First Time with a Highlander by Gwyn Cready

Author:Gwyn Cready
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc
Published: 2015-07-26T16:00:00+00:00

Twenty-seven

Technically, he was free and back on La Trahison, but realistically, it felt almost no different to be held at pistol-point on one’s own ship than it did to be held at pistol-point in the enemy’s. Gerard’s sailors were locked in the hold below while the men from Edward’s ship gathered whatever it was they were looking for and completed the arduous process of raising it by winch over the side, lowering it onto boats, and transporting it to the other ship.

They seemed to be keeping their word about leaving the sailors of La Trahison unharmed, though until the other ship was gone, Gerard wouldn’t breathe easy. The look of disappointment on Duchamps’s face was not one he’d soon forget, and he hadn’t seen Serafina since he’d returned.

It was hard to believe his biggest problem a day ago had been deciding whether to go for the sixteen- or twenty-five-year-old Macallan at the hotel.

The door opened. It was Thistlebrook.

Gerard gave him a weak smile. “We meet again.”

“We do. Might I impose upon you to take a short stroll around the quarterdeck? There are a few matters I need to take care of in here.”

Gerard shrugged. “The cabin is yours, after all.”

“My thoughts exactly.”

“Will the armed men come with me or stay with you?”

“I say we split the difference, aye? Hartnell,” he called, “stay with our guest. Tolan can stay outside.”

Gerard rose and made his way into the sea air. His eyes went automatically to the crow’s nest, which held one of the other ship’s sailors, then to the crates being lifted over the side. He tried to read the names scrawled on the sides, but Hartnell stepped into his line of vision.

“The better view is to the south.”

Gerard turned with a growl. Thistlebrook and the men from the other ship were stealing the cargo, that much was clear, probably so that Edward, the ship’s owner, could collect insurance on what had been stolen, and Edward and Thistlebrook could share in the proceeds from the sale of the stolen merchandise. The insurance would be used to cover the investors’ losses, and Edward and Thistlebrook would be rich. A good plan if you weren’t too fastidious about thievery.

Edward and Thistlebrook were in league in the heist, of course. But according to the conversation Serafina had overheard in the carpenter’s walkway, Thistlebrook begged his confidante, whoever the confidante was, to keep something secret. Was the person who was not to be told Edward, Duchamps, or someone else? If it was Edward, Thistlebrook was not as trustworthy a partner as Edward may think.

The last of the cargo was being loaded into the boats. Gerard was desperate to see Serafina.

Edward’s voice rose above the hum of activity. He and Thistlebrook were arguing. Edward grabbed Thistlebrook’s shirt. Gerard took a step toward them and changed his mind.

Hartnell said, “Wise choice.” He chuckled. “The ship is well named.”

“How’s that?”

“La Trahison means ‘the betrayal,’ and we’re the ones who have the gold now.”

The next thing Gerard knew, Edward, swearing and kicking, was being lashed to the rigging.

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