Fire and Ice

by Hart, Catherine

  Deciding she had better check on Nanna, she crossed the hall and tapped lightly on the door. She was surprised when Bobby answered her knock. “Come in, Lady Kathleen,” he said. “I’m sorry I haven’t gotten your water yet, but Mrs. Dunley here is feeling poorly and I’ve been seeing to her.”

  Kathleen crossed to the bunk where a slightly green Nanna lay groaning. “Oh, Nanna, you’re seasick!” she exclaimed. “Poor dear, I was hoping you wouldn’t have to go through this, but you’ll be fine in a couple of days, I promise.”

  “I feel like I’m dying,” Nanna moaned. “In fact, I’m hoping I will and afraid I won’t. At least I’d be out of this misery.”

  “Nanna, you didn’t hear a word I just said. Some people don’t get seasick at all, and others just need a few days to get their sea legs. Don’t worry. I’ll stay with you. The best thing is to keep something light in your stomach. Perhaps some biscuits and some strongly laced tea. Dan swears that a shot of whiskey fixes the problem straight away.”

  The very thought had Nanna reaching for her bucket again.

  “Bobby, the captain is expecting me for lunch. Please convey my regrets to him and explain that I must take care of Nanna. Then bring the water and my lunch on a tray to my cabin. If you can sit with Nanna while I eat, then I’ll relieve you afterward.” As an afterthought she added, “Oh, and Bobby, I’ve broken my water pitcher so you’ll have to find me a new one.”

  “Straight away, Lady Kathleen,” Bobby turned to leave.

  “One more thing,” she called to him. “Since you can’t call me captain, just call me Miss Kathleen. I cannot adjust to being called Lady aboard ship for some reason. And bring the whiskey and tea for Nanna. Good Irish whiskey.” She winked.

  “Yes, Miss Kathleen,” Bobby grinned, closing the door quietly behind him.

  Nanna again grabbed for the bucket.

  After she had freshened up and eaten, Kathleen was about to take over sitting with Nanna when there was a tap on her door. Thinking it must be Bobby, she called, “Come in, please.”

  The door opened to admit Reed. He had changed from his captain’s uniform into a pair of snug black breeches that emphasized his long, muscled legs and slim hips. He wore high black boots and a black lawn shirt with long, billowing sleeves. The shirt was open to his waist, revealing a wide strip of hairy chest and flat stomach.

  Kathleen turned from her desk. “I was just com—oh, it’s you!” she amended with a frown. She didn’t know if it was because of her earlier encounter with him, or because he looked so dashing, but her heart suddenly began to pound faster.

  “That is a rather unusual way for a captain to dress. Have you spilled something on your only uniform, or perhaps you are in mourning over your recent behavior,” she quipped.

  “If I were in mourning over anything it would be that I didn’t finish what I started earlier,” he remarked, blue eyes twinkling. “Perhaps I have merely decided to join you in wearing black.”

  “Well I hate to disappoint you, sir, but tomorrow shall find me once again in gowns of colored fabric. It may be I’ll decide to wear pink, and it strikes me that you would look a trifle silly if you decided to follow suit.”

  “No, pink is definitely not my color,” he agreed amiably. “Actually, this is my usual uniform.”

  “I thought the devil normally wore red,” she retorted.

  “Only on holidays and special occasions.” He gave her a sly grin. “I see you were unwilling to lunch with me, Kat. Could it be you were afraid to face me?”

  “If you knew me better you would know that is nonsense,” she said heatedly, her face flushed.

  “I intend to know you, Kat; very well indeed.”

  “Stop calling me Kat. My name is Kathleen. However, you may call me Lady Haley.” She eyed him coldly.

  “No real lady responds to a man’s kisses the way you did, Kat,” he baited.

  Kathleen decided to ignore this last comment. “If you have no other matters to discuss with me, would you please leave my cabin, sir?” She crossed to the door and opened it for him.

  Instead of leaving, Reed looked around in interest. “A cozy little nook you have here. All the comforts of home. You must sail aboard this ship often.”

