The Buccaneer

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The Buccaneer Page 32

by Donna Fletcher


  The men grabbed her and sat her on the balustrade and then with strength and skill they lowered her slowly, easing her away from the side of the ship.

  She grasped the rope above the knot that locked her hands together. She wouldn't look down. She looked up at the clear blue sky and swallowed the lump in her throat. She sent several silent prayers to the heavens above and attempted to recall all the lessons Lucian had given her on swimming and breathing properly.

  She gave a glance at the Black Skull hoping to see Lucian one last time, hoping to shout her love to him. Her eyes were too blinded with tears and fright to see him, but she called out her love to him hoping he'd hear her as the water grabbed at her feet and pulled her under.

  Lucian watched in horror as Catherine was lowered into the sea. He heard her call to him. Heard her fear. Heard her love for him. Shock and disbelief at what she was about to suffer froze him for a second and then his scream of outrage pierced the air and sent a rush of terror through every man on the Black Skull.

  Lucian lunged for the side without thought or reason. Santos grabbed for him. Bones and Jolly jumped for the captain as well and other crew members flung themselves at him, preventing him from jumping after Catherine. It took ten men to contain him.

  "Lucian," Santos yelled, attempting to get through to him. "Lucian, think. You can't help Catherine by throwing yourself into the sea after her. You'll never reach her. You can't help her that way."

  His words finally penetrated Lucian's mind and he ceased his struggles. One by one the men released him just in case he had a change of heart.

  Santos was the last to let him go.

  "I'm going to kill him," Lucian announced calmly, his hands gripping the wood rail so tight that Santos thought for sure the wood would splinter. "I'm going to gut him and feed him to the fish."

  Santos felt the same way, watching as Catherine struggled to keep her head above the water. He pointed to her. "Catherine fights to survive. You can do no less for her."

  Lucian looked and caught sight of her pitiful struggles, causing his heart to rip in two from the pain she had to be enduring. She would slip beneath the surface and just when he thought she could breathe no more, her head surfaced to drink deep breaths of air before the sea swallowed her once again.

  "Breathe, Catherine," he whispered his encouragement. "Breathe as I taught you. Don't give up. Please don't give up."

  "Captain, an island up ahead," Bones shouted from atop the mast.

  Lucian realized then Charles's intention. Charles was drawing him into a confrontation, using Catherine in such a horrid manner that it would enrage Lucian beyond control and reason, leaving him vulnerable to Charles's attack.

  But Charles had made a dreadful mistake. He had harmed what belonged to Lucifer and in so doing released the devil's wrath from the fires of hell.

  o0o

  Catherine surfaced once again, a prayer trembling from her lips as her numb fingers fought to grasp the rope and hold her above the water. Her body ached, her arm muscles burned, she was completely worn out, her strength gone.

  The water would swallow her soon and this time she would not have the strength to fight against it. This time it would claim her forever.

  The rough tug startled her and slowly she was drawn upward away from the sea that clawed at her body, fighting to claim her. Weak, grasping the rope feebly, her wrists, arms, and shoulders torn with pain, she was hefted up over the side of Charles's ship and deposited on the deck.

  Catherine breathed deeply and slowly, not caring that her soaked nightdress molded against her skin, leaving her almost naked before the crew. She was alive and Lucian was close by. He would come for her. She had no cause to worry. None. Then the pain ripped through her lower belly and she fainted.

  She woke to shouts and chaos as the anchor was dropped and the longboat lowered. Before she could gather her thoughts she was scooped up over a large pirate's shoulder and carelessly taken down the rope ladder to the longboat below.

  She huddled in pain, cradling her belly with her arms and moaning almost silently to herself. "Hurry, Lucian. Please hurry."

  The distance to the beach was short and in no time she was once again handled carelessly, being roughly deposited on the white warm sand. She stayed crumpled as she was, the pain having subsided momentarily and having no wish to disturb the blissful peace.

  Shouts and hammering went on around her and she glanced up briefly, catching sight of the Black Skull's longboat being lowered and the men dropping down into it. Lucian would be here soon. Very soon.

