“You mean we take no prisoners?”Jonathan asked.
Jean barely nodded before he issued the command.“Fire broadside!”
The cannons fired and the ship shook.Jonathan grabbed a rail as a hole appeared in the hull of the Spanish ship.The second shot brought the sails down.
The Spanish ship managed to shoot one round, but it went long, landing way past the pirate’s ship.
TheShanna Leedrew near, and the pirates threw grappling hooks onto the crippled boat.Quickly, ropes were tied off.The pirates swarmed onto the Spanish ship like a plague of seagoing locusts.
Jonathan drew his sword and defended himself.He hated to admit it, but exhilaration ran through him, energizing him, as he defeated one sailor after another.Most he spared and threw overboard.Civilization was now a blur in his memory.
Once all the spoils had been loaded aboard theShanna Lee, the order was given.“Sink the ship!”Jean smiled with satisfaction as he watched.Then without a word, he went to his cabin, leaving Pierre and Jonathan on deck.
Jonathan placed his hand on Pierre’s shoulder.“Tell me something, Pierre.”
Pierre nodded.
“Why does Jean hate the Spanish?”
“For good reason.”Pierre looked from beneath craggy brows.“You see, Jean was in the West Indies when he fell in love with a rich and beautiful woman by the name of Marie.I joined them and lived there for a time.She was a wonderful woman, and Jean was very happy.
“Jean made plans for a trip to France.We loaded everything aboard our ship and set sail.While sailing through the West Indies we were overtaken and captured by a Spanish Man-of-War.The no good Spaniards took everything.And worse, put us ashore on a barren island.”Pierre’s eyes were hooded like those of a hawk.
“They left us with nothing,” Pierre spat, his vexation evident.“Do you understand?Nothing!Jean and I were used to outdoor living, but Marie was not and soon she became ill.
“Finally, an American schooner noticed us and sent a boat to rescue us.Marie had developed a bad fever, but there was no one on the American ship that could help.By the time we landed in New Orleans, Jean rushed her to the hospital, but it was too late.”Pierre’s eyes darkened with pain.“Three weeks later, Marie died.”
“I didn’t know,” Jonathan said solemnly, shaking his head.
“Jean doesn’t speak about what I’ve just told you.But it has always been a festering sore, and he’s reminded when he comes across a Spanish ship.”
“Thanks, Pierre.I’ll not mention what you’ve told me.”Jonathan excused himself and went to his cabin.So Jean knew what it was like to love and lose.No wonder he’d understood that day at the church.
Once Jonathan was in his cabin, he lay down on his small, hard bunk and closed his eyes.Without warning, the black-headed Elizabeth materialized in his mind, her dark eyes flashing desire.
He could picture her running ahead of him, laughing with the carefree nature that he remembered much too well.Suddenly, she turned, holding her arms out to him ...begging him to come to her.He moved toward Elizabeth, wanting to lose himself in her sweetness, but just before he reached her, she disappeared.
Slowly, Jonathan opened his eyes and reality set in.
Elizabeth would always be a painful part of his past.
Chapter 9
New Orleans Two years later
Adam thumped the letter against his hand as he made his way to his study.His wife was already seated across from his desk in one of the green chintz chairs.
Jewel patiently waited for Adam to take his seat, then asked, “What’s wrong?”She frowned at her husband.
He waved the letter in the air.“This is a letter from Annie,” Adam informed her.He took the letter out of the envelope, taking his seat behind the large oak desk.
“Well, it’s nice that she writes you.”
“You don’t understand.”Adam glanced up from the letter.“Annie never writes me.And that’s why I’m afraid to read what she has written,” he told her.He quickly skimmed the letter, then he began to read it out loud.
Dear Adam,
I fear that I’ve waited too long to send this letter.
