Pieces of Hate: Wonky Inn Book 15 by Jeannie Wycherley

Author:Jeannie Wycherley [Wycherley, Jeannie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bark at the Moon Books
Published: 2022-08-28T16:00:00+00:00

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“This is how it’s going to be,” I said. I was standing on the patio part of the cabin’s deck. Okay. It’s not a patio, but I figured a couple of containers with some pretty flowers wouldn’t go amiss, and then I could have a deckchair out here, read a couple of Captain Bloodstone’s books, and keep an eye on what everyone was up to.

The men were arranged on the next deck down. Butcher had referred to it as the quarterdeck, and I took his word for it. He’d been as shocked as anyone else to see me, but I was gratified that the big man had seemed genuinely relieved too.

He really wasn’t cut out to be a pirate.

“I can offer you adventure, travel and a certain amount of swashbuckling,” I told the men, knowing that I’d want to keep the latter contained until I understood exactly what buckling your swash consisted of, “tasty food and decent accommodation—”

As one, the men pricked their ears up.

“In return for your loyal service.”

I indicated the port of Katigarrh. We were arriving right on time. I was pleased to see the people standing on the quay waiting for us. Everything was coming together exactly as I’d planned.

“By loyal service, I mean I expect you to attend to your duties responsibly. You will work hard, but your rewards will be worth it. You scratch my back—not literally—” I said when a couple of younger men began to giggle, “and I’ll scratch yours. Also not literally. And also not if you haven’t taken a bath in the past year.”

Half-Crocked howled. “You’ll have us as slaves, is all!” He wasn’t best pleased because I’d pointed out to the others how much rum he and Neta had knocked back in the space of the last few hours, which obviously meant he was in everyone’s bad books.

“Not at all.” I stared squarely at the other men, gazing up at me, hope in many eyes. “We will figure out a way we can operate which will ensure every man has downtime to do with as he wishes, as well as time when he is on watch or attending to his duties. You’ll have ample sleep time and, when we make shore, everyone will have a little shore leave. I can’t say fairer than that.”

I listened to the muttering below. Some were with me, some were not.

“This is a time-limited offer,” I told them. “I will only be Captain temporarily. At some stage I have to go home to my own life. There are people who rely on me back in England. But first, we need to find the killer of your previous captain, and I need to find a way to set my fiancé free so we can be married.”

Some nods. Not quite enough. They were certainly making me work for it. I could have promised them the moon and they probably wouldn’t have gone for it yet.

“But when I go, I intend to leave you in the best hands

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