The Wild Belle (St. John Series)

by Lora Thomas

  Andi opened one eye and looked at him with disgust.

  “Just what I thought.” He turned towards Ruth Ann. “Take good care of her. I will send Bob in. If you need anything, I will be up top assisting the crew.”

  Ruth Ann nodded as Michael walked out the door.

  Several minutes later Bob arrived with a small cup. “You drink this, Missy St. John. It will help. Make belly feel good real fast.”

  Andi gave a weak smile at the man and took a sip from the cup.

  “Don’t sip. Drink. Drink fast.”

  Andi did as instructed. The moment the concoction hit her stomach her eyes grew wide and she leaned over the bed looking for the chamber pot.

  “Don’t spit it up. It will help. Make you sleepy. You feel better. You see.” After having said that, the little China man left.

  “He’s strange,” Ruth Ann said, staring at the door.

  “I know,” Andi said. “And that stuff was putrid.”

  After several minutes the horrid remedy started to make Andi sleepy. She soon drifted off to sleep, thankful that the nasty tasting remedy had eased her nausea.

  Andi dealt with her seasickness for almost a week. During that time, Michael and Ruth Ann took turns caring for her. Michael was so patient with her. He would sponge her face and body off as waves of nausea hit. She could see the worry in his eyes. When he thought she was asleep, she could hear him tell her how he regretted allowing her to come and how he hated seeing her so ill.

  On the fifth day, Andi awoke and was no longer sick. She actually felt human. She cautiously sat up waiting for the nausea, but it did not come. She let out a relieved sigh. Finally!

  She stood and walked on wobbly legs towards the wardrobe to change out of the cotton nightgown Michael had put on her two days ago. She donned her male attire and headed towards the door. As she reached for the handle, the door was pushed open, sending her tumbling backwards. She let out a small cry as she fell. But before she hit the wooden floor, a strong arm was around her pulling her upright.

  “What are you doing out of bed?” Michael asked as he looked worriedly at his wife.

  “I’m feeling better. I just wanted to get some fresh air.”

  Michael looked at his wife and started to protest.

  Andi interrupted him. “Don’t tell me no, because you know I’ll just do it anyway. So you can either walk with me or get out of my way, but I have to get out of this room.”

  Michael gave a frustrated sigh. “Come on,” he said and motioned for her to proceed.

  She smiled weakly at him and walked out the door. She slowly climbed the stairs to the deck. When she reached the top, she closed her eyes, absorbing the warm rays of the sun. She then looked around. She looked to her left, to her right. All she could see was ocean. No land was in sight!

  “I never realized how large the ocean was,” she whispered in astonishment.

  “It’s amazing, knowing that in that direction,” he pointed east, “is an entire continent. Imagine how the first sailors felt crossing this vast ocean, with nothing in sight, not knowing where land was or when they would reach it. Those were some courageous men.”

  “So how long will it take to reach England?”

  “We should be there by the end of June, depending on the current and if we hit any storms.”

  “Storms!” she shouted, turning towards him. She hadn’t thought of the possibility of being at sea during a squall or worse yet a hurricane. The ones she rode through on the plantation were horrible and that was on dry land. But on a ship!

  “The weather has been good so far, even though the superstitious Captain Armitage swears it will change because we have women on board.”

  “What’s that got to do with anything?”

  “Sea captains are a fickle lot. They believe in superstitions. Women are bad luck on ships, along with a red sunrise.”

  “So what is good luck, a drunken sailor toting a dead duck?”

  Michael laughed at her sarcastic reply. “No. A red sunset is a good sign. A drunken sailor toting a dead duck would be bad—one less crew member to work.”

  Andi gave a small smile and looked east again. Her thoughts returned to her sister. She hoped Alyssa was handling the voyage better than she was. Her worry combined with seasickness made a normally enjoyable event, unenjoyable. She knew Alyssa hated being alone, without someone around she knew. Alyssa depended on others to direct her in what to do. Was Peterson treating her well? Had he forced himself upon her? Had he harmed her?