  "Stake her!" Charles shouted. "I want her clearly visible as he rows toward shore."

  Abject terror widened Catherine's eyes and she screamed when a pirate grabbed her and dragged her to the stake not far from the water's edge. Two other foul-smelling pirates helped the other one to tie her against the stake. Her hands were secured tightly behind her back and her ankles were wrapped with rope, drawing them firmly against the stake. Another rope ran under her breasts just above her pregnant belly, flattening her completely back against the splintered wood.

  She couldn't move and when another pain consumed her stomach all she could do was bite down on her lip and pray for Lucian's speedy arrival.

  "He's coming," a pirate shouted. "The devil is coming."

  Catherine lifted her head slowly and with tearful relief caught sight of Lucian. He stood tall at the bow of the boat, his eyes focused on her. His red hair blew wild around him and his eyes glared with murderous revenge. The sea wind rippled his black shirt against his chest and whipped his sash around his thick legs. He held his cutlass in his hand ready to battle, ready to free her.

  She smiled as another pain attacked her and before she bit down on her lip to stifle her cry she whispered softly, "Lucifer."

  Chapter Thirty-two

  Lucian vaulted from the boat into the gently rolling surf near shore. His boots sank in the water nearly to his calves, but he marched on, the water splashing out of his way.

  His men followed behind him, each certain that Catherine's captor would not live out the next hour. Every man in the longboat had reached out for the captain when they had watched in horror as Catherine had been tied to the stake.

  But Lucian had remained still, deathly still, his only words, "Charles is mine."

  His men marched confidently behind him, each prepared to battle to the death for their captain and his lady.

  Lucian ignored Charles and his crew, walking right past their startled faces, straight to Catherine. Nothing would stop him from reaching her. Nothing.

  He showed no emotion, but his concern for her tender condition tore at his heart and ripped at his soul. She hung on the stake like a worn-out rag doll. Her wet nightdress was plastered to her very pregnant body and her silver hair dripped water along her face. But worst of all he could see and feel her pain and worry. It scarred him much worse than any lash to his back.

  One of Charles's hired pirates stepped toward Lucian in an attempt to stop him. Lucian never halted his stride; he threw his fist out, forcibly backhanding the man and breaking his nose.

  No one else dared to prevent him from reaching Catherine.

  "Angel," he said softly, and with a skillful slice of his cutlass cut the rope that bound her.

  "Are you all right?" he asked, her body trembling.

  Catherine raised her face and favored him with a weak smile. "My swim tired me out."

  He shook his head at her ability to joke about her harsh ordeal. "The baby?" he asked anxiously.

  She couldn't alarm him about her labor. His attention to the problem at hand was required. "He's fine."

  He kissed her gently, tasting the broken skin along her lower lip. "When I finish killing this bastard, you can tell me how you really feel," he said. "Until then you will sit right here and rest while I send him to hell."

  Bones and Jolly flanked her sides after Lucian eased her down to sit on the sand. He took off his shirt and slipped it around Catherine
's shoulders, pulling it around her.

  "Stay put," he ordered before walking off.

  Only when he was a safe distance away from her did she allow herself a small moan against the pain that ripped through her.

  Both men looked down at her where she sat crossed-legged and cradling her belly.

  "Shhh," she whispered, holding her finger to her lips, warning them that no one was to know of her discomfort.

  Both men nodded, too startled to respond any other way.

  "So, my dear half-brother, we finally meet," Charles said as Lucian approached him.

  Lucian stood a few feet away from him, his eyes quickly assessing his opponent. Charles was inches shorter than him, his frame lean, and a gleam of revenge in his brown eyes. Lucian deemed Charles an opponent not to be underestimated, but one not capable of besting him. Not with the rage that raced through Lucian's blood. "A shame you went through all this trouble, Charles, for nothing."

  "Nothing?" Charles asked curiously.

  "It appears Elliot wasn't honest with you."

  Charles looked at him oddly.

