Boom!
The ship quivered beneath the blast of a cannon.
Boom!
Gabrielle lurched to sit, blood racing through her veins.Darkness enveloped her.Blinking, she waited for her eyes to focus.Gray light seeping in from the porthole spilled over the chest of drawers and onto the deck.A figure stood to her left—a man.Heart seizing, she tossed off the coverlet and swept her feet to the deck.
“Who are you?”she shouted.“What do you want?”
Light from the window crept toward him, closer and closer over the deck and bulkhead, inching toward his shadow.It barely grazed his leg when he completely disappeared.
Rubbing her eyes, she steadied her breathing and dropped her head in her hands.Still dreaming.That was it.
Boom!
The deck trembled beneath her feet.Thatwas no dream.Footsteps thundered above, along with shouts and commands.A battle?Were they engaging an enemy?If so, perhaps the return fire would sink them to the depths.
And put her out of her misery.
Yet…she clutched her belly.Her child had done naught to deserve such a fate.“Good morning to you, my little one.”
It had been three days since she’d been imprisoned within this cabin.And aside from Omphile, she’d seen no one else.The mulatto woman had brought her a basin of water for washing and a clean gown, along with two meals a day, but she’d not had time to keep Gabrielle company.Or so she said.Gabrielle had a feeling ’twas the captain’s orders.
You don’t befriend the lamb set for slaughter.
The lock clanked, jarring Gabrielle from her thoughts as the door swung open and in walked Omphile, a tray of food in hand.A glimmer of sunlight, along with a breeze ripe with salt and smoke entered along with her, sweeping aside the stale air.
The tray of food belied they were engaged in battle.“Why the cannon blasts?”
“Dems jist testin’ de guns, makin’ sure dey all work properly.”Setting down the tray, she struck flint to steel over an oiled charcloth and lit the lantern.Light spilled over the tiny cabin, but it did naught for Gabrielle’s foul mood.
“What has you lookin’ so sour, Miss?”Concern creased the woman’s face as she examined Gabrielle and finally took a seat beside her on the bed.
What a foolish question.Who wouldn’t look sour in this predicament?But Gabrielle had learned not to complain to Omphile, for the woman always told her all would be well.
A ridiculous notion, that.
“I’ve been having nightmares,” was all she replied.
“Ah, dems from de devil hisself.”
Gabrielle huffed.“You sound like my parents.”
“Dey must be good people.”
More shouts filtered down from above, adding to the crash of water against the hull.
“They are.”Her mother and father were the Godliest people she knew.They spent their lives and fortunes on spreading God’s message of salvation to pirates and princes alike.
“Mebbe you will join dem soon.”
“Nay.”Gabrielle hung her head.“I’m an embarrassment.I doubt they want anything to do with me now.”She caressed her belly.
Omphile snorted.“Hush now!Jist because you’re wit’ child?”She took her hand in hers and squeezed it…a very intimate action but one Gabrielle needed at the moment.“If we repent, de good Laud forgives all our sins, an’ if your parents are good people, dey will forgive you too.”
Joy and peace filled the woman’s dark eyes, reminding Gabrielle of the light that always shone in her mother’s eyes.“You haven’t done what I’ve done.”
“Good Laud, Miss.I’s done far worse.”
