O Night Divine A Holiday Collection of Spirited Christmas Tales - Kathryn Le Veque Page 0,312

ye drink it?” Tait stared at his visitor, somewhat relieved to discover this one didn’t look as see-through as the last one. Cap’n Dax just looked a little dustier than the average sailor.

The pirate belched, then wiped his mouth on his sleeve. “Hafta drink it. Payin’ for me sins, I am.” With an intense look of concentration, he held up two fingers, frowned, then slowly uncurled two more. “Gots to straighten out four more souls afore I can pass.” His confused look deepened. “Maybe. Could be a mite more than that.” He kicked Tait’s boot again and winked. “From what I seen ’bout yerself, this’n should be easy. Come on, mate. Show a leg now.”

Tait pushed himself to his feet, more than a little disturbed when the spirit in front of him grew both taller and more muscular. “What the hell?”

“Well, I can’t verra well be lookin’ up to ye now, can I?” Cap’n Dax held out the jug. “Here, mate. Have yerself a healthy snort. I’ve a few things to show ye. Won’t take no time at all.” As Tait went to take the vessel, the ghost pulled it back. “Word of advice, though. Hold yer breath ’til well after the swig goes down yer gullet.” He winked again. “Taste willna be so bad that way.”

With a nod, Tait took the jug, bracing himself for whatever noxiousness it held. As soon as the mouthpiece touched his lips, it set him on fire. Water sprang to his eyes. Near as he could tell, it had no taste—just a searing burn as though he’d just sipped from the hottest pit in hell. “Dammit, man!”

The pirate laughed. “Told ye was a clap o’ thunder.”

As Tait shoved the jug away, he realized they now stood in the sitting room of Hobbs and Ellie’s quarters. An unnerving tenderness came across him as he looked around. His quartermaster had spoken true. Ellie had decorated every nook and cranny of the place—the same way his mother always had during every Yuletide. Ivy. Pine boughs. Red ribbons and sashes. A warmer or merrier place could not be found on the Cove. And something smelled wondrous. His mouth started watering. Roast goose. He loved roast goose. He could almost taste the crispy skin and rich, succulent meat.

Ellie bustled into the room, a covered platter held between her hands. “Surely, he’ll come. He’d nay be so rude as to ignore the invitation.” She stepped aside and waited for her father, who followed with a steaming bowl of roasted potatoes and carrots and a basket of bannocks.

Hobbs set the items on the table. The look on his face was tight. He obviously didn’t wish to answer his daughter. “He said Christmas was for fools. I dinna wish to hurt ye, daughter, but I have me doubts he’ll show. Remember what I told ye last night.”

Dax jabbed an elbow in Tait’s ribs. “Did ye really say that?”

Tait gave a curt nod, wishing the ghost would shut his maw, so he didn’t miss a word of Ellie and Hobbs’s conversation.

Ellie placed the platter at the head of the table. Her worried look reflected on its cover. “What have I done to make him dislike me so, Da? What have I done wrong?”

The pain in her voice cut straight to Tait’s heart.

Dax jabbed him again. “Oughta be ashamed of yerself. Look how ye’ve hurt that sweet young thing.” He waved his jug, and the scene changed. Ellie stood in the open doorway, looking up and down the hall.

“Foods gettin’ cold, lass,” her father said as he rested his hands on her shoulders. “Come away from the door, aye?”

“I thought he’d come,” she whispered. “This be the first Christmas we wouldha had together.” She turned away and closed the door. “I dinna understand why I canna catch his eye. He’s nay unkind about it, but any time we’re in the same room, he stays away as though I’ve got the plague. Is he truly that afraid of growing fond of me?”

The spirit thunked him in the chest with the jug. “Ye be a damn fool, man. A woman like that chasing after ye? Were it me, I’d stop running, come about, and catch her.”

“That’s because ye’re a selfish bastard.” Tait shoved him away. Watching this was punishment enough. He didn’t need advice from an inebriated ghost. “Are we done here?”

“One more,” Dax announced as he moved them forward in time again. Ellie and Hobbs sat at the table, staring down at their plates, the