  “As often as father would have me. We were very close,” she explained. “Now, will you please leave, Captain? As I am sure Bobby informed you, Nanna is ill and I must look after her.” Going to her dresser, Kathleen removed a lace handkerchief. She locked the drawer, slipped the beribboned key over her head, and let it drop into her bodice.

  Reed’s rude gaze followed the key. “Ah,” he commented lazily, his voice husky, “so that is what else I felt down there.”

  Blushing to the roots of her hair, Kathleen gestured toward the door and commanded angrily, “Get out! Get out of my cabin this instant!”

  Reed gave her a mocking bow and exited, chuckling softly at her discomfiture.

  “You, sir,” she fumed to herself, “are asking for trouble, and I shall be only too glad to give you more than you bargain for.”

  As it turned out, Nanna did not respond favorably to the whiskey and tea remedy. Nothing stayed in her stomach for very long. Her seasickness would just have to run its course. After two days and nights of nursing her, Kathleen gratefully relegated her to Bobby’s care and that of Dr. Long, the ship’s physician.

  While she was caring for Nanna, Kathleen had done little more than eat, sleep and sit with her. Occasionally, she strolled on deck for a few minutes at a time. Once, she had been walking about the deck and wandered to the bow, where she stood leaning on the rail watching the sunset. The air was fresh and cool; the water calm and streaked with orange and red reflections of the sky. The captain’s other ship, a brig, was sailing on the port side and slightly aft of the Kat-Ann, and offered no hindrance to a perfect view.

  Kathleen was completely engrossed in the glorious sunset when Reed barked at her, causing her to jump.

  “What are you doing forward? Passengers are not allowed up here as you probably well know.”

  She swung on him, eyes flashing. “I am not a passenger, Captain. I am the owner.”

  “For this voyage you are a passenger, and one who should know better than to disturb the crew.”

  “I have been standing here quietly and am in no one’s way. How could I have disturbed the crew?” Contempt laced her voice.

  “Don’t be dense, Kat. Look around you. There isn’t a pair of eyes near that aren’t trained on you. They can’t keep their minds on their work.”

  “You are saying it is because I am a woman,” she accused.

  “Are you, sugar, or are you still just a little girl?” he sneered.

  Whirling away from him, she snarled, “You have to be obnoxious, don’t you Captain Taylor?”

  He tried to take hold of her arm, but she pulled away haughtily.

  “This is not the issue,” he said. “You will limit yourself to the quarterdeck hereafter. The officers aboard are supposedly gentlemen, which is more than I can guarantee with the rest of the crew. I do not need you inciting a mutiny,” he said curtly. “And if you refuse to obey my direct orders, I shall be forced to have you confined to quarters.”

  Reed grabbed her roughly by the arm and marched her back to the quarterdeck. “Do not disobey me, Kat. I warn you.”

  She’d had no more conversation with Captain Taylor after that. She took her meals in her room, and when she had seen him, he had either ignored her or glared. Kathleen was very perplexed by her feelings toward him. She had never met anyone who disturbed her like he did. Most of the boys she’d known in Ireland were just that—boys. This was a man. A very powerful, dominating man. A tingling heat ran through her as she recalled the feel of his lips on hers, his brawny arms about her.

  She judged him to be around twenty-six years of age, and very self-assured. From what she observed, he ran a tight ship, and the men seemed to respect him. Only a fool wouldn’t! No one in his right mind would purposely tang
le with a man of Reed’s size and temperament. Undoubtedly he was arrogant, overbearing, hateful, and thoroughly maddening. Still, she had to admit he was extremely handsome with his sleek, dark good looks and piercing blue eyes. He was very agile for such a big man. His movements reminded her of a jungle cat; graceful and quiet, yet full of restrained power and danger.

  By the third night out of Ireland, Kathleen felt a pressing need for solitude and freedom. She needed space and time to sort out her feelings. She waited until the crew quieted down for the night and only those men absolutely necessary to sail the frigate were on duty. Then she donned her boy’s breeches, boots, and a peasant blouse and slipped out on deck. Keeping to the shadows, she crept to the mainmast and quickly climbed the rigging. She perched herself among the shrouds about halfway up and relaxed.

