Pirate's Promise

by Smith, Bobbi

  "Then, you're going to do it in the morning?"

  "Yes, first thing."

  "What's your plan?" she asked eagerly. She wanted to know everything.

  "I've got some men with me. We'll watch the house, and as soon as we can snatch her without causing a scene we'll make our move."

  "Then?" Suzanne was listening avidly.

  Shark shrugged as he joined her in bed. "We're meeting the ship at our usual rendezvous point. I notify Shackelford that everything's been taken care of, he gets his night with her aboard the Banshee, and I get my money."

  "What are you going to do with her then?"

  "I know some buyers who'd be interested in a white woman. She'll bring a good price if she's pretty. If not, there's still a profit to be made." He was tired of talking, and he reached out and pulled her roughly to him.

  Suzanne had grown excited at hearing all his plans, and she chose to thank him in a very elemental way. She didn't resist his manhandling, but melted against him, eager to please him.

  Knowing that this was probably the last time he would share her bed, Shark took full advantage of her willingness. They passed the remaining hours of darkness in a heated, animalistic mating that left them both spent yet satisfied.

  The sky had only begun to lighten when he left her bed to get dressed.

  "Will you be back?" Suzanne questioned as she watched him prepare to leave her.

  "No," he answered. Shark knew she wouldn't be wanting anything to do with him once she found out he was responsible for Trent's death.

  "Are you going to leave again after you take care of Lianne?"

  "Yes. I'll ship out as soon as I can. Things'll probably get pretty hot around here, so I'll lay low for a while."

  "Let me know where you'll be in case I need to contact you." She needed to know what he was going to be doing and where he would be going, so she could arrange to betray him to Adam when the time was right.

  "I will," he lied, anxious now to be away from her so he could begin work on his devious scheme.

  Shark went to her for one last kiss and then left. He sought out Micah, the young stableboy Suzanne used for a messenger, and handed him a sealed envelope.

  "Your mistress wants this delivered to Adam Trent right away. No one else is to see it, understand?" Shark ordered in a fierce tone.

  "Yes, suh," the youngster replied hurriedly as he took the note.

  "This is for you." He handed the boy a coin.

  "Thank you, suh." He looked up at the big man, his eyes wide in appreciation.

  "Just make sure you give it directly to Trent."

  "I will, suh, right away!"

  As the first rays of the morning sun shone through the bedroom window, Adam awoke. It was a wonderful sensation to wake up with Lianne in his arms, and he wanted to linger there in bed with her, savoring the intimacy of the moment. This particular morning, though, he knew he couldn't. He'd arranged to ride out with the overseer, and he was due to meet him at the stable in less than an hour.

  Adam's regret was great as he gently eased Lianne from his embrace, trying not to disturb her peaceful slumber, but she awoke up the instant he tried to shift away from her.

  "Adam? Where are you going?" Lianne asked in a sleepy murmur as she reached out to draw him back to her.

  "I've got to see the fields this morning, love, but I'll try to be back by midafternoon."

  "Ummm . . . the fields." She nodded in understanding, keeping her eyes half-closed in pretended sleepiness.

  Adam started to move away again, but Lianne reacted too quickly for him, looping her arms around her neck and pulling him down for a good-morning kiss.

  "Lianne." Adam was laughing as he returned her embrace. "I really do have to meet him."

  "I know," she said throatily, kissing him again.

  "Lianne, I arranged to meet him . . ." He protested, sounding less and less convincing.

  Lianne pressed herself fully against him. "I know," she sighed in mock sorrow, her eyes alight with loving mischief. "You have to go."

  Lianne gave Adam a teasingly seductive smile and shifted away from him. Since they'd been together, she'd taken to sleeping in the nude, and she deliberately let the covers fall from her so that she lay enticingly before him, every lovely inch of her bare to his gaze. She could read the riot of emotions that played across his face as he wrestled with his desire to stay and his need to go, and her heart filled with tender love for him.

