Treasure raised by wolves Volume three by Hoffman W. A

Author:Hoffman, W. A. [Hoffman, W. A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

fit to maintainthe fineryto whichhe was accustomed. I stillcould not believe the roughand crude life ofa buccaneer appealed to himas he now claimed, whenI had seenthe care withwhichhe had once selected his clothingand jewels. He had killed for money:killed menwe had beenacquainted withand who had no reasonto fear us. And Gaston’s deathwas inhis best interest, as he stillsought to winme back.

I would have dismissed that last conceit ifhe were not stillgazing uponme this night muchas he had three months ago, whenwe returned fromPorto Bello. He felt he loved me yet:the damn fool. I had hoped it would pass these last months, once he was clear ofthe damnablyboringand frustratingexistence he had led inPanama, and thus no longer inneed offoolishromantic notions concerninga former lover. Now I saw clearlythat, evenifhe knew nothingofa bountyonGaston’s head, mymatelot was still indanger.

I considered shootingAlonso thenand there; but the others spoke fondlyofhimnow. And I knew it would not sit wellwith themwithout reason, and myspeculations would not yet be enough. I would need to watchhimcloselyand seek my opportunity.

Their smugglingventure had apparentlybeenquite lucrative, yieldinga great dealofgood Cubantobbaco, wool, and wheat in exchange for paper, shot, hardwood, and iron. Theyhad been greeted warmlybyalltheyencountered alongthe coasts ofCuba and Hispaniola, save a few localmilitias; and theyhad even managed to allyanyconcerns ontwo ofthose occasions witha little gold and rum. As for the rest, theyhad retreated rather than fight – eventhoughtheylost some cargo onone suchadventure.

Alonso had beena fine asset, beingthe one able to slip into the towns to locate merchants willingto trade. He had oftenbeen accompanied byJulio posingas a slave, or Cudro posingas a Dutchmerchant. This had led to severaladventures ofa different Dutchmerchant. This had led to severaladventures ofa different sort, whichhe and the others related withgreat relish. Apparently, smallSpanishtowns were just rife withwayward maidens and lads ripe for the plucking, alongwiththe occasional lonelywidow or soldier. That part ofhis new life I could see Alonso takingto quite well. He had never beenas discerning about his lovers as he was his attire.

And there was a time whenI had beenmuchlike him; but that life now seemed a dream, or rather a nightmare I was relieved I could not remember inits entirety.

Other thana good-natured pullor two, Gastonand I eschewed the rumand wine flowingabout the tables, and listened with feigned good cheer – at least onmypart. But, as mymatelot’s grip uponmyhand was fierce, I thought his ease withthe situationalso false.

Agnes happilysketched the menwhile Rucker plied themwith questions. Christine sat inthe shadows somewhat apart fromthe rest and listened to their tales withbarely-concealed longing, in mockeryofher dismissingher need for adventure as a girlish fancy.

Gastonat last decided he should look inonSarah, as Striker and 336 W.A. Hoffman

Raised ByWolves - Treasure

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Pete had not yet returned. He kissed me and left, and I watched himwalk to the stairs witha suddenlylonelyheart. I was not long alone, though; Liamappeared at myside and motioned that we should retreat further fromthe others.

“Youhave seemed stillinthe grips ofmourningthis eve,”I said carefullywhenwe were alone enoughto be able to speak without fear ofbeingoverheard.

He nodded slowly. “Aye, it’s beenright hard. It not be the same He nodded slowly.

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