Across the Sea Chp. 11

11

S U D D E N   F E E L I N G S

Fiona gave Ronan some food and tried to warm him by giving him blankets and some hot bread.

“Don’t dwell on what happened. It’s in the past now.”

Ronan angry glare distressed Fiona. “Your brother tried to kill me.” He looked as if he wanted revenge. And revenge, he did want.

“What will you have me do?” Fiona pleaded. “I’ve tried to change him—but it’s no use. I could never tell him…” A single tears rolled down her face.

Ronan got up and handed her a handkerchief. “What is it? Tell me.”

Fiona closed her eyes and breathed heavily. “Ronan, I—I don't want to leave you.” She looked into his eyes shamefully. “He’d kill you if he found out.” 

Ronan was silent and he smiled. “I understand. The words that linger on my tongue are too risky to say out loud, Fiona. But…our love must be a secret.” He smiled and opened his locket, something Fiona had never seen. “My father and mama always wanted me to marry an Irish lass.”

Fiona couldn’t believe her ears. Ronan was talking in a strong Irish accent this moment. “You’re Irish.”

“Yes.”

“But why? You’ve captured all these innocent families. Families of your own kind.”

“I know. My…family trusted a man. A man who took us under his wing for years. And then—he set the house on fire. I lost everything. And so I’ve hated the Irish ever since. I pretend I am Arab, but—” he wiped off the brownness on his face. His face was quite pale like Fiona’s. “This is my secret. If you ever told…I could never trust you. Pretending to be something I’m not is a crime. I could be hung.”

Fiona’s eyes swelled up with tears. “I would never.” She wrapped her arms around him in a hug.

“Fiona.” Ronan became serious. “Will you—”

“Captain, we’ve approached Spain at last!” Bartley’s craggily voice interrupted.

Ronan went out the door. “Spain! Home! Finally.” He steered the wheel in the right direction. He took Fiona’s hand. “Fiona. I hope you’ll be happy here.”

“Ronan, I’d be happy. But Colin—” She looked at her miserable brother. “Let him go. Please.”

Ronan sighed. “He’d come back and kill me if he found out.”

“I’ll talk to him.” Fiona walked across the deck to Colin.

“Colin…I need to talk to you.”