Page 14 of Escaping Pirates
“I’m so sorry…I don’t know your name.”
“Harlan,” he answered. I heard the strain in his voice and recalled how painful the memories of losing my crew had been when they were fresh, so I sought to keep him talking.
“Well, Harlan, I’m pleased to meet you, though I wish it were under more fortunate circumstances. My name’s Elena.”
“That’s a pretty name,” he offered. His hands moved slightly as he flexed his fingers around my bent elbows, and a small cry of pain escaped my lips. “Sorry! Sorry, I didn’t mean to move.”
“It’s all right,” I gasped. “I’m used to it.”
A long silence followed. “No one should be used to this sort of treatment. Tell me, what is it that Blossom has you do?”
“It’s both the sisters,” I corrected. “And I’m their personal handmaiden…basically whatever they want me to do, I do. Cleaning, hair-styling, reading aloud, trimming toenails…”
“What would happen if you stopped or refused?”
“I end up right back here when I give any sign of rebellion, but also”—I bit my lip and took a few deep breaths to steady my voice—“Captain Harsh’s brother expressed aninterest in buying me otherwise.” I gave a dry swallow. “The captain told me that any disobedience on my part would result in my being sold and I have a strong suspicion that I would prefer life here to life on the other ship.”
A long silence extended, and I couldn’t think what else to say.
“That’s despicable,” he finally stated, blatant disgust in his voice.
“They’re pirates.” Then, because I wanted to change the subject, I asked, “So what offer did Captain Harsh make to you? You said that you’re here because of Blossom.”
The disgust in Harlan’s throat deepened. “It seems that she took a fancy to me, and the captain thinks that time in the brig will soften me to the idea of entertaining his repulsive daughter.”
I couldn’t help it. A light, breathy laugh escaped as I choked out, “Blossom wants you as a suitor?”
“It would seem so.”
“How romantic. Do you have to choose between kissing her and walking the plank?”
“That’s an easy choice. I’d walk the plank any day given the alternative, but no, I was rather, erm, resistant to the idea even before the details were explained, so the captain had me brought here to think it over.”
I lifted my head off the bars, a smile lifting the corners of my mouth again. “Suddenly, I’m glad that I’m only asked to shine shoes, make their beds, and tighten corset strings. You have the worse deal between us.”
Harlan stared at me, and I stared hungrily back. His eyes were a deep green that reminded me of the forest in springtime. The forest symbolized land. For the first time in weeks, hope swelled within my chest. One day, I would walk in the forest again, smell the damp earth, and listen to the songs oflarks singing to each other. The strength in Harlan’s hands never wavered as he continued to hold up my exhausted arms. I almost wanted to laugh at how he and I had only known each other for an hour and had already cried together, and that he felt more like a friend than anyone else on board.
“I think we both have been dealt a bad hand, Elena,” he finally said. “Maybe we can put our cards together.”
CHAPTER 8
The door to the brig banged open. “Let go of me,” I whispered to Harlan. He’d been holding up my arms all during the sounds of unloading the cargo and sinking the captured ship, and who knew what Captain Harsh would do if he saw that I hadn’t been suffering through my punishment correctly.
The instant Harlan obeyed, I nearly shrieked aloud from the pain that surged back when my muscles took on the weight of bearing up my arms again. Fortunately for me, those striding in didn’t spare me a second glance.
Captain Harsh, trailed by his two daughters, came to a halt outside Harlan’s cell.
“I told you he’s handsome,” Blossom hissed to Sugar, who nodded so vigorously that her hair bounced.
“So, sailor, what are your thoughts now about my offer?” Harsh barked out.
Harlan chewed on his tongue and cast a half-glance my way. “What are the terms of this offer?”
The captain grinned, his yellow smile revealing gold teeth. “I will gift you the opportunity to entertain my daughter,chaperoned of course, for two hours each evening, or you’ll walk the plank.”
“Daughters!” Sugar piped up. “I want him to court me, too!”
“You can’t court the same man as me!” Blossom huffed. “I saw him first and I called dibs.”
