by Kitty Margo
Lynna was in the midst of a good cry when Rob returned. “Buttercup, who is all dem mens out yonder?”
At the sound of his voice Lynna wrapped the spread around her and flew into his welcoming arms. She heard his sharp intake of breath and then felt his huge body tremble with unsuppressed rage as he glared at the blood smeared across her neck and chest. “Who done dis ta you?”
She was afraid to tell him, having no desire to see Joshua suffer. “As you can see, I am unharmed, Rob.” She tried to sound brave. “This is his blood, not mine.”
“Buttercup, you done give yo’self to save me from bein’ flogged, an’ long as I live ain’t no man gwine hurt you an’ live ta brag ‘bout it.” Leaving her helplessly clutching the canvas spread, he strode determinedly toward the beach.
Rob had hoped and prayed to never see or be forced to deal with another white man as long as he lived, but he had a wrong to make right and he would see it done.
Lynna quickly donned her good sarong and followed him.
Joshua and Rob were face to face when she reached the beach. Rob’s huge form towered over Joshua’s as he stood at the water’s edge, washing smears of blood from his chest. “Is you da man whut done rape Buttercup?” Rob demanded with his fists clenched tightly by his sides and ready to take on the entire crew if they dared interfere.
“Did she tell you that I raped her?” Joshua asked casually, not realizing who Rob was, nor the depth of his anger.
“She ain’t gots ta tell me,” Rob snarled. “I done seed de blood on her. You gwine answer me?”
It was slowly dawning on Joshua just how angry this behemoth was. “I certainly wouldn’t describe our encounter as rape.”
“What evah you calls, it I aims ta kill you fo’ it,” Rob warned, just before his meaty fist connected with Joshua’s jaw, sending him sprawling backward into the sand. Joshua tried to stand, but Rob kicked him viciously under the chin, snapping his head back with enough force to break it.
Rob lunged again, but Joshua grabbed his legs, toppling him and bringing the huge man down. They exchanged blow for blow rolling in the sand until Rob won the advantage when he landed on top of Joshua with his hands going around his neck. Joshua clawed at the massive hands to no avail as blackness rapidly closed around him.
“Rob, stop!” The scream was torn from Lynna’s throat as she raced toward them. “Stop! You’ll kill him!”
“He need ta die fo’ whut he done ta you!” Rob raged.
Lynna made to throw herself on Rob’s back at the same time as Rob drew back his fist to pummel Joshua. Rob’s fist caught Lynna below her left eye, knocking her out cold.
Joshua’s men, hearing Lynna’s scream, came running and it took four of the stoutest to subdue Rob and tie him to a coconut tree. Two of those men would be incapacitated for days. “You need me to get the cat-o-nine-tails, Captain?” one of them asked.
“Yes,” Joshua gasped, his throat burning as though it was on fire. He hoped to intimidate the goliath who had almost sent him to an early grave and keep him still long enough to find out what in the hell was going on.
Seconds later Lynna opened her eyes to see Joshua kneeling over her. “Lynna, are you hurt?”
“I’s sorry, Buttercup. I sho’ nuff is sorry,” Rob muttered pitifully as he struggled ferociously against the ropes that bound him.
“Nonsense, Rob, it was an accident,” she replied, still dazed. “I should have made my presence known. I know you would never intentionally harm me or anyone else.”
“Here’s that whip, Captain,” the eager crewman grinned.
Whip?
At that moment, the fact that Rob was tied to a tree with his back exposed sank into Lynna’s spinning head. She leapt to her feet, forcefully shoving Joshua aside and rushing to Rob’s side. “Untie him this second. Bring me your knife, Joshua. If you inflict one lash on this man, I swear I will murder you all while you sleep.”
Moving to take the distraught girl into his arms, Joshua held her against his chest until she stilled. “Calm yourself, Lynna,” he said as gently as possible. “I will untie him if he gives his word not to try to kill me again.” He had never seen her so angry or distressed. Her slight figure trembled with rage.
Joshua turned to Sam and ordered him to gather six of the most able bodied seaman close before he saw the behemoth untied.
That voice.
Lynna knew that voice. Words and voices and faces seemed to scramble around in her head before it finally cleared.
Joshua
With a cry of delight, she raced toward an astonished Joshua and leapt into his arms, finding his lips for a long, smoldering kiss that didn’t end until Sam began coughing to gain their attention. “Oh, my darling, Joshua,” she whispered, lowering her lips to his again. “It really is you. I remember now. I remember everything.”
“It’s about damn time.” Joshua grinned, twirling her in his arms. “I thought I would have to kidnap you off of this damned island.” Then he nudged his head toward Rob. “Who’s the goliath?”
“Rob, of course.” She grinned at his shocked expression. “I wouldn’t be alive now if he hadn’t taken such good care of me. I owe him my life, Joshua.”
“You are …?” Joshua looked at Rob and marveled at his own stupidity. He had been a fool to jump to conclusions without first finding out the details. With a nod toward the man, he said, “I am forever in your debt, sir.”
Rob returned his nod, and in a tone of voice that left no doubt as to the seriousness of his words, said, “I knows no black man ain’t ‘pose to threat no white man. But out heah on dis island, dey ain’t no law to speak of an’ Buttercup done said we was equal’, so I’s tellin’ you now. If’n you or any otha man touch her agin, an’ she ain’t want you to, I rips you apart wit’ my bare hands.”
No man there doubted the sincerity in his words as he disappeared into the forest.
Lynna and Joshua were eating breakfast when Rob entered the cave two days later. Standing to shake his hand, Joshua said, “My ship is ready to sail with the morning tide, Rob. Are you sure we cannot persuade you to join us?”
“Naw sir, I’s stayin’ heah. Dey’s huntin’ fo’ me back in Jawga. Heah, I ain’t got no boss an’ nobody standin’ ovah me wit’ a whip.”
“Nobody would stand over you with a whip at Sea Grove. You would have my word on that,” Joshua assured him. “You would have your own cabin and live life as leisurely as you pleased.”
“Please, Rob. Come home with us,” Lynna pleaded.
“I’s happy heah, Buttercup.” Rob shook his head sadly at the thought of being all alone on the island. “Fo’ de firs’ time in my life.”
“I understand, Rob,” Lynna replied softly, moving toward the big man and drawing him close. Then she turned to Joshua. “Could we come back to the island next year for a visit? Perhaps by then he will have changed his mind and be willing to return home with us.”
“Of course we can. We will return periodically and bring supplies.” Joshua extended his hand to the huge man. “I owe you a debt of gratitude, my friend. One that I will never be able to adequately repay. If you hadn’t thrown Lynna over the side of that pirate ship, odds are great that both of you would have perished along with the others. And if you hadn’t been with her here on the island...”
He could only shake his head, refusing to give thought to the horrible possibilities. “Thank you again.” Then he turned to Lynna with a beaming countenance. “We set sail for Jamaica to bring Crystal onboard, and then to Magnolia House for your aunt Judith, so that you can instruct her to begin designing her most magnificent wedding gown to date. Then we will travel to Sea Grove, your new home.” Joshua held out his hand to her. “Come, my love, the Windjammer awaits.”
Chapter 38