  The breeze was cool, refreshing. The sky was bright with a million stars. They were mirrored by the ocean, as was the moon. Kathleen took a deep breath, relishing the saltiness of the air, and sighed deeply. This was where she belonged. This was her heart’s home. “How will I ever survive it if I must stay on land for months at a time in Georgia? I must devise a way to escape to the sea every so often or I’ll start raving.”

  The Seafire was still riding slightly behind the Kat-Ann. It was beautiful as the moon turned the white sails to silver, and the sea sparkled all around. Kathleen thought her ship was even more beautiful. The other was a brig, and had only two masts and fewer sails. The Kat-Ann was sleek and low and fast with her three masts. She was well made, with only the best timbers, and built for speed and maneuverability, though she had ample space in her hold for cargo. To Kathleen the brig was clumsy by comparison. She appreciated the sleek lines of a good ship.

  Caught up in the beauty of the sea under star-filled skies, Kathleen lost all track of time. She let her mind seek release in the serenity of the ship slicing silently through the water. Soon the stars faded one by one and the sky began to lighten in the east. The darkness faded to a silver-gray, then to a golden hue as the sun sought dominance in the heavens. Dawn was a beautiful experience at sea as the waters around the ship took on the golden highlights of the new day.

  Kathleen knew she should return to her cabin before the captain came on deck. “Just a few more minutes. It is so exquisite. The sea is like a golden jewel, so alive and sparkling. It is so serene up here; a balm to the spirit.”

  Finally, knowing she could stay no longer, she climbed nimbly down the rigging. Suddenly, about three feet from the deck, she was grabbed from behind. A strong, hairy arm clamped firmly around her waist and lowered her to the deck with a thud that nearly rocked her teeth loose. She was spun about to face a scowling Captain Taylor.

  “Oh, no,” she groaned wearily. “Why do you always turn up when I least want to encounter you?”

  He said nothing, but gave her a disconcerting look and none too gently steered her toward the quarterdeck.

  “Let go of me, you boor!” she cried, struggling to release his grip on her arm. She kicked out at him, her boot connecting with his shin.

  Still silent, he bent swiftly and swung her over his shoulder, face down. Mortified, she beat on his back with her fists and screamed at him, “Put me down!” When he ignored her, she bit him on the back.

  Reed promptly slapped her forcefully on her backside, causing her to yelp. “Oh! You cur! You filthy swine! You blackhearted devil, you!”

  Opening the door of her cabin, he walked to the bunk and dumped her unceremoniously onto it. Standing over her, hands on hips, his piercing gaze raked slowly over her body, causing her to shiver under the scrutiny. After a long minute, he stated flatly, “I told you not to create any more problems on deck. Not only do you disobey a direct order by leaving the quarterdeck, but you parade about in breeches that show every curve of your body and a blouse cut low enough to reveal most of your breasts. You have caused quite a stir among the crew. I warned you that those men are only human. For your own safety I am restricting you to your quarters. There will be a guard posted outside your door. I have had quite enough of your escapades.”

  “Surely you cannot expect me to pass the remainder of the voyage in here. Even prisoners get fresh air and exercise,” she complained loudly, scowling up at him.

  “I shall grant you half an hour of deck twice daily in the company of Mrs. Dunley. Dr. Long informed me this morning that she has finally overcome her seasicknes. I will send her to you soon.”

  Tears welled up in her eyes, making them shimmer like cut emeralds. She blinked them back, willing herself not to cry in front of him. “You are being very hateful and unjust, Captain,” she accused in a shaky voice.

  “I am sorry, Kat, but I warned you what would happen. I try to be fair. We will see how you behave, and perhaps in a week or so I can lift the restrictions.”

  “Stop talking to me as though I were a delinquent child!” she spat. “You are a spiteful, odious cad. I thoroughly despise you! I’d be eternally grateful if you would remove yourself from my cabin this instant.”

  Giving her a long, cold stare, he bowed stiffly and stalked out, closing the door after him.

  Kathleen glared at the door and stuck out her tongue childishly. Then she dissolved into a fit of tears.

