Angel in Black (34 page)

“Yes, and our little shipmate is way out of bounds. Best watch your step, Willy.” Katrina’s words dripped with sarcasm.

“I’m not afraid of Captain Walker, bitch.”

Katrina smiled, unconcerned, unafraid. “I see.”

Chin Li gasped at Katrina’s nerve, and Willy turned red with anger. He grabbed Katrina and started to pull her to him, but she reacted in an instant with a knee to his groin. When Willy slumped over, she easily plucked his knife from its sheath. Before he could move, Katrina put it to his throat, the sharp edge biting into flesh, drops of blood rolled down his neck. His eyes widened; the pain between his legs forgotten.

“It is not Walker you need worry about, Willy, but me. Touch me again, and you will most certainly die.”

Willy’s lecherous grin returned, his voice reflected no concern. “It may be worth the risk, luv. If you fight near as well in bed as you do out, it would merit the price. I ne’er met such a gutsy wench an’ I’d take on the devil himself to have you. Mark me words, I’ll enjoy the sweets between your legs yet, witch.”

Katrina started to reply to his threat but the appearance of Captain Walker silenced her. In seconds, he stood beside her, his expression angry and grim. “What the hell is going on here?”

She stepped back and freed Willy from his precarious position. Katrina faced the captain’s anger without hesitation. She shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly and said sweetly and innocently, “We are just taking our morning walk, captain.”

Grant’s jaw twitched and he ground his teeth in vexation. Never had a woman tried his patience as much as this woman did. He turned to Willy, grabbed his shirt and pushed him away in disgust. “Get out of my sight, you son-of-a-bitch! If you so much as look at this woman again, I will have you flogged until there is no hide left on your back.”

His gaze flew back to Katrina, the urge to drag her to his cabin and ravish her himself strong. He reigned in his desire and held out his hand, his voice harsh, “Give me the knife.”

Katrina bit her lip and considered his demand. “You will take my only means of protection?”

“Your tongue is sharp enough, woman, you need no knife.” He wrenched the blade from Katrina’s small hand and seized her wrist in a painful grip to pull her after him. Cruelly, he shoved her down into the hold.

An involuntary moan escaped Katrina when she tumbled to the floor in a crumpled heap. In a single leap down the ladder, Walker knelt beside her, immediately sorry for his anger.

“Are you hurt?” His voice changed in an instant, now filled with concern and regret, but Katrina’s own anger surfaced and she took no notice.

“Yes,” she snapped, “thanks to you.”

Walker reached out to help her up, but Katrina slapped his hands away. “Do not touch me,” she hissed, “just leave me alone.”

His concern disappeared and he stood to leave, his face a mask of anger and confusion. When he reached the ladder, he spoke to Li. “Take care of her; she is a valuable piece of merchandise.”

At his comment, Katrina’s control fled, and she leaped to her feet. A pain shot through her foot, but she hardly noticed as unbearable rage ripped through her mind.

“Merchandise? You are a fool, Walker — I belong to no one but myself. At the moment I have chosen to bide my time, but be warned — I have no intention of becoming someone’s property. No one, not you — not anyone will own me.”

Grant looked at Katrina, standing with her hands on her hips, her feet firmly planted. He suddenly knew this woman would never be a man’s slave. No, men would be her slaves instead. He said nothing for a long moment, giving this thought a chance to sink past the red haze of anger still clinging to him. Yes, he knew, but it would not do to let her know she had won. “You have no choice, Katrina.”

Katrina’s answer was spoken softly, with no doubt as to her meaning, “I always have a choice, captain.”

“Will you always fight and chance death, rather than live a life you do not choose?”

“Yes,” she replied without hesitation.

“Why?” he asked, bewildered. “Most women’s lives are not to their choosing. Fathers use their daughters as pawns to gain wealth and position. Daughters have no choice in deciding their fate, and wives are governed by their husband. Women must submit; they have no rights protecting them. Both, a father or a husband, can treat you as he wishes and the laws are on his side. It’s no different from being sold as a slave. Chin Li knows of what I speak and accepts her fate. Why can’t you?”

