Every inch of Cadan longed to thrust the blackguard through, but the flintlock pointed at his chest restrained him.He would not die at this man’s hand.True, One-tooth might miss, but from the look in his eye, Cadan best not take that chance.
Still, how could he let Allard go?After all these years?And his bait with him!
Cadan glanced at the lady.Her wide eyes flitted between him and Allard, uncertainty and terror running rampant over them.
“I will go with neither of you!”she finally shouted.
Another cannon blast thundered, quivering the leaves on the trees.
“Now!”Allard stormed toward her to grab her, but she swept her knife out, striking him across his arm.
A red line of blood appeared on his shirt.
Fearing Allard would harm the lady in retribution, Cadan leapt in front of her, daring to offer his unprotected back to the point of her knife.He leveled his cutlass at the man, even as One-tooth followed him with the barrel of his flintlock.“I’ll put lead in ye, I swear!”
Boom!Boom!Two more cannon shots sent more birds squawking into the sky.
“I have no time for this!To hell with you and your child!”Allard spat out to the woman.Spinning on his heels, he ordered One-tooth to shoot Cadan, then fled into the jungle.
Cadan started to run after Allard, but One-tooth cocked his pistol.
“Meet yer fate, Cap’n!”
“You better shoot to kill, you traitorous squid, because I will find you and keelhaul you for your betrayal.”
A sneer lifted the man’s lips, revealing his single tooth.“I’ll gladly oblige ye.”
Allard was getting away!It was all Cadan could do to remain there and not take his chances and rush the man.But the lady muddled things up.What if the shot missed him and struck her?Or what if it missed them both?Could Cadan chase after Allard and leave the lady behind, unprotected on an island full of pirates?Or even with this cullion?
He groaned.Why should he care?In truth, he still needed her as bait.
One-tooth fired.Cadan dove, taking the lady down with him.They landed with a thump and a moan from the woman.
Leaves fluttered, branches snapped, and Cadan leapt up.One-tooth was gone.
He could pursue him, but the lady cried out in pain.
A strange concern waved over him.Had she been shot?Kneeling, he felt over her body, looking for a wound.
“How dare you?”She slapped him away with one hand and groped for the knife she’d dropped on the ground with the other.
Cadan retrieved it and uttered a bestial growl, pointing it at her.“You’ve kept me from killing Allard!”
Lady Fox’s eyes sharpened to cutlass tips.“I?I have not the power, Captain, to keep you from your wicked schemes.”Gripping her belly, she struggled to rise.
Cadan sheathed his blade as more cannon blasts echoed through the jungle.
He must get back on his ship!Perhaps there was still a chance to capture Allard.
He held out his hand for the lady.
She slapped it away again, and with much difficulty, got on her knees and finally stood.Defiant eyes and an upraised nose met his gaze.“Your plan did not work, Captain.”
“’Tis not over yet, my lady.Now, make haste.”He turned to leave.
“Leave me here, I beg you.You no longer have need of me.You plainly saw Allard wants naught to do with me.”
He spun to face her.She might be right, but he couldn’t very well leave her here.Growling at his own foolishness, he grabbed her arm and retreated, intending to drag her out of the jungle.
