“I’ll kill him!” she thought furiously. “I’ll simply murder him!”
“Whut ya’ll gwine to wear to town t’day?” Mammy was asking.
“To town?” Kathleen’s brain felt as if it were in a fog.
Mammy eyed her curiously. “Ta dat Octoberfest thing.”
“Is that today?”
“Shore is.”
“I suppose the green brocade with the cream lapels.”
“An’ thet little cream cape whut matches? Jest in case it rains?”
Over the breakfast table Reed grinned at her. She glared back, her eyes blazing. As he assisted her into the carriage later, she hissed at him. “You horse’s rear!”
His eyebrows shot up. “What brought that on?”
“Let’s just say the gardener will find your slippers in the bushes below your veranda. I tossed them on my way down to breakfast!”
His deep laughter rumbled.
“Stop laughing! It’s not funny!” She stamped her small foot at him. “I believe you did that deliberately.”
He shook his head. “No, kitten. Next time I’ll be more careful.”
“Pigs will hatch from eggs before I take that chance again!”
He changed the subject. “Tell me, Kat, I’m curious. It struck me this morning that your legs are tan all the way up. How is that so?”
For a moment she couldn’t breathe. All she could think of was that damned short pirate outfit. Her brain raced frantically. “Promise you won’t tell a soul,” she whispered at last.
He nodded.
“I’ve been slipping out by myself whenever I can. I swim in my chemise and pantalettes.”
He stared at her in disbelief. “Kat! You go too far! Suppose someone saw you?”
“No one will. I’m very careful.”
“No more, Kathleen. I forbid it.”
“Oh you do, do you? And who’s to stop me?” She glared at him belligerently.
“I am, Miss Sassy-pants!”
“You and whose army, Captain?” She turned her back on him and climbed into the carriage. Before she knew what he was about, he had slapped her smartly on the backside.
“Ouch!” She wheeled on him, but fortunately for him, Barbara chose that exact moment to start out the door toward the carriage. “You’ll pay for that, you scurvy weasel!” she muttered.
“Don’t I always?” he returned dryly.
Chapter 22
FOR a week Reed continued to escort her to harvest feasts, hayrides and fall parties. He and Kathleen were decidedly cool toward one another. Much to Kate’s sorrow, their war was on again. Eleanore would gladly have gotten drunk again if she could have healed the breach. She knew beyond a doubt that Reed and Kathleen had made love recently. Her room was next to Kathleen’s and the walls were not very thick. She had heard them as she was nursing her sick stomach and aching head.
Reed left for Grande Terre on the first of November. According to Kate, he would not return until his birthday celebration on the thirteenth.
Kathleen, of course, followed, and in the next week and a half attacked his ship twice, relieving him of sizable cargos both times. The first time she merely outmaneuvered him smartly, having the advantage of the Emerald Enchantress being lighter and swifter. She caught Dominique’s amused gaze as she squared off with Reed. They sparred heavily for nearly ten minutes, neither gaining the advantage until Kathleen, with one furious uphand stroke, snapped Reed’s blade in two near the hilt.
For a moment they both stood mutely eyeing the broken blade. Then Reed raised his gaze to meet Kathleen’s gleefully victorious look.
“Damn!” he muttered.
“It seems if you don’t have bad luck, you have none at all. Captain Taylor,” she mused mirthfully. “Do you concede the contest, sir?”
“Aye,” he snapped. “What choice do I have?” If looks alone could kill, she would have fallen to the deck.
“Well then, I await my cargo.” She gave him a smug smile.
On the second encounter, they exchanged cannon fire for a time, until the Emerald Enchantress landed a blow to the Kat-Ann’s rudder. Kathleen was sure Dominique had a hand in making sure that the Emerald Enchantress suffered no hits. Just how he had managed it she could not figure, but she felt sure he had helped her.
When she once more faced Reed on the bridge, she heaved a sigh and said, “Captain Taylor, this is really becoming monotonous! Let us this time make it a contest between the two of us. The good doctor is weary with patching up my wounded men as well as yours. What say you?”
