The needle pierced Cadan’s skin.He grimaced.“What of other injuries?How is my crew?”He’d seen a few of his men fall to the deck during battle.
“Jist four o’ dem, Cap’n,” Moses replied.“Minor cuts.Wilson were shot in the arm, but it went clean through.Already took care o’ dem.”
Another pierce of the needle, and Cadan fought to maintain consciousness.
Even so, he thanked God none of his crew had been killed.
One more stab of the needle.Sweat broke out on Cadan’s forehead.His breath came fast.
“Almost done, Cap’n.”Moses’ tone was apologetic.
A sudden, terrifying, horrible thought blasted through Cadan, shoving aside his pain.The treasure!He’d forgotten to get the treasure!He started to stand.Moses forced him back down.Pain radiated from his side, but he no longer cared.
Finally, Moses finished, tied off the stitches and wrapped a bandage around Cadan’s waist.
“Thank you, Moses.”Cadan nodded at the large man, then leapt to his feet and marched to the stern windows.Beyond the sparkling sea, the bare masts of Allard’s ship could barely be seen on the horizon.How could he admit such a failing to his crew?They’d feed him to the sharks!
“What’s wrong?”Pell asked.
Cadan spun around.“The treasure.It’s back on Allard’s ship!Turn theResoluteabout at once, Pell.We must return and get it.”
No one moved.All three men stared at him, smiles on their faces.
“I gave you an order!”Cadan fisted hands at his waist.
Soot moved to the edge of his chair.“We’s got the treasure, Cap’n.”
“What?”
“Aye.”Pell nodded his head toward Moses.“While you and Allard were dallying with your blades, Moses took a few men and hauled the treasure from theNightbloodover to theResolute.”
Smiling, Moses gathered up bloody clothes and instruments.“Weren’t hard t’ find it an’ even easier t’ sneak it past everyone.”
Soot chuckled.“Them were all watchin’ the fight, hollerin’ an’ punchin’ their fists in the air, they never saw a thing!”
Laughter bubbled up in Cadan’s throat and he shook his head.“Well done, men, Well done!”
“What is well done?”Gabrielle, Matthew in her arms, swept into the cabin, one brow arched over blue eyes alight with playfulness.
Here was the reason he’d forgotten the treasure.He’d been so concerned about getting her and Matthew to safety and far away from Damien that no thought of anything else had entered his mind.
But suddenly as she stood before him, the sunlight brushing over her, setting her skin aglow like pearls and her hair like spun gold, he realized that she was the only treasure he wanted.Her scent of rose, sunshine, and a hint of sass wove around him, and ’twas all he could do not to take her in his arms.
“Cap’n Allard’s treasure, Miss.”Soot rose to his feet.“Moses got it while the Cap’n an’ that fiend were fightin’.”
She gave a curt smile.“Then, Captain, you must be pleased to finally have your treasure.”
She had no idea.Nor did he wish to disclose his intense love for her, for she’d made her own sentiments quite plain.
“I am,” he finally said.
“But what I don’t understand is why you didn’t kill Damien?You had him.’Twas your dream, was it not?”
Cadan rubbed the back of his neck and sighed.“Let’s just say the Almighty had a word with me.”He glanced at Pell, who returned his nod with a smile.
Gabrielle blinked, her pert little nose twitching.
“Ye mean God?”Soot scrunched his face.
