Chapter 7
Chapter
Seven
T he bell above the door chimed, reminding Aiden of the bells on the Siren, as a peculiar woman bustled into Mary's shop. Her face was an alarming shade of red, as if she'd been struck by some strange malady, but her nose … Before he realized he'd done it, Aiden had taken a step back. The woman's nose had some sort of white substance covering it. A bizarre pouch hung around her waist, unlike any he'd ever seen. 'Twas not leather or canvas, nay, but 'twas some shiny material that caught the light oddly. The contraption seemed to be fastened directly to her person, almost like a belt, as though it were a part of her very clothing.
The rest of the woman's attire was equally baffling. She wore short floral breeches that barely covered her arse and a thin, sleeveless yellow shirt that left her arms and a sliver of stomach bare to the world. No proper lady of his time would dare show so much skin in public, so mayhap she was a whore? There were a great many on Ocracoke, almost as many as there were in Nassau.
He shook his head. Nay, Mary said 'twas how women in this time dressed. On her feet were oddly shaped bright yellow shoes with holes in them that reminded him of duck feet.
"Oh, thank goodness you're open," the woman said, her voice grating on Aiden's ears as the lass winced.
"I'm looking for a book. I can't remember the title, but it had a red cover with white words."
He watched as the lass gritted her teeth, much as he did when a lad asked him the same vexing question over and over, though she forced a smile, whereas he normally cuffed the lad on the shoulder and sent him to bother one of the crew.
"Well, that narrows it down to about a third of the books in the store. Can you remember anything else about it?"
A smile crept across his face. Mary's words were polite, but from her tone, he thought she wanted to throttle the woman.
As the woman hemmed and hawed, Inky chose that moment to leap onto a nearby shelf, sending several books tumbling to the floor.
"Oh!" the woman exclaimed, jumping back, a hand to her throat.
"What a filthy animal! You shouldn't allow cats in a place of business. I hate cats. They kill birds."
With a scowl, Aiden stepped forward, eyes narrowed. "That ‘filthy animal' faced the fury of the sea and survived. He's earned his place here, and anywhere else he chooses to be."
The woman sniffed disdainfully. "Well, I never. I'll take my business elsewhere. It's cheaper to order online, anyway."
As she flounced out of the store, Mary snorted, a most unladylike sound that made him smile.
"Tuna for you tonight," she said to the cat, bending to pick up the fallen books. "I think I'm going to like having a cat around the shop."
"And me, lass? Do ye like having me around this fine day?" Aiden knelt to aid her, a smirk on his face as she turned scarlet.
"It's still early." She cleared her throat. "Time will tell," she sniffed, making him throw back his head and laugh.
"I never much cared for cats beyond their rat-catching abilities," he admitted. "But he has courage."
As they re-stacked the books, Aiden occasionally caught her watching him. A fetching shade of pink bloomed across her cheeks as warmth spread through him. 'Twas as he hoped. She did indeed find him pleasing.
"So," she said, seeming desperate for a distraction, "what do you think of the future so far?"
As he glanced out the window, he frowned. "It's... verra loud. Those contraptions on wheels, the board ye called them, for instance. How do they move without horses?"
Mary followed his gaze to where a group of teenagers were zipping by on skateboards.
"Those are skateboards," she explained. "And the two-wheeled ones are motorcycles. The bikes are powered by the person riding them, but the motorcycles are powered by gas."
"Fascinating," he murmured. "And what of that thing you used earlier? The one that made music appear from thin air?"
Mary grabbed her phone from the counter, holding it up for Aiden to see. "This? It's called a smartphone. It can do all sorts of things. Make calls, play music, take pictures."
"The fisherman on the beach had a yellow one." Aiden reached out tentatively, his fingers hovering over the screen. "It's like magic," he whispered.
"Not magic," Mary said, "just technology. Here, let me show you."
The opening chords of a song filled the air, and he jumped back, eyes wide with wonder and a hint of fear.
"By all the saints," he breathed.
As she launched into an explanation of recorded music, he couldn't help but marvel at the wonders of this new world.
Would it be so bad to stay in this time? There was much to learn, to see. But if he returned to his own time with the knowledge he gained, here, well then, Aiden Cameron could be the name still talked about this day. Mayhap it would be his festival being celebrated, and not that scoundrel Teach.
The next few hours passed in a blur of customers and questions. He alternated between hiding in the back room when the shop got busy, and peppering the lass with queries about everything from the cash register to the ceiling fan, his mind reeling with each new discovery.
Just before noon, three older women bustled into the shop, their eyes lighting up at the sight of Aiden.
"Oh, my!" exclaimed one, fanning herself. "I didn't realize they had a cover model here for the jamboree. With the right clothes, he'd look exactly like a real pirate!"
What? Aiden stretched to his full height. How could anyone mistake him for anything other than he was … a pirate, and a ruthless one at that?
"He's even more dashing in person," whispered another, eyeing him appreciatively.
Before Mary could intervene, the third woman crept up behind him and pinched his arse as he jumped with a startled yelp. "Bloody hell."
