Carried Home (11 page)

 

Gage shook his head at the sight before him. Ivy's hair was a tangled mass of orange, pouring onto his lap like a stream of water. Her face was red from exertion, and sweat and rain dampened her dress. Still, she was probably one of the most beautiful things he had ever seen.

While his men rested for a short break, Gage had returned to the beach ready to talk to Ivy again. Of course, he had avoided her for the past few days out of embarrassment for their encounter, but he had to make things right between them. When he realized she was nowhere in sight, he had questioned all of his men. Jennings had seen her slip away into the jungle and thought she was going for a short stroll—obviously not the case. And when Gage heard the shrill scream of a woman and the wail of a child, he had suspected the worst. He muttered a prayer of thanks under his breath that both the woman and the child seemed unharmed. The rain slowed down to a trickle.

He reached into the mass of copper curls and began to untangle them, gently massaging her scalp as he did so. Ivy's eyes slid closed. “That feels good.”

Gage chuckled. “What were you doing, milady?” He shifted his weight. The muddy floor of an island jungle was not the most ideal place to have a conversation with a pretty young woman, but he did not want to head back to the
beach yet. The privacy out here was much welcome.

“I just…I just wanted to get away. From the men. From everyone. They were talking about…things…when they thought I wasn't listening, and I just wanted some peace and quiet. The jungle appeared inviting…” Ivy's breath seemed to be almost even now.

Gage ran a hand along the line of her jaw. Emma leaned against him, yawning sleepily. When he had heard their cries…oh, he did not want to think about it. “Why did you scream, Ivy? What happened?” She had been running at full speed when she had collided with him.

She stared up at him, her eyes the exact color of the stormy sky. “I…I don't know. I kept hearing things, and I thought there was some ravenous animal after me. The creature probably left, or it was just my imagination. I'm not sure what it was. It just frightened me and I wanted to stay safe. I could not let Emma get hurt.”

Gage brushed his thumb across her cheek. “You probably heard an innocent animal in the jungle. But you were smart to stay safe like you did. I'm just glad you're all right.”

Ivy sat up, but swayed. Her face had drained back from bright red to creamy white. She leaned back against his chest. Emma nodded off to sleep against his knee, and he grinned.

The rain started up again. Ivy sighed and snuggled her head against him.

“Please don't ever run off somewhere like that again without even telling me first.” He was so close to her, her ear tickled his lips as he spoke. Warmth radiated from her body. Rain trickled between them. His gaze traveled to her lips and stayed there. Some color stained her cheeks, and her lips, her pretty lips parted slightly.

Before he knew it, he had lowered his mouth to hers. She stopped moving for a few moments, but then she wound her arms around his neck and joined in the kiss wholeheartedly. Gage groaned in delight and ran his fingers through her curls. She made a sweet noise in the back of her throat.

Rainwater gushed down in a torrent, clearing his head from some of the heated thoughts churning through it. He tore away from the woman, but not before he noticed her swollen lips and flushed cheeks. Egad, but she was beautiful. He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment to gain his composure.

If they intended to make it back to camp any time in the near future, he needed to stop looking at her. She reached out a hand and touched his cheek. Self-consciousness began to plague him. He hadn't shaved in a few days. Was his face too prickly for her? Had it hurt her skin? What did she think of him? Surely he did not look his best after traipsing through the jungle on his way to find her. He probably smelled terribly as well. What did he think he was doing; he had no right to kiss such a lady…

She pulled his face towards him and kissed him of her own will. Gage inhaled through his nose and angled his head to deepen the kiss. He pulled away for a second. “You are beautiful, Lady Ivy Shaw.” She resumed the kiss before falling against him once more.

“So are you, Captain Gage Thompson.” She let out a breathy laugh. “Emma!” Suddenly, she jerked away from him and frantically searched around.

Gage blinked. What…?

He glanced down to find Emma sleeping peacefully on the floor of the jungle. She must have gotten jostled away from Gage while he was…doing other things.

Gage scooped the child up in his arms and reluctantly glanced at Ivy. “I suppose we should get back, then. Adam was quite concerned when I left.”

****

Caspian pressed a kiss to his wife's ear as the bartender—a young man in his mid-teens—spoke to them. Unlike the last town, he was unfamiliar with this tavern and its inhabitants, but he had a reputation in the Caribbean, especially in Port Royal, and he was lucky the lad had heard of him and was willing to help.

“Well, have you met the man?” Eden crossed her arms across her chest. The young man's face reddened when his gaze took in Eden. Caspian could not help but bristle. He pulled his wife closer and tucked her against the side. There would be no mistaking she was his.

“Aye, I remember 'im. He had a strange look about 'im, that fellow. 'E was looking to sail under a new captain. Didn't talk much, but I've seen 'im around the city a few times, I 'ave. I believe 'e was 'ere for the earthquake a couple years back.”

