Charlisse squared her shoulders and returned Royce's challenging glare.

Shifting his stance, he chewed his tobacco then spit a black glob onto the deck. "What's it to me if ye takes a boat? I reckon I can help ye lower it."

"That's more like it," she said in a gruff voice as Rusty popped above deck, brandishing two brass-tipped pistols.

Thanking him, she grabbed them. "Rusty, help Royce with the boat."

"What are you going to do?" Isabel rushed to ...