  Michael anticipated what his wife was thinking. “She will be fine. We will find her. You never know, we possibly could catch up with them. It’s not probable, but stranger things have happened.”

  “How will we find her in England?”

  “I know some people. Just as soon as we dock, I will send word to them to be scanning the area for her.”

  “You mean we won’t immediately begin looking?” she questioned with agitation.

  “No. I will immediately start looking. I will take you to my grandmother’s home—wait, scratch that. With Peterson in London, Gram’s would not be a wise decision. Granted, she would try to protect you but she’s seventy-five years old. Peterson would kill you both and not think twice about it. I will take you to my brother’s home, where you will be safe.”

  “I will not! She is my sister. I will help you look for her.”

  “Do you know anything at all about London?”

  “Well, no, but that doesn’t—”

  “It does. London is a huge town. I will take you to Matthew’s and then go to Peterson’s townhome. If he isn’t there, I will check his mother’s home.” He could see a plan forming in her mind. “Look, Andi. I need you to trust me. London is not Beaufort. There are areas there even these rough men would not dare venture into. If you do not know where you’re going, that would be exactly where you would end up.” He took her by her upper arms and looked into her eyes. “I could not bear it if anything happened to you, Andi. You are too important to me.”

  “Why?” she asked bitterly. “Afraid my father will break that damn contract?’

  Michael shook his head. “No.” He gently kissed her forehead and then whispered in her ear. “Because I have fallen in love with you.”

  “What?” she whispered, unsure of what she had just heard.

  “I don’t expect you to repeat those words, Andi. But I wanted you to know. I would not have married you otherwise.”

  “You love me?”

  “Yes, now you better get below deck. The men have taken notice of you and your beautiful body. I am about to issue some harsh discipline upon them. Too harsh for your delicate ears.”

  “Have you forgotten what my mother is like?”

  “No, but you have never witnessed me losing my temper, and what I am about to do would make Amanda’s outbursts appear calm.”

  She watched as her husband departed yelling at some of the crewmembers to come to him immediately. She smiled mischievously. She couldn’t help but wonder what he was going to tell the men.

  She turned and headed below deck. A different expression crossed her delicate features. He loved her. Was he serious? She turned and looked over her shoulder at him and the men he was disciplining. He planted a fist to one man’s jaw. The man fell to the deck and did not rise. She could hear his deep voice, but the words were muffled by the wind.

  She started down the steps again. Why would anyone behave in such a way if it wasn’t true? He loved her. He was her husband. Tears formed in her eyes. So this was what it felt like to have someone love you, someone who would defend your honor, someone who would love you forever.

  Chapter Twenty

  The next three weeks flew by. Michael stayed busy up top assisting the crew. After the discipline proceedings, the crew knew whose woman Andrea was and gave her the respect one would give a queen. During the crossing, she became bored and insisted on helping the crew. After a bit of unorthodox persuasion—as in threatening to shoot someon
e—Michael and the captain reluctantly agreed. She began assisting a young boy named Harvey in mending the nets and ropes.

  Ruth Ann said she was quite happy doing nothing at first. But after awhile, the boredom began to invade her and she took on the chore of mending the crew’s clothing.

  The days were quickly passed working, and Michael found ways to make sure the nights passed slowly, making love to his wife. His attentive embrace pushed the worry from her mind for a few hours. Michael found ways to surprise her every day with small gifts. One day she returned to their quarters to find a basket of small seashells of different shapes and sizes, another day there were chocolates. The best gift of all was when she found him in the bed wearing nothing at all.

  He did not mention love anymore after he first told her. She couldn’t help but wonder if he felt she didn’t return his feelings. Which was not true, she just didn’t have the courage to tell him how she felt, afraid that his confession was expressed only to help ease her anxiety. She was going to tell him, but she just didn’t know when or how.

  She was brought from her thoughts by a yell from above of, “Land ho!”