“Did he find a new captain to sail under?” Caspian rested his hand on Reed's shoulder. The child leaned his head back against him.

The young man fidgeted with his sleeves, which were too long for his short frame. “I 'eard 'e signed on with a man who was practically recruiting an entire crew. I can't remember the man's name…I'd never 'eard of 'im before.”

Caspian frowned. He knew a man in such need of a crew. Perhaps it was too insane to be actually be true, but perhaps…Caspian could find him and they would know.

****

Addie sighed as she gazed down at her latest work. The two pieces of fabric didn't quite meet up with each other perfectly, but it was close. Much closer than she had managed last week. The stitches could almost be called even. Quite an improvement. She smiled and hugged the fabric close to her chest. Of course, she probably looked insane to the city dwellers who strolled below her window, but she did not care.

She had actually done something right. Mr. Faulke might be pleased with her for once, and she could actually get caught up on mending the basket of clothing beside her chair. Maybe for once in her life she could actually work to gain her share of food. When she had lived with the Archers, she had been allowed to garden and that was all. Then her husband had kept her inside without much contact with anyone or anything besides him. Now, she could actually earn her own living. There was no greater feeling in the world.

****

Adam felt sure he had never experienced any worse feeling in the world. Ever since they had boarded the ship once more, he had been riddled with nightmares. James's face still haunted him. Sometimes, when he closed his eyes, he could see the agony.
God, please help me.

Why on earth should Adam have been spared that night and not James? James had a wife. A baby. Adam had no one, save the family he had left behind and not seen in years. God help him, he got fighting mad when he thought of it. It was not fair. He had made sure all of James's belongings—and his last share of money—were sent to his wife when they had reached port. Yet for some reason, the man's death continued to plague him.

Adam squeezed his eyes shut and flung himself over onto his other side in the hammock. He needed sleep. Sleep would do him a world of good, and perhaps help him forget about his nightmares.

****

Ivy's face heated as Captain Thompson—Gage—held her hand beneath the surface of the table in his cabin. She was not sure why he continued to invite her to dine in his cabin when the men there persecuted him in front of her, but she had to admit she enjoyed the time spent with him. He met her gaze and flashed a grin at her, his brown eyes sparkling.

One by one, Gage's leading crew members exited the cabin, leaving only Gage, Adam, and Ivy. The men had pestered Gage today as usual, but their comments were few and far between. Maybe they had realized how rude their remarks were, or had gotten tired of repeating the same accusations. She smiled as Gage rubbed his thumb across the side of her hand, but Ivy could not shake the feeling that she should not be allowing him to touch her. Surely there would be no future for them. After all, Ivy had promised Aimee she would not return home attached to a pirate.

Adam rose and stepped around the table. He caught a glimpse of Ivy and Gage's hands under the surface and flashed them a knowing look. Ivy quickly removed her hand from the captain's grasp and twisted her head the other way. Gage's chuckle was a low rumble in her left ear.

Gage stood and retrieved Emma from where she slept on his bed. Ivy quickly forgot her embarrassment and took the child in her arms. Oh, how she loved this little one. Gage leaned over her to press a kiss to Emma's forehead.

A deafening crack blasted from somewhere in the distance. Ivy froze. Something splashed in the ocean.

Ivy latched her wide gaze to Gage, who seemed unable to move. After a moment, he inhaled deeply and grabbed Ivy's hand. Adam stepped closer to the both of them.

The cabin door burst open.

 

“What is going on, Peters?” Gage glanced at Ivy, who rocked Emma against her chest. Adam stood next to her, staring at his captain. “Stay with Ivy and the child, Mr. Douglas.”

Gage stepped outside and shut the door behind himself. Peters fidgeted with his hands before speaking. “There's been a ship spotted off our bow. A pirate ship. We didn't recognize her colors, but we certainly recognized the meaning of the skull and crossbones.”

A frown tensed the muscles in Gage's face. “She fired on us.”

“Aye, and we didn't take that t' be friendly. We thought you should know.”

Gage ran a hand through his hair.
Why now, Lord? I'm not ready for this. Especially with a woman and a babe on board to care for. Why?

“You should decide if we run or fight.” Peters started up the stairs and toward the main deck. Gage followed him.

“I know what I should do, Peters.” Gage immediately regretted the sharp tone of his voice. He had to admit, he had only snapped because he also doubted his abilities as a captain. However true it may be, Gage did not like to think about the subject. Why, he had hardly been successful in his few weeks as captain, and he fretted about every future decision.

Including the one that loomed directly in front of him when he walked up onto the main deck. His entire crew, minus Adam, stood facing him. Above their heads, the distant mast of a ship rose from the sea. Pirates.

