“That has not changed. Alex was correct about me. So were the men who tried to use you. I will help when the time comes. Perhaps the British do not realize it, and I think the Americans are not proud of it but I am an American. There has been no question of it in my mind since Jefferson purchased the Louisiana territory.”
“I’m glad.”
Lafitte laughed but the sound was hollow. “Captain Travers is the representative.”
Cloud sat upright. His fingers dug into the earth. He would have been overjoyed to hear he would meet Travers here but something in Lafitte’s tone warned him.
“You must understand, Tanner, there is no way I can let you exact your vengeance here on Barataría,” he said. “No matter how much I dislike what the British are suggesting, and no matter how much I would like to run Travers through with my own sword, it cannot happen here. I gave my word when the meeting was arranged. I gave it to his superior that whoever was sent would be treated cordially and no harm would come to him or his men.”
“You can’t be serious! You would stop me when he is right under my nose? I can’t believe you mean that.”
“I mean it,” Lafitte answered firmly. “You and your men will be confined to your ship if you cannot give me your word that no harm will come to him while he is here.”
Cloud’s lean fingers curled around a stone. He clenched it a moment then he hurled it toward the water. Perversely it made him angrier when it fell with a soft thud into the sand, several yards short of the incoming tide. He said nothing.
“Your word,” Lafitte persisted. “Do I have it?”
Cloud groaned. “How can you even think of letting that man step foot on your land? How can you expect so much from me when you know what she was to me…to her men…to—”
“To me? Yes, she was special to me. I have followed her since the time she left. I have wanted nothing for her but what she wanted for herself. I have provided her with information. My men have seen that her shipping line prospered in these waters. And still that seems nothing in return for the ill she suffered because some half-witted men sought to destroy me. It will not be easy, having him here, knowing what he did to her, knowing what she has done for me, but I have given my word. Now I am asking yours.”
“How long will he be staying here?” Cloud asked slowly, the beginning of a plan pushing at the edge of his consciousness.
Lafitte did not miss a beat before answering. The same idea had formed long before in his mind. “How long until your ship can be repaired?”
Cloud smiled and turned to face Lafitte. He saw the mocking smile and raised eyebrow greet him. “You have my word. Nothing will happen to Captain Travers so long as he is your guest.”
“Captain, we’ve sighted something off the port bow!” The voice was excited and decidedly English.
The captain pushed away from his desk and examined his first lieutenant with cool disdain. “Something does not tell me much of anything. What is it you think you see?”
“It looks like a body, sir! We cannot be sure. Do you want us to have a look?” The captain sighed. “I’m coming up. Man one of the boats and take it out.”
The lieutenant took his leave and the captain closed his log furiously. First the storm to delay them and now something else to keep them from their assignment. In a sudden burst of frustration, he leaped out of his chair. The delay grated on him and by the time he reached the deck he was in the surly mood his officers and crew were well accustomed to.
He stood at the rail, watching the men row closer to the bobbing object in the distance. The sun’s glare off the placid water made it difficult to see exactly what they were rowing to. The combination of the bright morning sun and the gentle movement of the water also made it difficult to believe there had been a storm the night before. He lifted his telescope and sought out the object again. Still he could not make it out clearly and his men continued to row. Probably nothing more than a piece from a ship that had not been fortunate in the squall. He cursed softly. If they had wasted time for that he would have the first lieutenant’s head.
His men had stopped rowing and one of them was reaching out for the object. The captain adjusted his scope to get a clearer view.
“Bodies,” he announced coldly to the officer at his side.
“Bodies?”
“Plural. Two of them. They are taking them in.” He paused then he lowered the telescope to his side. “They’ve dropped one back in but they are keeping the other. There must be some life left in him.”
“Shall I summon the surgeon?” the lieutenant asked. He wished he had not sounded so concerned. He knew his captain would only cite it later as a weakness. He wondered, not for the first time, how, with all the truly capable and honorable men he could have served under, he had been cast under the ruthless command of the man at his side. It was only a brief thought as his attention was drawn to his captain’s answer.
“Wait until we see if he makes it here alive. No use rousing the surgeon if it is only to pronounce the man dead. We have a lot of men capable of that.”
“Yes, sir,” came the quiet reply.
Word of rescue had passed quickly among the crew and now many of them were waiting along the rail in order to get a better look. The boat was raised in short order and the faces of the men viewing the body slumped against one of their mates carried the same expression familiar to the crew of theDark Ladyat each unveiling.
“My God! It’s a woman!” Several voices cried out the discovery at the same instant.
The two sailors on either side of Alexis began to lift her out of the boat but at their touch she raised her head and shook it slowly. When she spoke her voice was hoarse and raspy, not at all like the clear tones that were part of her command.
“Myself,” she said. “I’ll get out myself.”
