Jack snatched my borrowed sword from Sir William’s shirt. “Normally, I would lock you in your cabins and sink your ship.”

The men trembled and shifted their weight.

“However, since you were honest with me, I’ll simply take your rum and let you keep your lives.”

“T-thank you, C-captain.” Sir William’s voice shook.

“Ah, Sir William. To you, I give you some advice. Look for a woman your own age, not a girl as this. And do not buy her. Love her, and she will love you.”

Sir William nodded.

“And furthermore, I must ask. How much of a gambling debt did Rusty’s father owe to you?”

“Fifteen pieces of silver, Captain Jack.”

Jack let out a low whistle. “Quite a sum.” He looked at Solo. “Cut them free.”

Solo did as he was told as Jack rummaged in his pocket. “Just so we’re even, I’ll pay her father’s debt to you.”

Jack flicked a handful of pieces-of-eight at Sir William, counting as he flicked. He didn’t stop until he reached twenty. “Extra for your trouble,” he said. “And a fresh shirt once you reach shore.”

Sir William sat in his pile of silver, a look of bewilderment on his bearded face.

“Are we square?”

The old ship captain nodded.

“Good. Consider it a dowry then.” He jerked his thumb toward where I stood, Rusty still clinging to me. “Apparently my wife and I have just inherited a daughter.”

“Where are we going?” Rusty’s voice was edged in curiosity as she stood between Jack and me. “To do more pirate things?”

I glanced at her. With her fair complexion and smattering of freckles across her nose and cheeks, I guessed her to be about fourteen years of age. “How old are you, Rusty?”

“Rusty O’Malley’s my name. And I’m sixteen years of age. Seventeen in June.”

Jack’s lips tried to conceal a smile. “We’re in the month of June, Rusty. Perhaps since you’ve been adopted by Redella, which means you’ve also been adopted by me, you’ll consider taking our name. Rackham.”

“Rusty Rackham.” She gazed into the distance and tried the name on her tongue as though it was a new and exotic dish to be sampled. “Rusty. Rusty Ra-a-ackh-a-mmmm.” She linked her arm through mine and smiled up at her adopted father. “I like that.”

Jack glanced down at her. “Tortuga.”

“Rusty Tortuga?” She crunched up her face and closed her eyes. “No, that doesn’t go as well. Does it?”

I let go a laugh. My cheeks ached from the near constant smile that had appeared with Rusty. “No. What Jack means is Tortuga is where we’re going. Rusty Rackham fits perfectly.”

She smiled. “What’s Tortuga?”

“Pirate paradise,” I whispered. “Come on. Let’s go get you settled into a room.”

Jack chuckled as we strode across The Black Otter together, arm in arm. He muttered something that sounded like, like mother, like daughter, but I couldn’t be certain.

Red Legs Roberts yanked off his hat as we approached. “Red, she can have my bunk.”

My eyes widened. “That’s awfully considerate of you, Red Legs, but—”

Red Legs interrupted me. “I didn’t figure you’d want to put her in the cargo hold after what happened to your friend down there.”

My lips thinned to a hard line.

Red Legs, who had never spoken more than a sentence to me or anyone, continued. “So I’ll move my quarters down there and Miss Rusty can have my bunk. It’s off by itself and don’t smell too much.”

Rusty nodded at him and extended her hand. “Many thanks. I’m Rusty Rackham, daughter to pirates Back from the Dead Red and Russian Jack. Who might you be? Red Legs, is it?”

I rolled my eyes as Red Legs’ face went fiery with Rusty’s direct attention. “Rusty, help Red Legs move his things. Just remember,” I caught Red Legs’ sleeve and dropped my voice to a hoarse whisper. “Rusty is my daughter. She will be respected as such.”

Red Legs’ droopy eyes widened, as though accusing him of possibly being improper was truly a shock. “Of course, Red. I would never disrespect Jack. Or you.”

Something crossed that pirate’s face that made me believe him.

I stood and watched the pair of them walk away, lost in chatter. “Come, wife.” Jack’s voice interrupted my staring. I turned to face my husband. I’d returned Solo’s sword that he’d been so kind to lend me. Jack held my steel out before him.

I accepted the thin blade. Now that I knew the full story that came with it, I accepted it gently and returned my husband’s knowing smile.

“Thank you, Jack.”

He gave me a sizzling wink. “Let us sail on to Tortuga.”

•

Flags of pirate vessels I’d not yet seen lined the bays and cays around the pirate-friendly Caribbean city of Tortuga. Jack docked us in the midst of several other Black Otter ships by moonlight.

“Care for a taste of rum, Red?” Jack’s eyes sparkled. “Seems the boys are already imbibing. Now that we’re here, we can join them. My husband handed me a jug.

Tilting it upward, I took a long swill. “Mmm. Spanish rum.” I handed it back to Jack and licked my lips. “Let the celebration begin.”

Rusty and Red Legs were on deck, passing a jug between them. “This rum tastes sweeter since I’m not having to drink it at my wedding party.”

Solo, jovial and grinning, sat down beside them. “Pass that jug,” he sang.

Red Legs laughed. “You mean you didn’t bring your own?”

“I had one,” the pirate prince said. “Can’t seem to recall where I left it!”

The three dissolved into a fit of drink-heavy giggles. Jack wrapped his arm around my shoulders. “Shall we join them?”

I nodded. “We shall.”

As the night wore on, several Black Otter fleet hands from ships that marauded in the waters of the Orient, the English Channel, and along the coast of The New World came onto their flagship to greet Jack and divvy up their amassed booty—and rum.