“Excellent. Come this way, we’ll fire off the side of the boat.” he began to lead her away from Sanders.
“Don’t you have to prepare for the pirates?” she asked tentatively.
“The difficulty with men like One Eye is catching them. This part is easy.” He pulled a gun from his belt. “Watch closely. First you pack this with powder, then you drop in these balls. Pull back this hammer and…” He pulled the trigger, firing into the water. “Do you want to try?”
She nodded, then cautiously took the gun from his hand. Taking her time, she followed his steps. Finally, she aimed it at the water. Slowly her finger squeezed the trigger until the gun jolted back in her hand, releasing the bullet.
“Excellent,” he exclaimed.
Sarah took a deep breath; it was exhilarating. “Can I try it again?”
“Absolutely.” He handed her his bag of powder.
She shot four times, feeling more confident with each one.
“Keep the powder and the gun while I am aboard One Eye’s ship.”
“You’ll get on his ship?” She felt fear trickle down her spine. In an instant she realized she didn’t want anything to happen to him.
He must have heard the fear in her voice because his hand came up and touched her arm. “I’ll be fine, don’t worry about me.” His look was soft as he stroked her arm. Then he turned to leave.
Watching him walk away, Sarah held her breath. He stopped to place a new pistol in his belt and then add a saber and a cutlass. His shoulder’s flexed with the movement. Muscles rippled under his shirt. Never had she been aware of a man the way she was of him. Strength emanated from him and she could feel his male energy. It was so palpable, she could almost reach out and touch it.
He had been correct, when he said that while she seemed of afraid of many things, she wasn’t frightened of him. From the first moment they had met, instead of freezing up, she had actually bit him. He hadn’t even gotten upset. What had given her the courage to do that and why had he allowed it? He was so much larger than her.
“Rex,” she called across the deck. Lifting her skirts, she crossed over to where he stood now loaded up with weapons. His crew stood around him, and though she didn’t know most of them, she felt less afraid. “Thank you,” she said as her hand touched his.
He gave her a wink and then turned towards the pirate ship.
As if on cue, an explosion split the air and Sarah ducked. A cannonball flew well over the top of the boat and Sarah watched it arc across the sky until it splashed down into the water.
“Take out their mast!” Rex’s voice boomed.
“Fire,” Sanders yelled. Another blast split the air, the entire ship vibrating. Unlike the pirate’s shot, their aim was true and Sarah watched as their main mast seemed to shatter, splintering wood over the deck of the ship. “Now aim for their cannons. Disable them.”
A few more cannon shots sent the pirates scurrying over their deck, hiding for cover. Rex gave a signal his boat sailed right up next to the pirate vessel.
Grappling hooks sailed over the rail through the sky. The clank of metal against wood rang through the air as each hook hit its mark. Within a second, men began jumping over the rail sailing towards the other deck.
Almost immediately, the shouts of men and the sound of metal hitting metal filled the air. Sarah gripped the butt of her pistol tighter as she waited on the deck. The pirate ship was lower than Rex’s vessel so she could not see the action only hear it. She inched towards the rail, wanting to know what was happening but afraid she might get caught in the crossfire.
It occurred to her that she faced a far worse death then being hit by a stray bullet. She could have drowned in the ocean or, worse, be returned to her uncle. Rex might need her help.
Just as she reached the rail to look down at the other vessel a pirate, wearing near rags, climbed one of the ropes towards the deck she stood on. Slowly she raised the pistol. She took a deep breath. She had to be strong. If this pirate made it on the ship, she would need to defend her friends.
“Aghhhh,” the man screamed as he fell into the water.
Rex stood just below her with his pistol pointed up towards her. He winked again. Then another pirate ran towards him and the clanging of swords rent the air. Sarah held her pistol firm but Rex easily subdued the pirate and then another. His men were efficiently defeating the pirates.
The Anna Marie floated on the other side of the pirate vessel but it seemed to Sarah that is was tilting at an odd angle. She only glanced at it a moment before the battling men caught her attention again. Rex fended off three more pirates so that only a handful still fought.