“Because I know what it is to be free, I’ve known independence. My parents were taken from me as a child, and from that point I have made my own decisions and governed my own life. Li was raised as most women, in a shroud of ignorance, given no freedom to learn who they truly are. She knows no other way, but I cannot accept any other way than of my own choosing.”

Katrina paused and turned to look directly into his light blue eyes. “I’ll fight you, Walker. I’ll fight you every step of the way. Death strikes no fear in me, so I’ll stop at nothing to be free of you. I will not be sold.”

Grant stared at her, unable to say anything. He felt anger, passion, and admiration before he turned and climbed the ladder. Never before had he wanted a woman as much as he wanted Katrina, but he knew she would fight him, and the thought of rape left a foul taste in his mouth. He would never know her passion and he would never be able to bring himself to sell her either. What the hell was he to do? These thoughts weighed heavy on his mind as he made his way to his cabin.

K
ATRINA’S TWISTED ANKLE WAS
sore, but it didn’t take long for the pain to disappear completely. During the third week at sea she began experiencing periods of weakness and vomiting. Mornings were a miserable time for her, and soon the greasy stew refused to stay down at all. Katrina could not understand why she would be seasick after weeks at sea. For the next two and a half weeks, she ate only bread and water. Li gave her share of bread to Katrina but she continued to lose weight. She refused to let Li tell Walker of her illness, and let him think her anger kept her below, not wanting to risk an encounter.

The weather had been calm so far in their journey, but five weeks out the ship ran into a squall and lasted three long days. Katrina knew only misery. In her weakened state, with her stomach so uneasy, the storm kept her bedridden. She never knew it possible to throw up so much, and after being slammed against the hard crates they slept on, she felt as if she had been beaten. It was cold and wet in their hole, the small ship tossed about like a leaf in the wind, Li fearing they would be swallowed by the sea. Lightning streaked through the black night and thunder deafened them as they huddled together, shivering, nerves raw and hope gone.

Li clung to Katrina, trying to keep her from being tossed onto the floor. She prayed to every God she knew of, hoping one would be merciful and hear her. Katrina had a fever now, and Li feared for her friend as she watched her toss and turn fitfully on the straw mat. What little sleep Katrina got was filled with terrifying dreams, nightmares that left her trembling with fear. Awake, Katrina tried to be strong and unafraid, but as fevered sleep overtook her, all the horrifying memories she struggled to forget claimed her weakened mind.

In the middle of the third day, the storm ceased its violent attack and left the ship in one piece. A calming rain, warm and sweet, continued to fall, filling the barrels with fresh water. Katrina stirred when the ladder was lowered into their hole and Captain Walker climbed down. The two women huddled on their bed at the back of the hold, and he lifted a lantern to see into the darkness. When his gaze fell upon Katrina, all the color drained from his face.

He sloshed through the six inches of water leaked into the hold, despite the tarp covering the grating. The room smelled of sickness and both women were covered with grime. Panic seized Grant when he lifted Katrina into his arms as gently as he could. He noticed the grayish color of her skin and matted, dirty hair. Dark crescents marred her eyes, and when they fluttered opened, he saw no sparkle, only pain. Bruises covered her pale skin, and he tried not to hurt her as he carried her to the ladder.

Angry, he glared at Li and murmured, “Why have I not been told of this? How long has she been ill?”

Li’s own worried eyes met his, but it was Katrina who weakly answered, “No one has bothered with us for three days, so stop your barking.”

Grant ignored her remark and climbed the ladder. He carried her to his own cabin with Li following and laid her onto his bunk. He spoke to Li again. “She couldn’t have gotten this bad in three days.”

Li looked timidly at her feet, fidgeting with her hands, nervous and afraid.

“Well?” Grant asked, much more patiently than he felt, but he saw her fear.

“Leave her be, Walker. I’ve been feeling sick for three weeks now, seasickness, I guess. This storm made me worse.” Katrina struggled to sit, and started to get up.

“Stay there,” he ordered gruffly. “You look like you’re already dead and you smell worse.”

She felt sick enough to die, but Katrina’s temper flared none-the-less. “Well, if you would provide decent food, instead of the disgusting grease you call stew I wouldn’t have gotten so weak the storm bothered me. As far as my personal hygiene is concerned, you would smell, too, if you had been stuck in a hole for six weeks, in a brig unfit for a pig to live in.”

