Romancing the Pirate

by Michelle Beattie

  “I was afraid of that.” She bit her lip, sucked in a deep breath. “Can you promise me you’ll come often? I can’t bear not to see her after I’ve only gotten her back.”

  Reaching, he squeezed the hand of the woman he’d be proud to call family. “Of course we will. As often as we can.”

  Samantha sniffled, then turned to Blake with a cheeky glint in her eye.

  “As much as I appreciate your promise, it doesn’t change today’s outcome. My ship’s the fastest.”

  Laughing, Blake stood. “And just because you’re to be my sister-in-law doesn’t mean I’ll let your ship win.”

  “I look forward to tasting your cooking later,” she said, smiling.

  “And I look forward to not paying my bill,” he countered.

  The sky was vivid blue. A gusting breeze blew in off the water, shoving at the gulls that scratched along the beach looking for whatever the outgoing tide had left behind.

  Shading her eyes against the glaring reflection of the sun, Alicia grinned as the two ships drew alongside each other.

  “They’re like a bunch of children on Christmas morning,” she said, grinning at her sister.

  Sam nodded, pushed back her hair when the wind tossed it. “Luke was awake before the sun this morning. He and Aidan couldn’t get out of the house fast enough.”

  “And Joe?”

  Sam laughed. “He was fit to be tied when he woke and found out the other two had left without him. He charged out of the house without his breakfast and barely remembered to put his boots on.”

  Alicia’s heart suddenly swelled and she grabbed Sam.

  “What is it? What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.” Alicia wiped a teary eye. “I’m just so happy. We have a wonderful family. It’s all such a miracle, isn’t it?”

  Sam hugged her close. “I’m thankful every day. I’ll miss you when you go.”

  “We’ll visit each other often. Oh, look,” she said, squeezing Sam’s hand. “They’re about to start.”

  The ships were parallel, sails hung limply against the masts. A cannon blasted off the Blue Rose, smoke plumed in the air, and men scrambled about the decks. White sheets of canvas popped open and the ships took flight.

  “He’s leading, he’s leading!” Alicia cheered, filled with pride at the sight of the Blue Rose out in front.

  “It’s not over yet.”

  They lost sight of the ships when they sailed around a small island. Alicia and Sam waited with bated breath until the billowing sails came back into view.

  “It’s ours!” Sam yelled, seeing the Freedom leading. She jumped up and down, yelling for Luke.

  Blake wasn’t far behind. Alicia’s screams matched Sam’s, drawing the attention of a few children who were out playing on the sand with the stray dog. They recognized Luke’s ship pulling closer to shore and joined Sam’s chorus of “Hurry, Luke!” The dog barked his approval.

  In the end it was close, but the Freedom won by half its length. After the ships were anchored, Aidan ran off to boast to all his friends, and Joe, Nate, and Vincent became involved in boisterous recounts of the race. Sam ran to Luke and congratulated him with a kiss.

  “It was close,” Alicia said, wrapping her arms around Blake.

  “It was fun,” Blake exclaimed, stunning Alicia by the excitement that radiated in his voice and shone in his eyes. Since she’d met Blake, she’d never seen him so carefree. Captain was right—Blake needed more fun in his life.

  Luke stepped over, slapped Blake on the back.

  “That’s a fine ship you have. The wheel is yours, mate, my gift. But you’re still cooking.”

  “Did I forget to mention I’ve a hold full of treasure?”

  Luke laughed, pulled Sam close. “Not a bloody chance. I plan on sitting down and enjoying some rum while you look after roasting that pig.”

  “Speaking of the party,” Sam said, “Alicia, we should get back, there’s a lot left to do.”

  As they made their way to Sam’s, she listed the chores yet to be accomplished.

  “Sam, it’s a small party. You don’t need to fuss this much.”

  “Well, it wouldn’t be so small if you’d let me invite more people,” she reminded Alicia as they stepped onto the path that wound its way to the back of Sam’s house.

  “This is about family, about being together again. We don’t need the entire village to celebrate that.”

  Sam stopped, turned. “I just want to tell the world you’re here.”

