Chapter 16

Boyd closed the door behind him before he scaled the ladder to step back onto the deck.

Immediately, Fulton tossed him his boots and coat. "Put these on, the boat will crest our starboard side in the next five minutes, just where the land narrows."

Body shoved his feet in his boots, tossing the jacket aside.

He didn't care about the biting wind or his wet clothing clinging to his skin. Without the coat, he'd have even more freedom of movement, and he'd need every advantage he could take.

Fulton raised his brows, as the coat slid toward the rail. "I would have opted to throw it down the hatch at least."

Boyd cracked the barest smile as he eyed the tray of guns now in Fulton's hands. "What have ye got?"

"Pistols. Plenty of them already loaded and ready for you to fire."

That made his smile grow. "There's a lot of guns on that tray." There had to be ten.

"Men gave ‘em up when they heard what kind of shot you were. And Percy will be your loader. Pass any empty gun to him, move on. I don't have to tell you. Your job is to pick off any sailor you can. They can't sail if they don't have a crew."

"And ye?"

"Firing the cannon," Fulton crowed before he pivoted, bellowing over the deck. "Man your stations!"

The last remaining men who weren't already in position found their places, some climbing into the rigging, others hiding behind the wooden wall below the rail.

Boyd chose his first pistol, lining them in the order he wished to fire, placing the smaller weapons last when the boat would be the closest.

Did Winters only hope to drive them back out on the ocean? Or did he have plans to board and capture Annie?

Either way, the journals were now safely tucked in a safe in Upton's home. And if Boyd had anything to do with it, Winters would never make it back to London to tell his tale.

He levelled the gun, bringing the boat's deck in his sights.

"Hand over the girl," Winters called from the deck, his voice managing to carry over the waves. "Every one of you can keep your lives, including your beautiful wife, Captain Smith. It would be such a shame if something happened to her."

Fulton roared and a moment later, the cannon did too, his answer to the not-so-veiled threat.

The ball sailed wide of Winters's boat, landing in the water beyond.

The response was a cannon from the other vessel, sailing overhead, splashing down in the ocean beyond.

With a roar, Boyd sighted his first sailor and fired.

He didn't watch to see if he his mark, just tossed the gun aside and grabbed another, firing over and over as the cannons let out another roar.

Fulton's second cannon fire hit, sinking down into the deck of the other boat, the splintering of wood sounding even over the yelling of man and the beating of waves.

The other cannon returned fire, hitting the smaller mast, the screams of men punctuating the air as the mast fell, crashing across the deck and falling into the sea.

Every sailor could make it to shore, so Boyd turned back to Winters's boat, now just abreast of them.

If the cannons continued, they'd both sink for certain. Boyd picked up another gun just as Winters came into sight.

Blood roared in his veins, and he popped off a quick shot, his lead arcing wide. "Damn it all to bloody hell," he roared, knowing he'd missed a perfectly good opportunity.

The sails of the other vessel billowed, and Boyd knew they were about to make a run for it.

Who could blame them? With a two-sided attack, Upton was surely doing his fair damage on the other side of Winters's ship. There was no telling how many men the other captain had lost.

Just as the sails snapped in the wind, Winters came into view again.

Boyd pushed to standing, knowing this might be his last chance. Killing Winters kept Annie that much safer.

Winters caught sight of him, raising his own pistol as the two men locked gazes for a single second.

And then Boyd fired.

Winters did too, but Boyd hardly noticed as he watched the bullet strike Winters dead in the chest, the man stumbling back, then forward, before he tipped over the rail, falling into the sea.

His own arm jerked but he roared with victory. "Chase ‘em!" he cried. "Winters is down over the side."

The sails snapped behind him as rigging whirred, the men hustling to overtake the other ship.

Fulton came to his side. "Boyd."

He turned to look at his friend wondering why Fulton sounded annoyed. "What?"

"You're hit."

Boyd looked down at his arm to see blood seeping through his wet shirt all down his sleeve. "I'm fine." He hadn't even noticed.

Fulton scowled. "It's all but over. With the men they have left, they'll turn over the ship to us. Down you go, have Annie look at that arm."

"I won't."

"You will." Fulton got right in his face. "I won't have you die now. You did it, Boyd. You killed him. Save your energy for the next battle because that's the one that's going to be the real challenge."