“For the good doctor’s sake then,” he nodded. “Will first blood satisfy you, or are you after my head today?” His blue eyes shot angry sparks at her.
“First blood it is,” she agreed.
They squared off and silently began the battle. Not a sound was heard but steel kissing steel as they parried and counter-parried one another’s blows. As was her habit by training, Kathleen held strict eye contact with her opponent. Finally, her arm becoming weary beneath the weight of her rapier, she took a calculated risk. Deliberately she left herself open, her blade lowered. Immediately Reed swung in close, his blade reaching for her bare midsection. Kathleen twisted lithely aside and brought her own blade up swiftly, barely scraping the inside of Reed’s right wrist, but it was enough to draw a thin line of blood beneath the slice in his shirt sleeve.
She backed off, her breasts heaving beneath her vest. “Give off, Reed. I have drawn first blood. I am tired and you have a rudder to repair before you head for port this day.”
“Once more I concede to you it seems,” he ground out.
He swept an arm toward the hold. “Take your rewards and be gone.” With that he turned and stalked to his cabin.
Kathleen looked at Dominique and arched her brows. “Surly sort, isn’t he?”
“It would seem so,” he commented with a sly wink.
They were following the Georgia coastline and were nearing the inlets to the cove. Kathleen and her crew were weary, and she was looking forward to getting home to a steaming tub. All lanterns were doused, and silence reigned on board, but Kathleen cursed the full moon that still made them so visible. She felt uneasy, as did most of the crew. They carried a full hold and could ill afford to get caught by the ever-diligent shore patrol.
Kathleen’s unease soon proved prophetic. Word passed to her that two ships were sighted, one to her bow and one to her stern, both heading in her direction. Through her spyglass Kathleen quickly calculated the speed of the ship before her. To her dismay she recognized it as a U.S. Navy patrol ship, and also realized she could not make the first of several inlets in time to avoid being seen. Swinging her glass about, she searched out the other ship. It appeared to be a merchant heading most likely for Savannah.
“Well now, lass, what’s to be done fer it?” Dan whispered near her ear.
“Tell me. With the Enchantress between them, do you suppose either of them will see the other first, Dan?”
“My guess is they won’t be looking fer another ship so close.”
“My thoughts exactly. We are about to be spotted by both at any second, I expect.”
“Aye, Cap’n, and then what?” Finley inquired softly.
“Well, the patrol will give chase or return fire for sure. The merchant may even fire on us, as our reputation has become so well known. If we act before we are spotted, swiftly and silently, with no lights, there is a plan which might work.”
Quickly Kathleen outlined her course of action, and Dan and Finley scurried off to ready the crew. Within seconds Kathleen had swung the Emerald Enchantress about to face the open sea. The sails were trimmed to catch the maximum breeze. Just as the wind snapped the sails into service, the Enchantress’s port and starboard guns simultaneously roared out once, breaking the silence of the night. Then the Enchantress slipped speedily out from between the two approaching ships and broke for the open sea.
It was as if Kathleen’s guardian angel had chosen that exact mome
nt to awaken from her slumber, for the moon suddenly ducked beneath a bank of clouds, covering the Enchantress’s flight. The sleek dark ship blended with the darkness of the sky and sea and was no more.
Aboard the naval vessel, the captain was issuing swift orders to return fire on the unfortunate merchant ship before him. Not having seen the darkened Enchantress, he assumed the shots had come from the trading vessel.
At the same time, similar thoughts were racing through the other captain’s brain. Having received fire from the shore patrol, and not wanting to get caught with his hold full of contraband, the merchant had to decide whether to run or fight. Figuring that discretion was the better part of valor, they turned tail and ran, the shore patrol close behind.
Meanwhile, aboard the Enchantress, Kathleen cut a wide circle around the two fleeing ships, came up well behind, and furtively scooted into her inlet. Once anchored safely in the hidden cove, all aboard heaved a collective sigh of relief.
“I’ll be hanged if I didn’t think we’d bought it thet time, lass!” Dan declared.
