To Claim His Highland Bride by Gerri Russell

Author:Gerri Russell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Romance
ISBN: 9781958686904
Publisher: Tule Publishing Group, LLC
Published: 2023-01-09T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Marcus emerged from below and headed towards the main deck. He was grateful for the whipping wind that soothed his overheated body and calmed his jumbled brain. The routine of life at sea had ever been a balm to his nerves, even during the hardships that had befallen the crew.

At his approach, Eck looked up from his inspection of the damaged sail. “I found something I wanted you to see before the men started their repairs.” He pointed to a section of the rope at the bottom of the sail.

Marcus knelt on the deck of the ship and ran his hands over the sailcloth that had nearly knocked Rowena overboard. Something about the way it had pulled away from the rigging did not sit right with him. Though the storm they had just experienced this morning had been rough, he and Eck had known much worse. True, it wasn’t unusual to lose a sail now and again, but he’d never seen the cording frayed quite like this.

Marcus looked across the canvas to his friend. A worried expression played across Eck’s typically carefree countenance. “What would sever a line this way?” Marcus asked, holding up the cord Eck had pointed out.

“The cut is too clean for a stress tear.” Eck rolled the cable between his fingers. “I’d have to say a sharp blade.” He tossed the rope onto the deck. “The idea of having a saboteur aboard this ship does not rest easy with me.”

“That makes two of us.” Marcus lifted his gaze from the cording. “You are certain Bryce was busy at the time of this accident?”

“I was personally watching him swab the deck. He could not have done this.”

Marcus frowned. That meant someone else, one of his own men or one of the nine he’d taken on from the MacLeods, was responsible. He could still recall the whole scene. He had just returned to the deck when the sail had let loose. If he had not witnessed it, and run faster than he ever had before in order to knock Rowena to the ground . . .

“I know that look.” Eck’s voice broke into Marcus’s thoughts. “You are not responsible for Rowena’s accident.”

“Aye, I am. I should have been with her.”

Eck lifted a brow. “As captain of this ship it is impossible to be with her day and night. Besides, from what I’ve seen of your bride, she seems more resilient than most women.”

“As her husband it is my duty to protect her.”

“Duty or desire? Three days ago you did not want a wife. Now you have one.” Eck’s gaze ran over him in cool appraisal. “I’ve never known you to be indecisive about anything. The crew and I need you to be fully committed to our current voyage. The dangers are great and the crew is on edge from our previous misfortune. It would be best if you focused your attention on them until we successfully retrieve the treasure with no casualties. Then, once that is through, all your thoughts can turn to desire and that lovely bride of yours.

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