"Ladies, please," Mary called out, torn between amusement and exasperation. "Watch your hands. He's not a cover model. And even if he was, we don't fondle the models."
Wide-eyed and flustered, he retreated behind the counter, as the women giggled and whispered among themselves.
As the lunch hour approached and the shop emptied out, he carefully examined a globe of the world, muttering under his breath. So much to explore, and he had only seen a small part of the world.
"I still can't believe this is real," she muttered, more to herself than to him.
He looked up, blue eyes meeting hers. "I assure you, lass, I'm as real as you are."
Mary sighed, running a hand through her hair. "But how? How is this possible? People don't just travel through time. It doesn't happen."
Aiden set the globe down, his expression serious. "I dinna have an answer for you. All I know is that one moment I was fighting for my life in a storm, and the next, I was here. In this strange world where everything I know is... gone."
"Look," she said, softening her tone, "I don't understand what's happening here. But... I'll help you figure it out. Okay?"
"Thank ye, lass. Your kindness won't be forgotten."
Before he could ask her a question about treasure and what had been found over the years, the object she called a phone buzzed loudly, making him jump. She glanced at the screen, groaning.
"Hey, Lily," she answered, her voice overly calm.
"Mary!" Lily's excited voice blared through the speaker. "Oh my God, you won't believe what I just heard. Alex told me he gave you a ride this morning. And you were with a hot highlander in full pirate garb. Spill!"
One brow raised, he smirked at her as he now knew ‘hot highlander' was how women said he was fetching.
"It's not what you think," Mary hissed into the phone. "He's just... lost. I'm helping him out."
"Uh-huh," Lily's tone was skeptical, her voice coming through the small object loud and clear. "And this ‘helping out' involves bringing him back to your place? I thought you were done with men?"
"Lily!" Mary groaned, covering her face with her free hand. "It's not like that. Look, I've got to go. I'll call you later, okay?"
As she hung up, the lass avoided his gaze, busying herself with straightening a display of candles with all kinds of pleasing scents.
"A ‘hot highlander,' am I?" he said, voice laced with amusement.
Mary's blush deepened. "It's just Lily being Lily. Don't let it go to your head."
"Wouldn't dream of it, lass."
As the day passed, Aiden found himself falling into an odd sort of routine. He helped customers when the shop got busy and found he enjoyed talking with people, learning from whence they hailed.
Around midday, a young man entered the shop, the enticing smell emanating from the bags he was holding.
When the man left, she turned the sign on the door to ‘be back soon'. He cocked his head at her as she set out plates and napkins on the table in front of the sofa.
"Come on, I can hear your stomach from here. I know you're hungry."
He stepped over to the blue sofa, the velvet soft beneath his hand.
"A meal brought to ye, ready to eat? How did ye manage that?" he asked, his brow furrowed in confusion. "And how did ye pay? I saw no gold exchanged."
Mary stifled a laugh. "I used my phone to order and pay. No gold needed." She held up the black phone, shaking it back and forth.
"This is a strange time, indeed."
They sat down to eat, with Mary unwrapping the food. Aiden took a bite and held up the bread to peer at what was inside. "By the fates, this is delicious. What do ye call it?"
"Philly cheesesteak with all the fixings," she replied, grinning. "Glad you like it." Seeing his enthusiasm, she handed him half of her sub. "Here, you can have the rest of mine. There's the meat, cheese, onions, green peppers, mushrooms, and mayo."
He accepted it eagerly, but as his hand inched toward what she called fries, which were fried potatoes, Mary shot him a warning look. "Keep your hands off my fries, or I'll make you walk the plank."
Aiden threw back his head, laughing. "Aye, lass, I'll heed yer warning!"
They talked as they ate. He asked her so many questions that he was surprised that she didn't tell him to be quiet. 'Twas possible to travel hundreds of miles in a short time here in this time. In the air, like a bird, no less. The thought of strapping himself in a metal contraption and flying through the air, while letting someone else control the metal bird, made him shudder. In the quiet moments, she'd explain various aspects of modern life, from electricity to the internet.
She had reopened the shop, and it was during one of these lulls that her crankiness bubbled to the surface. And here Aiden thought he liked biddable lasses, or lasses he paid for. But nay, he was finding the irritable Mary Snow most enchanting.
"I swear, if one more person asks me where to find the ‘pirate stuff,' I'm going to scream," she grumbled, collapsing into a chair. "Don't they realize there's more to this island than just Blackbeard?"
Booted feet in front of him, Aiden stretched out on the sofa, an amused smile playing on his lips.
"Ah, but the pirate life holds such allure for those who've never experienced it. The freedom, the adventure..."
Mary snorted. "Yeah, and the scurvy, the constant threat of being hanged, the lack of indoor plumbing. Such a romantic life."
"You've quite the sharp tongue on you, lass," he said, eyes twinkling. "I find I rather like a feisty woman."
He watched as heat crept up her neck, and she turned away, pretending to organize a shelf. "Yeah, well, just wait until the jamboree. I'm a real ray of sunshine then."
Curious, he followed her around the shop. "Tell me more about this festival we will attend in less than a fortnight."
