A Pirate's Curse (Legends of the Soaring Phoenix) by ML Guida Read Free Book Online Page A

feelings. She shook her head. What was wrong with her? She just met the man.
    Father. She had to know if he fared well. Rubbing her arms, she walked across the floor and past the pantry. Cook glanced at her. He gave her a sheepish smile. “Lass.”
    She returned his smile, not sure what else to do. He returned to chopping a pineapple and whistled. Maybe Kane hadn’t been lying when he said she had the full run of the ship.
    She scurried further into the hull of the ship and into the crew’s quarters where she had left her father. The sea of hammocks swung with each lift of the ship and three men surrounding the far hammock shifted automatically, adjusting their weight. With his red bandana, black hair, and broad back, one of them had to be Doc. Kane kept his promise. She chewed her lip. The man was a contradiction. One minute—a brute. The next—an honorable man.
    A low moan emitted from the hammock. “Father!”
    Doc turned around. “Lass, come here.”
    All the men stared and she stood where she was, but Doc motioned. “Hannah? Is it?”
    Hannah took a hesitant step, but at her father’s next groan, she moved. Ignoring the other men, she stared down at her father. She wrapped her arms tight around her waist, decidedly, if not alarmingly, needing the captain. His strength gave her courage. She cleared her throat. “Are you a doctor?”
    He shrugged. “I have learned a thun or two in my time. I take care of da crew. Your father’s gone and got a nasty bump on da head. He’s lost a lot of blood and gone muddled. I’m sorry to say lass da next few hours will be uncertain.”
    Hannah reached out her shaking hand and clasped her father’s. She rubbed her thumb over his clammy hand. “Father, I’m here,” she whispered. “Squeeze if you can hear me.”
    But his hand remained slack.
    “I’ve stitched up his head and he needs to stay warm. He needs to drink and rest.”
    She tightened her grip on her father’s hand, willing him to clutch hers, to call out anything. But his hand was limp. “What can I do?”
    “Stay by his side, lass. Keep him warm. Try to get him to drink. I’ll bring you my special brew to help revive him.”
    She put her hand on Doc’s thick forearm. “Thank you.”
    He blinked and his face reddened. “I’ll be back.”
    One of the men snorted and Doc glared. “You two out.” He thrust his thumb at the door. The two men grumbled but followed Doc out the door.
    Hannah dipped a rag in the bowl of water on a nearby table and squeezed it damp. She brushed her father’s sweating face. “Father please, wake up. Can you hear me?”
    She wished her powers could make her father well, but she was ineffective in healing. Tears threatened to slide down her face. Her father needed her. This was no time for self-pity.
    She turned him , staring at the back of his head, inspecting Doc’s handy work. The three inch wound had been cleaned and neatly stitched, such a tiny wound, but enough to bring her father to his knees.
    She grabbed another blanket on a swinging hammock and wrapped it around her father. “I know ’tis cold.”
    Doc returned, holding a tray in his hands. He shook his head. “There’s a storm brewing outside.”
    He put the tray on the table and the scent of broth, garlic, and chicken filled the damp quarters. “We need to get da fluids down him, lass.”
    “He keeps shaking.” Hannah rubbed her arms. “’Tis so cold.”
    “ Aye, ’Tis a ship lass. And Poseidon is angry today.”
    Hannah picked up the pitcher and cup off the tray and filled it with water. The ship rocked and water sloshed out of the cup onto the floor. Hannah grabbed the hammock to keep from teetering. She held the cup to her father’s lips. “Drink Father,” she urged, but his head lolled to the side, and the water dribbled down his slack lips.
    She wrapped her arms around his large shoulders and lifted him off the hammock. She pushed the cup in between his cracked lips and lifted the cup. Water