Jean and Pierre Lafitte were the last to leave.They stopped as they came to Jonathan.
“Sometimes, women are very fickle, my friend.”Jean clasped Jonathan’s bad arm and, to his surprise, Jonathan actually felt the pressure.It was the first time his arm had responded to anything.He’d thought he’d felt a prickling sensation in his fingers yesterday, but he had shrugged it off when he couldn’t move them.
“I’m through with women.You give them your heart, and they rip it to shreds,” Jonathan said with the certainty of a man scorned.He had to fight not to show his sense of betrayal any more than he had so far, but bitterness was building in him at an alarming rate.
“Oui,” Jean said.“Pierre and I have experienced such pain, I’m afraid.”Jean folded his arms across his chest.“If you have nothing better to do, my offer still stands.My men grow restless with this peaceful occupation.They are more than ready to return to smuggling.”Jean chuckled and held up his hand when Jonathan was about to speak.“Such a course is not possible at this time.”
“I hear that your home was destroyed,” Adam said.
“Not only my home, but my ships.Mon Dieu, I am not happy about this.The government is but a thief.”
Jonathan leaned against the wall, relieved to talk about something other than Elizabeth and the wedding that didn’t happen.“What have you done to rectify the situation?”
“My first thought was to lead a raiding party to take back what is mine,” Jean said with a grin.“I have filed suit, of course.I’m truly learning to be civilized.My attorneys, Gryes and Livingston, have filed the necessary papers to recover damages from the United States.And Livingston has written to the President.I have confidence that he’ll leave no stone unturned, my friend.And if all else fails,” Jean paused with a sly grin, “then we take matters into our own hands.”
“When do you set sail?”Jonathan asked.
Jean smiled a knowing smile.“In five days.The ships are being readied.”
“Jonathan, are you sure you want to go to sea?”Adam asked his friend, then pointed out, “You’ve never been interested in my ships.”
“Adam does have a point,” Jonathan said tentatively, as if testing the idea.This just might be a damned good way to rid himself of Elizabeth.He couldn’t be any more miserable than he was at this moment.“I am more of a land lover, and don’t know the first thing about sailing.”
“Ah, but you will learn very fast, I guarantee.”Pierre chuckled.“Or Jean and his crew will toss you overboard.”
Jonathan couldn’t help his smile, and he felt some of his tension ease.“That’s what I’m afraid of.But I’m game, if you think there is something I can do.”
“I guarantee”—Jean winked at Jonathan—“that you will return a different man.There is something about Mother Nature and the sea that cures all wounds.”
The group turned to leave the church.“Where are we sailing to?”Jonathan asked, even though he really didn’t care.Anywhere but here would be a blessing at the moment.
Jean moved ahead of Adam and Jonathan.“Does it matter, my friend?”
Jonathan laughed sarcastically.“I don’t suppose so.Just as long as I don’t see any women.”
Jean grinned and looked back over his shoulder at Jonathan.“There will be none at sea.But I’ll wager you’ll be glad to see a pretty mademoiselle upon our return.”
“Or an ugly one,” Pierre added.
“Would you like to make a wager?”Jonathan’s voice was heavy with sarcasm.A woman was the last thing he wanted to see.He’d be careful to keep his heart well protected.
Jean gave a parting sly grin.“Oui, I always bet on a sure thing.”
Elizabeth had donetwo stupid things in her life: First, she’d left the only man she’d ever loved, and second, she’d climbed on this infernal rocking ship.
It had been two weeks since she’d left New Orleans ...two long, miserable weeks.Between the pregnancy and the ship’s tossing, she’d thrown up constantly.And now she was so weak, Annie had confined her to bed.
“I’ve brought ye some bread, lass,” Annie said as she entered Elizabeth’s cabin.“Look at ye.Yer sittin’ up.”
“Yes, but for how long?That is the question,” Elizabeth joked for the first time in days.“I even feel I might live.”
“That’s my lass.”Annie patted Elizabeth on the hand.“I know exactly how ye feel.I was sick on the voyage over, ye know.”
“Well, I wasn’t on my trip over, so to be this sick surprised me,” Elizabeth admitted.
“Ye weren’t expecting a wee one before.”
Elizabeth frowned.“I guess you’re right Surely, this can’t go on for nine months?”
