The Pirate

by Jayne Ann Krentz

  Kate felt something very cold squeeze her stomach and she could only imagine how Jared must be feeling as he realized his son was now a hostage. The carefully controlled tension in him lapped at her in waves.

  “Let David go, Max.” Jared gazed unwaveringly at Butterfield. His voice was very quiet. “You don’t need him. Get in the cruiser and go. No one will stop you.”

  “Now we both know it’s not quite that simple, Hawthorne.” Max sounded mildly regretful. He glanced at Kate and shook his head. “A pity about your curiosity, my dear. This entire matter could have been handled far more neatly if you had not gotten involved. Now I fear it will be rather messy. But a writer’s life is filled with ups and downs, is it not?”

  “Your life has definitely gotten a lot more messy than most,” Kate said. “What made you decide to turn traitor?”

  “Such a dramatic turn of phrase, my dear. I don’t quite see it that way. Remember our little philosophical discussion at poolside concerning fate? I believe I mentioned then that once in a while one is given a golden opportunity to reshape one’s destiny. I have been handed such an opportunity and have decided to take it.”

  “You really believe your own bull, Max?” Jared asked conversationally.

  “Dad?” David tried to pull free of Max’s grip and looked up angrily when he was not released. “Hey, Max. Let me go. Come on, let go of me.”

  “Not yet, David, my boy. I’m afraid I need you to ensure your father’s good behavior.” Max looked at Kate, paying little attention to his small hostage. “And also that of Ms Inskip. Come along, boy.” He started to drag David toward the cruiser, motioning with the gun to urge Jared and Kate out of the way.

  “I’m not going anywhere with you.” David started to struggle.

  “Behave yourself, boy, or I’ll put a bullet through your father right now. Do you understand?” Max jerked David forward.

  David looked at Jared, his small face taut with fear. “Dad?”

  “Don’t fight him, son,” Jared said, his voice calm. “Just go along quietly, okay?”

  “But, Dad, I don’t want to go with Max.” David was near tears as he was dragged toward the boat.

  “Everything’s going to be all right. When this is all over, you and Kate can practice some of those things she taught you. Remember what you learned from her?”

  David blinked a couple of times and the tears were halted. He glanced at Kate and she could see awareness dawning in his eyes. She nodded reassuringly.

  “You might even want to start practicing right away, Dave,” Jared said.

  “Yeah,” said David, gathering himself.

  “This is all very touching,” Max Butterfield said as he started to step into the boat, “but I’m afraid we really don’t have time for these sentimental farewells. Jared, go open the sea wall. Come along, David.”

  “I’m not going anywhere with you,” David announced in the distinctly stubborn accents only a nine-year-old can manage.

  “Of course you are.”

  “Wanna bet?” David lashed out without warning, slamming the sole of his right foot squarely against Max’s kneecap.

  For the next few seconds, everything happened very quickly. Max yelled in pain and surprise and lost his balance. He clutched his knee and then flailed wildly for his balance. He missed the boat and toppled with slow grandeur into the black water.

  David ran straight to his father. Jared caught him close in a short, fierce hug. “You are a hell of a kid, you know that?”

  “It was Kate’s trick,” David reminded him.

  “Kate is a hell of a woman. And I am one hell of a lucky man.” Jared gently pushed the boy toward Kate, who held him tightly to her. Then he walked over to the edge of the quay and stood looking down at Max, who was bobbing about and sputtering seawater.

  “Jared, we’ve been friends for a long time.” Max splashed toward the stone wall. “I ask that you consider our long acquaintanceship before you do anything rash. Consider also the cash involved here.”

  “I have considered it, Max. I considered it while I was locked in that dungeon cell. And I considered it very closely when you threatened Kate and my son. And after due consideration I have decided I never did like you all that much, anyway.”

  Chapter 11

  “Furthermore, I want you to know I feel some serious errors in judgment were made around here. Serious errors that were compounded by a ridiculous macho approach to the entire event.” Kate reached the end of the terrace, swung around and paced back. The morning was magnificent, as usual. Out in the bay lay the sleek, white cruise ship, its passengers still at breakfast on board. “I think it was absolutely unpardonable of you not to tell me what was going on right from the start.”

