A Pirate's Heart (St. John Series) (20 page)

Max just stared at her, not quite believing what she told him. This was his black-haired angel? The one he had dreams about? Surely not? His angel was a young woman. She would have been a child. He didn’t remember someone of that age being there. He remembered the battle, he remembered how he got into the water—hell, he even remembered Alex collecting him, but he didn’t remember her as a child. All he remembered at that home was an older woman and his angel . . . but not a child.

For some reason, he decided to tell what happened. He felt compelled to let her know. “It was a battle you witnessed that night five years ago. Most of the crew were asleep when we were attacked. It was true that pirates had raided the villages up and down the coast of Cuba, but we did not partake in those raids. We were there in search of stolen cargo. However, the navy didn’t care. They just knew we were pirates and attacked. Most of the battle is a blur to me, but somehow I ended up on board their ship and came face to face with the
wonderful
Commodore McClain. He managed to capture me after a battle.” A dark look came over Max. “That bastard couldn’t fight fair. He and three others cornered me, and one tossed a net over me. I became entangled in the net and McClain took a swing at me with his sword. I attempted to move but couldn’t because of the net. I did manage to turn my back to him before his sword came down, leaving a nasty gash. We had started to draw an audience, so in order to not appear less than his newly appointed title of commodore, he ordered me keelhauled. Lucky for me, McClain’s crew didn’t take good care of their riggings. When they tossed me over the front of the ship, the rope snapped. After that I don’t remember much else. I must have hit my head on the ship’s belly.”

Kristina looked at Max. “So, all the praises people sing about the commodore are untrue?”

Max looked into her eyes. “Yes. He is an evil, cruel bastard. He tried to kill me, he tried to kill Alex, he killed Samuel’s mother, and after the description you gave me of your parents’ murderer, I think it was him as well.”

Kristina took a sharp breath. A stricken look crossed her face and she whispered, “You think he murdered my parents?”

Max nodded his head. “From the way you described him, yes. So promise me that if you ever encounter that man you will run the other way, no matter what.” She stared at him in disbelief. He gently took her by her upper arms. “I know what you’re thinking and revenge against McClain is not an option for you. He is too powerful and dangerous for you to handle.” He placed his hand on the side of her face, the concern for her safety evident in his dark eyes. “So run away and find me or Alex. Promise me, Kristina,” the urgency in his voice was undeniable. “Promise.”

“I promise,” she replied.

Chapter Nineteen

Kristina awoke the next morning with Max’s strong arms wrapped around her dainty frame. A contented sigh escaped her. Last night Max had surprised her with a candlelight dinner in the gazebo by the ocean. Afterward, he took her on a moonlight walk along the beach. When they returned, he very intently explored her body, showing her pleasure that she did not dream was possible to experience. She drifted off to sleep in his arms. She always so slept well in his arms. Being in his protective embrace erased the nightmares that had plagued her since her parents’ murder. She stretched slowly and felt his grip tighten around her. Placing her hand on his arm a feeling of contentment consumed her.

She could hear his breathing begin to change as he awoke from his slumber. He placed his face next to her ear and whispered, “Good morning.”

“
Buenos dias
,” she replied.

“I’m assuming that is good morning in Spanish?”

“Si.”

“How many times must I tell you I don’t know how to speak Spanish?”

“As many as you wish. You will eventually speak my language,” she replied as she rolled onto her back.

“No.”

“Si.”

Propping up on his elbow, he looked down at her. “No.”

She took her hand and captured a lock of his hair resting on his forehead. She ran her fingers through his hair attempting to place the disobedient lock with the others. “You see, you already know how to say ‘no’ in Spanish,” she replied with an impish grin.

“I believe I was speaking English.”

“And Spanish.”

“Well, I have no intention of learning to speak Spanish or plan on addressing anything in such a manner.”

“If you say so.”

He leaned over and gave her a gentle kiss upon her full red lips. “We better get downstairs before breakfast is gone.”

She watched him as he exited the bed. He was a marvelous specimen. She observed his naked form cross the room with panther-like grace as he walked to the wardrobe to pull out some clothing.

She gave another slow cat-like stretch, yawned and sat up. She watched as he pulled his black trousers onto his naked body and walk over to the washbasin. He splashed the cool water on his face and picked up the small towel beside the bowl. He dried his face and rubbed the stubble on his cheeks.

“I hope you’re planning on shaving that off?” she questioned him.

“Hadn’t thought about it. Why?”

She lay back down on her side and faced him. “It scratches.”

