Panicking, she drew in as big a breath as she could, over and over…relishing in the feel of air in her lungs—lungs that would soon be filled with water.Her shoes sank into the soft silt beneath her.
Lord?Where are you?She pressed against the jagged walls, ignoring the pain in her hands as the sharp rock cut and sliced.Still nothing moved, nothing budged, no loose rocks, no holes to be found.The only openings were a few narrow slits at the top of the cave through which rays of sunlight drifted, too small to squeeze through and too high to provide air.
Cadan’s curses grew louder and more frequent, an indication he was having no more luck than she was.
The sea gushed through the opening again.
Salt and brine mixed with fear and terror filled Gabrielle’s nose as finally, Cadan waded over to her.He grabbed her hands from the rock walls and brought them to his lips.
“’Tis no use, my love.We are trapped.”He gazed above at the rock ceiling nigh two feet above them and then down at the water.
“How long?”
His eyes met hers.“Perhaps an hour…I don’t know.Only God can save us now.”
“True.”And perhaps He would.Either way, Gabrielle must trust Him.Then why was her heart shriveling in her chest?
“Oh, Cadan.”She fell against him.“What will become of Matthew?”
His chest rose and fell with a huge sigh, but he said naught.They stood there for several minutes, clinging to each other as more water burst in with each wave.She moved back to gaze up at him, wanting to remember his strong features, the life and intensity in his hazel eyes.His hair dripped onto his shoulder.His jaw was heavily stubbled from days without a shave.She ran her fingers over it, relishing the feel of him.
He brushed a strand of wet hair from her forehead and smiled.
And before she knew it, his lips were on hers.
Madness!Pure Madness!She should push him back.They were about to drown together in this dark place, her own terror and sorrow reaching its peak.And instead, she allowed his kiss!Allowed?Nay, she enjoyed it.Immensely.An unintended moan of pleasure burst in her throat as he deepened the kiss and drew her closer, cupping her jaw with his hand.
So this is what a kiss should feel like?All wonder and power and thrill, all warmth and hope and daring.Her body would never be the same.Neither would her heart.
He pulled back, breathless, and ran his thumb over her cheek.“You enchant me, my lady.Now that we are to die, I must tell you that I am completely and utterly smitten.”
She smiled, every inch of her leaping at his declaration.“Smitten, is it?”She would offer some sarcastic retort if not for the seriousness of their situation.Instead, she replied.“If ’tis a disease, then I fear I too have been stricken as well.”
He kissed her on the forehead and drew her close again, wrapping his arms around her tightly.
The sea rushed through the hole once again, this time rising to their waists.
???
“How did you ever end up with Damien?”Cadan finally asked her the question that had been driving him mad for days.Ever since her true nature—that of a good, honest, honorable woman—had come to light.
She withdrew from him and hugged herself, and he regretted the question immediately.If he were to die this day, he’d rather enter eternity in her arms.
She gave a sad smile and glanced into the dark, dripping cave.“I was left at the altar, jilted.His name was Jonas, a ship’s surgeon, and a wonderful, Godly man”—she swallowed—“or so I thought.”
Cadan wanted to tell her the man was an absolute fool, but he longed to hear the rest of her tale.
“I was quite ashamed, you see.Everyone knew, all of Kingston, my family, our friends, and they all cast spurious glances my way wherever I went.I was a woman scorned, a castaway, tossed out like so much refuse.”
He reached for her, but she backed away, stirring the water around her.“He ran off with another woman.”Pain seared in her eyes.“Then I met Damien.He attended a party in Kingston.”She shook her head.“He had a slight French accent, which I found quite charming, but he had British Letters of Marque, so I assumed he was on our side.”She uttered a sigh and bit her lip.“He was handsome, charming, mannerly, kind, and educated.Everything I wanted.”She shrugged.“We began to court, though against my parents’ wishes.They saw something in him and warned me.I should have listened.”She wiped a tear spilling down her cheek.“But I was heartbroken, angry, and bitter, at them and at God.So, I allowed, even encouraged, his intentions.”
Water surged through the opening again, gurgling and crashing and billowing nigh up to her chest.
“One day, he asked if I would like a tour of his ship, theNightblood,so I foolishly went aboard without benefit of escort.”She finally met Cadan’s gaze, pain leeching from her face.“He kidnapped me, and before I knew it, we were out to sea.Then he…” Tears flooded her eyes, and she batted the air.“You know.”
Now Cadandidreach for her and wrapped his arms around her.“I’m so sorry.No woman should have to endure that.”
“I was so foolish, Cadan,” she sobbed.“I was running from my parents, from God.I wasn’t listening to Him.I didn’t even know Him.I was so desperate to run my own life, to fulfill my own dreams of getting married and having a family, I never consulted the One who made me, who loves me.I made a muck of things.And now I am here about to die.”
