Safe In The Pirate's Arms

Chapter 1

Serena sat in the window watching the bay. She just knew The Lady would be in port today. Since she was a small girl she'd loved the sea. Her father had been a Captain in the Royal Navy. Captain Wilmington made sure his children had a love for the sea.

She watched everyday as the ships came and went. The ships were in her memory. Her favorite was The Lady. Even though it was a known pirate ship, she loved to watch those huge billowing white sails as they rounded the end of the island. The ship had been out to sea for over a month and it always came back through this port every month. The Captain of the ship was handsome and she loved to watch him with her telescope as he guided his ship into port. He led his men with a passion that made her smile.

Her father was killed at sea when she was young, but the passion for the sea that he'd given her stayed in her heart. Her heart was heavy as she watched the ripples roll across the top of the water. She longed to be out on one of those large ships away from this house. Life had changed drastically for their family when her father was killed.

The grief took over her mother. She walked around as if in a daze. Then one day a man came by to see them. At first Serena and her twin brother Tad liked him. He was charming and helped bring their mother out of her grief, but soon after they married things changed. He became abusive and mean. Some days they didn't even see their mother. When they tried to convince her to run away, she'd shake her head and say there was no honor in being a coward.

Edward Rockford was a hard, cruel man. He had wealth and used any means to keep it. Serena and Tad tried to stay out of his way. Once he hit Serena and Tad lunged at him in retaliation, but Edward was larger and knocked Tad out. Serena and one of the servants carried him to his room to tend his wounds.

Tad told Serena that once he was eighteen he was leaving. Both of them worried about their mother, but they'd given up getting her to leave him. Serena and Tad turned eighteen a month ago. Tad had a sweetheart in town that held him here. He planned to marry her soon.

Then her heart leapt with excitement. She leaned forward causing the glass to momentarily fog over. Was that a wisp of white sail she saw around the end of the island? Quickly she wiped away the fog and looked out to sea. There she was, The Lady. Those pristine white sails starched stiff with wind. She was an outstanding ship. She proudly plowed through the water as she entered the port.

Serena held her breath as the ship moved across the bay and headed for port. She'd been watching this beautiful ship for over a year. When she got a chance she'd sneak down to the docks and ask questions. Since most of the shipyard workers knew her, they'd answer her questions. One of the older men had told her The Lady was a pirate ship, but the captain was a good man. One day a couple of months ago she caught sight of the captain. Captain Caleb Tanner was a ruggedly handsome man with Blue eyes the color of cresting waves and dark hair, streaked by the sun's rays. He walked with a proud gait and was always dressed well. She had sighed and wondered what it would be like to talk with him or sail with him. When he turned she saw a scar down one cheek. She wondered what had caused it. Then she'd watched as he stepped back onto his ship and talked with his men.

She sat there mesmerized as the ship sliced through the water effortlessly. Reaching across the window seat she grabbed her telescope. It was one of the things she'd been able to hide from Edward. The telescope had belonged to her father and Edward had forbidden them to mention their father. She carefully extended it and gazed across the water to the great ship.

As she moved across the deck, her heart hammered in her chest as her gaze found him. He commanded his ship as a master of the sea. His masculine stance told of his confidence. She sighed as she watched him shout orders and as the sails were brought down the men ran across the deck. What would it be like to be sitting on the deck and feeling the sea breeze as he guided the ship to port?

Suddenly she heard her step father calling out at the end of the hall. She carefully pulled in the telescope and put it in a cubby behind the cushion. He pounded his fist on her door.  Slowly she walked across and unlatched the door. His face was red with anger.

"Why didn't you answer when I called for you?" He put his large hands on his hips and stared down at her.

Long ago she'd stopped being afraid of him. "I didn't hear you until just now."

"Well, you need to go tend to your mother. She's fell ill." He turned and stomped out of the room.

She knew something was wrong if he wanted her to tend to mother. Running down the hallway she entered her mother's room. She was lying on the bed pale and thin. "Mother, what's wrong? Edward said you had taken ill."

The look her mother gave her was weak and pitiful. "Oh Serena, I'm so sorry I've put you and Tad in such a horrible position. I love you both." Tears were streaming down her mother's face as she spoke.

She knelt beside her mother and held her hand. "Don't worry mother. We know you were lonely. How could you have known he'd turn into such a bad person?" Serena tried to put her mother at ease.

"I need you to know that I never would've married him if I'd known, but what's done is done." She turned to look out the window. "Have any ships come into the bay today?" She knew her daughter's love for the sea.

"Yes, The Lady has just arrived and she's as beautiful as ever." Serena's face took on a dreamy look as she looked toward the sea. From her mother's window she couldn't see the port.

"If something happens to me, promise me you'll leave here. I'm afraid of what Edward will do if I die." She grabbed Serena's hand tightly. "The men down at the docks know you. Most of them were your father's men. Go to them, they'll keep you safe." The look in her eyes was desperate.

Serena gasped at her mother's words. She'd always told her to stay away from the docks unless Tad or someone was with her. "Mother, you're just a little under the weather." She slowly wiped her brow with a cool clothe.

"No my beautiful girl, I'm not well. It's been coming on for a while and I didn't want to worry you children." Her mother's eyes were hollow and Serena was suddenly afraid. "Promise me you'll get far away from here."

She looked up and saw Tad standing in the doorway. "She'll be far away from here; I'll make sure of it." He walked in and closed the door. When he was standing beside the bed, he put his hand on his mothers.

Mary Rockford looked up at her two children. They were such beautiful young people. She could see her dear dead husband's eyes in her twin children. She closed her eyes as weakness took over. "I need to try to rest." She turned to her side and was almost instantly asleep.

Tad looked at Serena sadly. "That oaf of a husband has done this to her. I hope he rots for what he's done to her."

Serena pulled the coverlet up over her mother's shoulders when she shivered. "All I know is that I want to sail on one of those ships as far away as I can." She walked over and looked out at the island. This was a beautiful but volatile place.

"Serena, I've asked Elise to marry me." He put his hands on her shoulders. "If something happens to our mother you're welcome to live with us."

She placed her hand on one of his and smiled. "Thanks Tad, but I'm meant to be at sea." The wistful look in her eyes made him worry.

"But how will you do that, you're a woman?"  

"I'll find a way."

 To find out more of Serena's story and the trouble she seems to find at every turn, get the full book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, iTunes, and many other retailers, also on the author's website...