His movements were fluid and graceful with a strength she could have never imagined. It was almost beautiful to watch him fight.
Mrs. Flannery joined her on the deck, “Oh my. Did I miss all of the action?”
Sarah grinned, “It didn’t last that long.”
“I can see that. Our Mr. Masters is most… competent.”
Sarah turned towards the other woman. “I didn’t get the impression you were terribly fond of him.”
Mrs. Flannery shrugged, “I don’t trust handsome unmarried men as a general rule. Especially when I am travelling with two young, unmarried woman. And it is no secret that he is more than a little interested in you.”
Sarah blushed. It pleased her to hear it but she it made her skin heat, nonetheless. “Oh don’t be silly―“
“Sarah, I didn’t want to have this conversation in front of Anne. But I can tell when a woman is running and scared. You’re both. I wouldn’t tell you to give up your virtue easily but if it is life or death, you might consider throwing yourself on the good Mr. Masters’ mercy.”
Sarah looked at the older woman openmouthed. Was she actually telling her to become Rex’s mistress? As a lady, the thought had never occurred to her. But perhaps if she were, she could convince Rex to take her to America and her aunt, instead of England. A plan started forming. A mistress was a temporary position but then she could go to America claiming to be a widow like Anne. Her friend would surely keep her secret. “I’ll have to think on it,” she mumbled, her hand gripping the pistol tighter. Picturing Rex, shirtless and holding her tight, she had to admit, at least to herself, that part of her simply wanted him.
“Do consider it, and try to decide how much Rex really is interested in you. I have judged it to be a great deal but only you will be able to tell if he wants you enough to keep you safe after he has gotten this treasure.”
Sarah looked at the other woman perplexed, treasure? The other woman’s eyebrows raised in what was meant to be a meaningful look.
“Didn’t your mother tell you about―“
Sarah shook her head, “My mother died in child birth. My father raised me until last year and neither my governess nor my lady’s maid―anyway, no one ever explained what a woman actually gives a man―“
“Who is giving what to a man?” Rex was suddenly next to her.
Sarah jumped in fright and without meaning to, she pointed the pistol towards him. “You frightened me!”
He eyed her with suspicion then gently removed the pistol from her hand. “It is one thing to bite me, it is quite another to shoot me.”
“Oh dear, I didn’t mean to…” Sarah spluttered through an explanation.
“It’s quite all right. But one of the first rules is never aim a gun you’re aren’t intending to shoot. Now tell me what are you giving to a man?”
She felt heat travel all through her body, staining her cheeks bright pink. She was spared answering as several pirates were carried aboard the ship.
A man with an eye patch gave her a long look as he was escorted by. Rex straightened and his hand came to her back. Mrs. Flannery gave her a knowing stare.
“As soon as we get the prisoners on board, I will go assess the fate of the Anna Marie and get your trunks.” The hand, stationed on her back, began a rhythmic stroking.
His light touch was making it difficult to think or to breathe. Unable to answer, she simply nodded. Could she ever actually go through what Mrs. Flannery was proposing? Could she not?
UNEXPECTED TREASURE
CHAPTER FIVE
Rex stood on the deck of the Anna Marie. The ship was dying a slow death. It had a hole in the keel. It had taken on a great deal of water and it would sink in a matter of hours. His crew was racing to get the personal belongings of the ship’s passengers off of the boat and then they would make straight for London. He wanted the pirates off his ship.
Deep in his heart, he was glad the Anna Marie wasn’t able to sail. He wasn’t ready to say good bye to his beautiful little mystery.
Briefly another woman flashed in his mind. The one he was supposed to have saved. The one he was supposed to have married.
It wasn’t that he was sad at her individual loss. He’d never even met her. But his intended had been terribly abused by her uncle and he had missed rescuing her by mere hours, maybe even minutes. A cold trickle ran down his spine. Her uncle. Wasn’t Sarah running from her uncle? The woman he was to wed, Lady Sarah Wentworth, next in line for an earldom, was being terrorized by the current Earl, her Uncle Lord Francis Wentworth? Hadn’t Mrs. Flannery told him that she talked of Uncle Francis in her sleep?
