Page 17 of Escaping Pirates
Would the cruelty of my time aboard this ship never end? Carrying portions of food that I would never eat was even worse than my arms being suspended over my head when I was so famished. The scent wafted up to me as Icarried the tray, tantalizing me with the forbidden smells that made my mouth water.
When I finally entered the brig, I was about to faint from the smells and my knees were on the verge of buckling.
“Here,” I said, coming to a stop in front of Harlan’s cell and preparing to pass the items through one by one. “Blossom says she is hindered breathless by the thought of you.”
“Hindered, is she? I certainly hope so.” He looked over my shoulder to ensure that we were alone, then lowered his voice. “I didn’t ask for the extra meals for myself, Elena. You need to eat.”
His words didn’t quite register at first. “Me?”
“I’d intended to save it for you, but if you’re the one delivering it, that makes it much easier.Eat.”
“But what about you?”
He shrugged. “If I’m extra hungry at dinner, that’ll just encourage them to give me larger portions tomorrow. I assume you don’t have much time to deliver this before those two expect you back, so please, eat it.”
I needed no further urging. Harlan peeled the oranges for me while I gulped down the bowl of stew, barely even stopping to draw breath. It was piping hot and loaded with onions, carrots, and potatoes. I’d never tasted anything so good.
“Take it easy,” Harlan urged, handing the peeled oranges back through the bars. “You’ll make yourself sick if you eat that fast.”
I nodded but couldn’t stop myself from shoving in half an orange at a time and swooning as the citrusy burst of flavor hit my mouth like a tropical explosion. So much for ladylike grace in front of company. I practically inhaled everything, and an unpleasant sensation grew in my stomach.It took me a full minute before I realized I was overly full, a feeling that I had all but forgotten.
“I can’t finish,” I told him. I would burst if I ate anything else.
Harlan shot me a thoroughly mistrustful expression. “I don’t need it,” he told me, holding his hand up to push away the tray.
“I really can’t finish,” I assured him. “I’m not sure why, but…”
“I’m sure your stomach has shrunken since you’ve been here,” Harlan admitted grudgingly. “It will take time to get you back to normal.” He smiled at me, so reassuring and kind that it made me momentarily forget our imprisonment. “We’ll make it through this, don’t worry. You probably should go before they suspect anything.”
“Right. They want my help to get ready for tonight. Good luck.”
“You too.”
Sugar and Blossom did look their best that evening. Each had chosen some of the nicest dresses and jewelry that had been on my ship when I was captured. They both wore them well, even if I hated seeing my father’s stolen merchandise on them.
“Now get out,” Blossom ordered me once she had finally pronounced herself ready and sent for Harlan. “This is my special night.”
“Mine too! Harlan can spend time with me first, then you,” Sugar said.
“No! I need to go first.”
As if summoned by his daughters’ disagreement, Captain Harsh appeared in the doorway, but I did a double-take when I saw him. He had bathed and combed his hair, as well as put on a fresh set of clothing.
“Daddy, you look so nice! What’s the occasion?” Blossom said, twirling so she could show off her dress.
“I’m here to chaperone your evening with that boy, and you look lovely, dear.”
Sugar’s mouth dropped to the ground. “We can’t haveyouhere, Daddy! He’s courting us!”
Blossom nodded her head up and down. “Right, you can’t be here!”
“I have to chaperone you. Who knows what he might try? I know how men are.”
“Daddy, no! We can’t have you. We need a different chaperone!”
“Absolutely not. I will protect you girls. I’ll sit in the corner and be so quiet that you won’t even know I’m there.” He looked at me. “You’re dismissed.”
I left them to their family squabble, passing Harlan on my way down to the brig as he was escorted up to see the girls. As we were surrounded by pirates, I couldn’t do anything more than give him the tiniest of sympathetic smiles as we passed, and he grimaced back. I muffled my laughter. He knew exactly what he was walking into, and his face was so expressive that it was like he had words labeling his emotions slapped across his forehead.