God help us.

****

“What's happening?”

Adam spun around from the window to face Lady Shaw. She balanced Emma on her hip with one arm and tugged on a piece of her bronze-colored hair with the other. The woman's and the babe's hair were almost identical shades of orange. They really could pass for mother and daughter if Lady Shaw would ever want to claim her.

Adam reluctantly glanced back out at the window. Bits of the captain's conversation had filtered through the door and he had seen a ship off their bow from the porthole—he could piece together what was happening. From the shouts on the deck, he could also guess what would happen next. Although he longed to be with the rest of the crew as first mate, he did not want to leave Lady Shaw and the child alone while something could happen to them, and his captain had commanded him to stay. He glanced back at the woman and remembered her query. “We've run across the path of a pirate ship, milady.”

Her eyebrows scrunched together and her face paled. “I-I've never been near actual pirates, not counting your men.”

“We are privateers, milady, or at least we will be official privateers after your—Captain Thompson gets some paperwork done.”

“But what is going to happen now?”

“Don't worry, milady. We will most likely confront them, but I have no idea how that will fare.”

She pressed her face against the little girl's head. “If we get captured, what will happen to Emma?”

Adam smiled inwardly. It was sweet of her to worry about the baby's fate, and not her own. The smile vanished when he realized what they
would
likely do to the woman and the child if they were discovered. He had to tuck them safely away in such an event.

“Well, milady, let's hope that event will never come. Now, follow me. We should get you somewhere more secure.”

****

Ivy gasped when Mr. Douglas opened the door at the same time as Captain Thompson. They almost collided. Ivy studied him with hopeful eyes but was disappointed at the sight before her: his face was several shades paler than normal, his hair was mussed, and he wrung his hands. If ever he was a man with no confidence, it was right now.

“Are you all right, Gage?” Ivy stepped forward and laid a hand on his arm. He blinked, petted her hand absently, and let his arm drop.

“Yes, yes, I'm fine. I just came here to say I need Adam to come up on the main deck with me, and I need you to take Emma and go to your cabin.” His voice quavered as he spoke and even more color drained from his face. What was going on?

“Are you sure you are fine?” Ivy quirked an eyebrow as she rearranged Emma on her hip.

“Yes.” His voice was raspy, and he averted his eyes as he spoke.

A cannon shot off in the distance.

“You need to get in your cabin, for your protection and Emma's.”

Splash.

“I will. Please be careful, Gage.” Ivy held his gaze for a few moments and searched their chocolate depths. She noted fear.
God, please help us.

****

Ivy cringed as another disturbing crack rent the air. They had been hit. Again. Although she hated to admit it, she was afraid to look out the porthole to see what was going on around her. The action could cause her to panic, and she did not need that. So she had stayed perched on the cot with an unusually quiet Emma in her lap for the last thirty minutes. The little tyke had fallen asleep moments ago.

It really would have been more pleasant if Emma was awake to keep her company, but she supposed it was all for the best. The child had been frightened by the noises of the battle, so it was a blessing when she had finally drifted to sleep. Ivy's arms ached from supporting her, so Ivy reclined on the cot, propped her back up on the pillows, and closed her eyes.

The sounds above were frightening, honestly, and they were bringing on a pounding headache. Ivy rubbed her temple and groaned. The ship lurched over a swell, and nausea crept into her throat. A roar of men's voices caused Ivy's eyes to snap open. Their voices were cheerful, yet angry. Bloodthirsty.
God, please end this quickly. Please do not let too many lives be lost, either.

Ivy pressed Emma against her chest and inhaled her sweet scent. The roars of the men seemed to double. She strained her ears—was that the crew of the other ship she heard as well? They seemed too close. Terribly close.

Loud thumps pounded on the deck above her. Fresh roars rained down. Curses spewed. Metallic clinks and gunshots tore the air.
Oh, no.
Were the pirates boarding the ship? What would happen now?

She squeezed Emma against her chest. “We need to stay calm, little one.” The words were meant more for herself than for the sleeping baby.

Please keep the men safe; even Rogers. I don't want anyone to die.

****

As Adam forced his way against the horde of enemy pirates, the metallic tang of blood tainted the air. The crew of the
Siren's Call
was near to finally pushing the miscreants back. Half an hour ago, the others had been ahead of them and were almost forcing them off of their own ship. But Captain Thompson had led them forward and they almost had an advantage now.

The man had significantly taken over command of the crew and his strategies in this battle were working well to their advantage. A man lunged at Adam's side, slashing with his sword. Adam managed to avoid the strike and parry back until another pirate distracted him and Adam could slip away.

Adam stepped forward and eyed the men around them. “Captain!”