He looked at her thoughtfully for a moment and nodded his head. She watched as he walked into the bathing chambers. She rested in the bed for several more minutes, enjoying the feel of just being lazy for a change. She gave another languid stretch and using his absence to her advantage, stood and walked slowly over to the wardrobe, pulling the sheet off the bed with her to cover her naked form. As she looked into the large wardrobe, she saw it was stocked full of clothing. It all appeared to belong to Max. She opened the other side and found several dresses for different occasions. Anger began to build. Did he frequently bring women to his room, so much so that they needed changes of clothing? She snatched one of the dresses and donned it.

When Max exited the bathing chamber, he was met with a shoe to his face. “What the hell?” he yelled.

He turned to find Kristina in front of the wardrobe. She had another shoe in her hand and threw the projectile at him. He sidestepped the missile. “Why, you no-good randy bastard!”

Max crossed the room to her in several long strides. He grabbed her wrist before she could throw another object at him. “What is wrong with you, woman?”

She pointed into the wardrobe. “Am I to assume you had these conveniently brought up here for me?” His silence to her question only infuriated her more. “That’s what I thought! They’re from your other dalliances, aren’t they?!”

Max’s anger began to rise. “What I did before you is none of your concern,” he said slowly. “So, calm yourself, wife.”

“No,” she hissed.

“What happened to the good mood you were in?”

“It disappeared when I had to put on a dress from one of your lovers.”

“For your information, I keep my dalliances away from here.”

“Then where did they come from?” she asked heatedly.

“I’m assuming Mrs. Potts. She keeps me supplied with clothing for whenever we are in port. I’m guessing she placed clothing in there for you yesterday while we were at dinner.”

“But how would she know my size?” Kristina asked, still doubting Max’s explanation.

“I told you, she’s very resourceful. From what I could gather about her, she used to be a lady’s maid in England. She grew tired of her employer’s multiple personalities, quit and became a dressmaker. So if I had to guess, she became quite adept at telling women’s sizes just by looking at them.”

“But that still doesn’t explain how she acquired them so quickly.”

“She lives on this island. She knows everyone and everything about it, even where to get clothing quickly.”

“Oh,” she replied as she dropped the shoe she was holding.

“Oh? Is that all you have to say?”

“
Si
.”

“No. I think you owe me an apology.”

“Why?”

“For accusing me of giving you another woman’s clothing.”

“Oh. Well, I’m sorry then,” she replied. She would not give in to another fight. She still planned on proving to him that not all women were like his mother, which meant she could not give in to her temper. Inwardly groaning, she realizing she had just now done that. Damn her temper!

The couple walked to the dining area and found it empty. The others had already eaten and left for the day. The pair ate in silence. Once finished Max excused himself and left the house.

Kristina picked up their plates and carried them into the attached preparation room. She peered out the window and watched as Max saddled the horses they had ridden yesterday.

“He’s a hard man to understand,” Mrs. Potts spoke as she walked into the room.

Kristina spun quickly towards the aging housekeeper. “Pardon?” Kristina asked nervously. Her heart pounded like she had just been caught doing something she shouldn’t have been.

“Max. He’s a hard man to understand. Be patient with him. He’s had a rough life. I can see the fire in your soul through your eyes. Max needs fire, but he needs patience as well. He needs to have someone who will not back down from his temper, but will not constantly fight either. He has had enough of that in his childhood. What he needs is someone who can tamp down the flames of his temper with patience and kindness . . . and a little bit of sass.”

“I understand,” Kristina replied. She watched as a beaming smile crossed Mrs. Potts’s face.

“I’m glad the dress fits. I wasn’t sure if it would be the correct size. I didn’t care for the color options available at market, but beggars can’t be choosers, now can they?”

“So you were the one who put the dresses in the wardrobe?” Kristina asked as she glanced down at the vibrant orchid-colored dress, relief filling her. At Mrs. Potts’s nod, Kristina asked. “There is a market nearby?”

“Why, yes. I don’t like to go to the main port. Too many pirates to suit me,” she said with a twinkle to her eyes. “There is a small market just south of here. They don’t have quite the number of shops or merchandise as the main town but enough for what I need.”

Kristina watched as the plump housekeeper disappeared back into the main house. She turned and watched Max. He was leading the horses towards the front of the home. She exited the back of the house and approached him.

“Where are you going?” she asked as she followed him.

“I’m going to take the horses back to the main city. Why?”

