The Pirate Captain - By Kerry Lynne Page 0,271

made.

Alike in so many ways, the two men were diametric opposites in so many others. Sitting between them, Cate became aware of being bracketed by muscle and bone, the round of a shoulder against the linen of a shirt, the pull of thigh muscles under the taut fabric of breeches, each exuding his unique aura of maleness. More often, she was lost in watching their fingers—Nathan’s long and aristocratic, Thomas’s broad and blunt—hover over the board in thought, and then pluck the chosen ivory piece.

A few times she glanced up to find Nathan watching her watching Thomas, dropping his attention to the board when caught. In those brief moments, she caught a glimpse of something akin to jealousy…again. It had cropped up several times since Thomas’ arrival, and Harte, too, come to think on it. It was a puzzle. On the one hand, Nathan wanted no other man near her, and yet on the other, he held no interest. She was caught between saying, “Make up your mind” and “You’ve nothing to worry about; I’ve cast my lot.” Surely she was reading more into it than was meant. By his own admission, Nathan was new to this concept of friendship, especially where a woman was concerned. Finding the balance between friendship and possession clearly was a struggle. This was going to require patience on both parts.

Cate looked periodically to check on Prudence. A girl in a saffron dress wasn't difficult to find among a crowd of sun-drabbed, weatherworn sailors. She now sat atop a keg, a piece of canvas chivalrously draped over it. According to Thomas, the young lad Nathan had hired was named Biggins. He was the ship’s baby. Thomas represented he had only taken on the lad because he had cried so hard when he had been denied.

“Half-monkey in the tops, though,” said Thomas in wonderment as he waited for Nathan to make his move. “The boy’s fearless on that account. A week of bein’ cabin boy taught him nothing could be worse.”

To their chagrin, Prudence and Biggins had been joined by Grisellers and Morgansers, and no wonder. Young or old, fishwife or princess, women were a welcomed relief, and the pirates circled around for the sheer joy of a feminine face.

Crude laughter had drawn Cate’s attention a few times. She looked again to see Prudence, ashen-faced and scandalized, Biggins next to her, stiff with indignation. Cate chuckled silently. In the face of such propriety and innocence, the men couldn’t resist the temptation of being as raucous as possible. They had tried her on at the beginning, but life, a war, and five brothers had already seasoned her; few things shocked her now.

Cate straightened at seeing Prudence lurch to her feet and race away, and was instantly on her own feet to give chase. Nathan called out from behind her, and then darted to catch her up. Their paths down the shore in Prudence’s wake converged with Squidge, also in pursuit.

“What happened, man?” Nathan demanded.

Deep in his cups, the garland of dried ears swung at Squidge’s neck as he splayed his hands in innocence. “Honest, Cap’n, we was just tellin’ her of her intended. I guess it just went a bit too far.”

“A bit,” Cate shot back acidly.

Swearing, Cate took off in the direction in which she had last seen the saffron dress. She scanned the beach and nearby bushes as she jogged along, confident Prudence wouldn’t have gone far. The dark wilderness would be too scary. Once away from the fires, and her eyes had grown accustomed to the night, she saw the glimmer of yellow just ahead, only a few paces into the trees. As Nathan came up beside her, the sound of muffled crying could be heard over the rattle of palm fronds and rustle of the water lapping shore. Nathan stiffened and put out a protective hand. Cate silently bid him to wait, and went closer, making a good bit of noise, lest she startle the child and upset her further.

“Prudence? Are you all right?”

“Go away!”

“We just came to—”

“Go away, all of you!” she shrieked louder, her fists balled at her sides. “I hate all of you! Leave me!”

Cate hesitated then pressed closer. “I just wanted to—”

Cate inched close enough to touch Prudence on the arm. The girl whirled around, her face contorted with rage. “I hate you. I hate you! I hate you! I hate you!”

Prudence flew at Cate like an enraged cat and pummeled her with her fists. Nathan lunged forward, but