Not far beyond her home Alexis found a natural ledge on the cliff side of the hill. Overlooking the ocean, it reminded her of the crow’s nest and offered her sanctuary when she watched for Pauley’s ship. Here, in this rocky nest, while searching the horizon for her friend, she thought of all the pleasures that had been hers since coming to the island.
On the eve of her sixth anniversary with George and Francine, Alexis again took up her vigil in her well-worn spot. She pulled absentmindedly at her long yellow braids. Surely he would come soon. She had so much she wanted to thank him for. Pauley had been right about so many things and now she wanted to tell him she understood.
Alexis watched the shadow of a ship nearing the harbor. The full moon gave it a ghostly appearance, and she shivered even though she told herself she was being silly. She did not believe in Francine’s woman’s intuition. Still, as she followed the ship into port, she could not put aside a feeling of dread. She had never experienced anything like it before, and she hoped she would never feel anything akin to it again.
Alexis slept peacefully that night, never knowing that her life in the crow’s nest was about to be shattered. There was no sanctuary in 1810 from a British naval vessel in search of a crew to man her guns.
When she awoke Francine’s petite frame was bending over her, wishing her happiness of this special day, and the uneasiness she had experienced before going to bed was forgotten.
“Happy anniversary,” Francine whispered, laughter alive in her azure eyes. “Can you believe it is six years? George says you may have the day off in honor of the occasion. He promised to be home early. All of the servants have a holiday. I believe they’ll want to thank you later for it.”
Alexis smiled, trying to stifle a yawn. “It’s been a wonderful six years, hasn’t it? As if I’ve always lived here.” She brushed the hair away from her eyes, wishing she hadn’t unbraided it before she’d gone to bed. It had practically strangled her in her sleep and now it covered her shoulders and back like a blanket. The silky waves everyone else admired were more often a nuisance to Alexis.
She sat up while Francine reached for her brush and began to work through the tangled ends. “Where would you like me to go today so you will be able to make my favorite sweet and surprise me later?”
Francine hit her lightly on the back of the head with the brush.“Vous êtes impossible, Alexis.Would it not be a good surprise if this year I did nothing?”
Alexis turned suddenly, horrified that Francine might make good her threat; but when she saw those blue eyes light up she laughed at her foolishness. This day meant too much to all of them for Francine to change her ways now.
“You haven’t answered my question, Francine. Where should I go?”
Francine sighed. “Why don’t you go to the beach? The spot you can see from your crow’s nest. I’ll be able to call you when the surprise is ready.” She paused. “Stay away from the rocks, Alexis. Please? I worry when you swim so close to them.”
“You worry too much,” Alexis scolded. “I’ve never been hurt before and I’ll be careful now. Go along and don’t fret. Give me a chance to dress.” She kissed Francine on the cheek and hugged her fiercely. “Have I told you lately how wonderful you and George are?”
“Not in the last day or so.” She laughed, extricating herself from Alexis’s arms.
When Francine had gone Alexis dressed quickly, pulling on a light cotton shift she saved for making the steep descent to the beach. Carrying a towel, she whisked past her mother on her way out the door. The cool grass felt good beneath her bare feet as she carefully picked her way down the hill. When she had reached the white sandy bottom she undressed hurriedly and ran to the water’s edge. Without pausing she dove headfirst into the clear, blue water. She swam for a short while and then floated on the water, letting the gentle current carry her along to the area Francine had asked her to stay away from.
Around the rocks the current became swifter and Alexis had to use all of her strength to avoid being tossed against them. As always, with strong deliberate strokes, she avoided the rocks and reef and returned to her starting position.
Laughing and breathless from the exertion of her swim, Alexis paused a moment before she ran from the water. She reached for her towel, and after she dried herself she put on her shift and began to unbraid her hair.
