Now that they were safely out of the harbor, Alexis felt the tension slowly ebb from her body. She placed her arms stiffly on the rail, leaned her body forward, and raised her head in a way that signaled her victory. The men who saw her pose were reminded of a figurehead at the bow of a ship. They smiled to themselves, thinking this was how they always saw her, though never so clearly as they did in this moment.
“We did it,” she said solemnly, speaking to the water, the retreating shoreline, and the brisk night air. She turned to Jordan who was watching her intently, an understanding smile on his rugged face. “We did it, Mr. Jordan!” she shouted as if she had just accepted the fact and all it meant. “Peach! You did it! We all did it!”
A cheer rose up from the crew and Alexis felt herself being lifted into the air on the firm, muscular shoulders of Jordan and Allison.
“Put me down!” she cried, smiling, not caring if they obeyed her or not. She felt light and slightly dizzy when the two men finally decided it wise to set her on the deck. “Where’s Peach?” she asked, holding Jordan’s arm to steady herself.
“Here, Captain!” Peach called as he worked his way through the men surrounding her.
She pulled him toward her, placing an arm around his shoulders. “Here’s the man we have to thank for the success of tonight’s venture!” The crew loudly sounded their approval, and Alexis could feel his shoulders straighten as he proudly accepted their praise. “And what have you done with the captain, Peach? I thought he would be on deck to celebrate.” This statement brought some laughter from Peters and Wilkes. Alexis could guess what had happened.
“That man is awfully stubborn,” the cabin boy answered. “I gave him every chance to go with Peters but—”
“But he had to be persuaded,” Alexis said. “It seems the captain and I expend a lot of energy trying to persuade one another. Where is he now, Wilkes? Were you very rough on him?”
“He’s in your cabin sleeping it off.”
Alexis laughed. “He should learn to follow orders. Peach, go see to the captain. Let me know when he wakes up.”
Peach nodded and hurried away, eager to see Cloud and face his anger when he woke.
Alexis set their course for New Orleans after the men assured her they were more anxious to get Travers than see Roadtown. Satisfied that everything was functioning smoothly in the hands of her crew, she assigned watch duty then spent the next hour with Jordan, acquainting herself with everything that had happened during her absence.
They had just concluded their discussion when she saw Peach motioning to her. She excused herself and went to stand beside him.
“Is it the captain?” she asked.
“Yes, ma’am. He’s awake and he’s furious.”
“What did he say to you?”
“First he grumbled about his head hurting and then he realized where he was and told me to get you. Said if you weren’t all right I’d better never show my face around him again. Told me to tell Peters and Wilkes the same thing.”
“Then I’d better see him,” she said. “So you don’t have to worry about being in his way.”
“He doesn’t scare me!” Peach assured her loudly. More softly he added, “But do you think you should see him just yet? He’s really angry about what Peters and Wilkes did.”
“Then I’ll have to inform him they were following my instructions.”
“Do you think you should?” he asked warily.
“You did a good job tonight, Peach. We could not have been successful without you. But as I recall you still cannot manage to give me a hot bath when I want one.”
In a perfect imitation of Jordan when he was exasperated, Peach pulled his shoulders straight, folded his lanky arms across his chest, and shook his head slowly. “Why do I worry?” he asked as he rolled his eyes heavenward.
Alexis threw her arms up in despair. “He’s corrupted you!”
Peach laughed as his captain walked away.
Chapter 15
Alexis paused outside the door to her quarters, bracing herself for Cloud’s fury, certain she knew the form it would take.
Her cabin was dark, throwing all her possessions into a shadowy netherworld. Only one thing seemed real—his presence and she could sense it as clearly as if she were seeing him in the full light of day. She shut the door quietly. Cloud would want the commander to pay.
She tensed, listening to the sound of his even breathing only a few feet in front of her. She noticed her own breathing was ragged and she tried unsuccessfully to still it. She was aware he was coming closer but when his arm brushed her as he reached to lock the door, her gasp mingled with the sound of metal scraping against metal.
“Cloud?” She said his name hesitantly, almost fearfully.
