Call of the Sea
Page 23
Ellie watched, helpless, as her best friend took his last breath and the light disappeared from his beautiful brown eyes.
***
His wife’s panicked scream ripped through Daniel. He sidestepped his sword-yielding enemy, spun about, and sliced the man across the left flank. His gaze shot to his goal, the open door to Jashir’s cabin.
The battle had turned in their favor. The bodies of the enemy littered the decking.
A man rushed at Daniel from the right, sword swinging madly.
He met the blow with his blade, drew his cocked flintlock from his belt, and fired, blowing a hole in the man’s stomach.
Daniel stepped over his body and launched up the stairs to the quarterdeck. He found Ellie kneeling in the center of the cabin, cradling a lifeless Nelson. She rocked back and forth, whispering to herself.
When she turned her tear-streaked face toward him, her blue eyes clouded with grief, his heart lodged in his throat. Daniel stepped over Jashir’s corpse and rushed to her side. He pulled her away from Nelson’s body and wrapped his arms around her shivering blood-soaked form.
Daniel stroked her hair and pressed his lips to her ear. “I’m so sorry, El. I got here as fast as I could.”
She whimpered into his shoulder and dug her nails into his sleeves, holding onto him as if he would disappear at any moment.
The need to protect her nearly overwhelmed him with its force. Daniel held her to his chest. Emotion clogged his throat. “I heard you scream.” His voice cracked. “I don’t know what I would’ve done if he hurt you.” He pulled back, lifted her chin with his knuckle. He peered into her puffy red eyes. “You aren’t hurt, are you? The baby’s all right?”
Ellie tilted her head, eyes narrowing. “How did you know?”
“Nelson told me before we came after you.” Daniel shrugged off a prickle of disappointment. “Why did you hide it from me, El? Didn’t you think I deserved to know?”
She sniffed loudly and wiped at her nose with the sleeve of her nightgown. “You would have left me behind.” She dropped her gaze and chewed her lower lip. “I wanted to tell you.”
It was impossible to stay mad at her when she looked like an injured child. “I love you, Ellie, and I understand better than you think. Just like me, you can’t live without the sea. I’d never keep you from it. I swear.”
Blue eyes lifted to meet his, stalling his breath. “What if the baby is a selkie too? There is a chance that could happen, isn’t there?”
Daniel tucked a wayward curl behind her ear and ran his knuckle along her smooth porcelain cheek. “Whomever our child takes after, his mother or his father, I’ve no doubt he’ll hear the call of the sea. For now, let’s get you the hell out of here before this ship sinks to the bottom of the bay.”
Epilogue
As much as Daniel hated the idea of telling McTavish he’d failed in his mission, they’d been home from Gibraltar for a full day and the time for stalling had come to an end. If he waited much longer, the general would only come looking for him.
He trudged up the winding road leading to The Bristol Inn. Skirting a group of soldiers on their way out, Daniel stepped inside and crossed to the counter. A uniformed soldier stood where the innkeeper had been when Daniel had last visited.
“Can I help you, sir?” the soldier asked.
“I’m here to see General McTavish.”
The soldier’s eyes hardened. “The general is dead, sir. Murdered in his sleep last night. I’m Major Finch. I’ve been charged with heading up the investigation. What business did you have with the general, Mister…?”
Daniel hid his shock and smiled politely at the soldier. “Captain, actually. Captain O’Roarke. The general and I were acquaintances. I happened to be in port and thought I would stop in and catch up with him.” He painted on a mask of concern. “Do you have any leads?”
The major reached into his pocket and withdrew a shining blade. He held it out for Daniel.
Daniel looked down at Captain Winters’ dagger. The one Ellie always kept in her left boot. He’d know the jade-eyed serpent carved into the handle anywhere.
“Do you recognize it?” the major asked.
Daniel gave his head a shake. “Sorry, no.” He met the major’s inquisitive stare, his own expression carefully blank. “I do hope you find the culprit.” He forced out the next words. “General McTavish was a fine man.”
“Yes, sir, thank you. I’m sure we will.”
Thoughts racing, Daniel turned and left the inn. When had Ellie found time to visit McTavish? He’d kept her busy long into the night enjoying their change in sleeping arrangements. She could only have snuck out after he’d fallen asleep, exhausted and sated.
Daniel chuckled. One thing was certain. His marriage to Ellie Winters would never be boring.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Something about writing this part of the book reminds me of those breathless Oscar winners standing on the stage for their allotted thirty seconds futilely trying to thank every person they happened across while working on their project, and then forgetting to mention someone vitally important. So please bear with me as I fight through my damp-palm panic and try to mention the people who truly deserve the lion’s share of any accolades this story may bring.
First, I want to grovel at the feet of my bo-hunk/life partner/significant other, Pete, and my two daughters, Casey and Shelby, who have put up with more pirate talk and familial absenteeism for the sake of this novel than any family should have to endure. I can’t begin to tell you how much your support has meant to me.
To my son, Steven, I promise the next cover is all yours, baby. I hope someday you get the chance to experience the love a parent has for their child. You make me proud to call myself your mother.
Thanks to my parents for always standing behind me despite my countless and ever-changing career aspirations. I think I found the one I want to keep now.
To my sister Chris, thanks for being so willing to shout from the rooftops that your sister wrote a novel. It means the world to me to have your unwavering and dedicated support.
Heaps of love and gratitude go to the beautiful souls who make up The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pens. Without you, I would still be floundering in a sea of self-doubt and defeatism. Thank you for offering your guidance and support, and most of all for taking this fantastic journey with me (I can see Fiji on the horizon).
To my friend and new favorite author, Jocelyn Adams, for setting the bar so damned high, and showing me the kind of writer I want to be when I grow up. You rock my socks, girlie. Gratitude and love for the fantastic Emma Madden, for propping me up when I needed it and giving me the greatest compliment I’ve ever received as a writer to date.
Special thanks to Ruth Lauren Steven, Terri Rochenski, Kelly Said, as well as the rest of the critters at Scribophile for reading chapter upon chapter of drafts and revisions while I scrambled to get this one down on paper.
I also owe mounds of gratitude to my faithful beta readers, Lisa Littell, Arttoa Nimue, and Cathy Geloso. Thank you for being willing to give me your precious free time, the blunt truth, and for helping me see Ellie and Daniel’s story through the eyes of a real reader.
Finally, to my BFF, Kathy Vulcano. You may not like to read, but you have always made sure to support me in this journey despite that, and I will love you forever for it (Marrisa: A Bob the Undead Monkey story is coming. You wait and see).
ABOUT REBECCA HART
Rebecca Hart is a single parent, full time IT geek, and reformed gaming addict living in Upstate NY. When not at the office with her nose buried in a laptop trying to fix it, she can be found at home with her nose buried in a laptop, writing instead. Rebecca’s short stories have been featured in anthologies published by Pill Hill Press, Wicked East Press and DFE Quarterly (erotica). She enjoys hearing and interacting with her readers.
Find more about Rebecca at: http://www.rebeccahartwriting.com
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