Fire and Ice

by Hart, Catherine

  Kathleen unsheathed her rapier with a smile, her pearly teeth flashing. “ ’Tis your own pride you should fear for, sir. And just for the record, my title aboard this frigate is Captain, not madam.”

  Sounds of the fight rose to them from the deck below. Kathleen presented her weapon and shouted over the din, “En garde.”

  With a slight shrug of his broad shoulders, Reed did likewise.

  At first Kathleen let him take the offensive while she parried his blows and studied his moves. Her eyes never left his as she danced away from his flashing rapier. Surprise registered momentarily on Reed’s face, and then his face became a blank mask, except for his ice-blue eyes. Kathleen had counted on that, and found she could anticipate most of his moves by watching his eyes. Of course, Reed was applying the same technique with her, so the contest was near evenly matched.

  “Damn!” Reed swore silently. “The wench is good! Where, I wonder, did she learn to fence so well? If she weren’t such a slight little twit, I might start to worry, but I know that rapier is heavy and she’ll tire soon.”

  As the match wore on, Kathleen showed no sign of slowing. In fact, if anything, she was countering better. A moment came when the tables turned, and both of them realized that Kathleen had placed Reed on the defensive. Her blows were strong and well-calculated. Her sword lashed out at him time and again, so swiftly that he had only time to deflect the blows, and none in which to attack. He side-stepped several of her lunges and suddenly he saw his opportunity. Throwing all his strength into a forward motion, his blade met hers and slid to the hilt, and he shoved her to the deck. As their swords parted, her blade swung up in an arc and slid up the inside of his leg. All at once he found himself in the precarious situation of having the point of her sword at his manhood. He drew in his breath sharply.

  From where she had fallen to one knee, Kathleen looked up at him. A smile dawned at the corners of her mouth, and a husky laugh broke forth to dance across the waves and echo back to them. Gooseflesh worked its way down Reed’s spine as he looked down into bright green eyes glittering with malice.

  “Well now, Captain,” she said softly. “It seems you have a decision to make. Tell me. Have you any children?”

  “Not as yet.” Somehow Reed managed to speak the words in a clear, unwavering voice.

  “Then I suggest you hand over your weapon if you hope to father any in the future.” She gave him a leering grin as he complied. “I applaud your wisdom.”

  She reached out and drew his knife from his boot top. “Now,” she said, “very carefully remove your pistol with the fingertips of your left hand, and hand it to me.” Her eyes searched him for other weapons. “Turn around slowly.” She stood, and with her swordtip at his back, plucked another knife from his belt.

  From her vantage point, she looked to the deck below. Proudly she noted that her men had fared as well as she. The battle was over, the day was won. All eyes followed them as she directed Reed down the ladder.

  “The good captain and I are going aboard his ship,” she announced with a chuckle that made Reed's blood boil. “I want three men to follow and check the hold for goods. She rides high, so I doubt she carries much,” she ribbed.

  Kathleen’s guess was good. There was no booty to be had on the Kat-Ann. Finley reported this to her and asked, “Shall we fire the ship. Captain?”

  Reed’s face blanched white as he awaited her reply.

  “Not this time, I’m thinking.” Looking up at Reed, she added, “We’ll meet again, Captain, and perhaps you will have more to offer next time.”

  The nerve in Reed’s cheek twitched angrily, but he replied evenly, “Believe me, madam, we will indeed meet again. But do not count on the outcome of that day. You cannot be so outlandishly lucky twice running.”

  His eyes raked her body as he slowly undressed her in his mind. Then he looked deeply into her eyes and declared, “Rest assured, Captain Green Eyes, it will be more than booty I shall demand in payment for this day.”

  “We’ll see, won’t we?” Kathleen replied with a devilish grin. Turning her head, she instructed Finley, “Have the men remove the firing devices from all the cannons and place them in a gunnysack, then take them aboard the Enchantress.”

  When that was done, Kathleen returned to her own ship, but not before she swept Reed a gallant bow, winked wickedly, and commented, “Since you carry no cargo, I really should demand you pay me with your body, but I haven’t the time to dally today. Perhaps when we meet again. I’ll wager you surrender nicely.”

