“All right,” she said, smiling. “I’ll come.”
“Say you love me.”
“I love you.”
“Say you’ll marry me.”
“I’ll . . . ” She laughed out loud and shook her head. “You cannot trick me into becoming your wife. That I wish to do all on my own. Yes, my love. I’ll marry you.”
“Wonderful,” he said, untying the belt to her robe. “Now let me see this red corset you’re wearing up close.”
“I’d rather hoped you would take it off, not want to stare at it all night.”
He chuckled and pecked her on the lips. “Patience, my love. First I shall stare, and then I’ll cherish you. From dusk until dawn.”
Epilogue
Three months later . . .
Three flaming arrows pierced the night sky in a wide arc, landing in unison with a dull thud on the deck of The Bloody Mary. The oil-slickened wood went up in flames, setting the surrounding ocean aglow. Tongues of fire licked across the deck and up the main mast until the sails were a blazing inferno. Soon the Butcher’s clipper ship would grace the bottom of the sea, forever put to rest.
Hatchet leaned on his bow and glanced over at Victor and Dominick. Joyous laughter bubbled in his chest and he shouted, “Burn in Hell for all eternity, you bloody bastard!”
The entire crew of The Savior cheered, lining the ship’s railing, their eyes glued to the spectacle before them.
“Amen!” Dominick said, grinning. He slapped both Victor and Hatchet on the backs. “Our nightmares are finally over.”
“Can’t say I’ll miss you, old girl,” Victor said, watching as their prison of six years wilted before their eyes.
Dominick shook his head in accord. “I thought to sell her, but this way is better. There’s too much bad karma on that ship.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” Maribeth said, wedging herself between Hatchet and Dominick. She pointed to the forecastle deck. “That’s like the pole where I took my ten lashings. There won’t be any more whippings on that ship.”
Dominick wrapped his arm around her shoulder, hugging her close. “No, Poppet, there will not. But if you stow away on another ship again, the palm of my hand will find your bottom, and you’ll not want to sit for at least a week.”
She grinned and rolled her eyes. “Empty threats. You would never hurt me. Besides, I saved Hatchet’s life. Imagine what would’ve happened if I’d stayed home.”
“Let’s not imagine that,” Hatchet said, ruffling her hair.
They stood in silence for the better part of an hour, entranced by the glaring fire. When the body of the ship capsized, and the old girl sank beneath the surface of the ocean, they released a collective sigh.
Victor was the first to recover his voice. “Back to Devil’s Cove, Captain?”
“Aye, aye,” Dominick said with a grin, glancing at Hatchet. “We’d best bring the groom back before dawn, or we’ll have three angry women to contend with. And with two of them sleep deprived, it’ll be an ugly scene.”
Maribeth clapped her hands and grinned at Victor. “Your baby is adorable, even if he doesn’t sleep well. And he’s your spitting image.” She paused, turning to Dominick. “Do you think your son will look like you?”
“My son?” he asked, narrowing his gaze on the girl. “You mean my child, right? It might very well be a girl.”
She pressed her lips into a thin line and nodded, her eyes wide and innocent. Dominick’s gaze shot to Victor, and Hatchet guffawed, long and hard.
“You gave Eveline a fertility potion!” he shouted, stalking toward Victor.
A grin broke out on Victor’s face and he ran behind Hatchet, peeking over his shoulder. “Turnabout is fair play. Eveline wanted a son. You wanted a daughter. I made the hard decision for you. We’re even.”
Dominick lunged for Victor, but he ducked out of the way and captured Maribeth, holding her out in front of him.
“We’re not even until I’ve punched you in the face,” Dominick said.
Hatchet pushed his friend back, still laughing. “Enough! Stop your fussing. You meddled in Victor’s affairs. Besides, you want a boy eventually. Isn’t that the reason you kept your title?”
“Fine, but I’m getting my hands on a vial of fertility potion for Hope. We may as well all have boys as our first child.”
