He ransacked her covers and swiped his hands across the bunk. “Where the devil did you put it?”
Boom. The ship shuddered.
“Us firing back, but we don’t have much firepower.” He huffed like a steam engine as he dropped to his hands and knees, searching the floor.
“Forget the necklace.” She grabbed at his arm.
“Found it.” He jumped to his feet, stuffed it in his pocket, and threw on his coat.
She shoved her shoes on.
Boom. Wham.A curdling yell overhead. Morning Fawn rocked against Nick. He slammed his hand against the bulkhead, bracing himself.
Her whole body atremble, she gained her feet. “I’m leaving.” Her voice was so garbled, it sounded like a two-year-old’s. She headed for the door.
“Where’s your tiara?—”
Another flash across the skylight. A roar.Wham—the sound of a blacksmith hammer striking an anvil, except a hundred times louder. A groan shuddered through the deck.
She took off running. She had no intention of drowning for a few jewels. They had to get topside.
Nick followed.
She latched onto the ladder that led to the open hatch.
Farther down the dark passageway, someone called out. “We’re taking on water.”
A sailor shoved past her and hurried up the steps. “Stay here.”
Above the open hold, men rushed about. The captain yelled, “Make for the shore. Run her aground before they board us.”
“That man’s out of his mind if he thinks I’m staying down here.” Nick snagged her hand with the force of a hook. “Come on—you belong to me.”
He pulled her up the ladder. His revolver was out of his holster by the time they emerged from below. “We need protection if there’s not enough lifeboats.”
Chaos reigned. Men ran about. A monster loomed off the port side, a steamer with every lamp lit and guns out, barreling toward them.
Suddenly, theEliza Janeswung starboard. Morning Fawn’sknees hit the deck. So did Nick’s. His revolver skidded across the deck’s oak boards, slamming into the pilothouse.
Nick dove for it.
A thunderous roar. The foremast crashed to the deck, crushing a man beneath and flinging the sailor from the crow’s nest into the water. The railing near the stern folded like sticks, its bulwark shattered.
Morning Fawn crawled for the railing midship.
“All hands!” A voice rang out. “Brace for impact.”
Morning Fawn grabbed ahold of the unfurled rope ladder flapping against the inside of the railing, burrowing her hands as deep as should could into the hemp cords.Dear Lord, help.
CHAPTER 39
Devon’s lips ached, cracked from the sun and wind. A layer of salted moisture covered him. From late morning to more than halfway through the night, he’d rooted himself to the forecastle of the oyster sloop,Penny. He’d explained to the captain how Morning Fawn had sacrificed her freedom for the sake of the striking a serious blow to the Confederate cotton supply and how they might be able to get their hands on a cotton emissary. The captain had agreed to the pursuit, ready to do what he could to help the Union.
Devon had taken a few bites of salted pork and biscuits when Jeremy shoved it his way, but he had no appetite. The only thing that mattered was theEliza Jane. He could only pray that the Reb captain had taken the customary route they were now following.
Just before dawn, thunder rumbled, followed by a pinprick of light to the south. Not lightning. More thunder, followed by quick flashes. Cannon fire? Devon rubbed his sleep-deprived eyes and leaned hard against the forecastle railing. Every hair on his limbs stood on end.
“Take a look!” Standing outside his cabin, Captain Abramsyelled at the lookout in the crow’s nest through his speaking trumpet. His heavy wool frock coat tugged against his belly.
