Captives' Charade

by Susannah Merrill

  “I don’t think Sarah’s quite prepared for the sight of a corpse, Galena,” knowing his guess was correct when he felt her shudder. “Besides, we have to go.”

  “Wherearewegoing?”Sarahlookedup curiously, drinking in the sight of his gloriously handsome face.

  Stewart shook his head disbelievingly. “You don’t think we’ve gone to all this trouble to stay on the island? Sarah, we’re escaping. We’re going to America.”

  Itmustbeadream.Somuchhadhappened in the past few hours that escape had paled in comparison to survival. And now she was to have both! “Can Galena come with us?” the spontaneous question was met by Stewart’s speculative glance.

  “I think that is up to her, Sarah, though we would be happy to welcome her.” “Galena,willyoucome?”Sarahpleaded, reaching out to squeeze the dark-skinned young woman’s arm. “I-I don’t have a maid any longer,” she told her sadly, “and you’ve been so good to us.”

  “Señora,” Galena smiled warmly, returning the affection, “you make me very happy. But I not want to leave my people. I safe here now that bad pirate gone.”

  “Are they, Stewart?” Sarah asked, her face echoing concern for the waifish girl. “Is she safe remaining here?”

  “D’Alava and Turgot are dead and they were behind all this.” He spread his arm to indicate the mansion and the feudal system it represented. “Galena told me the other pirates are more or less peaceful, accepted as members of the community. I think she’s safe,” he reassured her, smiling at the grinning maid. “Perhaps she can now enjoy a life of her own, among her people. We could not give her that in my country.”

  “Ishallneverforgetyou,Galena,”Sarah murmured tearfully, turning from Stewart to give the girl a heartfelt hug. “Your kindness and friendship have more than made up for our captivity.”

  “You be here always for me,” Galena replied, pressing her hands to her breast when Sarah had released her. “Go now, quick!” She gave the other woman a hasty push, waving tearfully as Stewart pulled Sarah toward the front door.

  Outside, Stewart made a careful assessment of their jungle surroundings, silently cautioning Sarah not to speak as he led her quickly down the path that ended at the beach. She was brimming with a sense of well-being so pervasive that it never occurred to her to be afraid, not with her small hand tucked safely in Stewart’s much larger and stronger one, seeing only the reassuring breadth of his muscled shoulders before her. He was alive and whole, and her crushed and battered soul was resurrected and soaring.

  He stopped suddenly and Sarah saw that they were at the edge of the jungle which overlooked a wide expanse of light sand separating them from the slowly incoming tide. Farther out, looking much like a skeletal statue cast about on the restlessly lapping blue waters of the natural cove, was a ship. Stewart’s ship. “Damn,” he hissed impatiently, “the longboat is gone. We’ll have to swim.” He turned back to her, his look of preoccupied seriousness leaving her somewhat unsure. “Can you swim?”

  Not wishing to disappoint him, she answered, “I-I used to, as a child ....” With an angry toss of his wind-ru ffled hair, he ground out, “This is no bloody wading pool, Sarah. Listen and do exactly as I tell you, do you hear?” She nodded, wide-eyed. “We’re going to make a dash for the tide. Don’t look around. Just run for your life, do you understand?” She nodded. “As soon as we are well in the water, I want you to climb on my back. Hold on to my shoulders and as your life depends on it, don’t let go!” He again surveyed the coastline, and then pulling her up beside him, asked, “Are you ready?”

  “I’mready,”sheo fferedfirmly,hopingher confident timbre did not reveal the doubts that threatened to unnerve her. The ship seemed a speck on the horizon and the tide would fight their efforts all the way. Stewart was undoubtedly a strong swimmer, but could he make his destination with her clinging to his back?

  At least she could run swiftly, as Stewart was soon to note when they began their dash to the sea. Her long-legged strides nearly matched his own and when her skirts threatened to prove an encumbrance, she pulled her hand from his. Without breaking rhythm, she yanked her petticoat from beneath her gown until they pulled away with a ripping sound.