“Please! Don’t say the word hanged within my hearing for a while. That was much too close for comfort.” Kathleen sighed shakily. “It is one thing to pirate Reed or another vessel one on one, and quite another matter to tangle with the American government. It would please me if I never encounter another situation such as this again in my lifetime!”
“Aye, Cap’n. Me, too!” Dan said fervently, as Finley nodded his head in full agreement.
“We must be more careful in the future.”
As soon as she had bathed and changed her clothes at Kate’s, Kathleen headed for Chimera. Reed was due home at any time, and she wanted him to find her there for a change. Also, she needed to wrap and hide his birthday gift before he arrived.
She had no doubt that he would like it, and it was a perfect gift since personal items were unseemly for a young lady to give a gentleman. Dan had grumbled loudly, but finally agreed to sell her the detailed scale model of the Kat-Ann he had carved out. He had worked on it for over a year, and finally finished it not a month earlier.
“What ye be wantin’ to give it to him fer?” he grouched.
“It’s his birthday, Dan. Besides, since I plan to relieve him of the Kat-Ann in the near future, he will at least have its likeness to remind him of his pirate love.”
At this Dan chuckled. “Oh, lass, ye’re a devious one, ye are!”
Kathleen had been in bed for a couple of hours when she heard Reed’s tread outside her veranda door. Carefully regulating her breathing, she feigned sleep as she heard him approach her bedside. She felt his gaze upon her for long moments and finally he bent to kiss her tenderly at her temple. Then he turned and left.
The next day dawned clear and bright, a beautiful day for Reed’s birthday. Kathleen took her place next to Reed at the breakfast table.
“Good morning, all,” she said, glancing around the table. Turning to Reed she smiled, “Good morning, birthday boy!”
He caught her teasing look. His deep voice was amused as he replied dryly, “Good morning, Kat. Did you sleep well?”
“Fine, thank you.”
“Reed, dear.” Mary claimed her son’s attention. “You know we’ve planned a supper party for your birthday. Is there anything special you would like today, or anything you want to do?”
“Darling mother.” Reed took Mary’s hand in his and kissed it, his eyes twinkling in amusement. “I’m a bit old for a pony or sugerplum pudding, and I think the party is more than enough.” He looked up, and his gaze locked with Kathleen’s for a long moment. “No,” he sighed, “there is nothing more you can do for me, Mother.”
“Well, what are you going to do?” Susan prompted. “It’s such a lovely day.”
“It is just another workday, Susie, love. I have a lot of business to attend to around here. It is difficult sometimes to keep up on everything here and tend to my ship, too.”
Amy leveled her baby-blue eyes at him, batting her lashes blatantly. “Surely you aren't going to lock yourself in that stuffy office of yours all day,” she crooned sweetly. “After all, all work and no play . . .”
Eleanore caught Kathleen’s look and rolled her eyes in mock dismay. “I wondered where all the hotcake syrup went this morning,” she mocked innocently.
Kathleen choked back a chuckle. “Well, I don’t know what the rest of you intend to do today, but Zeus needs exercise.” Kathleen pushed her chair back from the table. “Excuse me, please.”
“Just a second, young lady.” Reed’s imposing tone stopped her before she could rise.
She looked at him with raised brows over surprised green eyes.
He gestured toward her plate. “You haven’t eaten much this morning. Are you feeling well?”
“I’m perfectly well, Reed, thank you. No need to worry yourself. I’m merely watching my figure.” Kathleen rose from her chair.
“If you need any help, let me know.” His blue eyes danced merrily as he saw her start to blush.
“Reed Taylor! You are a—”
“Yes?” he drawled, his eyes roving her body.
“Oh! You’re an uncouth cad!” she declared as she stormed out of the room.
“I say! Breakfast around here gets more interesting all the time,” Ted commented. A second later he yelled, “Ouch!” as his mother kicked his ankle beneath the table.
Tears of merriment danced in Eleanore’s brown eyes as she tried desperately to swallow a mouthful of orange juice.
“Really Reed! I thought I brought you up better!” Mary reproved gently. “Stop baiting the poor girl.”