  For an active young woman like Kathleen, the next week was unbearable. Nanna was not particularly sympathetic.

  “You brought this on yourself with your wild ways, Kathleen. You cannot blame anyone else, and certainly not poor Captain Taylor.”

  “Poor Captain Taylor!” Kathleen shrieked. “That ogre? Nanna, what has that man done to you? Has he cast a spell over you or simply fed you something in your tea?”

  “Really, Kathleen. You are just being spiteful. He is a very nice young gentleman when you get to know him, and so handsome, too.”

  Kathleen stopped pacing and stared at the older woman. “Are you really talking about the same person? I have gotten to know that snake as well as I ever hope to, and he is certainly far from being a gentleman.”

  Each morning after Kathleen had washed and dressed, Bobby brought her breakfast tray. She and Nanna would eat together and then take a half hour of fresh air on deck. Whenever they chanced to meet Reed, Nanna would engage him in conversation. Kathleen would stand at the rail and pointedly ignore them both.

  After their morning excursions, Nanna would retire to her cabin, and Kathleen would read and pace alternately until lunch was served. Again the two women would dine together. Then Nanna usually retired to her afternoon nap.

  Time dragged for Kathleen. The sun shone brightly most afternoons, and the cabin was stifling. She would stand by the open porthole trying to catch a chance breath of fresh air. Sometimes she would sit at her desk and watch the waves until she began to nod, and she too would lie down for a nap, though it was not customary for her to do so. Midafternoon brought tea time, and afterward she and Nanna would play checkers or chat. Occasionally they would play a game of piquet, but Nanna, not being very adept at cards, tired of Kathleen winning so often and easily.

  Both ladies would freshen up and change their dresses for dinner, and afterward again traverse the quarterdeck. By lamplight they would sew, or Kathleen would softly strum her guitar while Nanna stitched, and they would retire early. At least Nanna retired early. Kathleen merely tossed and turned in her bunk, often giving up entirely to rise and pace the floor until she was exhausted enough to sleep. All too often what little sleep she managed was broken by dreams of frosty blue eyes, warm, demanding lips, and searching hands that turned her body to fire. She’d awaken trembling until she reminded herself that she loathed Captain Taylor to distraction.

  Reed was also having his difficulties. He was glad to have his ship running smoothly once more, without Kathleen’s disrupting influence. Still, he regretted being so harsh with her. Each time he saw her he was tempted to apologize, but she would turn away, obviously not wishing to speak with him.

  “She hates me,” he thought. “I don’t know why that should both
er me, but it does. That green-eyed vixen is starting to get to me. I’ll be glad when I can deposit her in Savannah and forget her.” Forget her? Not entirely. Savannah was not that large and he would undoubtedly come into contact with her socially whenever he was in port. His family was very good friends with her aunt’s.

  “She will become acquainted with many other people, make friends, and perhaps our chance encounters will not be too great a problem. Some other poor man will have to put up with her temper then,” he mused. Somehow that thought brought him no comfort. He pictured her dancing and dining with the young men of the town, all of them mooning over her and vying for her attentions. He felt a hard knot of jealousy form in his stomach. He told himself, “Forget her. That kind of trouble you don’t need.” But at odd times of the day he would catch himself thinking of softly waving red-gold hair, moist pink lips, and emerald eyes behind long, lush lashes. And each evening he strained to hear the low, clear tones of her voice as she sang and played her guitar.

  At the end of a week, Reed sent Bobby to inform her that as long as she limited her activities to the quarterdeck and dressed properly, she was free to leave her cabin again at any time, with or without Mrs. Dunley. Kathleen immediately abandoned her quarters, and if Nanna wished her company, she had to seek her out on deck. Kathleen soaked up the sunshine and fresh air as a thirsty person would water. Her face and arms turned a glowing tan, and her hair took on even more golden highlights, resembling burnished copper.

  On the fourth morning of her reclaimed freedom, Kathleen awoke to an angry red sunrise. The wind was brisk and the frigate was rocking more than usual. They’d had two weeks of glorious weather, which was rather unusual so early in the spring, and now they were in for a storm.