  "I guess if you have to go . . . you have to go . . ." Lianne stretched in sensuous splendor. Playing the vixen, she arched her back and lifted her arms over her head. She never looked away from him, and she knew the moment Adam's tenuous hold on his desire was lost.

  "The hell with him. Let him wait!" Adam growled in desperation, going into her arms.

  Lianne gave a throaty chuckle in celebration of her victory as she lifted her lips to his. It was nearly an hour later when Adam finally left her. Having spent so much time lost in the rapture of her loving, he gave up any thoughts of breakfast and rushed to the stables to begin his workday.

  Chapter Thirty-seven

  By the time Micah reached Belle Arbor, Adam had already ridden out with the overseer. It was midmorning before the boy finally managed to locate him on the vast plantation. He was intimidated by the scowling look Adam gave him when he delivered the letter to him, and he hurried to leave, wanting to get away as quickly as possible.

  Adam watched him ride away and then glanced down at the note he held in his hand. Though the handwriting didn't look particularly familiar, he was certain that it was from Suzanne, for he recognized Micah as one of her servants. Adam was sure that the missive was an entreaty to come see her, and he dreaded the prospect even though he knew he had to go. Moving away from the overseer, he opened the note.

  My dearest Adam —

  It's important that I see you right away. Please meet me at the grove of willows near our boundary line.

  Suzanne

  Adam thought it unusual that she didn't want to meet at her home, but since the grove was closer, he gave it little thought. Excusing himself from the overseer, he mounted up and rode off toward the arranged meeting place.

  "What the hell is takin' him so long?" O'Malley complained as he waited with Morley near the willow grove.

  "How the hell am I supposed to know!" his partner snarled.

  They had been crouched in their secluded hiding place since early that morning waiting for their intended victim to show up, but so far there had been no sign of him.

  "You think he's gonna turn up soon?"

  "I hope so. I want to get this over with and get back to the ship," Morley grumbled.

  Only Shark's promise of a big payoff held them there as the hours dragged on.

  Lianne had wanted to linger in bed after Adam left her, but she'd found herself unable to fall back asleep. Giving up the effort, she'd dressed and gone downstairs to breakfast with Becky and Alex. The morning was a quiet one as they enjoyed each other's company. Alex ran off to the stables to play, and Becky decided to join Lianne in her garden work. They labored there contentedly weeding and pruning back her plants until late morning when the warmth of sun encouraged them to rest for a while. Lianne pocketed the small knife she used for the pruning as they wandered down to the cool, shady banks of the reflecting pond beckoned to sit and relax.

  "I'm really glad that you and Adam have worked things out, Lianne," Becky confided as they sat together in easy camaraderie beneath the shade of the massive trees.

  "So am I, Becky," Lianne told her.

  "I always thought you were perfect for him," she said with a laugh.

  "You did?" Lianne was amazed.

  Becky nodded. "I'm sure he's loved you from the first time he saw you, even though he didn't show it until now."

  Lianne couldn't believe what her friend was telling her. "From the first time he saw me?" she asked, stunned. She remembered their first encounter quite well, and she knew that she looked littl
e better than a fieldhand that day. "You've got to be teasing."

  "Oh, no, I'm serious. You're the only woman I've ever known who's run Adam off with a shotgun!" Becky chortled with delight as she recalled Adam's outrage at being faced down.

  "But Adam was so arrogant and so mean to me all this time."

  "I know he was, Adam had a really good reason for everything he did. You may not always understand him, but trust him, Lianne. I know he loves you deeply, and now you know that too." Becky said, wanting somehow to prepare her friend for when the whole truth was one day revealed.

  Lianne sensed an unspoken urgency in her words, and she wanted to know what she meant. "I know he loves me, Becky. But what do you — "

  As she was about to ask, she was interrupted by a big, ugly brute of a man who emerged from the words near them, rifle in hand.

  "Don't neither one of you move or say a word!" he ordered, leveling the gun straight at them.