  Alicia smiled, touched at her sister’s words. “It’s been a journey, hasn’t it?”

  “Yes, it has,” Sam agreed, continuing on the path. The bold red and orange flowers that lined the walk scented the humid air. “But at least we can be thankful it’s o—”

  She stopped dead and Alicia bumped into her. “What is it?” Alicia asked, stepping beside Sam.

  A cutlass protruded from the wooden door. Attached to its hilt was a rolled piece of parchment. Alicia looked around but saw nothing except palm fronds, ferns, and a splattering of color from the array of flowers Sam had planted. Still she had a cold feeling along her neck, like they were being watched.

  “Should we wait for—”

  “No, I’ll deal with it,” Sam answered.

  Alicia watched as Sam removed the paper, her hands steady.

  Over Sam’s shoulder, Alicia read the words.

  You’ve made quite a life for yourself, it’s almost ordinary now. For someone as notable as you, it must have taken getting used to. Yet here you are, safely ensconced in St. Kitts with a family, a business, and a newly found sister. And nobody is the wiser. Well, almost nobody. Are you still feeling unidentifiable … Sam?

  Sixteen

  Sam crumpled the paper in her hand. She yanked the cutlass out, grabbed Alicia by the wrist, and wrenched open the door, banging it closed behind her. Once inside, she slammed both the letter and the cutlass onto the table and paced the floor, which had been scrubbed to a shine yesterday.

  Squawk. “Don’t slam the door. Don’t slam the door.”

  “Who would do something like that?” Alicia asked, ignoring the parrot that bobbed on its perch.

  “I don’t know.”

  “What does it mean?”

  “It can’t be. It’s not possible,” Sam muttered, still pacing from the back door to the hallway that led to the parlor.

  “What’s not possible?”

  Sam stopped, jammed her hands on her hips. Her steely gaze locked on to the door. “Dammit. Luke’s not going to be happy about this.”

  “About what?” Alicia demanded. She placed herself in front of Sam so she couldn’t resume her pacing. “What’s going on? Luke’s not going to happy about what?”

  Sam blinked, as though remembering she wasn’t alone. The hard look in her eyes softened.

  “Luke’s very peculiar about his things. He won’t like that gouge in the door.”

  Alicia shook her head, set her jaw. Her sister was angry, and though she was trying to hide it, she was also afraid. But Sam wasn’t the only stubborn woman in the Fine family.

  “I’m not so simple, Sam, that I can’t see this has upset you.”

  “Well, of course it’s upset me. Someone’s playing a mean trick.”

  Alicia grabbed Sam’s arms. “We lost a lot, Sam. We lost our parents, our home, and for a time each other. Let’s not waste the gift we’ve been given by lying to each other now.”

  Sam met her determined gaze, then bowed her head. “I was hoping you’d never have to find out.”

  Alicia’s heart sank. Was Luke in trouble? It stood to reason. He was, or had been, a pirate. Surely the man had enemies. Despite the fact that she’d come to like him, Alicia suddenly felt a bite of resentment toward her brother-in-law as it appeared that his past life was putting Sam, and the people she loved, at risk.

  “What did Luke do?” Alicia asked.

  Squawk. “Luke’s innocent. Luke’s innocent.”

  Sam lifted her
head, frowned. “Luke? He didn’t do anything. Why would you … oh,” she finished with a nod of understanding. “Because Luke was a famous pirate, you think this has to do with him.”

  It was Alicia’s turn to be confused. “It doesn’t? Then why would someone threaten you?”

  “When you were in Port Royal,” Sam began, her gaze watching Alicia closely, “did you ever hear of a pirate named Sam Steele?”

  “No, I spent most of my time at the blacksmith shop, as did my fath—as did Jacob. He wasn’t a man to gossip and neither was Anna. Why? Was Steele also responsible for what happened to our parents?”

  Sam shook her head. “No, that’s impossible. Steele wasn’t in the Caribbean at that time. Not until four years later.”

  A heavy ball of dread fell into Alicia’s stomach and she hoped to God she was wrong. “Did Steele hurt you as well?”

