“Moses, and pray tell, what is your story?”
His eyes shot to the captain with a smile.“Nothin’ as excitin’ as dese, Miss.De Cap’n bought me at a slave auction on Saint Lucia.Set me free an’ gave me a position on deResoluteif I wanted it.”
She couldn’t help but glance at the captain.Such an enigma.So cruel to her, so filled with hate toward Allard, but kind to so many others.
His eyes met hers and for a brief second, she saw them soften, perhaps even a hint of affection—or mayhap sympathy in them.Uncomfortable beneath his gaze, she looked away.
“And you, Mr.Smity?”She dared ask the man who had not stopped scowling at her the entire dinner.
She wondered at the scars on the right side of his face and his wandering eye.She wondered at the pearl in his right ear, but mostly she wondered at the hatred radiating off him like heat from a furnace.
Pell sipped his grog.“Smity sailed with the great pirate captain, Avery, didn’t you, Smity?”
For the first time since she’d known him, a tiny smile curved his lips.“I did.A great pirate he were too.Got us a fair amount o’ treasure, says I.Went missing jist last year afore I met up wi’ Cap’n Hayes.”
“And let me guess,” Gabrielle said.“Captain Hayes found you starving at some wayward port and offered you fame and fortune aboard his ship.”
Smity glared at her.“Nay.I approached ’im on St.Kitts.’Eard he were a fair captain who kept ’is crew in coin.”He rubbed the scars on his face and never once made eye contact with the captain.
In truth, he rarely looked at Cadan, and when he did, Gabrielle sensed his disdain.She wanted to ask about his scars but thought better of it.“And your family, Sir?”
He snorted in disgust and sat back in his chair, his left eye a blade slicing through her while his right one wandered off to the side.“Me mother were a whore, me father a seaman.As soon as she gave birth t’ me, she tossed me in the gutter.”
Despite the man’s hostility, a sudden sorrow crept over her.She’d been privileged to have two parents who had loved and cared for her.It appeared that no one here, save perhaps Soot, had that same blessed childhood.Even Omphile had shared her horrid upbringing.Why then did Gabrielle find herself in such a dire situation?Why had the God she believed in and followed since birth allowed such cruelty?Omphile had said that God was good and faithful.Perhaps she’d find a way to ask Mr.Pell.He’d been a preacher, after all.
The men continued pouring rum as if it were water and guzzling it down just as fast.All coherent conversation ended, replaced with slurred words, insults, salacious comments about women they’d known, ostentatious boasts, and at one point, Smity and Soot drew knives.
All the while the captain sat back watching as if this were a normal occurrence at mealtime.
Gabrielle lost what little appetite she had and sought an opportunity to excuse herself.From the looks in the pirates’ eyes, she might well become the dessert, ripe with child or not.
She was about to do just that when the iguana dropped from the ceiling onto the table and began hobbling across the now mostly empty platters and bowls.Hellfire leapt from Soot’s lap and took chase after the lizard, unending bowls, tipping over glasses, and splattering food scraps over the pirates.
Horrified, Gabrielle struggled to rise and back away before Zada, now covered in rice and fish broth, slithered onto her lap.Too late.He landed on her chest, then crawled around her shoulders, yanking at her pinned-up curls.The rabbit followed.
She caught her by her hind feet and gripped her tightly as Zada dropped to the deck with a plop and scrambled under the captain’s bed.
Restraining the demon rabbit tightly in her arms, Gabrielle rose and glanced around the table.Both Pell and the Captain stood as well.
“Well, gentlemen, I thank you for a most entertaining evening,” she said politely.
At this, the men laughed so loud, it rattled the silverware.All save the captain.Scowling, he ordered everyone to leave.Thank heavens!She skirted the table to return Hellfire to his owner when the captain’s slurred command rang through the room.“Not you.Stay, my lady.”
Chapter 12
Rising with difficulty, Cadan ordered his raucous crew to leave.He’d had enough of their besotted blustering and raucous behavior for one night.Despite her attempts to act unruffled, ’twas obvious Lady Fox had her fill as well.
“Stay, my lady,” he ordered her as she handed the rabbit back to Soot and started to follow the men out.
Halting, she faced him.“Is that a command, Captain?Or a wish?”
Stopping at the doorway, Pell gave Cadan a look of disapproval as if to sayyou’re besottedand better do the lady no harm.
“Close the door, Pell.”Cadan brooked no argument.Not this night.
Frowning, the man obeyed.
The door slammed with a thud that pounded Cadan’s head.
