Aboard The Black Otter, on the high seas
Thank God I came up on deck when I did. My eyes widened. If Dark Water had overtaken the ship with me still passed out in our quarters—
Something icy slid down my spine, but I didn’t bother with trying to discern what it was.
It’s now or never.
I leapt forward and grabbed Solo’s sword from his belt and landed in a crouch. I met Dark Water’s eyes, silently thanking God for however long I’d slept. At least I had some energy back, despite the deep ache in my muscles. “This is my ship. You can’t have it.”
Dark Water raised his upper lip in a snarl from the end of my blade. “Only a witch would take over a ship.”
Something hit me from behind and sent Solo’s sword clattering across the deck.
Charles Swan.
I stumbled but didn’t fall. Still, the world pitched around me. Fingers grabbed at me, fumbling, curling in my hair, yanking, but not making a clean grab.
I rolled onto my back. Dark Water’s eyes were black with hate as he stared at me, his dagger held high and ready to finish me.
“Dark Water! Help!” Charles plea twanged upward and with a whine.
“I got him Mama!” Rusty shrieked.
Dark Water glanced toward the scuffle. That was all the time I needed.
I clasped my hands together like a club and swung with everything I had.
For Jacky.
For Solo.
For Monica Joan.
For Irish Bon.
For Rusty.
For Tommy and Poison Lightning.
For Loreena.
Society may group us together as sniveling pirates, whose lives weren’t worth a red cent. But I knew better. I knew good could be found in strange places and evil was everywhere, even in rich doctors’ London homes. But there was no place for evil aboard The Black Otter.
We might all hang in the end, but I wouldn’t let myself dangle from the yardarm without knowing full well I’d fought my hardest.
Better to fight like a man than hang like a dog.
My forearms connected with Dark Water’s fist. His dagger flew from his hand and clattered away.
I dared a glance at Rusty. Sure enough, she’d jumped on Charles’ back and had him pinned to the deck. Dark Water, seeing his nearest and dearest in such a predicament, charged her.
“No!” I roared. I reached for his booted foot as he momentarily forgot about me. But I wasn’t quick enough. “Rusty, watch out!”
Her pretty eyes widened as the tall mutineer sprinted toward her. Something flickered across her freckled face, but it wasn’t fear. Not by a long shot.
Red Legs burst from nowhere and banged Dark Water in the chest with his shoulder before he could close in on Rusty. Dark Water Williams’ feet caught air before he hit the deck with a resounding oomph.
Tommy, sensing his time had come to be a hero, thundered across the deck with a yell and plopped down atop Dark Water, a proud smile on his pudgy face.
Chest heaving, I pushed myself to my feet. As I stood, I picked up Solo’s sword from where it lay. I set my jaw and held the blade to Charles’ neck.
“Red Legs,” I growled. “Tie them up and lock them in the jail below decks.”
I stood on deck, staring, as Red Legs lashed the arms and legs of the would-be mutineers before me. Both stared hotly at the woman who’d bested them. As Red Legs dragged them away, I could see in their eyes they would make good on any chance of escape—and this time they wouldn’t fail.
The time for mercy was over.
“Rusty.”
My adopted daughter straightened her back and stared at me.
“Mama?”
“You saved us all.” I flickered a smile at her. “Again.”
“Of course I did.” She flung her hands up in exasperation. “You’re my family.”
“In the cargo hold are bolts of cloth. Find all the red you can and sew us new sails. Blood red sails.”
