WOODRIDGE, ILLINOIS
Early Twenty-First Century
Autumn Maxwell sighed as she closed the romance novel that she had been ready. She looked at her watch. It was time to leave work. She put the book in her backpack. As she walked through the office, she said good-bye to her friend, Beth Wallace.
"Are you going to the office party tomorrow?" Beth asked.
"I'm not sure," Autumn said. "I'll let you know."
"All right," Beth said. "See you."
"Bye," Autumn said.
Autumn got into her car. She tried to get it started. After a few tries, it worked. She pulled out of the parking lot. She drove onto the highway. She reached over to turn on the radio. The song, 'Genie In A Bottle' was playing. It was her favorite song. She sang along.
She was too busy to notice a car heading toward her. The car was speeding and zigzagging along the highway. The driver behind the wheel was drunk. Horns blared as the car cut off others. Soon the car was behind Autumn's. She glanced into the rearview mirror too late. The drunk driver rammed into the back end of her car.
The impact was so forceful that her body went flying over the dashboard and through the window. Her last thought was that she should have worn her seat belt.
THE PIRATE SHIP LILY
INDIAN OCEAN, 1717
As the sun rose, a man of thirty-one slept in his large bed. He slowly woke up and stretched his long, hard body. He pulled back the covers. He swung his legs onto the floor. Naked, he walked over to the window. The day was gorgeous. He grabbed his brown trousers and put them on. He took his tunic off of the wooden chair. He put it on.
He stretched again. He walked to the door and opened it. "Daniel!" he bellowed.
A man hurried into the room. He pushed his spectacles up his nose. He looked at him. "Yes, captain?" he said nervously.
"Fetch me some water to clean my face," the captain said.
"Y-yes, sir," Daniel stammered. He ran out of the room.
Robert MacDarren rubbed his chin. He needed a shave. Five minutes later, Daniel came in carrying a bucket of water. He poured some water into the basin on a table. He set the bucket on the floor. He turned and left.
Robert turned toward the mirror above the small table. He lathered shaving cream before picking up his dagger. He began to shave. When he was done, he splashed water on his face. He was drying his face with a towel when Daniel burst into the room. Robert glared at him.
"What is the meaning of this?" he demanded.
Daniel began to shake under his captain's glare. "W-we found a stowaway in the storage deck," he said.
He stepped aside. Jim, a tall black man who was Robert's bestfriend and first mate, pushed someone into the room in front of him. Robert's eyes widened. Jim was holding the upper arm of a blond woman.
Her hair was a mess. There was dirt all over her blouse and trousers. She looked up at him. Her blue eyes were wide with fear. She was visibly shaking. He noticed a gash at her temple. There was blood on her cheek.
He moved toward her. She shrunk back. He reached up. He gently touched her temple. She winced and moved her head slightly. He looked down at her.
"What had happened to you?" he asked.
"I don't know," she said. Her voice was soft and musical.
"How did you get on my ship?" he asked.
"I don't know," she said.
"What is your name?" he asked.
"Autumn," she said. "Autumn Maxwell."
At least she didn't say "I don't know" again. "Where do you live?" he asked.
"I don't know," she said.
He sighed. He didn't know what to do with her. He never had a stowaway before. And the nearest port was a thousand miles away. What was he going to do with her?
Autumn stared at the man before her. He had gypsy-black hair and dark eyes. He was tall, well over six feet. He had golden skin. He looked like he was out in the sun a lot. He had high-cheekbones and well-shaped lips. He had broad shoulders. Her eyes looked down. His legs looked powerful and bulging with muscles.
Daniel fingered her jeans. "What are these?" he asked.
Autumn looked at him. "They are called blue jeans," she said.
"Women are not allowed to wear mens' pants," Daniel said.
"Where I came from they are," Autumn said.
"Well, you are not there anymore," the black haired man said. "From now on you are going to wear a dress."
"B-but I don't have one," she said.
"You may have my sister's gowns," the black haired man said.
"Will she not need them?" Daniel asked.
The black haired man rolled his eyes. "She does not fit them anymore," he said.
"Oh," Daniel said. He looked at the floor.
Autumn had the urge to hug him. He didn't deserve the black haired man's sarcasm. He was but a boy. He reminded her of her brother, Ryan. She wondered if she would ever see her brother again.
"Show this lady to my sister's cabin," the black haired man said.
Jim started to push Autumn out the door. Daniel looked at the frightened look on her face. He spoke up.
"Captain, if I may," he said, "I would like to show the lady to her cabin."
The captain shrugged carelessly. "Fine, fine," he said.
To Autumn's relief, Jim let go of her arm. Daniel offered his arm. She took it. She smiled at him. He blushed. He escorted her out the door. Jim looked at Robert.
"What do you plan to do with her?" he asked.
"I guess she'll have to stay until we get to the next port," Robert said.
"Do you trust the men to behave themselves around a woman?" Jim asked. "They have not seen one for over three years."
"Do you think they will take advantage of her?" Robert asked.
"It may come up," Jim said.
"I will explain to the men if one dares to touch her," Robert said, "they will have answer to me."
"If you think that is best," Jim said.
Robert sighed. He ran his hand over his face. "I do not know what else to do," he said. "We never had a problem like this before."
Jim patted his shoulder. Robert smiled wearily at him.