“Well, Mrs. Potts told me there was a market close by. I would like to go. I never got to go to the market when I was a child. My family was very poor so the only things that we ever bought were just the necessities and my father bought those. He would bring them home whenever he went out fishing, so I never got to go.” She lowered her lashes and looked at him. “I was wondering if you would take me to the market so I could look around.”

“You want me to take you shopping?” Max asked, disgruntled.

“Yes and no. I want you to take me to the market so I can look. I have no money to buy anything with, not that there is anything I actually need . . . although I do like bath oils, but you gave me plenty of those. But I would like to look.”

Max looked at his wife. “Fine, you can ride with me to Nassau and the—”

“I don’t want to go to Nassau. I want to go to the market just south of here. The one Mrs. Potts told me about.”

“I need to return these horses and—”

“Return them tomorrow,” Kristina interrupted in a whine.

“Woman, money doesn’t grow on trees.”

“Fine! If you won’t take me, I will walk there.” She turned and looked skyward to determine which way to go. She looked heatedly at her husband, turned and walked towards the gate.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Max yelled at her.

“The market,” she tossed over her shoulder as she walked away.

“You’re not going alone!”

“Like hell I’m not. If you won’t take me, how else do you expect me to get there? Besides, Mrs. Potts goes alone, so what difference does it make?”

“She’s not my wife!”

“So? I may be your wife, but you do not own me. And, as I recall, you went to the solicitor’s office just after the encounter with that wretched woman yesterday to get the paperwork started to divorce me. So feel free to take those blasted horses back, but do not expect me to be sitting here twiddling my thumbs, waiting for your return like an obedient dog. I have a mind of my own, and my mind tells me to go to the market.”

She didn’t wait for Max’s reply. She marched to the gate and turned right heading towards the market Mrs. Potts had informed her about.

Max sighed in frustration. She was the most stubborn, hard-headed person he had ever dealt with. Why could she not be rational like everyone else? Why must she insist on defying him at every opportunity? He watched her head down the road. He mumbled curse, mounted his horse and headed her direction. He rode past her and stopped his horse in front of her. She gave him an evil look and tried to walk around the horse only for him to block her path again.

“Get out of my way, Max.”

“No.”

“I am not going back to the house.”

Before she knew what was happening, she felt his strong arm wrap around her waist as he lifted her onto his horse. She began to struggle against him. She opened her mouth to protest, but Max interrupted her, “Stop. I will take you to that bloody market.”

“Really?” she hopefully asked.

“Yes. If it means that much to you, I’ll take you. I’ll take the horses back tomorrow.”

She looked sweetly at him. “Thank you,” she said and gave him a small kiss on the cheek.

He smiled, causing the large dimple on his left cheek to appear. A strange sensation stirred in the center of his chest at her happy expression. He shook the feeling off and spurred the horse in the direction of the market.

They rode for twenty minutes before reaching the small market. It was not nearly as large as the one at Nassau, but it was bigger than what Kristina had imagined—not that she had any to compare it to. She was like a child in a toy store. She would drag Max from one vendor to the next, looking at the merchandise each one had for sale. Max smiled at her childlike enthusiasm. She would pick up beads and watch their color dance in the sunlight. She would run her fingers over the material displayed for dresses. Not once did she ask him to buy her anything, she was content to just look. The last place she dragged him to had farm animals for sale. He laughed at her reaction towards the animals.

“Haven’t you ever been around pigs?” he asked as she wrinkled her nose at the smell.

She pinched her nostrils closed. “No. I grew up around fish and chickens,” she informed him in a nasally voice. She ran past the pigs and squealed with delight, “Oh look! Kittens!” she said with excitement. She picked up one of the long-haired brown and white kittens and nuzzled it against her face. Carrying the kitten over to Max she turned its face towards him. “Isn’t it cute?”

“Adorable,” he dryly replied.

“Don’t let this big bad man frighten you, little one,” Kristina cooed to the kitten as she nuzzled it to her face again. “I had a cat similar to this when I was little. She was a good cat, but a horrible mouser. My father threatened to get rid of her because she wouldn’t catch any mice.” An impish expression crossed her face. “He took her into the jungle every morning, and she would mysteriously return every afternoon. I don’t know how she managed to do that, especially since she only had three legs and was blind in one eye.”

Max gave a small chuckle. “Sounds like a pet for Smitty,” he said, referring to their one-eyed shipmate.

Kristina gave the kitten one last cuddle and placed it back with its littermates. She stroked the mother cat on the head several times and walked to Max. He took her hand and they walked to a small tree.