  They lifted anchor and Kathleen steered the Emerald Enchantress to the bow of the Kat-Ann. Then she had two of her crew tie the sack of firing devices to the Kat-Ann’s bowsprit. By the time the crew of the Kat-Ann untied them and replaced them in the guns, the Emerald Enchantress would be long out of sight.

  Chapter 19

  KATHLEEN and Ted sat quietly in a corner of the library at Chimera playing chess. Eleanore sat reading nearby in an overstuffed chair, her feet curled up beneath her. Though it was early afternoon, lamps were lit already. The day was gray, with rain pouring in torrents against the window-panes. Periodically, lightning would slice through the clouds and thunder would growl ominously.

  All three looked up simultaneously as Susan entered bearing a tea tray. “Mother thought you might like some spiced tea.”

  Eleanore uncurled like a lazy kitten. “Mmmm, yes. That sounds lovely. What about you, Kathleen?”

  Kathleen stood up and stretched. With a light chuckle, she walked to the divan. “It will give me something to do while Ted figures out his next move. Thank you, Susan.” Ted looked up indignantly. “Susie, bring me a cup over here, will you, please? Miss Smarty-Pants has me boxed in, and it looks like I’ll be a while figuring a way out.”

  The three girls exchanged a look of amusement.

  “That will teach you to play out of your league.” Kathleen stuck out her tongue at him playfully.

  “Well, it appears you are feeling much better,” came a deep voice from the doorway.

  Four heads swiveled. Kathleen’s face immediately set into grim lines as she saw Reed standing there, his broad shoulders filling the doorway.

  “Reed! You’re home!” Susan exclaimed joyfully. She put down her tea and ran to embrace her brother.

  “Glad you’re back, Reed,” Ted called from his seat near the window. “I’ve been hoping you would turn up soon. Eddie Newcomb’s uncle has a horse I’m seriously considering, but I wanted you to see him first and advise me.”

  “Will it wait a day or two until I get some business around here in order?”

  “Yeah, I suppose so, but Gerard Ainsley has his eye on him too, and I don’t want to wait too long. I’ll talk to Eddie and ask him to hold off for a few days.”

  Reed sauntered over and deposited his long frame on the divan next to Kathleen. She and Eleanore exchanged a quick look of anxiety.

  Accepting a cup of steaming tea, Reed smiled lazily. “Hello, Eleanore. Have you heard anything from Charles yet?”

  “As a matter of fact, I got a letter from him just today. He’s staying with a fellow doctor and friend of his in Boston. He is very impressed with the caliber of doctors who are scheduled to speak at the seminar.” Eleanore took a sip of her tea and asked innocently, “How was your venture?”

  Reed gave a disgusted grunt. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”

  “Oh? That bad, huh? Well, now you’ve gotten me curious. Pray tell us what happened,” Eleanore pressed.

  Kathleen, who was having a devil of a time suppressing a grin, dared not look at either Eleanore or Reed. “By jiminy, what an actress you are, Eleanore,” she thought as she mentally tipped her hat to her friend.

  “Did you have some sort of trouble?” Susan added concernedly.

  Now Ted was interested, coming to join the group around the tea table. “I say, did something unusual happen?”

  “You might say that, though after I tell you, that will seem an understatement.
The fact of the matter is, I had an encounter with a pirate ship, not once but twice.”

  “A pirate ship!” Susan’s hands went to her throat as she eyed her brother with both worry and awe.

  “My! How exciting!” Eleanore sat up straighter in her chair, brown eyes twinkling. “What happened? Did they confiscate your cargo? Did you fight? Were many of your men killed?”

  “Yes! Yes” Ted urged. “Go on. Tell us all the gory and glorious details.”

  “There isn’t much to tell, actually. Yes, we fought. No, no one was killed, and yes, she has my cargo.”

  “She!” Eleanore exclaimed, and then relaxed in her chair. “Oh, I keep forgetting you refer to all ships in the feminine gender.”

  “You were right the first time, Eleanore. I wasn’t referring to the ship, but the pirate captain. I still can’t believe it myself!”

  Reed gave Kathleen a long look. “You are remarkably quiet. Aren’t there any questions you have about this unusual occurrence, or are we boring you?”

  “Not at all. I was just wondering what this woman pirate would look like. I suppose she was very mannish in appearance?”