  Becky and Lianne froze as they stared at the threatening stranger, wondering what he wanted. Only when she heard someone come up behind them did Lianne know a true moment of terror.

  "Don't move or we'll kill you right where you sit!" the menacing voice said.

  Shark had been watching the two women from a distance, trying to decide which one was Lianne Ducharme. In frustration, he'd finally decided to take them both. They were both comely wenches, and he knew they would each bring a good price on the slave market.

  Eager to be gone before they could be found out, Shark grabbed Becky and quickly bound and gagged her.

  Lianne remembered when she had last been bound and gagged and knew a moment of panic.

  "If you're from Spectre, there's no need for this!" she told him earnestly. "You don't have to tie us up! I'll go with you willingly."

  At her mention of Spectre, Shark reacted violently, shoving Becky brutally aside and spinning Lianne around to face him.

  "You know Spectre?" he demanded, his hands biting into her upper arms where he held her.

  "Yes, and I'll go with you without a fight. You don't have to — "

  "What do you know about Spectre?" Shark asked, his black obsidian eyes boring into hers.

  "You aren't from Spectre, are you?" Lianne gasped and went pale at the realization.

  Becky lay on the ground, her eyes wide and questioning as she listened to what was being said. How did Lianne know about Spectre when Adam had never told her the truth about their situation? What had Adam done? And who was this thug that he should know about Spectre and be so interested in him? She didn't have long to wait to find out.

  "Get that one, Drago, while I take care of her," Shark directed.

  "Aye, Captain Shark," he answered.

  Becky felt a chill of doom descend upon her. She knew about Shark — the man was a killer. She also knew it was hopeless to try to escape; she didn't doubt for a moment that they would kill them right there if they tried.

  As Shark reached out to begin tying Lianne's hands, she finally reacted. Throwing herself sideways, she tried to elude him in hopes that she could get to her knife and fight back. She managed to evade him for an instant, but Shark was not about to let her get away. Lianne got out only one short scream for help before he was on her, one hamlike hand closing over her mouth with suffocating effectiveness. In minutes, she was bound and gagged like Becky.

  "Let's get out of here. Stay down low. I don't want to be seen. With any luck, these two won't even be missed for several hours."

  Sick at heart, Lianne listened dazedly and knew that he was right. Since Alex was busy playing, no one would come looking for them until it was time for the midday meal. She groaned in misery as Shark heaved her over his shoulder and moved off through the brushes with Drago carrying Becky following behind.

  "Morley! Look! Here he comes now!" O'Malley jabbed him in the ribs and pointed toward the lone rider heading their way.

  "Think that's him?"

  "Who else would it be? You ready?" he asked, lifting his own rifle and talking careful aim.

  "Yeah, I'm ready. Let's get this over with," Morley growled, sighting down his own weapon.

  O'Malley fired first and they were both jubilant to see the rider fall from his horse and lay still.

  "Come on," Morley urged, afraid the shot might have alerted someone to their presence. "Let's get outta here!"

  "You know we can't leave until we're sure he's dead," he told him. "We gotta be sure. If we want to get paid, there's no room for mistakes on this one."

  Grumbling in annoyance and nervousness, he followed O'Malley to where the rider lay motionlessly on the ground. His shirt was bloodstained, and they could see that it was just a flesh wound and that the bullet had passed completely through.

  "He ain't dead," O'Malley said in disgust. "You want to finish him off or shall I?"

  "I'll do it," Morley said eagerly as he aimed his rifle at Adam's head. "This is from Cyrus Shackelford." He repeated what Shark had told him to say as he prepared to pull the trigger. He was not ready for what happened next as Adam quickly scissored his legs, tripping him. The rifle flew from his grasp as he fell heavily.

  O'Malley was momentarily stunned by what had happened. Adam took advantage of his element of surprise, launching himself at him and knocking the rifle from his grasp. Operating strictly on bloodlust, Adam threw him down and then grabbed up the fallen weapon. Without thought, he turned and fired, laying low both of his would-be assassins.

