Page 104 of Paid to the Pirate

“I need to hide from Captain Colt and his men,” I announced, hoping he wouldn’t tell me I deserved whatever fate was to befall me.

Daniel’s pause was oddly long, and I worried I’d been mistaken. But then his eyes lit in a familiar manner and I relaxed. He turned to his friends and announced slowly, “Gentlemen, this is the girl I told you about.”

I shifted my weight.Told them what?Not of my relationship with Colt, I hoped.Did that mean he was still upset with me?

“We sawThe Dread Nightin the harbor,” Daniel explained. “That’s why we’ve gathered. To see if we can do something about it this time.”

A man with a short beard and wavy black hair leaned forward and announced, “He’s stolen from every merchant I know.”

“Aye,” another man agreed.

“It’s time we put an end to his piracy once and for all,” the third man said.

The fourth only stared, darkly.

We’re on the same side then,I thought with relief.Except, wait…

“It’s not really Captain Colt I’m running from,” I corrected. “It’s some of the other men. Colt actually tried to help me. Which isn’t to say he’s a good man, he’s terrible. But in this instance, it’s the crew, you see. The captain, well, he cares for me-” I cut off my rambling, bringing a frustrated hand to my head. “It’s hard to explain right now, but some of the crew might be after me. Can you help me find a place to hide?”

Daniel crossed to his table and poured a steaming cup of tea. He and the other men looked at one another for long moments and I hoped they were coming to an agreement on how to assist.

“Please,” I whispered. “I don’t have much time. Perhaps you could help me hide in the woods? I just need some blankets to stay dry and a bit of food and water to last for a day or two. And if you could let Mrs. Penningham know I’m safe -- but not yet,” I said quickly. “I wouldn’t want the crew to take her and try to force my location out of her.”

“You need to calm down and warm up,” Daniel said. Irritation pricked at the back of my neck. I’d always hated it when he spoke to me like that, and didn’t he understand that there wasn’t time?

Daniel pressed the cup into my hands, insisting. I relented and took a few fortifying sips of the hot tea.

“Have a seat,” Daniel urged, patting my shoulder. “I’m going to discuss with my friends how to take care of you.”

My pulse raced and every bone in my body protested the time wasted, but with no other choice, I sat. Unable to force myself to take another sip, I clutched the teacup so tightly I feared I’d break the delicate porcelain. Daniel turned his back to me, speaking in a low, urgent tone with the men.

Finally, he turned around, smoothed his sandy hair back into his ribbon and said, “We can help you, Charlotte, but more importantly, you can help us.”

A chill raced up my spine at his measured tone.What did that mean?Two of the three men moved, blocking the door behind me. Sweat mingled with the rainwater dripping from my hair and down my neck.

“Help you how?” I asked, cautiously, clinging to a hope that went against what my instincts were screaming.

Find a weapon. Run. You shouldn’t have come here.

“We’re going to take a trip to the woods, like you wanted, Charlotte,” Daniel declared. Before I could feel any relief over his words, he said, “But some things are going to happen that you may not want.”

With my free hand, I clutched the chair’s armrest. Licking my dry lips, I croaked, “What are you talking about?”

Daniel nodded to the men behind me and said, “Since you wouldn’t be our spy, my darling, you must be our bait.”

Hardly anyone moved an inch during the tense pause that filled the air. Then my teacup clattered to the ground as I sprung from my chair and bolted toward the back of the room. Two of the men grabbed me, though they needn’t have bothered as Daniel aimed a pistol at my head, halting my attempted fleeing easily enough.

“Daniel,please.What’s happening?” I whispered, trying to calm my pounding heart. Everyone in the room was dressed in gentlemanly attire and had, until this point, acted with civility. I desperately clung to what I hoped wasn’t a façade.

“This is your doing, Charlotte. I would have liked it if you’d stayed on our side,” Daniel said. Though his face seemed sad, regretful, his eyes danced with glee. The contradiction was diabolical. “Reported back on Colt, sung for us. Instead, we have to make you scream.”

Daniel’s proclamation quickly came true as he stepped forward and tore my dress, not stopping until he’d ripped it from me and I was clad only in my chemise. Rage filled my breast, and when I managed to get an arm free from one of the men, I lunged for Daniel’s pistol. Not only did he avoid my grasp, but as the brutes recaptured my arm, Daniel turned the weapon around and casually slammed the butt into my head. Hissing in pain, I tucked my head into my shoulder. Daniel’s nonchalance at harming me sent waves of alarm coursing throughout my body. Tears pooled in my eyes but I couldn’t even rub the injured area, which would surely swell in no time.

“Why?” I cried.

“Captain Colt cares for you. I’ve seen it myself,” Daniel replied. “We’re going to bring you into the woods and you’re going to help us send him a message. When he comes to respond...”

“We’ll ambush him,” the dark-haired man behind me concluded as his hands tightened on my shoulder and wrist.

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