  “On the contrary. I have rarely seen a woman more beautiful!” He waited for her reaction, and got none.

  “Pray go on, Reed!” Ted was all ears.

  “You wouldn’t have believed her, Ted. It is a good thing you were not along, or you may have joined up with her. I do believe most of my men were jealous of her crew. She has the longest legs I’ve ever seen on a woman, and they were in full view, as she wore breeches cut off so short that they barely covered her bottom.”

  Ted’s eyes widened, and Reed went on, “She wore a matching green vest with no shirt beneath, and the view between the lacings would have made you drool.”

  Ted groaned aloud, and Susan’s face flushed as she stared at her brother.

  “I’m sorry, Sis,” Reed apologized. “I shouldn’t be saying these things before ladies.”

  “That’s quite all right,” the three girls chorused together.

  “Don’t stop there. I’ll die of curiosity!” Eleanore protested.

  “She wore a mask, but still her face looked lovely, and she had eyes as green as Kathleen’s and hair as black as Titan’s coat, long and satiny.” He glanced at Kathleen.

  “An angel!” Ted sighed as he collapsed ecstatically into the nearest chair.

  “Angel my foot! The devil’s own daughter! She wields a rapier with a finesse most men would envy, and all the while she is tantalizing you with that voluptuous body. Her frigate is aptly named, for she calls it the Emerald Enchantress—after the color, which is entirely green, sails and all, or after her own tempting self, I am not sure which.”

  “Brother, dear, how can you go on so about this woman as if you admire her? She has stolen your cargo!” Susan was aghast.

  “Quite right, Susie, but we shall meet again, I am sure. I know it as surely as I know the sun will rise tomorrow, and our next encounter will have an entirely different outcome.”

  “How can you be so sure?” Kathleen interjected. “She obviously bested you this time. It seems you have met your match at last, Reed.” Her green eyes danced merrily.

  “Are you jealous?” Reed’s eyebrows raised curiously, a smug look on his face.

  “Not particularly,” Kathleen countered. “I’d have to be interested in you to be jealous, now wouldn’t I? And we both know donkeys will sprout wings before that happens.”

  Amid the astonished expressions of her friends, Kathleen rose gracefully and exited the room. Reed was clenching his teeth in anger in an effort to hold back an equally scathing retort that would have made his gentle sister swoon.

  Playing the recovering invalid, Kathleen had both her supper and breakfast the next morning served on a tray in her room. Unwilling to tip her hand, she had not ridden Zeus since her accident. Late morning found her leaning against the gate of the paddock coaxing him with carrots, when Reed sauntered up to stand beside her.

  “How are you feeling, Kat?”

  “I’m right as rain, thank you. Now go away. I don’t want to talk to you.” She flashed him a hateful look.

  “I don’t care!” He spun her around to face him, holding her chin in his palm so she could not turn away. “I want to speak to you, and you are going to cooperate,” he told her firmly. “Have you given any thought to what I said to you before I left?”

  “You said a great many things. To which are you referring?”

  “Don’t play dumb, Kat. It’s not your style. I want you to tell everyone we are married and live with me as my wife.”

  “Look, you stubborn lop-eared mule!” she exploded, her face red with fury. “I told you no and I meant no!”

  She, in turn, took his face between her palms, holding his head steady. “Now,” she said, “watch my lips very carefully.” Very slowly and distinctly, in a voice Charles could have heard in Boston, she repeated, “No!”

  “Yes!” he yelled back.

  “No, never!” she shouted, shaking her head back and forth on every syllable.

  “Blast!” Reed expounded at the end of her tirade. “You are the most irascible, irritating, insensitive female God ever placed upon this earth!”

  All at once he became contrite. He looked down at her, and his eyes were soft and warm. When next he spoke, his voice was tender. “Listen, kitten. I know you are angry with me, and you have every right to be. I said things I could cut my tongue out for!”

  “Let me do it for you. I’ll guarantee a better job,” she broke in caustically.

  “I’m trying to apologize to you. I never meant for this to happen. I’ve never wanted to hurt you, and I’m so sorry about the baby.”

  Kathleen had felt herself starting to soften toward him until he mentioned the baby. She pulled back as if stung by a hornet.

