The Charlotte Series: Book 1: The Pirate's Treasure

chapter 14

Millicent dreamt she was in a bed. It was soft and warm...and she felt...She stretched and a moan escaped her lips. She felt like she had been run over by a coach and four. She awoke slowly, reluctantly. She didn't want to leave that soft warm bed for the reality of...of what? Memory and pain flooded her senses as she sat up striking out with her fists.

"Don't touch me!" She knocked her attacker away gasping from the exertion.

"It's ok Missus. You're safe now." A young voice soothed.

She blinked fully awake and looked about with wide eyes. She was in a bed. She was wearing a man's shirt. Alarm tingled her nerves as she recognized Blakeney's coat hanging on the back of a chair. Those apes had tried to rape her. She remembered cutting one and then...She made a snarling noise and was glad Blakeney was a monster.

The fact she was in his cabin again meant those apes were shark food. It was too good for them. Poor sharks probably got belly aches. She blinked again and noticed the boy on the floor mopping up water. She was about to be angry that he be made to scrub the floor when she noticed an upturned bowl and a rag. A blush climbed to her cheek. He must have been tending to her when she pushed him away.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you."

"I'm all right missus." He said with a shrug.

"Where is Captain Blakeney?" Not that she was anxious to see him again.

She sounded...defeated, resigned. She hated the fear that mixed with her hatred of the man. Still a little fear was a good thing. It would keep her cautious around him.

"Mickey Blakeney is no longer Captain of this ship." A strong male voice startled her.

She gasped and looked from the boy to the door surprised to find it securely closed. The sound of wood scraping on wood made her head swivel around. Beyond the boy in the shadows, on the other side of the table a man stood. He pushed the chair in and cleared his throat as he stepped into the light behind the boy.

His hair was cropped short and his shoulders were so wide. Strong muscled arms crossed over his chest, bare to the elbow. Fine dark hair covered them, and showed in the vee of the open collar. His feet were spread and she realized that was more for balance as the ship rolled gently. Still, he made an intimidating picture standing there that way.

But there was something calming about his presence. The boy looked up with admiration and they exchanged smiles. His eyes were a warm brown color and they looked at her with something akin to...she blinked to clear her mind of such fanciful thoughts. His face was bronzed by the sun and his clothes also were those of a common sailor. There was still something of the gentleman about him, in his speech and the way he held himself maybe.

"I remember you, Mr. Smith. You helped me before..."

"I am the new Captain of this vessel." He bowed, "At your service, Miss...."

"Weath—" her voice stuck in her dry throat.

She swallowed with some effort, licked her lips, and tried again.

"Weathersby. Millicent Weathersby."

He blinked, stunned. But how did that shy little...He smiled as he remembered the sassy little lass that nearly knocked him on his ass the same day she buried her mother.

"Miss Weathersby." He nodded, "May I ask if you can recall how you came to be aboard and why Blakeney chose to offer you the hospitality of our hold?"