  Quickly understanding her action, Stewart grabbed the white material falling out from underneath her blue-flowered skirt and she fairly flew out of the constricting folds, stumbling only slightly over the heap. Her slippered feet hit the chilly waters only seconds before his and she made a high-stepping dash for as long as it was possible in the rising, choppy waves. Feeling strong and exhilarated by the cool, salty water, Sarah dived into the approaching wall of water, landing back on her feet in the shoulder-deep brine. She looked for Stewart and found him a few yards to her side, whipping the droplets from his suddenly straight hair. When he’d wiped his eyes, he spotted her, calling, “C’mon you brazen mermaid. Hold on to me and let’s hope Jeremiah sees us before the pirates do!”

  Bouncing up and down on the soft, sandy bottom, she navigated her way to him, grasping his shoulders without another word. Taking one last deep breath, Stewart plunged them into the swirling blue waters and took off in quick, powerful strokes. Sarah, painfully aware of her role as a hindrance, did her level best to hold on tight. But it seemed the longer Stewart swam, the farther away the ship lay anchored. How long could his determined arms and legs propel them before he reached exhaustion?

  And then, almost without warning, Sarah spied a vision that was imminently more threatening than the limits of Stewart’s endurance. A long boat was coming toward them at great speed. Six or eight men, she could not tell for sure, manned the oars. Pirates!

  She must have cried out, for Stewart momentarily broke his feverish pace, casting his gaze about until he, too, spotted the swiftly approaching vessel. There was no way they could reach the ship before they were captured, but Stewart was bound and determined to try. With inhuman fortitude, he forced his fatigue-shaken limbs to move them onward. But even he was forced to admit defeat when the unmistakable ping of gunshot sprayed about them in the treacherous waters.

  “Hold your breath,” he sputtered over his shoulder and when headlong into the underwater until Sarah thought her chest would explode. Surfacing again amidst a spray of bullets, he repeated his command as Sarah gulped convulsively for life-giving air. Bent on playing this desperate game of hide-and-seek, the swimmers were unaware that another boat had entered the churning waters, fast on a course that, if successful, would cut off the pirates from their prey.

  she nodded, he plunged brackish sea, swimming

  It was a miracle, nothing short of it, Sarah decided when, after she broke water for what could only be the last time, she witnessed the strange scene of one pirate, then another, and still another, falling overboard. They weren’t diving, but screaming and plummeting awkwardly. But how ..?

  It was Stewart who realized they had been rescued at last, suddenly pulling her arm so she slid off his back, then holding her by the waist as they treaded water. They had been sighted by Jeremiah and it was the Endeavour’s longboat crew that had been responsible for the shower of bullets, holding off the pirates from their quarry until they were within range to murder.

  “We’ve been saved,” Stewart managed to gasp as he watched the lopsided skirmish. The speeding pirates’ boat had suddenly become a ghost ship as its crew was annihilated before any had a chance to turn tail and run.

  And then they could make out the poised, commanding figure of Captain Slade standing at the bow, two pistols in his hands, directing the oarsmen toward them. Bedraggled, nearly drowned, the two clung to each other, lacking even enough energy to hail their rescuers. And when the vessel finally made its way alongside them, and Sarah felt Jeremiah’s steady hands pulling her up, she managed a small “thank you” before falling into a peaceful unconsciousness she wanted to last forever.

  CHAPTER 30

  Itwasevening.Thedullgoldenglowofa lantern swinging silently with the rolling ship made dark, yet strangely warm and comforting shadow
s about the spacious cabin. From among the snuggling folds of the downy comforter draped over her in the oversized bunk, Sarah eyed the familiar surroundings peacefully, knowing full well where she was and that she was safe.

  But she was tired, so tired her muscles ached, and there was a briny taste in her mouth, as well as a gnawing emptiness in her stomach. Still the physical discomforts did little to assuage the numbing restfulness that came with knowing all was well.

  Ornearlyso.Asfullconsciousnesswas regained, a painful germ of unhappiness fought for dominance of her thoughts. She was safe, rid of the terrible fears that had engulfed her when d’Alava sought to claim her for his own, but the fact remained that divine intervention had saved her, and not the man she loved with all her heart. Oh, it was true that Stewart had killed the horrible pirate and had risked his own life to spare hers, but the miserable truth was still a soul-searing reality: Stewart had planned to leave her behind.

