Dominic and the other men were preparing to lower a boat when Elizabeth and her group joined them at the rail.There were three dead men on the deck that Elizabeth tried not to notice; she covered Dawson’s eyes so he couldn’t see them.
Tiffany bit her lip to keep from crying out.
“Tiffany, you go first,” Jonathan said, his tone brooking no argument.
“Help me get over the rail,” Tiffany said, and Jonathan did that.When she had her footing, he let her go.
Two of Jean’s men were already in the boat.They kept the craft steady as Tiffany slowly climbed down the ladder and settled herself.
Jonathan took Dawson from Elizabeth.“Are you a big boy?”Jonathan asked.
Dawson nodded.
“Good.”Jonathan positioned Dawson in front of him.“I want you to wrap your arms around my neck and your feet around my waist and hang on very tight as I climb down the ladder.“Can you do that?”
Dawson nodded.
“Go ahead, Elizabeth,” Jonathan told her urgently.
“No, I’ll wait for you to go with Dawson first, and then I’ll follow.”
Jonathan knew he didn’t have time to argue so he went over the rail and got into the boat safely.
“We have company,” Dominic told Elizabeth.
She swung around to see Lee and his men advancing.
“Quick, Elizabeth!”Dominic held out a hand to her.
“No!Get Dawson to safety,” Elizabeth said and ran to the bow as Dominic dove overboard.
“Get out of here!”Dominic called, pushing the small boat away from the ship.
“Not without Elizabeth,” Jonathan said.He handed Dawson to Tiffany and dove into the water.“Get them to safety,” he ordered Dominic.“I’ll try to help Elizabeth.”Jonathan scrambled out of the boat as shots rang out.Jonathan turned to see that Lee’s men had discovered them.He shoved the boat and dove under the water, hoping they would make it safely to shore.
“No!”Elizabeth ran toward them, taking several of the men to the deck with her.She felt herself being pulled back up by her hair.Pain shot through her scalp and tears stung her eyes as Lee twisted his hand in her long hair.
“So we meet again, my pretty,” he snarled.He leaned over her ear and whispered, his breath hot, “Maybe we can have a little fun, like before.You do remember before, don’t you?”
Elizabeth’s blood ran cold, but she realized that Lee had hurt her all he could.She managed to glance out at the small boat and saw that it had made it safely to the beach.Her son was safe, and so was Jonathan.She didn’t care what Lee did.
“You’re a pig!”she cried and spat.Lee rewarded her with a slap to the side of her face.Her head reeled, and she had to blink several times before she could see straight.Her cheek felt numb from the blow.
“Tie the bitch,” Lee snarled, shoving her toward one of his men.
The whine of a cannonball pierced the air as it sailed over the bow of the ship.Everyone dropped to the deck.At the last moment, someone pulled Elizabeth down.
“Lafitte,” Lee muttered under his breath.“We have company, men.Prepare to return their fire,” Lee commanded.
Elizabeth was jerked to her feet, and the first mate tied her hands.She felt strangely calm, in spite of the apparent danger.She saw Jean’s ship flying theJolly Rogerand knew that Dawson would be safe.Jean probably believed that everyone was off Lee’s ship, and he was prepared to finish the enemy off.And as long as Dawson and Jonathan were safe, Elizabeth didn’t care what happened to her.
Elizabeth could see theCiel Bleuhad turned broadside as Lee’s men tied her to the main mast by a long rope.The rope was coarse against her skin—they had tied her so tight her hands felt numb.Before the first mate was finished, shots were fired from theCiel Bleu.One cannonball struck with full force, shaking the whole ship and knocking Elizabeth to the deck.She gasped for air, having had the wind knocked out of her.When she could finally gulp a breath of air, she managed to get to her feet.She saw that many men had been killed or badly wounded.Blood poured freely over the littered wooden deck.
She looked to see Jean’s ship drawing closer.There would be no more cannons because the pirates would board the vessel and resort to hand-to-hand combat.She prayed the pirates were successful.It was her only hope.
“Evidently, Lafitte doesn’t care if you live or die,” Lee muttered from behind her.
Elizabeth whirled around to see him, livid with rage.