  “It had nothing to do with you and it was potentially dangerous. The whole thing was supposed to be a secret operation. Fat lot of good it does trying to explain the concept of secret to women.” Jared concentrated on the repair work being done on the terrace railing. He had been concentrating on it ever since Kate had finally tracked him down that morning. “Mark, watch out for the tile. It cost me a fortune to have this stuff shipped in and I don’t want it chipped.”

  “Right, boss.” Mark and his assistant exchanged quick grins as they dutifully spread a protective cloth over the expensive Italian tile. They had been listening unabashedly to the exchange between Kate and Jared for several minutes. When they finished here on the terrace, the entire resort would know every detail of the argument.

  “The very fact that it was dangerous is precisely why you should have told me what was going on.”

  “The idea was to keep you out of it.” Jared examined the lumber that was to be used for the makeshift railing. “This isn’t going to look great, but it should do the job.”

  Kate glowered at Jared’s back. “What’s going to happen to Max and Taylor?”

  “Sam Finley collected them bright and early this morning. He’ll turn them over to the authorities.” Jared frowned at his men. “Let’s get moving on this, you two. This should have been completed yesterday. Those people from the cruise ship will be pouring in here in another couple of hours. Where’s the colonel? He was supposed to be digging some extra tables and chairs out of storage.”

  “Saw him a while ago, boss. He’s working on it.”

  “Jared,” Kate began determinedly, “I would appreciate your undivided attention. I am trying to talk to you.” But it was a losing battle and she knew it. They had all gotten to bed very late last night and there had been little chance to rehash the affair. Kate had awakened bright and early this morning with every intention of doing so, but thus far she had been thwarted at every turn.

  “Hi, Dad, how’s the railing going?” David bounded up the terrace steps and skidded to a halt near his father.

  “We’re getting there,” Jared said.

  David grinned at Kate. “You still yelling at Dad?”

  “I am not yelling at your father. I am trying to have an intelligent, coherent discussion and I am being stonewalled.”

  “She’s yelling,” Jared said.

  “What does stonewalled mean?” David asked.

  “Never mind.” Kate turned back to Jared. “Jared, I would like to talk to you in private, if you can manage to spare a few precious minutes of your valuable time.”

  “Not right now, Kate. Maybe I’ll have some time later to let you nag me but I’ve got more important things to do at the moment. Okay, Mark, let’s get that new section in place and see how it fits.”

  “This is impossible,” Kate said.

  “No, I think it will be just about right.” Jared studied the length of wood that had been sanded down to form the new railing. “Maybe a quarter inch more off that end, Mark.”

  “Right, boss.” Mark picked up the power saw.

  “I’m wasting my breath,” Kate said. “I should have known there was no point trying to have a serious conversation about this with you. You wouldn’t talk to me last night and you won’
t talk to me this morning. I’m beginning to get the idea you just don’t want to talk to me at all.”

  Jared must have caught the new note of resignation in her voice. He shot a quick glance over his shoulder. “There’s nothing to talk about that can’t wait until after that cruise ship sails. Look, why don’t you go have a nice swim in the cove? Dave, take her swimming.”

  “Sure thing, Dad.”

  Kate smiled slightly at David. “No, thanks, Dave. Maybe some other time. I think I’ll go back to my room for a while.”

  “Good idea. Have a nice nap or something,” Jared said. He grabbed hold of the railing and helped his men lock it into place. “You must be exhausted after all the excitement last night.”

  Kate watched him for a moment. Then she looked down at David, who was studying her anxiously. “See you later, Dave. Thanks again for the drawing,” She turned and walked off the terrace.

  The colonel was setting out sparkling glasses on the bar as she went through the lounge. Letty was helping him.

  “Morning, Kate,” Letty called. “Finished chewing Jared out for not telling you about what was going on up at the castle?”

