A Pirate's Heart (St. John Series) by Lora Thomas Read Free Book Online Page A

the captain to arrange the perspective buyers. When he finally arrived, several appalling individuals accompanied him. Kristina instinctively knew who they were—the owners of the assorted taverns and brothels in Tortuga. A shiver went down her spine. She had to escape, but how?
    “Alright, ladies and gentlemen,” Captain Hawkins replied as he looked at the group who had followed him. “Let’s start the bidding, shall we? We’ll being with that tall Jamaican.”
    Kristina watched as Montie was dragged from her location and forced to stand on a small crate in the center of the room. Her clothing was removed so all could examine her tall, thin frame. Kristina watched in horror as one after another of the women in the room were forced to undergo the same embarrassment as Montie. Each lady was pulled forward, one at a time and examined like cattle. When she glanced around the room a startling realization came to her, she was the only one left!
    Kristina was dragged towards the small crate. She was not going to stand up there without a fight. She kicked at the crate, sending it sprawling across the room. All that managed to get her was a smack to the face, making her fall to the ground. Billie grabbed her by her hair and forced her to stand. She refused to allow the thin dress she was wearing to be removed. She locked her arms down, but that did not stop him. Billie just cut her clothing away.
    “Now this one will cost ya,” Hawkins began. “A virgin we acquired from one of our last stops.”
    “How do ya know she’s of pure quality?” came the question from the overweight woman in the back of the room known to all as Miss Annie.
    “I acquired this exotic beauty from a mission near Matanzas. She was being reared by nuns. Now tell me, where can you find a purer body than those of nuns?”
    The answer the captain gave satisfied the woman. She nodded her head and her dyed black hair bobbed up and down. She puckered her overlarge lips as if she was kissing the air and replied, “Fair enough.”
    All buyers approached Kristina. The clients poked and prodded. They pinched and squeezed. Kristina had every body part examined physically and visually. She was mortified!
    Kristina could hear the bids, but did not pay attention to the amount. Her mind was racing. She must escape, she must! Before a plan could form in her mind “Sold!” echoed throughout the room.
    “What?! No!” Kristina screamed as she was covered with a sack. She began bucking and kicking, but all that managed to get her was a hit on the head. The blackness came.
    When Kristina awoke, she was sitting in a storeroom of sorts. There were crates and barrels of various sizes around her. She blinked several times as she attempted to focus on the objects in the room. She noticed shelves of different heights, all with multitudes of small bottles, what-knots, and packages. The pungent aroma of cheap perfume and liquor made her stomach turn. She attempted to cough to help ease her nausea, only to find that a moldy rag was lodged in her mouth. . . again.
    “Ah, I see you’re awake now,” came a nasally voice from her right.
    Kristina turned towards the voice. She held her head up proudly as she viewed the thin, short greasy-haired balding man before her.
    He walked towards her and ran a finger down her cheek. The gag in her mouth prevented her from biting his bony finger. She jerked her head away from his cold slimy touch.
    “I see yer a feisty one,” said the greasy-haired man. “I don’t think I’m goin’ put ya up fer sale jest yet. Think I’ll have a taste of ya first, keep ya ta ma self fer awhile, considerin’ the price I paid fer ya. Miss Annie wanted ya fer her place real bad, which drove yer price way up. But I outbid that old hag. Mr. Nubian will be awfully mad at me fer the price I paid fer ya, considerin’ it was his money. But once he sees ya, he’ll forgive me. He’d a been pissed knowin’ he’d missed out on that auction, but once he