“You don’t know where we are going?”Gabrielle attempted one more time.
“No.Alls I heard, Miss, is somethin’ about careening de ship.”
Careening?Hope dared make an appearance in Gabrielle’s heart.Careening meant she’d be taken onto land, and on land she’d at least have an opportunity to escape.
???
“Come down.I’ve got you.”Cadan gestured up the rope ladder for the wench.He’d been surprisingly pleased when she’d first appeared at the top of the companionway and stepped onto the main deck.Omphile had asked for permission to allow the woman to bathe, but the transformation was beyond expectations.Rays of sunlight glinted off skin as smooth as pearls and spread alabaster threads among the gold of her hair.Her gown of blue grogram, no doubt one of Omphile’s, fit too perfectly over curves that would drive a preacher mad, even brimming with child as she was.
In truth, even Pell stared at her, along with every other man on deck, and even those furling sails up on the yards.
When her eyes met his, the courage he’d seen in them reappeared, along with uncertainty and a hint of fear.Swallowing, she’d raised her shoulders and moved toward him with the grace of her station, reminding him why he detested her so.
She’d halted before him, raising her chin.“Where am I to be placed as bait, Captain?On the hook of a fishing line or perhaps tied to the masthead?”
Brazen little minx.Cadan grinned.“Don’t tempt me, my lady.”He turned, if only to take his gaze off her.“We go ashore.”
At this, a tiny smile had graced her lips, and he realized the little vixen thought to escape.He’d allow her this small measure of hope for now, if only to keep her compliant.
Now as he waited for her in the boat, she shouted from above.“Step away.I have climbed down many rope ladders before.”
“Climb, then.”Cadan took a step back in the wobbling craft, releasing his hold on the ladder and allowing it to flail with the wind.
To her credit, the lady made it halfway.No doubt she would have climbed down the entire thing with ease were her belly not swollen like a blowfish.As it was, her foot missed one of the rungs and despite her attempts to tighten her grip, she slipped, tumbled downward, and promptly fell into Cadan’s arms.
The pirates in the boat chuckled.
She looked up at him in horror, scrambling to be free of his grip, but the babe restricted her movements.“Let me down at once, you defiled fiend!”
Her insult, shouted with such authority, brought more chortles from his crew.
He grinned, enjoying being so close to her, her every movement causing his body to react in a way it hadn’t in years.Her scent of sunshine and sass with a hint of rose wafted over him, alerting every sense.
Enough of this!
Regaining his senses, he set her down, but before he could steady her against the swaying of the cockboat, she dashed from him and fell into Lazy-eyed Smity’s lap.The bosun’s disdain for women with loose morals revealed itself in an expression of abhorrence as he shoved the poor lady away from him.She landed on Soot, his gunner, who was more than happy to provide a seat for her on his lap beside his rabbit, Hellfire.
The woman shrieked.
Finally, Pell cast a look of castigation at Cadan, took the lady’s hand and offered her his seat as Cadan gave the order to row to shore.
The woman stared over the rippling water of the hidden cove, nose lifted, eyes focused and chest heaving.He supposed women like her were used to being fondled, yet real fear quivered in her eyes.Anddisgust.She behaved like a chaste virgin, yet her belly belied that notion.
The woman was full of surprises.
The cockboat struck shore and out leapt his men to drag the bow onto the sand.Cadan stepped into the swirling surf and gestured for Pell to help her ashore.He’d had enough of her highborn audacity so reminiscent of Elyna.Besides, his body was still recovering from her closeness.Scads!Perhaps he should have accepted the barmaid’s offer, after all.
He waded through the foaming waves onto shore, assessing the trees, foliage, and rocks for the best hiding places for men and weapons.Andfor a secure place to keep the woman safe from both him and his crew.Pell and Moses could help with that, the only two men he trusted with her.Not that he cared.But soiled bait would not bring the catch he desired.
Ignoring the lady’s protests as Pell carried her ashore, Cadan began barking orders to his crew to remove only certain items from theResoluteand to begin tying lines and tackles to the mastheads.Once everything was in place, he’d have the ship tilted just enough to mimic a full careening to anyone entering the cove.
Hence, the trap would be set.
Chapter 6
Along with all the other indignities Gabrielle had suffered of late, the man named Pell hoisted her ashore as if she were a sack of rice, then ordered her to sit in the sand.The sand!Nary a chair, rock, or coverlet in sight.Not that she wasn’t accustomed to sand, being raised in the Caribbean, but ’twas because she’d been raised here, she knew what wasinthe sand—all manner of fleas, crabs, bloodworms, beetles, and clams.Why she concerned herself with these things when her life lay in the balance, she couldn’t say.Perhaps it kept her mind off her impending doom.
At least she’d been placed beneath the shifting shade of a palm.Pell fingered a wooden cross around his neck, gave her the oddest look, and then strode away to join his captain.Perspiration formed on her forehead and neck, and she longed for a sip of water or grog or anything wet.