  “Yes. I’m finished.”

  “Well, I want you to know I’m on your side in this. Men. They think they should make all the decisions and keep the ladies in the dark. For their own good, of course.”

  “Now, just one minute,” the colonel interrupted. “Jared was doing a favor for a government man and he had been told to keep his mouth shut. He couldn’t tell Kate what was going on. He couldn’t tell anyone, not even me. Give the man a little credit. He was doing what he had to do. How could he have known Butterfield had turned bad? No one knew. I heard what the government man who came over with Sam Finley this morning told Jared. He said Butterfield had always been useful and they’d never had cause to suspect him.”

  “Naturally you’d take Jared’s side in all this,” Letty said. “You’re a man. Seems to me that if Kate hadn’t gone up to the castle with the Hawthorne dagger, Jared might have been worse off than he already was. You can’t tell me that dagger wasn’t very useful.”

  “Excuse me,” Kate murmured. “I have to be on my way. I’ve got a lot to do this afternoon before Hank leaves for Ruby.” She gave both the colonel and Letty a fleeting smile and headed for the door.

  “Oh, my goodness,” Letty breathed. “Did you hear that, Colonel?”

  Satisfied, Kate did not linger to hear the colonel’s response. She slipped out the door and into the gardens, heading for her room.

  Ten minutes later Kate had all her suitcases open on the bed. She started taking clothes out of the closet.

  There were some risks a woman had to take, she told herself as she worked. And if she failed, then she failed. It was better to know the truth than to live on in false hope.

  By noon, Kate had to face the fact that Jared was not going to come pounding on her door demanding that she stay on the island. Perhaps he hadn’t yet heard she was leaving. Or perhaps he simply didn’t care.

  When she went into the restaurant for lunch she discovered it was already filled with cruise-ship people who were thoroughly enjoying the stopover on Amethyst. She wandered past the gift shop and saw that it, too, was crowded. The colonel was swamped in the bar and the extra seating on the terrace was jammed. Snorkelers and swimmers swarmed down on the beach and the resort Jeeps were busying ferrying people into town for souvenir hunting.

  Obviously the owner of Crystal Cove Resort had more important things on his mind today than whether one particular guest was getting ready to fly home.

  Kate ate her lunch in a leisurely fashion, chatting with the waitress and the rest of the staff. Jared was nowhere to be seen. When she wandered out into the lobby she was greeted by Lath and Jim at the front desk. They looked stunned when she asked for her bill so that she could settle it.

  “You’re leaving? Today?”

  “On the afternoon plane to Ruby,” Kate explained as she signed her name on the credit card slip.

  “Jared never said anything,” Jim said uneasily.

  “He may not have heard yet.” Kate smiled as she handed back the slip. “He’s got a lot on his mind today.”

  “That’s for sure.” Jim glanced at Lani, who gave a small, helpless shrug. “We’re going to miss you around here.”

  “A lot,” Lani said, her dark eyes wistful. “Things have been much more interesting around here since you showed up. It just won’t seem the same after you leave.”

  “I’ve had a wonderful time, but all good things must come to an end.”

  “Would you do me a favor and autograph your book for me?” Lani whipped out a copy of Buccaneer’s Bride from behind the desk. “I just loved it.”

  “Of course.” Kate scrawled her name and best wishes inside and handed the book back. “Thanks for asking.” She turned away from the desk and walked out onto the little lagoon bridge. It occurred to her that it was hot today but she didn’t mind. The heat no longer seemed to affect her much. Apparently she’d acclimated.

  Two hours later she and her luggage were standing on the tarmac near Hank’s twin-engine Cessna. A small group of people who were preparing to leave the island milled around, waiting for Hank to load the bags.

  There was still no sign of Jared.

  She had known this was going to be a risk, Kate reminded herself as she nudged one of her bags toward the pile Hank was assembling. She had gambled and she had known there was a chance she would lose. Betting was a way of life here on Amethyst, but she hadn’t had a lot of practice at figuring odds. She wished the stakes weren’t quite so high this time.