Nothing would make Hatchet happier. “Aye, a boy it is! Hoist the sails. I’ve got a wedding in the morning!”
Acknowledgments
Many thanks to my husband for researching umpteen locations to visit during my research trip to New Orleans, and to my critique partner, Sawyer Belle, for her excellent advice. Also, a shout out to author Elizabeth Brown, because sometimes advice from a reader who doesn’t generally read my genre is the best advice of all. And, finally, my thanks to Julie Sturgeon for always guiding me in the right direction to make my story shine.
Author’s Note
Throughout this book, I stayed as true to the customs and practices of the voodoo religion as possible, including voodoo dolls, erecting shrines to the spirits, gris-gris, and other charms. The kanzo ceremony, otherwise known as the initiation into the asson lineage of voodoo (i.e. becoming a priest or priestess), is a long process. The ceremony begins with erecting an altar and singing special songs for each of the spirits. The candidate is bathed in herbs, an act that is symbolic of their death, so they may rise again as mambo (priestess) or houngan (priest). A series of ritual dances are held, and the candidates study the secrets of the spirits at the sacred temple. What they learn during these studies is highly guarded information. Afterward, there is a period in which the mambo/houngan follows strict rules, and the entire process to priesthood isn’t truly considered complete until upwards of a year after the initial ceremonies began. The customs and rituals can also vary by “house,” with some houses subscribing to the belief that the kanzo ceremony can only be conducted in Haiti, not on US soil. Please forgive me for taking certain liberties where needed for story pacing and character development. My aim was to offer the reader a taste of the kanzo ceremony, not to depict the process in its true form.
About the Author
R.C. Matthews lives in Michigan where she enjoys the four seasons and indulging her imagination while writing romances. Find her at RCMatthews.com, on Facebook, and on Twitter @RCMatthews123.
Turn the page for an excerpt from
Little White Lies
Chapter One – The Encounter
I’m going to hell!
The thought crossed Madalyn Russell’s mind for the umpteenth time since reading the article plastered over the front page of the society section in the morning paper: “Dumped at the Alter—Chicago’s Hottest Bachelor Back on the Market!” Had she really abandoned a church with nearly a thousand family and guests yesterday? Her stomach felt slightly nauseated just thinking about it. Poor Charles! He didn’t deserve to be humiliated that way. What had she been thinking?
Madalyn stood at the ship’s railing, staring out at the deep blue water, as The Cleopatra slowly made its way out of Port Miami and into the Atlantic Ocean. How in the world had Jeanine convinced her at the last minute to go on the honeymoon cruise alone? It felt so wrong. What would people think of her? But, difficult as it may be, Madalyn was going to try to take Jeanine’s advice and learn to live a little, not be so black and white in her thinking, and find the shades of gray in life. There would be plenty of time next week to worry over what others thought of her. An opportunity for a new beginning lay before her and she planned to take advantage of it.
If only one of her sisters could have come with her. But Jeanine had to be in Detroit for the grand opening of the new bakery, and Katie was off to London to study at a culinary school for several months. Looking around, Madalyn found quite a few passengers in their mid-twenties to mid-thirties. Perhaps it wouldn’t be so difficult to meet a few new friends. She turned her face up to bask in the warmth of the sun and marveled at the pure blue sky. A gentle breeze broke up
the stifling humidity and carried a hint of the buffet fare already on display for the eager guests. She breathed in deeply—hamburgers and fries were definitely on the menu. She wavered about whether she should stop at the bar for another drink or go back to her room and take a nap in her spacious bed.
Another Rum Swizzle won out; she hadn’t come all this way to stay locked up in her room. She made a mental note to keep track of her calories or else risk going home ten pounds heavier. Placing her empty glass on the bar, she leaned over and caught the attention of the bartender, indicating she wanted another. He gave her the thumbs up.
She sat down on a bar stool and listened to the women directly next to her in the middle of a heated discussion. The corner of Madalyn’s mouth twitched into a smile. Their interaction reminded her of the lively debates she so often engaged in with her sisters.