  Sam’s smile was sad. “Yes, but it was my own doing. Alicia, I was Sam Steele, and for four years, while I chased Dervish, I sailed under a pirate flag.”

  Alicia’s mouth worked but nothing came out, so stunned was she by this unexpected turn of events. Granted she hadn’t seen her sister in years, but neither the girl she remembered nor the woman she’d come to know in the last five days seemed capable of piracy.

  “And that,” Sam said, walking with her shoulders slumped in defeat to the table where she sat heavily, “is why I never wanted you to know.”

  Alicia finally managed to engage her brain and took the chair nearest her sister, grabbed her hand. “I’m sorry, I don’t know what to say. I look at you, settled and married, and I think back to the girl who ignored me in favor of sailing, and it seems so unlikely that in the middle of those two things, you became a pirate. You’re not that cold, Sam.”

  “No, I’m not. And neither was Steele. Steele was as fair and honest as I could manage. I abstained from hurting as much as I could, though it wasn’t always avoidable. And while I amassed a fair amount of treasure, it was never about that. I needed to be Steele to find Dervish. The minute Dervish died, so did Steele.”

  Looking at her sister a little closer, Alicia saw the iron of her will, the strength of her convictions. Though the picture of Sam wielding a pistol and engaging in battles didn’t come to mind, it was easy to accept that she’d crewed a ship. She’d have been good at that.

  “But you’ve been pardoned, what’s the problem?”

  “No, Alicia,” Sam said, shaking her head. “Luke was pardoned. My success as Steele was because nobody, other than the crew, knew Steele was a woman. A different member of my crew took the identity each time we made port.”

  “So,” Alicia began, understanding now, “there was no need for you to get a pardon.”

  “No. In fact, Luke and I decided it was better to simply let Steele go, let people assume he’d died or left the Caribbean. It was never an issue until now.”

  “And you think whoever stuck that cutlass in the door figured it out?”

  Sam shrugged. “It seems that way to me. I just don’t understand. Why now?”

  Alicia pondered that, but nothing made sense. “You’re sure that’s what this note means? He doesn’t actually call you Steele.”

  “No, but he called me Sam. You, Aidan, Joe, and our father are the only ones to ever call me that.”

  Alicia bit her lip. “Do you think it could be a member of the crew that sailed with you?”

  “Maybe. But what would they stand to gain? Besides, as I said, I was fair. They all made profits from sailing with me. If they admitted to me being Steele, to having sailed under me, they’d also be guilty of piracy.”

  Alicia was trying to absorb everything she’d learned.

  God, the things that had happened to their lives since leaving England. And though it wasn’t the least bit funny, Alicia chuckled.

  “What’s so funny?” Sam asked.

  “To think, I was worried about what you’d think of me being a blacksmith.”

  The tension around Sam’s mouth eased and the fear left her gaze.

  “We aren’t exactly the pillars of proper society, are we?”

  “No,” Alicia said. “Definitely not. But,” she added, going over to Sam and taking her hand, “this doesn’t change anything. Considering what you went through, who am I to pass judgment?”

  Sam’s eyes softened. “Thank you for not turning your back on me.”

  “Oh, Sam, how could I? You’re my sister.”

  The sound of the men approaching sifted through the door. Sam wiped at her eyes and clutched Alicia’s hand.

  “Don’t say a word. Not to anybody, even Blake.”

  “But—”

  “Nobody!” Sam repeated, panic creeping into her voice. “We’ve worked diligently to keep my identity a secret. Should the truth ever come out, I could hang.”

  Sam was right, and as much as Alicia hated the idea of keeping any secret from Blake, she would. For Sam, she’d do anything.

  “You have my word.”

  The door opened with a flourish of voices and the smell of the outdoors. The men had smiles on their faces and were all talking over each other. Regardless of the outcome of the race, it was clear to see that beneath the teasing and volleying of insults to one another’s manhood was the affection of friendship. With a spring in his step, Blake came to Alicia and embraced her.

  “That’s as sorry an excuse as I’ve ever heard,” Luke said. “Slipped on the deck. You couldn’t come up with something better than that?”

  “It was slippery,” Vincent contested. “Tell him, Nate.”