  But why? Did he really consider her such a burden that she was not worth rescuing? She had made it clear that he owed her nothing for her rash but glorious capitulation. She’d avoided talk of the future, making no demands. Surely he knew she’d gone into their affair with open eyes, and that the conditions she’d so naively laid down months ago had no bearing on their future.

  Was he simply a cruel and selfish man? No, her mind argued as a single tear dropped from her lower lash, No, she had experienced too much patience, too many kindnesses at his hands to believe that to be true. Then what? Why?

  As if on cue, the object of her aggravated thoughts suddenly appeared in the room, coming out of the shadows to carefully study her troubled yet brave smile. “Are you feeling all right?” His deep baritone filled the space between them, making her feel warmer and happier than her previous thoughts had given right to.

  “I’mfine,really,”sheansweredquickly, brushing a hand across her dampened cheek and lifting herself up hastily, then smoothing the blankets round her slender form.

  “Then why the tears?” he challenged, his dark eyes expressing concern though his jaw held stiff in an inscrutable, distant way, pricking Sarah with wariness. Was he angry?

  “I am relieved ... exhausted ... I don’t know,” she shrugged with an attempt at lightheartedness. “Silly of me.”

  “You’ve been through quite an ordeal,” he announced soberly. His aloofness was understandable in light of what she knew, but no less hurtful. Her mind strove to find something to relieve the tension.

  “Are you all right?” By appearance, he looked dashing, carefully groomed and clothed in a thick black jersey and breeches, his complexion robust despite the lines of fatigue on his finely chiseled features.

  “Thatswimwasabitmuch,”hegrinned, suddenly lighting up the room, his teeth gleaming white in sharp contrast to his darkened figure, “but otherwise, I am fit. Glad to be off that damned island.”

  “I, too,” Sarah replied shyly, studying her nervous fingers as they fumbled with the hem of the bed sheet. “However did Jeremiah and the crew retake the ship? I thought the men were under constant surveillance.”

  “It’s a long story,” Stewart sighed. “Would you rather eat something? You must be hungry.”

  “IamnotnearlyashungryasIamcurious.I think I have waited long enough to learn the facts.” Stewart’s eyebrows arched slightly, but his voice remained cool. “I was merely seeing to your needs. There’s a broth warming on the stove. May I suggest you eat while I talk?”

  Sarahblushed,replyingdemurely,“That would be fine.” He left her bedside for the shadows on the other side of the room, returning moments later with a steaming, fragrant bowl of soup on a small tray, which he placed on the pillow she had arranged on her lap. He then turned to pull up a chair beside the bunk, settling himself comfortably while she spooned the first delicious mouthful. “Mmm. This is lovely,” she murmured in response to his questioning gaze. “So tell me, please, how did you and Jeremiah recapture the Endeavour?”

  Stewart snorted derisively. “Well, in many ways it was like taking candy from a babe. For pirates, d’Alava’s men were a strangely complacent rabble. On the nights when they bothered to form a watch, the crew would be counted on to sleep through it. They cared little about holding prisoners. After all, they expected our freedom eventually, just as we did. Why should we try to escape?

  “At any rate, as our captivity stretched on interminably, Jeremiah and I decided to act on the assumption that d’Alava had no intention of letting us go, at least not in the near future. But when Tegan was ... discovered,” he uttered the phrase carefully, but Sarah still flinched upon hearing him, “we saw that our time was running out. No telling how soon he would learn the truth.”

  “He did know,” Sarah interrupted. “He told me that it was Turgot who-who ....” She was unable to finish. Stewart quickly reached out a comforting hand to rest on her covered leg, a familiar intimacy so natural neither noticed the impropriety of it.

  “I know, Sarah,” he soothed, leaning forward. “And if it makes you feel any better, Turgot paid dearly for his crimes.” Her saucer-like eyes stared into his for the answer. “Ezra, God bless the lad, finished him off, saving Jeremiah’s life in the process. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Are you certain you want to hear all this?”

