lantern—and hurled it. Nathan dodged and took it on the shoulder, metal and glass crashing to the floor. A candlestick was next. She pitched it, catching him in the arm. While in search of her next weapon, Nathan grabbed her by the arm and jerked her around. She brought her knee up, aiming for his crotch. Easily deflecting the attempt, he gave her arm a vicious wrench, his fingers like spikes in her skin.
“Don’t you ever do that again.” He gave her arm sharp twist in emphasis.
“Or what?” Cate balled her fist and swung. Nathan ducked to take the blow in the ear. Swearing, he wrenched her arm harder, eliciting a pained cry.
“Take your hands off me, you sodding bastard!”
To her surprise, he did. He stood back, chest heaving. She backed away, rubbing her arm. Hot tears welled behind her eyes, but be damned if she would let him see her cry!
“You arrogant son of a bitch. That limp codpiece couldn’t sire anything. Even if there was a child, don’t flatter yourself: you’d be a sorry candidate. Getting too old to take your pleasures? Have to fancy me with someone to get them? I certainly found none.”
Nathan pointed a rigid arm at the door, eyes glittering with hatred. “Then away, with you. Take your bastard and be off, and be damned to you both.”
“Fine! I shan’t desire for you to ask twice.”
As Cate whirled around, she felt the weight of the knife Nathan had given her swinging against her leg. She drew it from her pocket and hurled it. Nathan dodged, allowing it to fall harmlessly to the floor. He then glared, uncertain if she had meant to draw blood.
“There! I shouldn’t desire to take anything which might lead you to think I meant to at your expense.” She spread her arms in exhibition. “Take a good look. Not one copper. I know these aren’t mine,” she said, plucking at her skirt. “But you’ll forgive me if I decline to go naked. Rest assured, they shall be returned. Good-bye!”
The crew, gathered at the door listening, scattered like flushed quail as she burst out.
“You have a share of Creswicke’s money coming,” Nathan called after her.
“Stuff it up your ass alongside your head!”
She met Pryce, who stood frozen in mid-step at the bottom of the quarterdeck steps.
“Get me as far away from this stinking hulk as possible,” she said loudly enough to be heard in the cabin.
Uncertain, the First Mate looked to his Captain, who now stood in the doorway, a dark, faceless blot against the cabin’s lights.
“Away with her and the Devil take her!” Nathan gave a dismissive bat of the hand and disappeared inside.
Towers and Smalley were beckoned by a jerk of Pryce’s head. “Take ’er as she desires.”
Pryce fixed his attention on the two scampering down the side and the boat being made ready. Cate stood quivering. As rage dissolved into shock, more rational thoughts pushed their way in. She could think of nothing more than to be as far from that bastard as possible, but to where? The island was directly before her. Now dotted with campfires, the beach was a silvery gleam between the dark of water and trees. Looking across the bay, the glow of the Griselle’s stern windows was ever so much more appealing.
The call of “Ready away,” from the water drew her back. When she moved toward the gate, her eyes finally caught Pryce’s.
“What did I do?” Cate asked, tears welling anew.
Pryce glanced cautiously over his shoulder to the empty cabin door. “By the devil’s tail, ’n damn my eyes if I know, sir.”
She nodded. His reluctance toward the suggestion of betrayal of his Captain’s confidence was understandable. As she turned to step over the gunwale, Pryce stopped her with a hand on her arm.
“I honestly don’t know, Cate,” he said in uncommon sincerity. “Ain’t never see’d ’im like this afore. More ’n likely, ’tis nothin’ of yer doin.’”
She put a hand over his and squeezed gently. “Thank you.”
And then, she left.
###
Sitting very still, Thomas slid a look toward the hourglass.
He hadn’t seen his sisters in years, but their crying bouts were indelibly etched in his mind. There had been four siblings and each had taken generous amounts of time for such sessions.
Hunched on the hassock watching Cate pace the cabin, Thomas heaved a silent sigh. This one bore the makings of dwarfing any of his sisters’ tantrums. She had already scored higher marks in volume and vehemence, and was on the verge of