  “Don’t you ever mention the baby to me again, you demonic beast! After all you have put me through, all you have said and done, I’m not about to forgive and forget! You deserve everything you’ve got coming, and I hope you get your just desserts, you stinking barbarian!” With that, she spun on her heel and marched back to the house, and he never saw the flood of tears streaming down her cheeks.

  Reed was at a loss as to how to deal with Kathleen, so he decided to start afresh and court her with all the loving tenderness he could command. In the days that followed, he sent her roses and books of sonnets. He seated her at the table, brought her refreshments when he thought she was thirsty, and generally treated her as if she were made of glass.

  Eleanore was highly amused, and there were several pairs of raised eyebrows around the place, but Kathleen remained ummoved, at least on the surface. Inside, she felt as if she truly were made of glass, and all of it had shattered.

  Though she showed him no encouragement, he persisted. He clamped a lid on his temper and was unfailingly polite, even when she railed at him or baited him. Many were the nights he sat undiscovered in her room watching her sleep, hoping for a miracle to soften her heart toward him. If nothing else, he knew he needed her forgiveness for the cruel words he had spoken before her fall.

  Kate came by frequently, and just shook her head in despair at her granddaughter’s stubbornness. One Thursday she popped in and announced that she was hosting the final picnic of the season the coming Sunday afternoon. They were all invited to gather at Sandy Point, a lovely spot by the river on her plantation.

  The same day, she pulled Kathleen aside for a little grandmotherly advice. “Little lass, don’t ye think ’tis high time ye stopped feeling sorry for yerself?”

  “Kate! How can you say that?”

  “Ever since ye came back from yer little jaunt, ye’ve been sitting around playing invalid. When are ye going to come to Emerald Hill and learn something about horse breeding? We made a bargain, if ye recall.”

  “You’re right. I suppose I have been neglecting you, and I must make good my promise. I’ll be by soon.”

  “That’s me girl
!” Kate gave her a big hug. “Besides, ’twill get ye away from Reed, if that’s what ye want.” She gave Kathleen a wink and said, “I hear he’s been very attentive, lately. Perhaps ye’re changing yer mind about him.”

  “Not a chance!” Kathleen declared.

  “I also hear ye’ve been putting him through the paces. Are ye enjoying yerself, lass?” she asked critically.

  “Yes! As a matter of fact, I am, and I don’t need any lectures to that effect either.” Kathleen’s tone was belligerent. “He’s a thoroughly rotten rogue, and he’s getting his just desserts!”

  “All right, lovely. Don’t get yer dander up. Just step carefully and remember, ye get as good as ye give sometimes.”

  “I’ll take it under advisement.” Kathleen leaned over and kissed her grandmother’s cheek. “And Gram,” she whispered, “thank you for caring.”

  The weather Sunday was perfect for a fall picnic. The sky was as blue and clear as it could be. A light breeze tugged at Kathleen’s coppery curls as she rode in the open carriage. Reed rode Titan at her side. She was finding it increasingly hard to ignore him. She had never seen him in this role before, and she had to admit he was charming.

  They spread out their blankets beneath a large, shady oak near the water’s edge, and left the unpacking of the lunchbaskets to the servants. A group of young men were trying to set up an improvised polo field nearby, and a gaggle of giggling girls were waiting while servants placed the wickets for a game of croquet elsewhere.

  Reed courteously escorted Kathleen about, her hand tucked into the crook of his elbow. He partnered her in a game of croquet, and only when she agreed to rest and watch in the shade, did he join his neighbors in a polo match.

  Kathleen sat quietly with Kate, and as hard as she tried not to, her eyes kept straying to Reed. She told herself that it was simply that she admired his steed and his horsemanship, but she knew it was untrue. He looked so strong and handsome and virile astride the giant black horse. His tan face was relaxed and smiling as he enjoyed the competitive sport, and her palm itched each time she saw him toss back the inky wave of hair that kept falling across his forehead. He had discarded coat and tie, and a shadowing of curly dark hair showed where he had unbuttoned the top of his shirt. Titan responded well to Reed’s commands, and the two made a striking picture. Unconsciously, Kathleen’s tongue slipped out to lick at her lips, and Kate burst into laughter.