“I’m afraid that won’t be a problem for Pelham,” Easton said. “You might be able to disappear for a while, but you won’t be able to escape forever. Believe me, Reva tried once.”
“What’s the story between Reva and Pelham?”
“They have a long and ugly history together, which is precisely why she’s going to help us stop Pelham and his associates. He killed her father, and she’s made it her life’s mission to make him pay.”
Teach guessed Reva couldn’t have been much older than twenty. Pelham was responsible for a lot of suffering in the world.
“You didn’t tell us your papa was rich,” Easton said.
“Does it matter?”
The pirate’s eyes widened. “Apparently not to you.”
“If you’re thinking of using me for ransom, you’d be wasting your time.”
“Ah. Let me guess. You and your father had a disagreement.”
“Do you ever stop talking?” Teach looked around, wondering where he could go to get away from Easton’s endless chatter. Jumping into the sea was one of his options.
“Was it because of her?” Easton asked, clearly unperturbed.
Teach fingered the rifle in his hands and Easton took a step back.
“All right. Don’t tell me. But your silence says more than you know.” Easton took a few steps before turning back to Teach. “Oh, and you needn’t worry. Your money is safe from me. Reva is typically flush with coin if I need anything.”
“Does that mean she’s a better pirate than you?”
Easton smirked. “Don’t be ridiculous. Nobody’s better than me. Reva came from a wealthy family. Spanish aristocracy.”
Teach was astonished at the man’s ego. “One day you’re going to overestimate your abilities, Easton. I almost wish I could be around to see it.”
“Yes, well, don’t hold your breath,” Easton said. “Tomorrow we can plan our revenge. Right now, I have something to show you.”
What Teach wanted most was to be alone with his anger and his grief.
Easton must have sensed Teach’s hesitation, because he motioned for Teach to follow him. “We have a guest on board.”
“Who is it?” Teach asked.
“A friend of yours.”
With heavy steps Teach followed Easton across the moonlit deck, but he stopped when he saw the familiar blond hair. It was Cara.
CHAPTER 37
Anne
Strong fingers circled Anne’s throat, threatening to choke the life out of her prone figure. Sweat dripped down her face and neck as she glared up at her opponent where he straddled her. Her fingers curled in the warm sand beneath her as she scooped a handful.
John caught the movement and he released his hold immediately, sitting back on his haunches. “That’s not playing fair, Anne.”
“I didn’t throw it,” she said, a guilty flush spreading across her cheeks.
“All you had to do was roll your hips like I taught you and bring your hand like this.” John thrust his hand, palm up.
“I thought it was a brilliant move,” Reva said. She lay in a hammock, a few feet from where Anne and John sparred, using her hat to fan her face. “I would have done the same thing.”
“Besides, I didn’t think you wanted me to break your nose again.” John had shown Anne a few sparring moves, ones that would work in her favor, especially for her size, but she’d broken his nose the third day. Apparently her elbow was an effective weapon.
John scowled. “I do want you to take our sparring seriously.” He rolled to the side and helped Anne up. “It’s a good idea with the sand, but you need to learn to fight without any added props. You won’t always be on a beach.”
“I know. I’m sorry,” Anne said, looking automatically in the direction of the bay, where the gentle waves kissed the sandy shore. The evening sun sank low, giving everything it touched an amber glow and leaving the horizon dipped in a thin line of silver.
John sighed, following her gaze. “Don’t worry, Anne. They’ll be back soon.”
It had been twelve days since Teach and Easton had left and Anne was restless. And irritated. And worried. She shook the sand from her hair with several sharp flicks, unwilling to give in to her melancholy. “I think it’s time for you to teach me how to load a cannon.”
She’d lost track of the number of times she’d asked John to show her how to fire a cannon. Each time his answer was the same.
“Teach wouldn’t want me to.”
“Do you think Teach wants me to cower and hide in the captain’s cabin every time we’re fired at?”
John laughed. “Maybe not cower, but he wants you safe, and standing on the deck in a fire fight is certainly not in your best interest.”
“The cannons aren’t on the top deck. And he left me here, which proves my point that he won’t always be around. It’s better that I can take care of myself,” she said, her voice bitter.
“I’m not going to show you how to fire a bloody cannon, Anne. I value my life more than I fear your ire.”
“Let me show her again,” Reva said, a sly grin on her face. The pirate had been more than willing to show Anne how to load and fire a cannon, and the two girls had snuck aboard the Killorn one afternoon while the men were resting.
“You two aren’t allowed on that ship until the others get back.”
Anne shook her head at John. “You’re being ridiculous. We didn’t hurt anyone.”
“No, but most of us had to search for a clean pair of drawers after your stunt. Nearly scared us to death. And we can’t have you wasting our ammunition.”
“You let me practice shooting. Is that wasting ammunition?”
“Bullets are easier to come by than cannonballs.”
While her Queen Anne’s pistol from Teach was still her weapon of choice, thanks to John and Reva, Anne could load and fire a musket as well as a blunderbuss. And in a one-on-one altercation, she could manage to get away. What mattered most was that she’d mastered the loading of the weapons and could be useful in a fight without getting caught.
Reva strolled up to Anne, her hat in her hands. “They’re overprotective of their balas. Don’t worry, Anne. Once I get a ship, we’ll shoot cannons as much as we like. And we won’t have to ask for anyone’s permission.”
While Anne appreciated Reva’s offer, she wondered how long they’d have to wait. Frustrated, Anne walked away, her eyes scanning the horizon as she’d done so often since the Fortune had left. Reva returned to the hammock, swaying back and forth beneath the trees. Benjamin was out in the cay with a spear in hand, the crystal clear water reaching up to his chest. His fishing skills had helped feed them. Just the other day, he’d managed to catch a turtle that Anne had cooked.