  She looked over to Harvey with anticipation.

  “England,” the young boy said.

  She laid down the net and raced towards the bow of the ship. She couldn’t see anything but more ocean. Her heart sank. She was so ready to be off this ship. It wasn’t the fact that she was not enjoying the trip; it was for her sister. She was ready to find Alyssa.

  She felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to find Michael. He held out a long brass cylinder towards her. She took the spyglass out of his hand and placed it to her eye. She could barely make out a small faint dark object in the distance.

  She handed the spyglass back to him. “How much longer until we dock?”

  He knew what her apprehension was about. “At least two days to make it to and through the Thames. The long part is waiting to dock. Some ships stay anchored in the Thames for months before they are granted privileges.”

  “Months! I can’t wait that long. Alyssa can’t wait that long!” she protested, her southern drawl carrying to the crew around.

  “We will row ashore in a longboat. Our belongings will follow shortly afterwards.”

  The relief showed on her face. “So we should be on land in a couple of days?”

  “Round about that, yes.”

  Finally! She would get a chance to find her sister. Whether Michael knew it or not, she was going with him to find Alyssa. And when Alyssa was found, she was going to put a bullet between Peterson’s beady eyes for the pain he had caused her family.

  “Better go below deck and inform Ruth Ann. I know she will be just as anxious as you to get off this ship.”

  “I’m just worried about my sister. If this hadn’t been a rescue trip, I would have thoroughly enjoyed it.”

  “Except the seasick part?”

  “Well, yes. But next time I suggest you get sick. I would much rather be workin’ than pukin’.”

  He shook his head and watched her leave. He would never understand her thought process. She left him guessing all the time as to what she was going to say or do.

  He looked down at Harvey who was still working diligently on the nets. “She is a wonderful lady,” the boy said, his eyes never leaving his task.

  “Yes, she is.”

  “I’m gonna find me a lady just like that when I grow up. One who will love me like she does you.”

  “Who says she loves me?” Michael questioned the boy.

  “Ya can just tell by the way she watches ya and talks about ya. Yes, sir. A fine lady like that is hard ta come by.”

  “Indeed,” Michael replied. Turning, he walked to the helm.

  * * * *

  Two days later, the Emerald Jewell traveled up the Thames. Andi covered her nose as she stood on the deck. The foul stench of the river invaded her every sense. She turned to look at Michael. If he noticed the overpowering smell of the stinky river, he didn’t show it.

  “What is that stench?” she finally asked.

  “The Thames,” he replied.

  “I figured that much out. What I want to know is why?”

  “London is a large, dirty city. Many people dispose of their waste along with other things in the river.”

  “What other things?”

  “Blood from slaughterhouses, rotten food, dead bodies . . . you name it. They think if it gets tossed into the river, it is no longer their problem. The bad part is, it makes it everyone’s problem.”

  “People think the marshes stink. They smell wonderful to me. But this could never smell wonderful.”

  “You have a way of putting things, Pixie.”

  “I’ve been meaning to ask you, why do you call me Pixie?”

  Michael gave her a crooked smile. “When I first saw you sitting on that tree branch, I first thought of you as a fairy. Then when you said you wanted to see me naked, I realized that you were no fairy. Fairies, you see, are good and innocent, they are do-gooders.”

  She hit his arm with her fist. “What are you implying?”

  “Let me finish,” he said with a sinful grin. “But pixies, they like adventure and mischief, they don’t follow the norm. In fact, pixies are a little on the wicked side.” He captured her in his arms and pressed her body to him. “I happen to prefer your wild nature, Pixie,” he whispered and nibbled on her ear.

  She pushed against his chest. “Stop,” she giggled.

  “Only if you allow me to continue later.”

  “Is that all you ever think about?”

  “When you constantly tempt me, whether you know it or not . . . yes.”

  “Well, it will have to wait. I must find Alyssa.”

  “I will.”

  “No, we will.”