  “You ready, Ms Inskip?” Hank asked as he started boarding his passengers.

  “Yes.”

  Hank looked down the road that led back to the resort. “You know, I kinda thought Jared might show up this time the same way he did last time.”

  “He showed up the last time I was preparing to leave?”

  “Yes, ma’am. Showed up and paid me the price of a seat just to make sure I’d say I didn’t have room for you on board. In case you showed up here at the strip, that is. Which you didn’t.”

  Kate smiled briefly. “I guess he didn’t want me to go that time.”

  “So what about this time?”

  Kate shrugged and walked toward the plane. “Looks like he doesn’t care this time.”

  “That can’t be right. Not from what I hear.” Hank scowled. “You sure he knows you’re leaving?”

  “If he’s paying any attention at all to what’s going on around him today, he knows.” Kate put one foot on the bottom step.

  The roar of a Jeep engine shattered the serenity of the flight field. Hank grinned in sudden relief and turned his head to look down the road again.

  “Well, well, look who’s here,” Hank said softly.

  Kate stood on the bottom step and watched the Jeep tear through the gate and race toward the plane and the small group of people clustered around it. Jared was at the wheel. Beside him sat David, looking very fierce.

  Everyone stopped talking abruptly and turned to watch as the Jeep slammed to a halt in a cloud of dust. Jared switched off the engine and vaulted out of the vehicle. He stalked swiftly toward Kate, his expression taut with anger.

  “Where the hell do you think you’re going?”

  “Home.” Kate braced herself and lifted her chin defiantly. “It’s time, Jared.”

  “You’re not due to leave until tomorrow.”

  “Twenty-four hours either way isn’t going to make much difference, is it?”

  “Are you out of your mind? It makes a hell of a difference.”

  “Why? What was going to happen between today and tomorrow that’s so important?”

  “I was going to ask you to many me!” Jared roared. “That’s what was going to happen.”

  Kate’s heart leaped, but she forced herself to stay calm. “Were you really? How odd. You couldn’t even find time to talk to me this morning. And y
ou’re going to be swamped with cruise-ship people until late tonight. How were you ever going to find a spare minute in which to ask me to marry you?”

  “That’s my business.” Jared reached up and took hold of her wrist. “Get out of the way. Hank’s trying to load his passengers.”

  “I’m one of them.”

  “Not anymore you’re not.” Jared looked over at David, who was sitting on the hood of the Jeep. “Come give me a hand with the luggage, Dave. Kate does not travel light.”

  “You bet, Dad.” David leaped down and dashed forward. He was wearing a huge grin now. “I knew you’d make her stay.”

  Kate dug in her heels at the foot of the steps. “Jared, it isn’t going to be this easy. There are one or two matters we have to deal with before any commitments are made.”

  “Later, Kate.”

  She ignored him. “First, I do not appreciate the cavalier treatment I’ve been subjected to today. Second, I think it’s high time you stopped fooling around and told me flat out that you love me. I’m sick and tired of pussyfooting around the subject.”

  “I love you. Dave, get those two flight bags, will you? I’ll take these suitcases. Hank, could you give us a hand? We’re in kind of a hurry here.”

  “No problem.” Hank smiled genially and bent to pick up two large suitcases.

  The three males started toward the Jeep with the luggage. Kate stared after them in annoyance and then hurried forward. “Not so fast, dammit.”

  “Honey, I’ve got a resort full of people trying to spend money.” Jared tossed her luggage carelessly into the back of the Jeep. “I’m too busy to stand around here restating the obvious.”

  “What’s so damned obvious? You’ve never bothered to tell me you love me. How was I supposed to know?”

  “You wouldn’t have headed for the airport this afternoon after making sure everyone except me knew where you were going unless you were damned sure I’d come after you. Okay, you’ve made your point. Now get into the Jeep. I’ve got things to do back at Crystal Cove. If you’re going to be the wife of a resort owner, you’re going to have to learn that sometimes the paying guests come first.”