Free Lightkeeper's Wife by Sarah Anne Johnson Page A

sending a signal she chose to ignore. As the wind picked up, the mast rocked to and fro in great sweeping arcs, and Annie gave herself over to the motion. She focused her eyes on the steady line of the horizon, and then she climbed down, one foot first, then the next foot feeling for the ratline. With each step into the world of the ship, the air closed in around her. The expansive silence of wind and sky atop the mast shrank to the noise of the crew shouting up at her and Daniel cussing out Donovan, whom he blamed for Annie’s trespassing on the ship’s rigging.
    Some of the men gathered by the bowsprit, snickering loud enough for the captain to hear. They scattered when she swung herself from the rigging onto the deck, landing with her knees bent, using her legs like springs to break her fall. She gazed at Daniel triumphantly.
    â€œI will speak to you in my quarters,” he said, teeth clenched, and turned a dismissive shoulder to her.
    Annie sat at the table in the captain’s quarters, tapping her fingers restlessly, as if he’d kept her waiting. He flung himself through the cabin door and unbuttoned his coat, threw his shoulders back as if he could bolster himself for the conversation, drawing upon his authority as captain of the ship since she didn’t respect his authority as her husband.
    â€œYou’re making me look ridiculous in front of my crew, Annie. You can’t dress up in my clothes and climb the rigging like a man. It’s simply not acceptable!” He sputtered these last words and wiped his sleeve across his mouth. “It’s practically immoral,” he said, calmer now and seemingly convinced of the validity of his argument.
    Annie stared into his bloodshot eyes and wondered what she’d seen in him that made her marry him. He’d seemed courageous to her four years ago, a man who sailed around the world conducting his business, buying and selling goods to make a profit.
    Daniel cleared his throat. “It was a reckless thing to do. I’ll not have it happen again. Not on my ship. I’ll put you off at the next port and you’ll not sail with me again. I can’t be concerned about you putting yourself in danger when there are real dangers to consider. Do you understand?”
    Annie sat up straight now. She blew across her red, burning palms, chafed from holding on to the rigging, and looked into his face. “It’s no more dangerous for me to go aloft than for one of your men, Daniel, and I’ll do it again.”
    â€œSince that baby died, you’ve done nothing but try to humiliate me. You’ve embarrassed me in front of my men and eroded my authority. You’ll not climb the rigging again.”
    â€œI’ve embarrassed you, that’s all you have to say?” she stood and yelled back at him.
    â€œI’ve been a much better husband to you than you’ve been a wife to me. At least I’ve tried, Annie.”
    â€œYou left me alone to lose our baby,” she said, bitter and disgusted.
    â€œYou’ll never forgive me. If I’d been there, the baby still would’ve died.”
    â€œBut you would’ve been there! You fool!”
    The cabin door slammed behind her. It rattled the brass lanterns in her wake. On deck, she felt free of him. He might be captain of the ship, but she was in charge of herself, and he could not take that away from her.
    ***
    The next morning she was in the cabin when Daniel ran down the steps to tell her that they’d been boarded by pirates. His voice was fused with authority and fear. She heard a scuffle on deck, strange men barking orders.
    â€œThey’re onboard?”
    â€œThey said if I turned over the cargo and supplies they’d leave us with our lives. I don’t see any choice. I don’t have the manpower or weapons to fight them.”
    â€œYou can’t let them take the cargo,” she said. “If you don’t fight, we’ll lose