From his hiding place among the rocks Tanner Frederick Cloud’s breath caught in his throat. He had seen the young woman swimming and was amazed at her daring when she ventured dangerously close to the breakers. It was as if she were taunting the strength of the water with her own. She seemed to make each stroke so effortlessly Cloud was surprised to see long, finely curving legs carry her from the sea instead of a glistening, emerald tail. He studied her graceful movements as she dried, dressed, and unbraided her golden hair. She ran her fingers through the silky tresses until they were free of tangles, then she held her hair at her head while she lay back in the sand, freeing it at the last moment so it formed a silky backdrop for her face. Cloud wished he could see her more closely, but he was almost sixty yards away and he could only guess that her face would complement her lithe form.
“Have you seen them yet, Tanner?” came a voice behind him.
Cloud shook his head, the voice of his second in command shaking him back to the reality of his purpose on the hillside. He did not add he had been too intrigued with the girl to pay attention to the house. He was guilty of violating his own orders.
“No, not yet. But it’s just a matter of time before they come for Quinton. Go back and wait. And make sure Allen and Briggs stay put until I give the signal.” When Cloud was satisfied Landis had hidden himself completely out of view of the girl, he turned his attention to the house.
He wondered if it had been unwise to bring so few men. They had all volunteered, but he could not risk leaving the ship unprotected while he pursued what could turn out to be a fool’s errand. There were only four of them stationed at various points along the hillside. It would have to be enough.
Cloud had been assigned to take his ship, the USSHamilton,to Tortola to discuss commissioning ships from George Quinton. He smiled ruefully, looking back on his reaction to the order. What had seemed so easy, even boring, to his adventurous spirit, was quickly becoming more of a danger than he was willing to subject himself or his men to. A simple business transaction between Quinton Shipping and the Amerian Navy had a distinctly unpleasant edge to it once theHamiltonnoticed the British Naval frigate patrolling the waters near the harbor. The presence of the British vessel made his crew feel ill at ease. They knew it was likely the British were looking for men to replenish a skeleton crew. Being on a naval ship did not necessarily protect one from the possibility of being boarded. Cloud had learned that lesson well enough.
The British made a pretense of legality; however, once they boarded a ship they looked for the heartiest crew members and then announced these men were actually deserters from the Royal Fleet. It didn’t matter that the men had never set foot in England. The British officers had false records, and there were always those who would identify the victim as a deserter. That was how it had happened to Cloud. He winced at the memory and shifted his position behind the rocks. Just recalling the incident was enough for him to feel the scars lacing his back as if they were being put there for the first time. He shrugged the memory off and watched the house more closely.
Last night, after the British had sailed into the harbor, Cloud had hidden theHamiltonin one of the small coves at the end of the island. This morning he took a few men into Roadtown, leaving a disgruntled crew to guard the ship. Cloud went straight to the offices of Quinton Shipping while his men acted as lookouts. There was already something of a panic in the port town as the press gang moved among the residents, selecting men from every walk of life. Cloud narrowly missed being apprehended as he waited in the outer office to see Quinton. The secretary had already informed him that George was gone for the day, something about an anniversary party for his daughter, but Cloud had remained a few moments longer to write a message for Quinton, hoping he would agree to meet later. He never finished the letter because his men broke into the office and dragged him bodily out the rear exit. It was not until they were safely hidden that Landis told him the reason for the action, though Cloud suspected immediately. It seemed George Quinton and his business were the main attraction of the island for the frigate’s crew. They were searching everywhere for him.
Cloud determined to get to him first. He needed those ships as much as the British, and his government was willing to pay.
He and his men found Quinton’s home, but Quinton himself had not returned. They positioned themselves along the cliffs where they could watch the activities of the hill. Landis was stationed so he could see Quinton approach on the main path leading to the house, since he was the only one who knew George by sight. Cloud glanced in Landis’s direction. The officer was gesturing toward the beach, but motioning that the newcomer was not George Quinton. The captain turned quickly on his heels to see what Landis was pointing out.
He watched with interest as a big, rugged man approached the girl on the beach. Cloud had a hand placed lightly over his pistol should the stranger not be welcomed by the girl. In the moments that followed he saw his fears were ungrounded.
Alexis sat upright when she heard soft footsteps coming toward her. She glanced over her shoulder and, seeing the man approaching her, scrambled to her feet, and began running toward him.
“Pauley! It is you! It really is you!” she cried. She stopped a few feet in front of him when he held out his hand, motioning her to halt.