  “Andi,” he warned.

  “Don’t ‘Andi’ me. She is my sister. You will have my help whether you want it or not.”

  “And if I refuse to allow you to help?”

  She smiled sweetly at her husband.

  He took a frustrated breath and replied, “You’ll go out on your own.”

  “You know me too well,” she said and overly batted her eyes.

  Shaking his head, he replied, “And I told you London is nothing like Beaufort.”

  “So it’s settled then. Where do we begin?”

  “I’ll find my man at the docks first. And, no, you may not go with me to find him. The taverns of the east end would make even Colonel Red blush. I will take you to Matthew’s office.”

  “But—”

  “Don’t argue with me on this one, Andi. The characters in the east end taverns are a bloodthirsty lot. They would take one look at you, kill me and then have their way with you.”

  “Fine. But you come straight back to your brother’s office just as soon as you speak with your man.”

  “Agreed.”

  Several hours later the Emerald Jewell was anchored in the Thames River, waiting its turn to make berth. A man from the crew rowed ashore and returned shortly to inform them that the ship would not be allowed to dock for three weeks. Michael notified the crew that he and Andrea were going ashore and to send their belongings to his brother’s townhome.

  Michael assisted Andrea and Ruth Ann into the long boat. Once they were rowed ashore, they had a short walk to a small building. It wasn’t very impressive on the outside. The wood had dulled and grayed with time. The brass bell hanging above the door was tarnished and in need of a good polish. There were several small windows, each with a thin layer of dirt and mud scattered about on them. But when the trio made their way inside, Andi was taken aback by the elaborately furnished room. It was much larger than the outer appearance showed. The room was decorated in walnut furnishings and everything was of the finest quality, as though it was made for royalty. She watched as the man sitting behind the desk looked up, and a smile crossed his handsome face. He stood and crossed the room to the group in several strides.

  Michael ret
urned the man’s smile. Andrea looked between the two and realized this must be Michael’s brother. The resemblance between the two was uncanny. If Andrea didn’t know better, she would have sworn that they were twins.

  “What are you doing in London, Runt?” Matthew asked, giving his brother a brief hug.

  “Looking for someone,” Michael replied as his smile faded. “I need your help.”

  Matthew’s expression changed. “What’s happened?” he asked and motioned towards a group of chairs. Turning, he walked to a buffet table and picked up the decanter of brandy. He poured himself and Michael a drink. He noticed Andrea then and looked towards Michael. Michael motioned for Matthew to have a seat and escorted Andi to a chair. Matthew nodded and sat down behind the large oak desk.

  Ruth Ann stood by the doorway while the group gathered around Matthew’s desk. Andrea turned and motioned for Ruth Ann to follow. “This involves you too, Ruth Ann,” Andi informed and patted the chair beside her.

  Matthew’s eyes began inspecting the beautiful blond woman by Michael’s side. Her hair was braided lightly on the sides and it joined in the back. There was a small net holding the remainder of her long locks on the back of her head. Her eyes were dark green and full of spirit. Her sensuous lips were full, pink and begging to be kissed. As Matthew took a drink of brandy, his eyes began traveling downward.

  “I suggest you quit ogling my wife, Matt.”

  “Your wife?!” Matthew sputtered, spitting his drink across the room and coughing violently.

  “Are you all right?” Andrea questioned, her accent making Matthew’s brows draw together.

  “Egad, she’s a yank.”

  “I prefer southern, thank you very much,” Andrea stated in a slow, thick southern drawl as she sat up proudly.

  Matthew’s eyes went to his younger brother, back to Andrea, then back to Michael. His eyes grew wide. “Runt, I knew you were desperate to get that contract, but not that desperate.”

  Michael leaned forward in his chair. “What are you implying, old man?”

  “Was the man immune to that silver tongue of yours or would he not sign until you married his daughter?” Matthew asked, leaning back in his chair. A mischievous smile crossed his face. “Or did your escapades finally catch up with you?”