“I really can’t help myself sometimes, Mother.” At her frown he said, “All right, I’ll go apologize. Titan needs to stretch his legs anyway.”
He found her later atop a knoll overlooking the river, a frown creasing her forehead.
“Why the thoughtful look, Kat? Surely you are not still angry with me.”
“Why shouldn’t I be?” she responded. “You are altogether too forward sometimes, Reed, especially in front of other people. I can imagine what they must think!”
“The worst, I’m sure,” he commented.
“I thought you had work to do.”
“It will keep. I’m supposed to apologize to you. If I say I’m sorry will you stop frowning?”
“Yes.”
“All right, I’m sorry.”
“I truly doubt it, but thank you for the gesture. Besides,” she continued with a sly grin, “I wasn’t angry at you any longer. In fact, I wasn’t thinking of that at all.”
“What were you thinking of?”
“I was wondering why, with Chimera bordering the Savannah River, you don’t dock here instead. It is closer than going on to Savannah and riding back. Wouldn’t it be easier to unload your cargo here, especially things needed for the plantation?”
“Well, kitten, let me explain. Most of the time we do unload what is needed here, but we have to do it by raft, as it is much too shallow for the Kat-Ann along this part of the shoreline. Before I had a ship of my own, it didn’t bother me, but it would be more convenient now that I am in port more often. However, most of my cargo is for sale in the shops of Savannah, and I keep a warehouse there for unloading and dealing with merchants. Besides, my crewmen spend their time in Savannah, not here.”
“Yes, but what do you do when you have cotton or other goods you export?” she asked.
“Sometimes we load up here, using rafts again, as does Kate O’Reilly. Most often, however, we deal through the cotton exchangers in Savannah.”
“That seems a waste of effort, time, and money when the river is handy and the ship available,” she observed.
“What would you suggest, my sweet?” he asked, taking her hand as they both sat on the grass.
Kathleen thought a moment, her teeth worrying her lower lip. “You could dredge out a channel, deepen this section of the shoreline a short distance out. You could even build a small dock like some of the othe
r homes have. Then you could load and unload easily what you need here. The rest could go on to the warehouse in Savannah. You could go together with Kate and some of the nearest neighbors if you want and sell your exports directly at better prices and cut out the exchangers altogether.” She stopped and looked at him questioningly.
“Yes, go on.” He found himself impressed with her reasoning.
“The house is really fairly close to the river. You can see the river easily from the north and east sides of the house, and from the widow’s walk you can see a fair distance downriver.”
“You’ve been up there?” he interrupted.
“Oh, yes. Quite often. It’s quiet up there and no one thinks to look for me there,” she explained. “Now, as I was saying, you could go on to Savannah and unload your cargo and most of the men and return here to dock. Or, if you have a trustworthy man or two, they could drop you off and go on to Savannah without you, unload, and await word when next you want to sail.”
At that he laughed. “And just suppose I get tired of trudging up to the house in the dark of night, especially when I’m tired and hungry?”
Again she stopped to think, and her emerald eyes lit up with delight. “It’s quite simple, really. Simply tamp in a post at this end of the pier and hang a large bell, or use the Kat-Ann’s fog bell. It can be heard from the house and one of the servants can ride down and pick you up or bring Titan down to you. Set up your own signal if you want.” He laughed and drew her close. Looking into her clear green eyes, he commented, “You are quite a minx, my love. Who would guess that beneath that exquisitely beautiful exterior lurks the brain of a wizard?”
“Had you fooled, didn’t I?” she teased. “Besides that, Reed, you’ve heard of Robert Fulton’s steamboat in New York?”
At his nod, she went on. “They are building more of them I hear, not only for the Hudson River, but the Mississippi too. If they catch on, we may have steamboat traffic along the Savannah in a few years. I’ve seen your maps and noticed that the Savannah River runs the entire length of Georgia’s eastern state line. Just think, Reed! It would be convenient travel from here to Augusta and farther. People could travel easily and swiftly to visit friends and relations, and you would have your own landing convenient for your own use and needs.”
Fire and Ice Page 37