“Bloody hell,” he cursed, thumping the wall with a fist. His Sarah could not be Lady Sarah could it? There were too many similarities to ignore but he had attended Lady Sarah’s funeral.
He rubbed his forehead. The uncle, upon inheriting the title had wanted to dispose of his brother’s heir, not that he had any of his own. And he had been attempting to do it in the most humiliating way possible. He had first removed her from society, dispatched all servants, forced her into rags for clothing. There were even rumors that he wasn’t allowing her food. Finally, he had attempted to sell her to the highest bidder in a gentleman’s club. Not for marriage, but simply for a man’s pleasure. He had assembled some of the lowliest characters on London for the event.
It had been kept secret, of course. Though Prinny had discovered the plot and sent Rex to thwart it. But something happened to Lady Sarah during the event. She disappeared. He had arrived at the club, in disguise, moments after she was gone. Two days later, her uncle held a funeral for her, saying she’d been killed by thieves. He knew the truth but he had to prove it.
Rex had begged Prinny to allow him to investigate but the Prince Regent had sent him to sea to chase after One Eye. Her Uncle, Lord Wentworth, was not only behaving atrociously towards his kin but also towards the crown, using pirates like One Eye to steal the crown’s gold.
“We’ve got the ladies’ trunks,” Sanders called.
Rex turned to look at them. Each woman had a single trunk but he knew which one was Sarah’s. While nondescript, it was made of a fine leather. He stepped towards it. Did it hold the answers he was searching for? Would it tell him Sarah’s true identity? His hand reached for the latch. “What secrets do you think it holds?” Brushing the brass with his fingertips, he itched to flip the lid open.
“The kind, if you are wise, you will wait for the lady to share.” Sanders gave his hand a tap. “I’ve never seen you so interested in a woman. Be smart.”
“You’re a meddling old sea hag,” Rex grumbled at his friend.
Sanders laughed. “You’re snooping and I’m the old hag?” Sander’s scratched his chin. “Can’t say that I blame you for wanting to look. That chit is a beauty. I mean the sway of those hips and the hair--”
“Stop talking if you want to live,” Rex growled out grabbing his friend’s shirt.
“Like I said, you are more than a little interested. Earn her trust and she’ll show you what’s in the trunk.” With that his friend pushed his hand away, then grabbed the trunk, and loaded it on the dingy.
Rex glared at Sanders. He couldn’t tell if he was more annoyed that Sanders had stopped him or because his friend was right. Despite his curiosity, it would be a mistake to search her private things.
He gave the little boat one more sweeping glance before he too climbed into a dingy. It was time to start getting some answers.
***
Shading his eyes from the sun, Rex could see Sarah standing on the deck as they rowed back towards the ship. The wind softly blew strands of her hair around her face. Her hands were folded in front of her on the rail and she barely moved a muscle, but even from this distance Rex could see the tension in every line of her body.
As soon as the dingy pulled up to the larger vessel, Rex grabbed the rungs of the ladder to climb onto the deck. “You should get out of the sun. You don’t have a bonnet.”
Sarah barely moved in response, not acknowledging he had even spoken. “How fares the Anna Marie?”
He stepped up next to her. “Poorly, it will sink in a matter of hours. There is a gash in the keel that is too large for a sea repair.”
Her hands that were resting on the rail now gripped it tightly. She didn’t make eye contact. Instead she looked out at the water. “Were you able to find my trunk?”
“Yes, I believe we did.” He caught one strand of her hair and rubbed it between his fingers. It may be the softest thing he had ever felt and he was developing a habit of touching it.
Tension and fear filled her voice. “I can’t go back to England.”
Rex assessed her. He didn’t want to overly frighten her but he needed some method to get her to open up. “We have to return. We now have prisoners on board.”