Gage was far ahead now, separated from his crew. A feeling of dread stuck in Adam's stomach. It was not good to be surrounded by the enemy, away from one's crew. “Captain!”

But it seemed as though the captain could not hear him, and it was too difficult to reach him.

****

Gage thrust his sword forward, matching the enemy's blow. He wiped the sweat from his forehead as he retreated. Another sailor distracted the man, giving Gage a chance to catch his breath. Egad, what was wrong with him? He had not been able to outrun the pirates, and now his men fought the wretches hand-to-hand. And it was
completely his fault.

A balding man's cutlass swung down at Gage's head, but he managed to parry his blow and slice at him with his knife. He couldn't help but wonder how Ivy and Emma were faring in the cabin below. A barely audible prayer for their safety escaped his lips. At least they were still beyond the reach of these men. Gage grunted, and shoved two men back with his blows and a volley of metallic clangs.

Gage ran a hand through his sweaty hair, forcing it back from his face in an attempt to clear his sight of vision. If he
did
survive this battle, he would need to clean up before he went to see Ivy. He must look—and smell—a fright.

Clunk.

Pain reverberated through his shoulder.

He spun around to view his attacker. A burly man braced a pistol in one hand and a sword in the other. A twisted grin spread across his face.

Gage blinked. He felt his hand move as an instinct.

Too late. He saw the sword slide through his side.

He didn't feel it, but he noted blood gliding down his waist.

Gage drove his knife at the man's shoulder, but he knocked it from his grasp and a new pirate stole Gage's attention for a moment as he exchanged several sword thrusts. He disarmed the man quickly and swiveled back to the first, burly man.

Crack.

His head. It hurt like nothing he'd known before.

He lifted his sword, but black swirled before his eyes.

He tumbled to the ground.

****

Adam saw his captain crumble. He had to get him out of the way of the mess that filled the entire main deck, or something could injure him even further. If he even
was
alive, for that matter. Dread clenched his stomach. James's visage flitted in front of his face. James…

No. He would not allow what happened with James repeat itself. He would save Gage's life even if he could not save James's.

He forged his way through the battle to his captain's side. A man's boot squashed his hand. Adam waited for the man to nudge away before he forced himself forward and hefted Captain Thompson's body in his arms. With a grip under his armpits, he could drag him below to his cabin. Then, maybe Lady Shaw would be able to assist him.

Please, Lord, do not let her be afraid of blood.

****

Ivy's hand hovered over the doorknob. Should she really open the door in the midst of the battle? Should she even acknowledge her presence?

“This is Mr. Douglas, milady. It is urgent that you open the door.” His voice held a rushed, almost panicked tone.

She unlatched and flung open the door.

“It's the captain. He's been injured badly. I need you to take Emma and go to his cabin immediately—then bolt the door behind you. Please tend to him, if you feel you're capable. If not, stay by his side and comfort him until we can get a surgeon to him. All right?”

Dread surged through her body. What had happened to the poor man? “Of course I'll go.” She reached for Emma and stepped out the door. “Will…will he live?”

Adam stopped still in his tracks for a moment. The pause alone was answer enough for Ivy. He didn't know. His eyes searched hers beseechingly. After a second, he grabbed her arm and pulled her to the captain's cabin.

The screams of the battle were even louder here. They seemed to be magnified and multiplied. Clinking swords cut the air. Ivy gladly stepped into the captain's cabin—she did not want to get caught outside in the battle. Mr. Douglas didn't follow her. Instead, he went straight to the men on the main deck.

The sounds of the battle were muffled when she shut the door, thankfully. She scanned the room and blinked her eyes to adjust to the dim light. Was the sun setting already?

Finally, she located Gage, sprawled halfway on his bed, a hand pressed against his left side. He was in a swoon. Half of his body rested on the ground. Immediately, Ivy set Emma on a chair and sped to the man's side. His hands were cold. Almost like ice. Panic filled her. Was he even alive?
Please, God. Please.

Frantically, she gripped at his wrists and laid her ear against his chest. Good. He was still breathing. Now she had to get him all the way onto his bed. She grabbed his legs and tried to heft him up. “Ooof.” She might as well have tried to lift the ship they were on. Would he wake up if she stirred him? She hadn't checked his injuries yet. He needed to be on a stable platform for her to look at them.

“Gage? Gage? I really need you to get yourself onto the bed, sir.” He stirred but didn't respond. She was almost tempted to kiss him to see if that would wake him up, like in a fairytale, but she knew that would be ridiculous. “Gage!” She squeezed his hand. A groan filled the room, and she realized it was hers.
Please.

Ivy hefted his legs up and with all her might hurled them towards the top of the bed. Her back ached, but she had succeeded. He was completely on the bed.
Thank you, God.

Now, to inspect his injuries.