The Lass who Loved a Pirate

Chapter 14 Recovery and Discovery

I came too a few moments later, the darkness clearing from my eyes. I was cradled to Bash's chest, his arms wrapped gently around me. We were still on the floor of Finn’s cabin. The battle was still underway. But all I could think about was Bash, and that he was here with me, now.

“Bash,” I whimpered. My back and head were in so much pain. Bash had wrapped his red jacket around me. To hide my wounds and my almost naked body. The red jacket hiding all the blood.

“Hush my darling, the battle is almost over,” Bash whispered gently. I hid my face in his shirt. Tears of pain stinging my eyes. Just then I heard someone come in. Bash held me a little tighter.

“The battle is over, captain,” Aadan said. Bash gently stood up with me in his arms. I looked at met Aadan’s eyes. He had blood all over him. He was covered in it. No doubt the battle was completely bloody.

“Good, I need to get Freya onto our ship and away from all this carnage,” Bash replied. Aadan nodded and Bash followed him out the cabin and up the steps. The deck was covered in bodies. The deck was slick with blood. But Bash did not slip at all. The pirates had the survivors tied down at the mast. Bash walked across the gang plank back to his ship. He brought us to his cabin and laid me down on my stomach. I turned my head and saw that Aadan was at the doorway. His arms were crossed, but he had a look of sympathy in his eyes.

“Aadan, get the ship’s physician, then return to the other ship and kill them all. There must be no survivors, then we must burn the ship. Let it and that bastard sink to the depths,” Bash commanded. Aadan nodded and disappeared. Bash came and sat down beside me. Brushing the hair from my face. He leaned down and kissed my head gently.

“Did I not tell you to be rash mi amor,” he said. I could tell he was upset with me. I looked up to meet his gaze. I did not want to. I could see both anger and concern in his eyes. I did not want him upset with me.

“You did, but they were going to shoot Athena, I could not let her die for me. I could not let her be killed by that monster,” I whispered. He sighed, before he could say anymore the physician entered. He removed the red jacket, and I heard Bash’s gasp as he took in the wounds on my back.

“We must clean her wounds. Before there is a chance of infection. I need hot water, and whiskey,” the physician said. Bash took my hand. Planting a small kiss on it. He then rubbed his thumb across it.

“Do what you must to keep her alive doctor, I cannot live if something happened to her,” Bash said sternly. He kissed my hand one more time. I heard something being poured into a cup. 

“Have her drink this, it will put her to sleep. Cleaning out the wounds will be painful. It is best that she is alseep for this part,” the physician said, handing Bash a cup. Bash looked at the contents of it.

“Drink this mi amor, and the pain will go away,” he said. He held the drink to my lips. It tasted vile, and  I coughed as I drank the contents of the cup. As soon as it settled in my stomach, my eyelids grew heavy. And soon I fell asleep. 

When I woke up, I was lying on my back, the covers pulled up to my waist. I was bathed and put into a clean shift. No doubt Bash did it. I looked over and saw Bash sitting in a chair by my bed. He met my gaze. And relief washed through his eyes. He stood up from the chair and sat beside me. He took my hand and planted a kiss on it. 

“Bash, you came for me,” I whispered. Realizing that I had never told him that before. He laughed and helped me sit up. So he could pull me into his arms. I felt my back sting as he did so. But it was not as painful as it was before. No doubt the physician had taken his time to clean my wounds and bandaged them up. I could feel the linen on my back.