  Nate held up his large palms. “I’m trying to accept defeat gracefully, Vincent.”

  “Ah, don’t worry about it, lad,” Joe said, thumping Vincent on the back, which sent the dwarf stumbling forward. “Luke hasn’t managed that task well himself either.”

  “That’s because I never bloody lose,” Luke answered.

  “What about the time—”

  “Aidan,” Luke warned with a narrowing of his eye.

  Squawk. “Aidan bring food. Aidan bring food.”

  The boy grinned, danced on his toes. “Right. Never mind.” He strolled to the cage, passed the bird something to nibble on.

  “ ’Tis shameful the way you teach the lad to lie.”

  “It’s called diplomacy, Joe, and if the boy ever hopes to get himself married one day, it’s best he learn that skill early. Right, luv?” Luke lifted Sam in his arms, kissed her soundly, then set her onto her feet. His gaze slid over the table. “Is there a problem?” He gestured to the cutlass.

  Sam looked to Alicia, then to Luke. “No, we found it on the ground. Can I talk to you upstairs a moment?” she asked, grabbing the sword and note.

  Luke studied his wife, and Alicia saw by the tightness around his mouth that he didn’t believe Sam’s story. Nodding, he took her hand and they disappeared through the doorway.

  “Sunshine?” Blake asked, but she felt the eyes of everyone else in the room on her. “Is everything all right?”

  His hands were on her shoulders, his gaze tender. She forced a smile, prayed it looked better than it felt.

  “Yes, everything is as it should be.” The words weren’t an outright lie but they nonetheless left a bitter taste in Alicia’s mouth.

  This had better work, Lewis thought later that afternoon as he leaned against one of the palm trees that skirted the market. While he’d been encouraged by how quickly Samantha had ripped the cutlass out of the door earlier that morning, it wasn’t enough. He needed a more concrete confirmation that she was Steele. There couldn’t be any doubt, not if he was to going to convince her to give him her fortune. And Lewis had no intention of failing.

  He watched the boy he’d paid press a note into Samantha’s hand before cutting through the crowd. There was no chance of her following; the boy was gone by the time she opened the paper to read the words. Lewis leaned forward, his hands curled into fists. He smiled at the distress that had her reaching for her husband.

&nbs
p; Luke took the note, read the words. Though Lewis couldn’t hear him, he was able to read the curse on the pirate’s lips. Luke’s gaze ripped over the crowd, but it didn’t worry Lewis. Luke had no idea whom he was looking for, and Samantha was too busy trying to pull her husband out of the marketplace.

  From a safe distance, Lewis followed as they raced back to their house. He slowed as they approached their home, and he melted back into the small group of people making their way to the beach. He chose a piece of waterfront that wasn’t cluttered with noise and people and sank into the sand to think.

  It had been a frustrating few days, watching them repair the ship. He’d caught Blake making his way back to the house on occasion, but each time he stopped to ask him about the treasure, he was told the repairs came first and that Lewis would just have to wait for his money.

  He thumped a fist in the sand, wished it was Blake’s face. He had a stake in that treasure and the fact that Blake was being deliberately slow about sharing it was infuriating! Especially since he kept someone from the crew watching over it at all times, which kept Lewis from fetching it himself. When he could, he’d ensure Blake paid for that, among other things, but he had to remember that as much as his former captain enraged him, he wasn’t Lewis’s main target.

  Bending his knees and digging his heels into the sand while a few gulls flew low over the frothing surf, Lewis planned his next move. It was clear by the firm hand Luke had kept on Samantha, and the way he’d growled at everyone to get out of his way, that he’d been concerned for his wife. And only people who held secrets had reason to worry.

  She was Steele, he knew it. Her reaction was too strong. He couldn’t prove it, not with the changes she’d made to his father’s ship, but she didn’t need to know that. Besides, he’d had time to think it all through while he’d been on his damn hands and knees scrubbing Blake’s ship and he’d worked through all the possibilities. They may be pirates, he thought, but they weren’t the only ones who could be ruthless.

  And once Blake had given him his share of the treasure, they’d find out just how ruthless Lewis Grant could be.