“But we were halfway to America. You’re telling me that we must now go back and start over? That can’t happen. I have to keep going.” Desperation filled her voice.
He dropped his voice low, “The Prince Regent himself demands my return. But--”
Her face turned up to his, “I’ll do anything. Anything you ask. Please don’t make me go back.” Her eyes were wide, her voice trembling with fear. Her lips parted as she waited for his response, her look begging him for help.
She was tempting him and he was losing. Never had he wanted to kiss a woman as badly as he did her. “Why don’t you tell me what is happening…” He let his voice trail off as she shook her head violently. His hands reached out and held her waist.
“You know I can’t.” she whispered, fear making her voice thick.
“Then I can’t help you, Sarah, if I don’t know what is wrong.” He wanted to beg her to tell him, plead with her to trust him, shake her from frustration that she wouldn’t open up.
“You can help me by taking me to America, or any place other than England.” Her tone had taken on a wildness.
“You simply can’t mean that. How could England be that unsafe?” It was on the tip of his tongue to just ask her if she were Lady Wentworth but he refrained. The more he questioned her directly, the more suspicious she seemed to get. It had to come from her.
“Don’t you see? I got away. I don’t want to--” Her hand touched his. Fire shot through him at the small touch.
“Come to my quarters in an hour and we can discuss this privately.”
She gave a terse nod and he turned and left to unload the cargo.
***
An hour later, Sarah stood just outside Rex’s door. She took a deep breath. Whatever tools she had, she would utilize now. She had spent the last hour running her mind over every possible option. She could immediately book passage another ship. But she was nearly out of money and would have to work on board. She wouldn’t mind the work but it would put in contact with the crew and passengers. That could be problematic for a woman like her when travelling alone.
She could attempt to hide in London but again, she was nearly out of money and uncertain of what she might be able to do to earn more. A lady’s companion? Would Rex provide her a reference? And how could she guarantee that she wouldn’t see her uncle in the salons of London society?
Perhaps Rex would loan her money for passage? Her aunt may be able to help repay him.
Her final option was the one Mrs. Flannery had hinted at. Strike a bargain to use a relationship with Rex to secure a future in America. A thrill of excitement thrummed through her.
“Come in,” Rex called.
Sarah grabbed the knob to push the door open. Abruptly, she stopped. Rex’s first mate, Sanders, stood in her path holding her trunk.
“Sarah, you remember Sanders.” Rex’s voice drifted from the other side of the room.
“Yes, of course. Nice to see you again.” Sarah tried to give him a genuine smile as she stepped into the room. Sander seemed like an affable fellow but she could not focus on anything but Rex. He stood behind his desk, but somehow he dominated the entire room.
“How is Anne?” Sanders leaned forward as he spoke, a deep line of concern marking his brow.
“She is well. I am sure she would enjoy a visit, if you would like to ask her yourself. She is tired of Mrs. Flannery’s and my company.”
“I doubt that,” Rex called drily.
“I just might do that, Miss Sarah. Thank you kindly.” He smiled as he set down the trunk.
“Thank you for bringing the trunk in, Sanders. Sarah and I have a few thing to discuss, would you excuse us?” Rex came around the other side of the desk.
Sanders gave a single nod before he slipped out the door.
Sarah clasped her hands. She didn’t know how to begin.
Rex approached her, “Are you going to tell me wat is happening to you? I am trying to be patient but I can help you if just tell me.”
“That doesn’t matter n-n-now.” She caught her breath on the last word, he was so close now she could reach her hand out and touch his chest.
“It matters to me.” His hand brushed a wisp of her hair. “Would I do anything to hurt you?”
“No, I trust…” she was about to say that she trusted him. And she did. Shockingly, she had come to trust him. The words bubbled up onto her lips, desperate to come out. But she had trusted others, in the past, and that had proven what a fool she was.
“Then you can tell me.” His breath whispered over her ear and she leaned in even closer.
Unexpected Treasure: A High Seas Adventure Page 3