With a sigh, she went to one of the reading nooks, as she called it, and sat down in a plush dark blue chair, motioning him to sit. He took the chair next to her, watching the lock of auburn hair that had escaped from the bun she'd pulled it up in earlier in the day as the sun caught it, turning the strands to fire. She explained about the annual event, the crowds, the reenactments, and her exhaustion from it all. Aiden listened intently, fascinated by this celebration of pirate history.
As she spoke of how when she was a child she'd loved the festival, he couldn't help but smile, picturing a young Mary dressed as a fierce pirate.
"I can picture it well. You'd have made a fine pirate, lass," he told her warmly.
But she shook her head, claiming she was just a cranky bookstore owner. His expression softened as he responded, "There's nothing wrong with valuing peace and routine. But perhaps this year's festival will bring some unexpected adventure." Then he grinned. "After all, ye found me washed up on the shore."
For a moment, Aiden saw something flicker in Mary's eyes. Mayhap a hint of excitement? But she quickly shook it off, insisting that adventure was overrated.
Before he could say anything else, the bell above the door chimed, and a group of teenagers entered the shop. He watched as Mary sighed and put on her shop smile as she called it, getting up to help the newcomers.
By the time she flipped the Open sign to Closed, Aiden noted the exhaustion etched across her face.
"Come, lass. Sit and relax. I will fetch you a cup of coffee."
Tired eyes met his. "I think I've had way too much caffeine today. But I'd love a glass of ice water."
He went to the small area in the back of the shop and by the time he came back, holding the cold water, her eyes were closed. Quietly setting the glass down beside her, he straightened up the counter for her, knowing how it vexed her when it was a mess, and letting her rest.
A while later, she blinked at him, yawning. "Sorry, guess I fell asleep."
"Is it always this busy?" he inquired, carefully placing the last candle back on the table. This one smelled of pine, a fire, and winter. 'Twas most pleasing.
She shook her head. "No, thank goodness. Once the jamboree is over, it will be quiet until spring."
Aiden cocked his head as she frowned at him. "I can hear ye thinking all the way over here. What is it, lass?"
"I'm not saying I believe the whole time travel thing. But..." She held up a hand. "I have a spare room upstairs. You're welcome to it until we figure out how to get you home … wherever home is."
Aiden's eyes widened. "Ye would take a pirate into your home?"
Mary shrugged, attempting to appear nonchalant. "Yeah, well, can't have you sleeping on the beach, can we? Besides, cats are a good judge of character."
As if summoned, the cat in question sauntered over, winding himself around Aiden's legs with a loud purr. He reached down, scratching Inky behind the ears, grateful for the familiar comfort. "I thank ye, lass."
Obviously refreshed from her nap, she jumped up. "Come on," she said, grabbing her keys. "It's been a long day. Let's go grab dinner. I'll introduce you to the wonders of pizza."
Aiden's eyes lit up with curiosity. "Pizza? Is that some sort of exotic dish?"
As they settled into the booth at the bustling eating establishment, he couldn't help but relax upon hearing Mary's laugh. It was rich and warm, making him lean closer. The aroma of melted cheese and fresh herbs filled the air. This place was much cleaner, with a lively atmosphere, but not so very different from the taverns of his own time. Though there was less fighting and killing.
"I still can't fathom how they make this ‘pizza'," he mused, as the lass shook her head.
Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of a blond sea nymph.
"Hey, you two!" she exclaimed, sliding into the booth beside Mary. "You must be Aiden. I've heard so much about you."
"Aiden, this is my best friend, Lily." Mary took a sip of something she called Pepsi. He'd tasted the brew, but it tickled his nose and burned his throat, so he'd ordered ale instead. Ale went well with the delicious pizza.
Lily's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Did Mary tell you about the upcoming Halloween party? It's going to be so much fun. You have to go."
As Lily chattered on about Alex, the man she was interested in, Aiden found himself distracted by a commotion at the next table. The two men seated there were drunk and harassing the young serving girl who couldn't have been more than sixteen, their voices growing louder with each passing moment as people looked over to see what was going on.
As the drunken lout reached for the serving girl, Aiden's muscles tensed. When the man shoved the lass, sending her tray flying, he jumped up, catching the girl around the waist with one arm while snatching the tray from midair with the other. Only a single plate clattered to the floor as he steadied the lass, scanning the room for further threats.
"Are ye alright?" he asked, his Scottish brogue thickening with concern. The serving girl nodded, wide-eyed, as Mary guided her to a chair.
He turned to face the drunk, his stance shifting subtly into that of a man ready for battle. He'd faced down mutinous crews and rival captains. This landlubber was nothing.
"Leave," he growled, his voice low and dangerous.
The drunk's friend swung a clumsy fist, but Aiden easily sidestepped the blow. With lightning speed, he delivered a vicious punch to the man's gut, doubling him over. Without breaking stride, he seized the original troublemaker, lifting him off his feet as easily as he'd once hauled cargo.
With a swift motion that spoke of years of tossing men overboard, Aiden carried the struggling drunk to the exit and hurled him out onto the street. The man landed with a satisfying thud. As cheers erupted from the other patrons, Aiden allowed himself a small, dangerous smile.