling his feet from his boots. As he stepped to the rails a rope went around his waist. Mia broke free and without hesitation ran for the railing, stepped up and went overboard. Devin stepped back got a running start and went over afterher.

The wave surges pulled him under and the rope restricted where he might go but each time he felt slack he swam forward. Coming up to tread water trying to hear any instruction as to where Mia might be, he tried to look over the whitecaps.

“Devin,” Miacalled.

“Mia?” He scanned the waves and she bobbed up not twenty feet in front of him. “Swim Mia,” he yelled, diving down to head to her. He came up again and waited. “Mia?”

“Here. I’m here,” she cried and reached for him as the wave swept over her. She came up again and Devin put everything he had into the strokes to reach her. The next wave took them both down, but she reached for him as they came up and they clung to each other. Devin felt the rope jerkback.

“Hold on Mia, don’t let go,” Devin yelled as they were pulled back and fighting to keep their heads above water. The surge must have pushed the ships some distance apart as it seemed like forever before Devin hit the hull of theBriton. More lines were dropped, and Devin didn’t need to instruct Mia on making use ofthem.

The crew hauled them up and pulled them over the rails and then let them drop on the deck. Mia didn’t even stop to catch her breath before she turned and looked back at theBlack Tideas a small explosion was heard across thewater.

“Mia, I said stay on that ship,” Devin scolded, climbing to his feet. She gave him a crazed look then turned and yelled out to the crew on thisship.

“She’s going to blow. Hit the deck, everyone hit the deck.” Her call was repeated by the captain and everyone topside fell to the deck as an explosion rocked the ship. Bits of debris flew past, tearing into the sails and sticking in the mast, breaking and knocking things that were stowed on deck. The air rushing over them was hot and the sound deafening. Then mostly silence, until the ringing in his ears stopped and he could make out the sounds of sailors scrambling to put out a few small fires and race to get boats in the water to save anyone theymight.

“Get off me,” he heard Mia cry from where both he and Dekker lay. “I’m getting smashed under you,” she complained somemore.

Dekker lifted off as he was top most, then Devin rolled to his back at her side and after a few deep breaths turned his head to look at Mia who rolled to her back and turned to look at him. “I told you stay on the ship,” Devingrumbled.

“I couldn’t. I could smell the powder burning even before I warned you I’d jump,” she said with a foolish smile on her face. “They shouldn’t have had so much on board and all that fuse and lamp oil. No one carries lamp oil on a ship, one little spark and…” she brought her fists to her chest then sent them outward opening her fingers as she did. “He must have been navy at some point,” she said with a laugh as she satup.

Devin sat up too and for the first time looked out at all that was left of theBlack Tide. There wasn’t much, and it wasn’t likely anyone survived the explosion, but they’d look. It was a good thing then that the seas were calming as Captain Ellis gave orders to take all precautions in safety before sending outboats.

Devin turned again to look at his wife. “Mia, did you blow up that ship?” He really wanted her to say no, that she only knew some carelessness was going to result in it being blown out of the waters. “Tell me you did not blow up that ship,” he begged now as people started gathering around them, helping them to their feet, wrapping them inblankets.

“Captain Winthrop,” she said, the wickedest smile on her beautiful face, “isn’t that what piratesdo?”

“Yes, Mrs. Winthrop,” Devin said stepping up and wrapping her in his arms. “That is what pirates do. I need astrap.”

“Ah Devin,” she rested her head on his chest. “You’re so good tome.”

“God save me,” Devin chuckled and kissedher.

Epilogue

Portsmouth, England 1828

“Mia, I said no, now stop,”Captain Devin Winthrop yelled as he stopped and bent to pick up whatever it was his pirate wife dropped. He knew she was dropping things to delay his catching her before she got to the end of the docks. And of course it worked, despite the fact she could hardly do more than waddle. “Mia,” he ground out as he saw her turn and put her foot on the dock ladder leading down to the row boat that waited. “I said no, Mrs. Winthrop. Nowno.”

“Best get moving, Captain, or you’re going to get left behind,” Mr. Smithe called as he reached up and help Mia down to theboat.

Devin reached the ladder and looked down at the people sitting there. Other than Mr. Smithe, Mr. Hong and Grim waited, both working to help Mia get comfortable. Lady Alice sat beside Mia, stroking her back as Mia’s face contorted with pain. His grace Lord Lovelace, who looked as giddy as a boy for the small, average adventure underway, and Admiral and Mrs. Booker, the latter of which now looked up and shouted. “Hurry up Captain, your wife is setting course and schedule now.” Everyone else was already out on the ship that waited past the breakwaters of theharbor.

“God save me,” Devin muttered and balling everything he’d collected as he came down the docks he tossed it down at them a bit violently before turning and making his way down to theboat.

“Ready oars,” the admiral called, and the oars were lifted, “Row, men.” In they went, and the boat leapt away from the dock sinking any hope Devin had this wasn’t going to be done the way he preferred. So much for beingcaptain.

He pushed his way between the people to Mia and settled in behind her, so she rested against him. “Had to go and act the pirate again. I am considering myselfshanghaied.”

Her response was to reach into the water and splash him, but then she cried out and he felt her bodytense.

“Breathe, Mia,” Alice urged, and Mr. Hongdemonstrated.

“Row faster or she’ll have this babe in port after all,” Admiral Bookerwarned.

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