Boyd jerked his chin, knowing that Fulton was right. And he'd be damn glad to go rest in Annie's arms.

* * *

Annie jerked around as the door opened. With her hat jammed low on her head, she'd been peeking out the porthole.

Boyd stood in the doorway. "We won."

She cried out in joy, racing toward him. "Oh, I'm so glad…" But that was when she noticed the blood.

She halted to a stop, and her eyes widened with fear as they flew to his again. "You're hurt!"

In answer, he stepped into the room and closed the door, sitting heavily on the bottom bunk. "Help me with this shirt, would ye?"

With trembling hands, she took the single step to his side, gingerly lifting the fabric up his torso. He removed his uninjured arm first and then she slowly worked the fabric down his bloodied arm.

"Hmm," Boyd rumbled as he looked down at the cut on his bicep. "Barely a scratch."

"Are you certain?" She leaned closer. He was right. It was a slice, no more.

Her shoulders slumped even as he kicked off his boots. "That's good because I think I'm too tired to be stitched."

Guilt stabbed at her. Guilt that he'd gone through all of this for her, remorse that she hadn't trusted him. "Oh Boyd, I'm so sorry you've been through all this."

He hooked his arm about her waist, drawing her close. "I'd walk through hell for ye woman. Don't ye know that?"

She was starting to understand. Combing her fingers through his hair, she thought of Fulton's words. "I think I do." Resting her hands on the base of his skull, she leaned down and kissed his lips. "But I have two fears that live in my heart."

He looked up at her, his dark eyes holding hers. "Tell me."

"The first was that you'd leave. And the second was that you'd stay with me, but you'd always want to be somewhere else. Off on an adventure and not home with me."

"Annie. Haven't I shown ye that I can't get enough of ye, lass?"

She shook her head. "I didn't believe I was enough to make ye stay. Happily, anyway."

He leaned back, pulling her with him until they were on the bed, her body on top of his. "Not enough?"

And then he kissed her again. If he was still tired, she'd not have known. His tongue tangled with hers, the passion that was always just beneath the surface flaring to life.

When the kiss ended, he lay his head back down. "Annie, ye're more than enough. Ye're everything. I was a ship without a sail before ye, and now, I know exactly which direction I'm travelling. Yers."

She gasped in a breath as she stared down at him. "Really?"

He gave her a small smile. "Well…actually…"

Her heart climbed in her throat for a moment before he continued.

"I was thinking ye might like to go live on a farm in Scotland with me, which isn't really your direction but mine. Maybe it was the place I was always meant to be. But I could use yer help. I've told ye, I'm shit with books."

She was at a loss for words. Settling on a farm with Boyd…it was more than she'd ever hoped for. "You don't mean it."

"If ye want to do something else, we can. But?—"

She kissed him again, cutting off his words. "That sounds perfect to me. Are you sure it's perfect for you?"

"I'm sure."

She slid her hands over his cheeks, nibbling at his lips. "I love you, Boyd Lockton. With all my heart."

This time, his kiss was tender, sweet. "And I love you, Annie Lockton."

She'd never imagined a more perfect moment and she watched his eyes close. "Come sleep with me, love, I need a few hours of rest before we start for Upton's."

"Upton's?"

"Until your uncle is caught, we'll keep you under the protection of the duke." His eyes drifted closed.

It was something in the way he said keep you that made her stomach turn. "You're not staying with me, are you?"

His eyes opened again. "Try to understand, my love. I need to go back to London."

Her heart rose to her throat. "Please stay."

He touched her cheek then. "I know your fears. I know how me leaving will hurt. But…" His fingers thread into her hair. "I won't have ye live your life always looking over yer shoulder. I have to make certain that your uncle never touches you again."

She did understand. And she knew that he did this for her. But she lay her head on his chest, wishing that it didn't have to be this way.

"Promise me you'll come back."

"I promise." He stroked a hand down her back. "Annie, ye are everything to me."

"You are everything to me too." She felt the first tear slip from her cheek onto his chest. She'd found her heart. The man who would protect her no matter the coast. Her hero.

It was a every dream she'd ever dreamed and yet she ached. "Tell me about the farm."

He started again and she fell asleep listening to the beautiful promise of their future…