  "Lucian laughed wickedly. "I am not your half-brother. And Elliot Darcmoor was not my father."

  Charles exploded. "What nonsense do you speak?"

  Lucian stalked him slowly, walking in a circle around Charles in steady steps. "A shame your father didn't tell you of my true parentage, but then he probably was too ashamed that he harbored a bastard in his home to relate such a tale."

  "You mean the Darcmoor title and lands are mine" he asked greedily.

  "Afraid not. I have no intention of forfeiting them, and without proof, everyone assumes that I am Elliot's son. But that should be of no concern to you anyway."

  "And why is that?"

  "I intend to kill you."

  Charles laughed. "Did your whore's swimming show upset you that much?"

  Lucian struck out so fast that Charles never saw the blow coming. Blood spewed from the cut on his cheek and he stumbled back onto his bottom.

  Charles wiped the blood from his face with his sleeve, and then jumped back to his feet.

  Lucian discarded his cutlass and summoned him with a flick of his hands. "Come on, Charles, I'm waiting."

  Charles threw his sword to the ground and inched around Lucian. "One other thing you should know."

  Lucian stared at him, his hands ready to choke the life from him.

  He delivered his news with no remorse. "I helped my father kill your mother. She was in the way of our plans."

  Lucian's stomach twisted in a pain so sharp he almost screamed his torment. Instead he said, "I'm going to enjoy killing you."

  Charles grinned. "It's a heady sensation. I sat watching your mother die."

  Lucian lunged at him, flesh meeting flesh in powerful blows that sent the surrounding pirates cheering.

  They broke apart, Charles spitting blood from the blow Lucian had delivered to his mouth. His breath came in short gasps when he spoke. "Your mother died with your name on her lips. Heartbroken that she wasn't able to see you one last time."

  Lucian struck out again, Charles no match for his superior strength and raging fury. Charles's men, realizing he was in trouble, threw him a dagger as he stumbled away from Lucian's powerful blows.

  Santos cried out to Lucian, tossing him a dagger.

  One of Charles's men dove for it, causing both crews to join in a melee. Daggers and fists flew.

  Bones and Jolly remained by Catherine, each man throwing feigned blows, anxious to be part of the brawl as they watched their crewmates fight.

  Lucian circled Charles eyeing the dagger he held.

  "I killed Marissa and I enjoyed killing that idiot father of mine. He thought he could control me. Have me jump to his commands. He was a fool. And now it is your turn to die," Charles said, and swung the dagger straight for Lucian's face.

  Lucian side-stepped the awkward attack, but Charles returned with speed and Lucian shielded the blows with skill.

  Lucian managed to maneuver them toward the water's edge away from the heart of the fighting. Charles panted heavily, but fought like a madman bent on revenge.

  A sudden side blow quickly deflected caught Lucian's arm, grazing his skin. His leg swung out, taking Charles down, and Lucian followed heavily on top of him. Viciously the two men fought for the one weapon, rolling in the water, struggling in a wild frenzy.

  Lucian squeezed Charles's wrist, smashing it repeatedly against a half-buried rock protruding from the water. The knife fell from his hand, disappearing beneath the shallow water.

  Lucian smashed his fist into Charles's face twice. Charles returned the blows, barely grazing Lucian's cheek. They rolled, they tumbled, until frantic for victory, Charles made a sudden dive for the dagger in the water.

  "Lucian!" Santos yelled, and flung him a dagger.

  Charles stood, dagger in hand and a victorious smile spread across his face as he lunged wild and wide-eyed toward Lucian.

  Remaining on his knees Lucian raised his hand, capturing the flying dagger just as Charles reached him. Charles attacked from above as Lucian aimed from below straight for Charles's gut.

  Lucian's blade sunk in and with one powerful slice Lucian tore the blade upward, splitting him open.

  Santos hurried to his friend's side, ignoring Charles's dead body at Lucian's feet and the blood that pooled in the water around him.

  "You better hurry. The baby," Santos said nervously.

  Lucian handed the weapon to Santos and stepped over Charles's body, stopping briefly to wash the blood from his hands.

