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“No, I won’t,” Mia countered. “I won’t have this babe in port, you better get me to that ship Captain or I’ll show you the kind of pirate I canbe.”
“Row faster,” Devin called out more sarcastically than for want. The oars pulled the boat through the waters and within minutes they hit the breakwaters. Everyone was tossed about, but they never gave in and as they passed the end of the harbor the Molly came into sight. “Head straight for her, men,” Devin said then bit his lip as Mia’s fingers dug into his arm painfully. She cried out again then panted through thepain.
As soon as they were in reach, a line was tossed, and the oar lifted so the small craft could be dragged alongside. “Ahoy,” came the call from above and Devin looked up to see Gregor Dekker waiting topside for theparty.
“Permission to come aboard?” the admiral called out observing all shipcustoms.
“Permission granted,” Dekker called. “Hold siren, you stay put.” The man moved aside, and four men stepped up to lower a bench down as the call forpiping the sidewent up. “Sit there, we’ll haul you up.” Devin laughed hard as Mia growled and mutteredcurses.
“It might take more than four of you,” Devin taunted and was ready when Mia took a swing and punched him in the arm. The last few months of her pregnancy she’d billowed out like a sail in full winds. It was the most beautiful thing in his opinion, in Mia’s not so much. Moaning about being a beached whale and about how she was going to attach a bag of cannon balls to his middle to see how he felt about it. Devin laughed and kissed her as often as hecould.
The rest of the party started up along the side of the ship and Devin’s feet touched deck just as Mia was being untangled from the ropes and bench. She doubled over then, and crying out reached forsupport.
“Oh, they’re coming a little faster now,” Mrs. Booker said. “Best you get those sheets up and full ofwind.”
“Bother this all,” Mia swore as she grimaced and stood as tall as she could. “Get us out on the water,Papa.”
“Aren’t Aunt Mary and Marg coming?” Dekker asked, both he and Mia having settled the discourse with Molly’s sisters if not with herparents.
“No. They are going to see the house is ready when we come back,” Mia informed him. “I think they are afraid of the water.” Her words were followed by a look that said that was nothing but pure madness on theirpart.
They stood on deck another moment watching the crew work the rigging and unfurl the sails and as the first winds were caught in them another contraction almost took Mia to the deck. “Let’s get you settled,” Devin said, guiding Mia to the aftcastle of the big classicgalleon.
“Ready come about,” Dekker called over the noise of men working ship. “Set course, Mr. Smithe, heading west,southwest.”
“Aye, Aye… grandpapa,” the man called back making everyonelaugh.
“Bother this Devin, I don’t want to after all,” Mia whined as she was helped to undress by the ladies and then helped into the largebed.
“You can do this Mia, you can,” Devin said, getting behind her on the bed so she could lean onhim.
“What if I’m not a good mother?” she asked her voicecracking.
“You’ll be a wonderful mother, everything you are you’re perfectat.”
“Maybe not this?” Mia said easing back a bit as the pains rolled offher.
“This as well,” Devin assured her as he watched everyone who’d come to await the birth of their child moving about and making ready. The winds picked up and the ship surged forward. And somewhere above the sound of a violin and anaccordion.
Oh the times was hard and the wages low. Leave her, Johnny, leaveher
And the grub was bad and the gales did blow. And it's time for us to leaveher
Devin sang the first lines of the shanty and rocked Mia softly with the pitch of the ship and the seas. Dekker and Smithe stepped into the cabin and picked up with thechorus.
Leave her, Johnny, leave her. Oh, leave her, Johnny, leaveher
For the voyage is done and the winds do blow. And it's time for us to leaveher
“Navy Captain,” Mia admonished, making Devinsmile.
“I never will, Pirate Wife,” he reminded her, then resumed thesong.
I thought I heard the Old Man say. You can go ashore and take yourpay
Leave her, Johnny, leave her. Oh, leave her, Johnny, leaveher
For the voyage is done and the winds do blow. And it's time for us to leaveher