  In shock, Adam stood staring down at the scene before him, the attacker's words still echoing vengefully inside his mind. This is from Cyrus Shackelford. . . .

  As rationality returned, Adam wondered if either of them were still alive, and he went to check. To his dismay, Adam found that his marksmanship had been all too good.

  A searing, burning anger filled him then as he thought of Shackelford. He had always known that the banker hated him, but he'd had no idea that his hatred ran this deep. Snatching up a rifle, Adam vaulted onto his horse's back, paying no attention to the hot stickiness of his own blood on his chest. He put his heels to his mount's flanks and raced across the countryside heading straight for New Orleans and a showdown with the cowardly Cyrus.

  It was the noon hour, and the bank was empty except for Abner, the clerk, and Cyrus. Cyrus was trying to immerse himself in his work, but his anticipation was so great that he was again having trouble concentrating. All he could think of was Lianne and the night he would have her in his power. The thought filled him with overwhelming desire. In irritation, the banker stood up from his desk and strode to the window to stare out, hoping to distract himself from his heated imaginings. Soon, he told himself, soon it would be a reality. Lianne would be his.

  Cyrus was even considering the prospect of buying her from Shark himself, if the night was enjoyable enough. He knew there were ways to handle such delicate situations, and if Lianne pleased him as much he thought she was going to, he would make her his permanently.

  In his mind, Cyrus pictured a windowless room in the cellar of his house where he would keep her locked up in perfect seclusion until he tired of her. The idea had merit, he decided with a wicked, lustful smile.

  The door to his office crashed open at that moment, and Cyrus looked up to find himself staring down the barrel of a rifle.

  "How does it feel to be on the receiving end, Shackelford?" Adam demanded.

  Cyrus went deathly white as he saw the blood and realized that Shark had failed. "What do you want? What are you doing here?!" he demanded trying to retain some dignity and bluff his way out of the situation. "Abner! Get the law!"

  "I've already sent him for them, Cyrus. I want them to hear your confession."

  "Confession?" He gave a short laugh as his eyes shifted nervously to his desk. If only he could find a way to get the gun he had hidden there and kill Trent before the law arrived! Then he could claim that Trent barged into his office with a gun, ready to shoot, and he'd killed him in self-defense. "I really have no idea what you're talking
about." Cyrus was cool as he turned slowly and moved back toward his chair.

  "I'll tell you what I'm talking about." Adam was seething as he spoke. "I'm talking about 'This is from Cyrus Shackelford.' That's what I'm talking about! Lucky for me the men you hired were terrible shots or you'd have gotten away with it."

  Cyrus realized then how stupidly arrogant he'd been in telling Shark to let Adam know that he was the one who wanted him dead. He silently cursed himself as he edged closer to his concealed gun.

  "I didn't hire any gunmen to kill you, Trent. Why would I? The whole idea is absurd," he said smoothly, dismissingly.

  Adam was not taken in by his outward display of calmness. He had seen his expression when he'd first burst through the door, and he knew the truth.

  "I don't know, Shackelford. You tell me," Adam taunted. "Tell me why it was so important for me to end up dead? Do you want Lianne that badly that you'd kill me to get her? I've got news for you. She wouldn't want you if you were the last man on earth. You had your chance with her, and she turned you down flat . . . or don't you remember?" He said the last with a sneer, wanting to push him to the brink and reveal him for the snake he really was.

  Adam's words had just the effect he'd wanted. Cyrus was livid. He wanted Trent dead! Dead! Time was running out! Cyrus dove for the desk, grabbed the gun from the secret compartment where he kept it hidden, and fired.

  Adam knew Cyrus for the swine he was, and he fired as soon as the other man made his move. Cyrus's shot went wide as Adam's bullet caught the banker full in the chest and sent him sprawling to the floor.

  Adam heard Abner's and the constable's shouts behind him, but he paid no attention as he threw his rifle down and ran to Cyrus's side. Blood trickled from the corner of Cyrus's mouth as he smiled grimly up at his most hated enemy.