The blond sitting next to Madalyn shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know what you expected, Liz. It was a coffee date. If you wore that dress, then I’m not surprised. You may as well have tattooed desperate on your forehead.”
“Oh please,” Liz scoffed, discounting her friend’s opinion. “I looked hot! There was something wrong with him, Susie, not me.”
Susie turned to Madalyn, her long curls bouncing from the movement. “Please tell my friend that a guy who runs after a first coffee date isn’t worth the time of day!” Turning to Liz she added, “Why are you still talking about him? It was two months ago. Don’t give that jerk the satisfaction.”
“So true,” Madalyn said, gazing at the women.
Liz looked like she had stepped off the set of Sex in the City with auburn hair down to the middle of her back, a black party dress, and sequined high heels. Had Liz really worn that dress to a first coffee date? Susie was right; it did seem a bit desperate.
“But Liz makes a good point,” Madalyn said. They both stared at her with questioning brows. “That bartender can’t keep his eyes off you Liz! There was definitely something wrong with Mr. Coffee Shop guy.”
Liz turned to look at the bartender when he approached with Madalyn’s cocktail. His white blond hair, fair skin, and bright blue eyes seemed out of place on a Caribbean cruise ship. Where were all of the dark haired Latino men with sun-kissed skin that she had fantasized about? Madalyn smiled at him and handed over her “Sailing Card,” the cruise ship’s equivalent of a credit card, which was linked directly to her stateroom account.
“Welcome aboard, Madalyn,” he said with a slight accent, reading her name off the card before he swiped it in the credit machine. His eyes swept over to the other ladies and rested on Liz. He gave her a dazzling smile.
“How about another round, ladies?”
Liz nodded her head and looked down at her hands, anywhere except into his eyes. Where was her bravado now?
“I have a feeling these cards can be pretty dangerous,” Madalyn laughed, putting the card in her purse and offering her hand to Susie. “I’m Madalyn. It’s nice to meet you both.”
“I’m Susie and this is Liz,” the blond said, shaking her hand. “Believe me, this is our third cruise and I wince every time the final bill arrives. It’s like gaining weight; one week to pack it on and ten weeks to work it off.”
Madalyn chuckled and pointed to her drink. “Double whammy! I’m dreading the amount of weight I’m going to gain this week.”
Susie nodded and looked around. “Who are you here with?”
“I’m alone,” Madalyn said, staring at her drink before turning a sideways glance at the women. “My sister had to back out at the last minute and I couldn’t find anyone else to come along. It’s a real bummer.”
Madalyn wished she had a camera to capture the way both their brows rose in unison. She shrugged her shoulders, hoping she pulled off the little white lie, unwilling to tell them the truth. Jeanine would be so proud.
“You’re veteran sailors,” Madalyn said. “What can I expect?”
“There are so many things to do during the day—swimming, putt-putt, massages, bingo or just relaxing in the sun,” Susie said, pausing to sip her margarita. “But the evenings are the best—live shows, comedians, discos—you name it.”
“They should pay you,” Madalyn said with a chuckle. “You’re better than the advertisement I read. What about the shore excursions?”
“You should go check out the list at the concierge desk before dinner,” Susie said. “We plan to go shopping at the first port of call. We’re only in Old San Juan for the evening. You’re welcome to join us.”
“That sounds great!” Madalyn said and then looked at her watch to gauge how much time she had before dinner.
Liz gasped and reached over to grab her arm. “Madalyn, what time is it?”
“It’s six thirty. Why?”
“We’re meeting Mike and Jason to play table tennis in fifteen minutes. I can’t bend over in this dress,” she giggled. “Let’s hurry up and go change, Susie.”
Susie turned to Madalyn and confessed they had met two guys on the bus ride over from the airport. “Hey, would you like to join us?”
“Oh, no thanks,” Madalyn said. Nothing like being a fifth wheel. “I’ll just stay around here for a while and relax in the sun before dinner. How about meeting up at the disco at eleven o’clock?”
