Bold Surrender by Judith E. French

Author:Judith E. French
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: ePublishing Works!
Published: 2016-11-17T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

"What madness is this?" Kelt demanded. "Ashley?" He glanced down at her, reading the truth in her eyes. "Nay," he denied. "It canna be."

"Can't?" Captain Quincy McCade shrugged. "Find your tongue, girl, or I'll be forced to send your able protector to his final reward. It seems there'll be a few of my good men waiting in hell to give him a hearty reception." He indicated the scattered bodies with a disdainful sweep of his hand. "I find your silence unnatural, Ashley. You usually have no trouble finding words."

Kelt swore under his breath as Ashley stiffened and stepped free. "Ye be in league with this... this murdering pirate?"

She shrugged. "He's my father, that's true enough, but I take no responsibility for his devilment. Believe what you will." She glanced at her father. "This is my overseer. His name is Kelt Saxon and I'll thank you to stop pointing that pistol at him."

McCade laughed. "That's my girl. Drop the cutlass, Saxon. Gently. I won't ask you twice."

"Do it, Kelt," Ashley urged. "He'll kill you if you don't."

"And if I do?"

"Do you have an option?" McCade's finger tightened on the trigger of the flintlock.

With a curse, Kelt tossed down the cutlass.

"Now your pistols, Ashley," McCade insisted. She handed them over, butt first. "Good." He motioned to the muscular man in the red coat. "Gavin, see them safely aboard the Scarlet Witch. Put the gentleman in irons until he's had time to cool that Gaelic temper." Folding his arms across his chest, McCade turned fiercely on his crew. "Well, what are you waiting for? Will you stand here like dumb oxen while the sloop sinks under you? Transfer the valuables!"

Two burly seamen seized Kelt's arms and twisted them behind him. The dwarf shuffled forward to clamp handcuffs on the Scot's wrists. Kelt's gray eyes locked with Ashley's accusingly. His features were immobile. Shamed, she looked away, unable to watch as Kelt was shoved toward the gunnel.

"You, too, Mistress Morgan," Gavin ordered. "You heard him. Any trouble from you and I'll slap you in irons myself."

"Well, Gavin." Ashley smiled sweetly at the handsome blond giant. "I heard you were hanged in Lewes on the Delaware."

"And did you shed any tears for me?" he asked caustically.

"I did." Gavin laid a bloodstained hand on her arm and she flung it contemptuously aside. "I was desolate," she continued softly. "I feared Lucifer had come to collect your black soul and I'd not been there to see it."

* * *

Kelt shifted his weight, trying to relieve the cramping in his arms, and peered into the Stygian blackness of the hold. The acrid stench of sour bilgewater, sulphur, and tar was thick enough to choke a man. He wiggled his fingers, sending excruciating pain through his hands and elbows.

He had lost all track of them. The sounds that filtered down from the deck above were muffled in the slosh of water and the creaking of wood. Only the boatswain's shrill pipe and the heavy shifting of cargo were audible above the squeak and rustle of the rats and mice that shared his prison.

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