  Lucian rushed up to Catherine, dropping to his knees in front of her.

  She frantically grabbed at his arm. "The baby's coming."

  "Don't worry. You'll be fine," he assured her, and carefully scooped her up into his arms and hurried to the longboat. Bones and Jolly followed, grabbing a few more men to help row as they passed by the fighting.

  Santos was left behind to clear up the mess, the boat returning for him after Catherine was safely on the Black Skull.

  "Lucian," she cried, doubling in his arms as another pain consumed her.

  He attempted to soothe her, her intense pain frightening the hell out of him. "Easy, angel. I'll have you on the ship soon. You'll be all right."

  She shook her head. "No. I fear it is too soon and the child and I will die. I don't want to die, Lucian. I don't want to leave you. I want to share my life with you and our child. I love you."

  "You are not going to die," he said sternly, as though hugging her fiercely to him would save her from death. "I will not allow you to leave me. Not now. Not ever.

  Once on deck, her father rushed over. "Catherine?"

  "She's in labor," Lucian informed him, and wasted no time in taking her to his cabin, Abelard close on his heels.

  A scream tore from her when he laid her on the bed. She curled on her side, rubbing her belly.

  "Madam," he shouted at Catherine. "You will face this delivery with the same bravado and tenacity you faced me the first time we met."

  "Don't speak to her that way," Abelard objected, feeling helpless to help his daughter.

  "Get out," he ordered Abelard. "This is between Catherine and me."

  "Papa," she cried, reaching out her hand to him.

  Lucian grabbed Abelard's arm and forcibly walked him to the door. "If you love her, you will leave her to my care."

  Abelard nodded though he winced when she screamed "Papa" again.

  "Get me hot water and see about clean blankets and sheets," Lucian ordered, shoving him out the door and locking it behind him.

  He hurried back to Catherine. "You will listen to me, madam."

  "It hurts so badly, Lucian," she said, twisting as another pain tore through her.

  "Catherine," he said, sharply. "You will obey my every word. Is that clear?'

  "No!" she shouted back at him.

  He smiled pleased. She still retained her obstinacy. She hadn't given up yet. He sat beside her
on the bed, grabbing her hands, offering his for her to squeeze until she broke them if necessary. "Let me help you, angel."

  She grasped his hands, pulling at him. "I'm frightened. So frightened I'm going to lose our child."

  He leaned down and kissed her gently, running his tongue over her bitten lower lip. "With both our stubbornness I don't think there's a chance in hell we'll let our child die."

  She smiled briefly and bit her lip as another pain hit her.

  Lucian tore his one hand free from her and stroked her stomach. "Easy, angel, easy," he cajoled, helping her through the intense contraction.

  It passed and Catherine breathed a heavy sigh of relief.

  "Let's get you out of this wet nightdress," he said, and without waiting for her agreement stripped it off her. He took a clean sheet from the trunk at the foot of the bed and slipped it beneath her bottom. Then he took another one and draped it over her.

  In between her pains he fussed over her, talked with her, teased her, asked her about names for their baby and when she would like to give this baby a brother or sister. He received a punch for that remark through it was delivered with a smile.

  Time wore on and the Black Skull set sail for Heaven. While the crew paced the deck in anticipation of the baby's delivery, the captain navigated his wife through each contraction.

  "I'm too tired, I can't do this anymore," Catherine complained.

  "You can and you will," Lucian demanded sternly, fearing her surrender would mean death for her and the child.

  "I won't," she cried, feeling another pain charging across her belly. "I won't. I won't. I won't!"

  "Yes, you will," Lucian ordered, grabbing her hands and holding onto them tightly. "Fight, damn you, Catherine. Fight."

  She shook her head. "I'm not strong enough."

  "You were strong enough to fight me."

  "I used my head and it wasn't nearly as painful."

  "That first time you stood in front of me, a virgin, never seen naked by any man, wasn't that frighteningly painful for you?"

  She thought back, remembering her fear and her determination. "Yes, Lucian. I was frightened."

 

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