Free Kimberly Nee - The McKenzie Brothers by Fire, Playing Page B

door.
    “Where are you going?”
    “I’m going to give that boy what’s been long overdue.”
    She chased him down the narrow corridor toward the stairs. “What are you going to do?”
    “Make certain he thinks long and hard before he opens his mouth again.”

    Drew stormed topside, ignoring the crewmen who stopped what they were doing and stared. His eyes fixed on Henry, who was lounging against the bulkhead, smoking a cigar while everyone around him worked.
    The cigar went flying over the railing as Drew grabbed a fistful of Henry’s shirt. Drew lifted the man easily, Henry’s feet dangling a good six inches from the deck. Heather’s eyes widened, her gaze falling on Drew’s arm, watching with great interest as the muscles strained his sleeve. She held her breath, waiting for the fabric to split under the pressure.
    “I ought to break you in half, boy,” he snarled, oblivious to the terror filling Henry’s eyes. “You ever speak to Heather again. You so much as look at her, and I will crush you, do you understand? You have any little comments, you keep them to yourself or else I will crush you .” He glanced at his crew, all now staring at him with wide eyes and slack jaws. “I hear anything — anything at all — derogatory about Miss Morgan and there will be hell to pay! Am I clear?”
    Henry’s tanned skin went ashen. “Y-yes, sir.”
    With that, Drew sent him airborne with little effort. The bony man slammed into the deck in a heap, letting out a pathetic groan.
    Drew moved to stand over the bosun’s mate, struggling to control his raging fury. He wanted to kill Henry, wanted to pick him and break him in two. It’d been ages since Drew last lost his temper but he was close to doing just that. Dangerously close.
    He managed to tamp it down, turning to Bobby to say, “I want this sack of — ” He glanced at Heather. “ — that is — lock him in the hold. Tell Mr. Allen he is to make certain he does not get out. Put him in chains and keep him there until we reach New Jersey.”
    “Aye, Captain.” Bobby motioned to one of the other men to help as he bent over Henry and grabbed a skinny wrist.
    Drew crossed his arms as his temper threatened to erupt again. Tension corded his shoulders, spread an ache down along his back, and the only way to relieve it was to move.
    He crossed the deck toward Heather, who stared up at him as if she’d never seen him before. She hesitated, then came toward him. “I cannot believe you did that. In front of everyone, no less.”
    “I did it in front of everyone so they know damn well to watch their mouths,” he growled, his eyes still dangerously dark. “The next one just might feel the sting of the lash.”
    She opened her mouth, but then snapped it closed. Her gaze dropped. “Of course.”
    The last of his fury abated at her bowed head. He took a slow, deep breath, and linked his fingers with hers. “I promised you a last look at England, didn’t I?”
    Without waiting for her to answer, he pulled gently on her arm and led her to the stern of the ship. Heather braced against the railing, silent as she stood beside him, just staring out at the retreating land.
    She leaned her head against his shoulder. Drew glanced down to see tears sliding along her cheeks. The need to comfort her rose, so he released her hand to ease that arm about her shoulders.
    “I don’t know why I’m crying,” her voice was shaky as she swiped at her left cheek with one hand, “but I can’t help it.”
    “So cry,” he told her, drawing her into his arms. “I promise, I won’t tell anyone.”
    Her laugh emerged as a hiccup. “Who here would care?”
    He caught her under the chin, lifting her face to his. Her eyes were red, but now dry. He wanted to kiss her, to make her smile, but didn’t want to do it with an audience, and there were still plenty of men milling about. Leaning close, he murmured, “Shall we go below, Miss Morgan?”
    This time, her laugh was genuine. She