“Sounds good,” they said in unison.
After downing the remainder of their drinks, they gathered their things and stood up to leave. Liz towered over Susie by more than a head. And while Liz could compete head on with the best runway model, Susie was all about comfort in her khaki Capri pants and cowl-neck knit shirt.
Madalyn waved goodbye as they strode off and was reminded of her own encounter with a man on the transfer bus earlier in the day. Her stomach tingled thinking of her reaction to the mystery man; she had never felt such a raw attraction to a stranger before. He embodied everything she had ever dreamed of physically in a man: wavy hair that was black as midnight, mesmerizing green eyes with thick lashes she’d kill for, and a tall, muscular frame with strong arms to cradle and protect her. Maybe it was his proximity as he reached for her suitcase to haul it onto the bus, combined with the scent of his cologne that had sent her pulse racing. Or the way his jeans hung off his hips until he bent over to set her luggage on the lower rack, revealing a nicely rounded butt. Too bad the bus had been packed, forcing him to the back and her to the front before she could even find out his name. Was he meeting someone here or had he come alone? She could use a good distraction this week and wondered if she would bump into him again.
Oh, who was she kidding? Being brazen in theory was a breeze; but could she carry through with a fling if faced with the opportunity? She had no idea, but she wasn’t opposed to finding out. After years of working hard towards her career goals and doing what was “right”, she was ready to let loose a little and step out of her shell.
Madalyn settled down in a lounge chair by the pool and closed her eyes while listening to the children laughing and playing. A couple sitting next to her were whispering back and forth. She couldn’t quite make out their words but the woman giggled and Madalyn could hear her playful slap on his arm. She and Charlie used to be playful, but those playful times had been short-lived. They were both so driven to become successful in their careers as lawyers that there was little time for having fun. And as soon as they had moved to Chicago that bitch, Veronica, had dictated their social calendar in her continual effort to propel Charles into Chicago society. Madalyn felt a sense of regret and wished she could relive those days. Perhaps she would have seized the day more and pushed back harder for what she wanted out of life. It had been so long since she had made her own decisions that she wasn’t certain she even knew what she wanted out of life anymore.
Maybe Jeanine was right and Madalyn was too confined by her ideals of what was right and what was wrong. Guiding principles had made her into the successful attorney she was today, but did they limit her growth as an individual? Did she dare turn off the highway to take a side road as her s
ister suggested? Or venture out onto a dirt path in search of the scenic view?
Madalyn was startled from her reverie when something bounced off her shoulder. She jerked up. Opening her eyes, she saw a young boy punching his friend in the arm and pointing for him to fetch the beach ball lying next to her. She threw the ball back and then glanced at her watch. Crap! It was ten after eight. She must have fallen asleep. If she hurried, she would have just enough time to run back to her cabin and freshen up before dinner.
Making her way to the exit, she glanced over at the bar and was mesmerized by a familiar pair of dark green eyes. She tripped over a lounge chair and nearly face-planted on the deck, but quickly steadied herself and giggled. Her mystery man stared brazenly at her with a smirk creeping across those gorgeous lips of his. Was he laughing at her too? Flashing him a dazzling smile, she waved, shrugged her shoulders, and headed off to her cabin. She didn’t want to be late for dinner.
• • •
Twenty minutes later, she entered the Valley of the Kings Dining Room with stories of the exquisite and elegant dining experience on a cruise ship bouncing through her head. Warm hues of red, orange, and yellow covering the bi-level room walls were reminiscent of a burning sunset in the desert night. Together with the soft background music, the dining room was warm and inviting. The colorfully dressed wait staff bustled about in celebration of “Fiesta” night. Her mouth was already watering from the lingering smell of refried beans and sizzling fajitas. What other tantalizing dishes awaited her?
Looking around, she wondered if Susie and Liz were assigned to sit in the same dining room. She made a mental note to ask them later. Was it too late to request a change in seating arrangements? She hoped not. If only she had thought of this earlier when she had time to kill by the pool.
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