“Doesn’t the nun know how to play music?” asked another of the crew.
“Me? Oh, no, I’m sorry, I don’t,” Emmaline answered.
“She has a name, and you’ll all use it,” Mardon spoke up. “Her name is Emmaline.” He glanced over at her, drinking her in, making Emmaline feel special.
“Sister Emmaline,” said Nairnie, reminding them of her guise.
“Give me that lute,” said Aaron, grabbing the instrument from Ramble.
“Little brother, don’t even try. We all know you can’t play it and we’re in enough pain and agony as it is.” Mardon laughed and lifted the bottle of whisky to his mouth.
“Don’t be so sure, big brother,” he said, subtly reminding Mardon that he didn’t like being called that. He put his hand to the strings and beautiful music floated on the breeze. Everyone stopped laughing. Mardon almost choked on his whisky he was so surprised.
“Where the hell did you learn to do that?” asked Mardon.
“If you spent as much time sleeping in the lookout basket as I have, you’d be able to do something creative as well,” Aaron answered. “How about a lively tune? Who wants to dance?”
The pirates all mumbled as Aaron played a cheery tune.
“Nairnie, ye like to dance,” said Ramble.
“Me? Oh, nay, please dinna make me dance again. The last time I did it, my joints hurt for days. I think Mardon and Sister Emmaline should dance.”
“Oh, no,” said Emmaline. “I’m afraid nuns don’t dance.”
“Well, they should,” said Nairnie.
“I agree,” added Mardon. He put down the bottle and pulled Emmaline to her feet. Everyone stared.
“Nay, Mardon, please. Don’t make me do this. Everyone is watching.”
“All right then, I’ll dance with my grandmother,” said Mardon. He walked over and pulled Nairnie to him. The ladle swung at her side.
“Mardon, didna ye hear me? I dinna want to – oh!” Nairnie grabbed on to Mardon as he swung her around, her feet lifting off the ground. Everyone cheered and laughed and the whisky flowed freely.
Emmaline giggled because it looked like so much fun. Then, when Mardon passed Nairnie off to Stitch and reached out for her, she didn’t stop him. He pulled her into his arms and danced around the deck while the men clapped and shouted. Aaron jumped up on the bulkhead, strumming the instrument louder and louder.
“For a nun, you’re not bad,” teased Mardon.
“You’re not so bad yourself. For a pirate,” she added.
Everything was going fine until her wimple fell off and her hair blew around her in the breeze.
“Look at that hair!” cried out one of the men.
“She looks a lot like the whore in the paintin’ in the cabin,” said someone else.
“Let’s go take another look.”
The pirates all jumped up and headed toward Mardon’s cabin. Aaron stopped playing. Nairnie hurried over to Mardon.
“Do somethin’,” spat Nairnie. “If ye dinna stop them, they’re goin’ to find out.”
“Mardon, please help me.” Emmaline looked up to him, feeling frightened. If the crew thought she was just a whore, they’d be lining up to roger her at the rail.
“I’m offering a gold piece to anyone who thinks they can outdrink Goldtooth,” Mardon called out.
“What?” Goldtooth was the first to turn around. “No one can outdrink me.”
“Then I guess you’ll win the gold piece,” said Mardon.
“Like hell he will.” Nairnie grabbed two metal goblets from inside the galley and headed over to the main mast. “Give me that.” She grabbed a bottle of whisky from one of the men, put the goblets down and filled them up. “Goldtooth, get yer arse over here. And dinna think for one minute I’m goin’ to let ye win.”
“Grandmother, you’re going to have a drinking contest with Goldtooth?” Aaron put down the lute and hurried over. “This I’ve got to see.”
“I’ll bet on Goldtooth,” called out one of the men.
“Naw, the old lady will win. She’s tough as nails,” said another.
The crew forgot all about the painting and crowded around to watch the drinking competition instead. Mardon’s plan had thankfully worked.
“Mardon, you’ve got to stop Nairnie from doing this. It is insanity,” said Emmaline.
“Don’t worry about her. She’ll be fine.” Mardon took Emmaline by the hand and headed up to the sterncastle.
“But I’m worried about her.” Emmaline looked over her shoulder.
“I’m worried, too. That she’ll win the gold piece and will want to compete every night from now on.” He chuckled as they made their way to the back of the ship, away from prying eyes. “Come, I want to show you something.”
“Where are you taking me?” she asked.
“You said you liked to look at stars.” He pulled her into his arms and turned her around. “Look up there.” He pointed and spoke right next to her ear. “Are there enough stars for you, my lady?”
“Oh, Mardon!” she exclaimed, holding on to his arms and looking up into the sky. Thousands of bright stars twinkled up in the black velvet sky. The gentle, warm breeze blew through her loose hair and everything seemed so magical. “It’s wonderful. Isn’t it the most beautiful sight you’ve ever seen?”
“The second most beautiful sight,” he whispered, nibbling at her ear.
“Second?” she asked with a giggle. “What’s the first?” She turned her head to see him staring down at her, looking at her mouth. Bathed in moonlight, he looked like a man from her dreams.
“I’m looking at the first.” He dipped down and brushed his lips gently over hers. When he broke the connection, she decided she wanted more. Putting her hands on his shoulders, she reached up and kissed him back. His hands slid around her back and then down to her waist as the kiss deepened. A vibrant feeling engulfed her, making her feel so alive in Mardon’s arms.
“You know we shouldn’t be doing this on the deck. Especially since it’ll look like you’re kissing a nun. What will your men think?”
“I know somewhere we can go out of the way of prying eyes.” He took her hand and led her back to the cabin, and she didn’t stop him. As they slipped away in the nighttime shadows, she saw Nairnie downing a goblet of whisky, and banging it upside down atop a barrel. She almost fell over and Aaron reached out and righted her on her feet.
“Beat that, Goldfoot,” she spat.
“Goldtooth,” he growled, downing the whisky and banging his cup down as well. “Bring more whisky,” he shouted, causing the crew to go wild.
“Do you think you should stay? It might get out of hand,” she told Mardon.
“Nay. My grandmother can hold her own. Plus, she’s got her ladle.”
“Mardon. Really?” She stopped him.
“She’s fine,” said Mardon. “And if there is trouble it is the quartermaster’s job to maintain control. This will be a good chance for Aaron to embrace his new position.”
“If you’re sure.”