  “Pleasegoon,”shemurmured.“Ireallydo want to know everything.” “Well, you knew we were up to something,” he continued conspiratorially, his hand still touching her leg, “with me leaving every night. I can tell you, dearest, that was sheer torture.” His voice bathed her intimately, and she struggled to ignore his tone. She studied the bowl of soup on her lap, her heart throbbing at his verbal caress. “We managed to prepare the ship for sailing, stocking up enough supplies to get us to Charleston, we’re estimating. Fortunately, we even managed to recover some of our weapons, or you and I would not be here discussing our victory,” he added, referring to the frightening ambush at sea.

  “But how did the crew escape ... and in broad daylight?” “As I said, the guard was practically nonexistent,” Stewart continued. “We were able to hide away almost half the crew over the four nights without anyone noticing ... or perhaps ‘caring’ is a better word. D’Alava and Turgot hadn’t nearly the loyal band they thought. Most of those pirates wanted nothing more than to live peacefully in the village. D’Alava had enough booty to last them all a lifetime, though it doesn’t appear he was fair in dividing the spoils. The only time the men got halfway decent treatment was when they went on raids, which, I suppose, is why they even bothered to go. That and the thrill ....” Stewart sighed, raking his hand through his darkly waving hair.

  “Sowhathappened?Whatwentwrong?” Sarah knew she was venturing into painful territory, but she needed to hear the truth from his lips.

  “We had planned to leave tonight,” Stewart went on, absently plucking at the blanket covering her legs. “Everything was perfect – the winds, the tide, the weather – everything that is, except our cover. We knew d’Alava was suspicious, but we hadn’t planned on him making his move today.”

  Asifshewererelivingadream,Sarah whispered, “He said you were d-dead.” Her body shivered with remembered anguish.

  “Had things gone as he expected, I would be,” Stewart told her simply. “I was ambushed on my way to the worksite this morning. Knocked over the head and tossed down a ravine on the other side of the lagoon.” At Sarah’s look of horror, he added, “Good thing my executioner didn’t check his work, or I might very well be dead.”

  “But you must have been hurt terribly.” Stewart shrugged. “A knot on the head, a few bumps, bruises. Obviously somebody wants me alive,” he chuckled, “for it was hard to believe I survived either the blow or the fall. Quite a stretch of time passed before I regained consciousness and managed to climb back up the ravine. In the meantime, Turgot had gone after Jeremiah, but hadn’t counted on Ezra coming up behind him or his skill with the sabre. We might have lost our able captain were it not for that brave boy.” He added, his voice softening. “I thin
k his courage was borne out of the need to avenge Tegan’s death. He took it personally, you know.”

  “Poor Ezra,” Sarah sighed sadly. “He promised he would protect her, but it wasn’t his fault.” Pausing briefly to gather courage for her next words, she whispered, “I wanted to thank you for rescuing me. I know things did not go quite as you’d planned ....”

  “Now there’s an understatement,” Stewart rejoined swiftly, causing her troubled eyes to grow wide with surprise. She hadn’t expected him to admit so readily to his decision to leave her behind. But she had misunderstood, as his next words proved. “When I caught sight of that bastard dragging you off, I realized just how close we’d come to bungling the whole escape.” His dark eyes bore into her with a look of both anger and sorrow, an odd combination, impossible to judge. “Did he hurt you, Sarah?”

  Thepaincouldnotbedisguised.“Not physically,” she replied through clenched teeth, using every effort to hold back the tears. The fact that he had gone rigid and aloof did not make it easier.

  His voice was cold, “And what is that supposed to mean?” “Meaning,” she breathed heavily, “he showed me what a fool I had been to trust others when my life is at stake.”

  Stewart’s tone took on a strangely eerie quality, as if he could not quite believe what his ears were hearing. “You ... a fool? For trusting me? What did d’Alava tell you, Sarah?”

  Suddenly, Sarah realized she did not want to hear either his confession or his lies. She fumbled for words to extricate herself from the force of Stewart’s gaze. “Please. The past is over. Let’s not bother to talk about it anymore.”

  With the grace and speed of a cat, he had leapt from the chair and was sitting beside her on the bed, his strong hands grasping her wrists as the tray rattled off her lap, sloshing the remains of the soup about as it slid to the bed. She struggled to hide her tearful face, but he persisted, pulling her arms away until she was forced to look at his steely countenance. “It seems you’ve more than one secret to hide from me, Sarah. Now tell me, what did d’Alava say?”