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Chapter 16

The pub was located on the wharf in Wick, looking pretty much like the stalwart clientele inhabiting it. The dark wood bar and deep blue walls, decorated with fishing nets and paraphernalia, matched the hearty, wind-blown men who sat around in huddles enjoying the evening after a long day at sea. Sin held Charlotte's hand like a vise as they waited at the bar for someone to take their order.

"Sinclair?" a young bartender with bright red hair asked. "Is it really you?"

"Aye, Amy, it is."

"I have nae seen you in years." Her eyes raked over him.

"I've been working in Edinburgh," he said casually.

"I hope you have nae gone all posh on us." She pushed a tendril of hair over her shoulder, flirting.

"I've always been posh," he said with a laugh. "This is my wife, Charlotte."

The girl looked at her as if noticing her for the first time, wide-eyed. "Bloody hell. I see ye stole yerself one from the sea."

"No." He gave her hand, which he still held, a squeeze. "I took her from Edinburgh," he said with a glint in his eye.

"It's nice to meet you, Charlotte," the girl said.

"Likewise." Charlotte pulled her hand from Sin's. She was still a bit thrown off by his kiss earlier. It wasn't like the others he had given her. This seemed personal, like there was some silent exchange or agreement involved. The tenderness rattled her.

"We'll take two pints and two orders of fish and chips."

The girl poured the pints, handing them to Sin. He carried them to a long table where Jock chatted with some other men and set them down, pulling her chair out for her. She took her seat. Sin took the place next to her, putting his arm around her shoulder.

"You shouldn't tell people we're married," she whispered so only he could hear.

"But we are." He gave her a wink. "And it stopped her from flirting.

"What did she mean you stole me from the sea?"

"It's a legend around here." He gave Jock, who was now listening along with the other men, a private look.

"What kind of legend?" she asked.

"Selkie." Sin moved his arm, so his hand rested on her thigh under the table.

"Jock told me about the selkies."

"Well then, there you go." He gave her a smile. "I thought you would be more upset with me saying I took you."

"You did take me."

"I found you."

The bartender came over to the table to deliver their fish suppers. "Lads, isn't it about time ye start earning your keep?" she said to Jock and his friends, motioning to the corner of the room with a tip of her head to where a microphone stood.

"You sing?" Charlotte asked.

"Aye. We've been playing at the pub fer years. Amy's parents feed us, and in return, we offer a bit of entertainment." They stood up and took their places in a small corner. The first song they sang was a type of shanty, upbeat and cheerful, captivating their audience instantly. Jock called out a line and the other men responded. Soon everyone was participating. Charlie cast a glance at Sin. He looked relaxed, the hard edge that usually forged his countenance gone as he tapped his foot and joined in with his deep baritone voice. She suddenly felt very alone, watching from the sidelines, an outsider with no home and no family. Sin returned her look and put his arm around her as if he could read her thoughts. They listened as they ate, the quiet banter of the pub goers blending with the rhythmical melody from the band. Men and women approached Sinclair to shake hands or pat him on the back, offering greetings and sharing old stories. The prodigal son had returned. She wondered how many knew the true relationship between him and Jock.

One of the men in the band picked up a clàrsach, an ancient Scottish instrument similar to a small harp, and started to play. The pub became silent, the only sound the distinctive sharp edge of the mystical harmony as he plucked the brass, silver and gold strings, creating a visual imagery of coins softly rattling in a pocket.

Charlie felt Sin stiffen next to her, and removing his arm from her shoulder, he sat forward and closed his eyes. Jock began to sing, his clear tenor voice cut through her, echoing in her soul, poignantly. The words of the song were simple. It was the story of a selkie woman from long ago.

She set out one night under the protection of the stars and moon to find herself. A man was on the beach and spied her, falling instantly in love when he stared into her eyes as if she cast a spell over him. She also fell in love with the man. He went out the next night to see her again but when he got there, another man had already stolen her sealskin and she was forced to marry him. The woman grew weary and frail, she longed to return to the sea. Her true love angered, called the other man to a duel. They were both lethally injured but before he died he found her sealskin in the other man's sporran. The selkie woman returned to the sea but never settled. She can be seen walking the beach looking for her true love. If you spy her and look into her eyes, you will also fall under her spell.