At least the man had agreed to Cadan’s demand that he be the one to take him to the treasure.He’d lied when he’d said he lost the clue, lied when he’d said the location would be too hard to explain.Perhaps he had only bought himself another day of life, but a better day it would be on the lush greenery of an island rather than locked in the hold, where he’d spent the last eight days.
Eight miserable days in their journey to Eleuthera, one of the tiny islands in the Bahamas.Eight miserable days in which Cadan had far too much time to think, to ponder, to regret his past mistakes and dwell on his hopeless future.Eight days in which his fear for Gabrielle and Matthew grew until it began to gnaw at his soul.
Finally, she appeared from the companionway, and he mouthed anI’m sorryas she approached.But before she could respond, a pirate shoved her toward the rope ladder, took Matthew against her protests, and assisted her into the boat below before handing him back.Men with shovels and pick axes already filled the wobbling craft by the time Cadan clambered in with difficulty due to his restraints.Smity leapt in behind him.
Rays of the sun pierced the morning mist hovering over the island.Gentle waves from a turquoise bay lapped upon the shore as if nothing at all were wrong with the world.Birds danced from limb to limb through a web of trees that led up to green rolling hills.’Twas a beautiful place to bury one’s treasure, Cadan supposed.But not so beautiful were it to become his grave.
Gabrielle’s eyes sought him out.Terror screamed from within them, yet he saw no hatred, none of the accusation he deserved, for he alone was to blame for her present circumstance.He’d made mistakes.He’d played loosely with innocent lives, and now, they all faced certain death.
All for what?Revenge, Money?He wondered if it was worth it.
They rowed ashore within minutes.Once on the sand, Cadan attempted to slip beside Gabrielle to offer her some comfort, but Smity pushed him toward the jungle.“Which way?”
Drawing a deep breath, he glanced over the palms, sea grapes, and fig trees lining the shore, then back at theResolute, hidden in the bay, looking as majestic as ever as she rolled with the incoming waves.Hisship.He thought of Pell, Moses, and Soot still locked in the filthy hold, and he fisted his hands.
Somehow, he’d have to free them.But first he had to free himself.
God, if you’re listening, please help.’Twas the first prayer he’d uttered in twenty years, ever since his mother had died and left him to care for his siblings.
He glanced down shore, uttered a “This way,” and started walking toward the jungle, his bare feet flinging sand in the air.The final clue described a circular outcropping of rocks in the shape of a half-moon.Dempster had hidden the treasure in a locked chest at the bottom of a cave in the center of that moon.Or so the clue had said.But first they had to cross a section of the jungle to get to the other side of the small island.Aye, he could have led Smity to anchor there, where they’d only have a few yards of jungle to traverse before arriving at the treasure.But Cadan wanted to prolong his last minutes alive, and a trip through tangled brush may grant him an opportunity to escape with Lady Fox.Though now as he glanced over the four pirates Smity had brought with him—four of the meanest of Cadan’s crew—his hope for that chance faded.Leaving but one final shred of hope.He’d told Pell the exact location of the treasure should fate smile on them, and Pell could somehow escape.
Batting aside a large fern, he entered the jungle, the leaves of the forest floor cooling his feet from the hot sand.Dempster’s treasure!He’d been longing for this moment for two years, ever since he’d discovered the map in a secret compartment of the old pirate’s desk.He’d been the one to find the map, he’d been the one to follow the clues.The treasure was his!The wealth he’d gain would grant him land and power, and never again would men like Allard and Smity be able to squash him beneath their rapacious thumbs.
But now as he walked the same path Captain Dempster must have walked, he found no excitement, no pleasure in it.In truth, he was more concerned for the lady and her babe than he was at losing the treasure.Treasure he could always get back.But not Gabrielle.There was no woman like her.
“How much further?”Smity whined as Cadan circled around the large trunk of a tree.What kind he didn’t know, but its roots spread out like a web over the sandy soil.Halting, he glanced up at the canopy of lush green leaves and wiped the sweat from his brow.
“Not much,” he finally said, glancing back at Gabrielle.
Kipp held her tight in his clutches, dragging her beside him.Struggling to keep Matthew secure, she stumbled over an exposed root, and the pirate uttered a curse and shoved her forward.
Rage stormed through Cadan.Grimacing, he faced Smity.“If that bloated crock harms her, oranyoneharms her, I’ll take the location of the treasure to my grave.”
???
Dipping a cloth into the cool water of a tiny creek, Gabrielle dribbled it over Matthew’s mouth.Waving his chubby arms through the air, he made gurgling sounds as he welcomed the refreshment.She brushed a lock of his hair from his forehead and kissed him gently.She had not known ’twas possible to love someone as much as she loved her son.She would gladly die, be tortured,die on a cross, if only to save him.Lifting her head, she glanced over the labyrinth of greenery around her.Where had the thought,die on a cross, come from, for she’d not been thinking of Jesus.
Movement drew her gaze to the right.A figure dressed in brown breeches and a checkered shirt passed between two trees and disappeared into the brush.The pirate Cadan oft assigned to guard her?Shaking her head, she glanced down at her son.Nothing made sense anymore.
Dipping the cloth into the water again, she brought it to Matthew’s mouth, hoping ’twould be enough to sustain him until she could feed him properly.One glance behind her revealed Smity tipping a flask to his mouth, surrounded by four of his men, while Cadan stood to the right tied to a tree.Their eyes met briefly, and though they were separated by several yards, she saw both fury and longing within them.A purple bruise formed near his right eye where Smity had struck him after Cadan had announced he’d not lead them to the treasure if any harm came to her.
Her knight in shining armor!Who would have guessed this pirate, who once had been willing to toss her to the sharks to satisfy his revenge, would now be willing to risk his life for her?When had he changed?When had her own heart become so tethered to his?
Still, she was grateful when Smity agreed to stop for a rest, “if only to silence the brat’s constant screaming,” he had said.
“Tend t’ yer brat, wench,” he’d ordered.“An’ make sure he’s quiet from now on, or I’ll silence him meself!”
Ignoring the fear curdling in her belly, she’d found a spot by the creek where she could change Matthew’s nappy and give him some water.For now, he seemed satisfied.
Birds sang a pleasant tune above her, and she glanced up at a particular one whose multi-colored feathers would put any nobleman to shame.God’s creation was so incredible.Just like the wee one in her arms.
Matthew gurgled again.His blue eyes scanned the canopy with the wonder of sweet innocence, flailing his arms out as if he could touch and explore this new world around him.
Lord, please rescue us.Please save Cadan and me and this precious child you’ve given me.
He never answers your prayers.
The silent voice stabbed her, haunting in its malevolence, torturing in its truth.
