Jacquotte stared with wide eyes at the huge ship being lurched out of the hidden cove. Its sides were slick and smooth and its name was carved, rather than painted. There was no denying it was the Thunder Pearl.
"Beautiful, isn't she?" Ridge asked from just behind her shoulder.
Her lips tightened. "You've kept her well."
The admiral smiled. He knew about her long search for his ship. "Why did you want her?"
"Why wouldn't I?" She asked testily.
"Well, it's not your boat."
Her curly hair swept around in a curtain, hiding her face. No answer.
He stood watching her for a while, as she kept her eyes on his ship. Close enough to touch, too far from the answers Ridge wanted. And then Abram came running.
"Admiral-- they're just miles away."
Ridge looked up, his face pale. The battle was approaching.
"Scared, Captain Rose?"
"What an embarrassing name," He muttered. "That's why I go by Ridge now, you know."
"Of course, captain. When the past becomes a problem, simply throw it away." She turned on her heal and strode back to the Sea's Pride.
"Jacquotte!" He called after her.
"Captain," She responded without looking at him.
A long, long pause.
"You got my orders?"
"I did. Whether I feel like following them-- well, we'll see. Until later, Captain."
"It's admiral, actually," He muttered, though she was out of earshot.
YOU ARE READING
The Defense of Glory
Ficção HistóricaThe small iron-clad boat chugged into the harbour, dragging a wake behind it in the stormy sea. Its small three-man crew was soot-smudged and breathless, all of them wide-eyed and trembling. "We saw'm!" One cried aloud, pushing himself over the rail...
