Can you walk a bit slower, Sloane, if you please?" Charlisse darted to catch up to the bulky pirate, then tripped over a stone and would have fallen if he hadn't grabbed her.

"Blast!" she said, then slapped her hand to her mouth. "My apologies, but 'tis these oversized boots. And this monstrous eye patch." She tugged at the black cloth covering her left eye. "I can hardly see."

"Sorry, milady, but yer eyes be far too pretty to pass fer a man's. The patch will help a wee ...