Weak but determined, Katrina stood on her trembling legs and hobbled toward the door. Grant blocked her way in an instant, his manner unyielding. “Li go to the cook and get some decent food. And order some water heated for a bath.”

After Li scurried out to do as he bid, Grant picked Katrina up and carried her back to the bed, this time dumping her carelessly on it. He instantly felt contrite when she grimaced and he saw her biting her lip to keep from moaning out loud.

“Take off your clothes,” he demanded.

Katrina looked shocked and only stared at him.

“As lovely as you are, Katrina, at this moment you evoke no desire in me. You cannot bathe with your clothes on; besides, they should be burned.”

“I have nothing else. Those two bastards left me only this chemise and slip,” Katrina blurted out in alarm.

“Well, they need to be washed. Here,” he said, tossing her a blanket, “wrap up in this.”

Dizzy and weak, Katrina submitted and peeled the filthy clothes off her. It didn’t matter Walker watched her every move. A bath — God, it had been so long.

In no time, a tub was set up and filled. A feast was brought in and they ate their fill, and for the first time in weeks, the meal stayed in Katrina’s stomach. Already, she felt better.

Li insisted on tending Katrina and washed her hair. The hot water soaked away the grime and filth and eased Katrina’s pain. Once Li tucked her comfortably into bed, Li took a turn and bathed herself. They slept a couple hours in the captain’s big bed, and ate again. Katrina felt better by the minute, her strength returning quickly. That night she slept sound, no dreams disturbed her.

She awoke with color in her cheeks and without being sick to her stomach, feeling only a gnawing hunger soon satisfied. Li and Katrina washed again, putting their clean clothes on, giggling and feeling like young girls as they delighted in the simple things.

Katrina was still a little weak but could not believe how fast she recovered from her seasickness. They spent the day eating and sleeping and took a walk before dusk, enjoying the fresh air and exercise. With another good night’s sleep, Katrina awoke with her old sparkle and spirit. Li worried over her like a mother, concerned with the warmness of her skin. Katrina shrugged it off, just as she dismissed the nausea she still experienced. It soon passed, and she nibbled a piece of bread as Li brushed her hair.

“Captain Walker has certainly been generous, allowing us to stay in his own cabin.” Li said; her voice soft and appreciative.

Katrina smiled. “He didn’t want his valuable merchandise dying on him. I suppose we cost him a lot of money, and we will make him a great deal in Mexico.”

“No,” Li disagreed quietly. “It was more than fear of losing money. He cares for you.”

This time Katrina laughed outright. “Don’t be silly, Li. There is no telling the number of women he has sold before us, why should it be different for us?”

“Not us … you,” said Li matter-of-factly.

Shaking her head, Katrina stood. “You’re imagining things.”

A sudden flurry of noise made Katrina cock her head and listen. The ship had come alive; men scurried across the decks and yelled out orders in excited voices. She tried the latch, and was not truly surprised to find the door locked. She listened, anxious to learn the reason for the commotion on deck. Within minutes, an explosion sounded and a cannonball slammed into the ship. Katrina ran to the small porthole and spotted another ship bearing down on theirs with speed, its cannons blasting. Wood splintered around them and Li screamed, running to Katrina’s side, fear etched on her face.

“It seems we are being attacked.” Katrina’s voice was calm, despite the sudden turmoil about them. “Don’t worry, Li, there is nothing we can do but wait.”

Katrina continued to talk to her, but it was difficult to ignore the ensuing battle, the screams of the men as they were struck down. They smelled smoke where the red-hot cannonballs struck the ship, burned and demolished in their wake. Within minutes, the other ship drew alongside, the scraping of the wooden timbers deafening. The sounds of men boarding was immediately followed by the clamor of hand-to-hand combat.

The door crashed open and Willy filled the doorway, a blood-stained sword in his hand. Li screamed and a chill swept through Katrina at the vision standing before them. Wild eyes glazed and unnatural stared at them, sweat dripping from his flushed face. His shirt was covered with blood, whether his own or another’s, she couldn’t tell. Katrina moved to stand in front of Li as he closed the space between them in three long-legged strides.

“What do you want, Willy?” Katrina asked. Wary, she watched him while she searched for something to use as a weapon.