The Redemption by MaryLu Tyndall

Author:MaryLu Tyndall [MaryLu Tyndall]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical, Romance, Adventure
ISBN: 9781597893596
Amazon: 1597893595
Goodreads: 229067
Publisher: Barbour Books
Published: 2006-06-30T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 24: Reformed Pirate

“It’s getting late, don’t you think, Reverend?” Charlisse stood by the window of the cottage, peering out into the murky shadows. Grabbing a wayward curl, she twisted it around her finger. She had spent the past three hours sitting by the warm stove, drinking tea and listening to Reverend Buchan talk about his adventures in the American British Colonies.

His stories fascinated her, and the more he spoke, the more fond she grew of him. Inner joy radiated from his eyes and the comforting peace that flowed all around him put her immediately at ease. She felt as if she’d known him all her life.

“I wouldn’t be worrying, miss. Merrick can take care of himself.” Yet his tone belied the flicker of anxiety that passed over his face. He fidgeted in his seat and offered her more tea.

Charlisse wondered when the good reverend would begin his God-given duty of redeeming her degenerate soul. Surely Merrick had told him when they had been whispering in front of the cottage that she had lost her faith. By now, the reverend must have devised some tactic to persuade her of the error of her ways and compel her to repent of her sins and return to the church. But she was ready for him. She would inform him just what the church of England had done for her, or rather to her. And all under the godly authority of the Bishop, her loving uncle.

She declined the tea. “My concern is not for Captain Merrick, I assure you. My only desire is that he return to help me find my father.” Leaving the window, Charlisse sat next to the reverend. She would admit to needing the help of men for now, but she did not need the help of a God who had abandoned her long ago. “How did you come to know Merrick?”

He smiled. “Well, that’s a most interesting story.” He leaned back in his chair, folding his hands over his stomach. “I’d been settled here nigh about six months—sent by the Lord to start a church and spread the good news amidst this crowd of scandalous heathens before they took over the whole island.” He chuckled. “It was late one night, and I heard noises in the sanctuary. You see, I didn’t have this cottage back then. I lived in an upper room in the church itself. So, when I heard the sounds, I crept downstairs to see who it was. I was a bit frightened because, as I’m sure you noticed, the island’s inhabitants are not the most … respectable citizens.”

Charlisse smiled.

“As my eyes grew accustomed to the darkness, whom did I find curled up on one of the pews but Captain Edmund Merrick, drunk and bleeding from several sword wounds and a musket shot to his shoulder.”

Charlisse’s breath caught in her throat.

“Then I heard British troops marching in the street,” the reverend continued, “and as I looked down at the poor man, who was barely breathing, a pair of pleading eyes took hold of my conscience.

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