Cadan’s intense gaze locked upon hers.Without even speaking, he understood the question her eyes must have shouted at him, for he replied with an understanding nod.
Her body froze with both fear and excitement as she spun back around.
ItwasDamien’s ship.Andher son.Oh, Lord.Please!
Within minutes, as they closed the distance between them, she clearly spotted Damien’s ensign and the familiar lines of theNightblood.Yet instead of raising all sails to the wind, Damien’s pirates raced over the deck, jumping into ratlines, and running out guns.
He intended to fight.
Terror clogged Gabrielle’s throat.She gasped for a breath.Matthew was on that ship!One shot from Cadan in the wrong place could rip him to shreds.
No sooner did that horrifying vision blaze across her mind than a loud boom!quaked the sea.A plume of gray smoke hovered over a minion gun on theNightblood’s stern just as Cadan shouted, “All hands down!”
Chapter 35
Gabrielle dropped to the deck, pulling Omphile down with her.The smell of salt, sodden wood, and tar filled her nose as fear filled her heart.An eerie whine scraped over her, followed by the sound of wood splintering, and she glanced up to see the four-pounder shatter the quarterdeck railing into a hundred splinters before plummeting into the sea.
Pushing against the deck, she stood and searched for Cadan.Had he been hurt?Nay, there he was, rising behind the binnacle along with Pell.
His curse stung the air, followed by a rapid jet of commands.“Hands about ship!Ready gun crew!Load and run out guns!Furl tops and main!”
Shorten sail?Gabrielle spun to see theNightbloodhad slowed considerably and was coming around on a port tack, bringing her guns to bear.
Without thinking, she pivoted, clutched her skirts, leapt up the quarterdeck ladder, and marched to Cadan.
“You do not intend to engage him!?”she shouted over the wind and the creak of blocks and grind of booms as sails were adjusted.
He raised the scope to his eye.“How else to get Matthew back?”His unruffled tone enraged her.
“Pray.I’d like him back in one piece!”
He lowered the glass and raised an incriminating brow.“What do you take me for, my lady?I am no fool.”
There was pain in his eyes, sorrow, and a spark of fury.But it made her bite her tongue.She’d come to know this man and doubted he would kill an innocent child for his own gain.
But you’ve been wrong about men before.
That sickly sweet accusing voice returned, the one that always had a shred of truth encased in an anchor of darkness that pulled her down to the depths.
“Now, get below!”He gestured toward Omphile.“Take Omphile and go back to your cabin.That’s an order.”
Lifting her nose in the air, she spun about, made her way back down to the main deck, and retook her position at the starboard railing.If that man, that insolent,obstinatepirate thought she’d go hide when her son’s life was at stake, he didn’t know her very well.
Though in truth, she rather surprised herself.She’d never been brave.She’d always been the one cowering in her cabin when her father encountered an enemy.When had she changed?
TheNightbloodswept down upon them, sails bulging and guns blazing.In minutes, with the wind advantage, Allard would be able to tack and loose a broadside that would sink them to the bottom of the sea.What was Cadan’s plan?He made no move, gave no orders to evade the oncoming ship.
Wind punched her face, yanking more hair from pins and sending it flailing behind her.Gunsmoke, brine, and fear stung her nose.
A spurt of gray smoke belched from theNightblood’s gundeck, its blast pounding the sky in thunderous echoes.Gabrielle was about to drop on all fours when the shot splashed into the sea mere yards from where they stood.Close.Too close.
Still, theResolutecontinued on her present course, rising and plunging through the sea, stripped to mizzen and sprit for the coming action.Soot and his crew prepared guns fore and aft as pirates brought up powder bags from the magazine.
“Mebbe we should go below, Miss.”Omphile’s eyes blazed with terror.
Pushing hair from her face, Gabrielle yelled over the crash of wind.“I won’t leave my son.”
Omphile nodded and, instead of leaving, pressed her hand atop Gabrielle’s again.
