A Pirate's Ransom by Gerri Brousseau Read Free Book Online

bare feet but the view was amazing. As I gazed out to the horizon, I could see for miles. The sea glistened ahead of us and I thought I spied a scrap of land, but could not be certain. Was there more beyond the tiny island? If only I could climb higher, I would know for sure. I could only imagine what the view from the top could be like.
    “Jake, I want to climb to the top.”
    “Nay, me Lady. The rope ye be wearin’ ain’t secured high enough for ye to climb that far.”
    “Then we shall simply do without the rope.”
    “Nay, I cannot allow that. The Captain will kill me if ye should meet your death.”
    “Jake, who is that up there beside you?” a voice boomed from below.
    I peered down to see the Captain standing below us on the deck. But my gaze traveled beyond him to the water so very far below. Dizziness swirled around my head, and everything started to spin. I gasped for breath and grabbed hold of the rigging, holding on as tightly as I could.
    “Ye be all right, me Lady?” Jake asked.
    I couldn’t answer him ... I could hardly breathe.
    “Jake! You best not tell me that is the Countess up there with you,” the Captain yelled.
    “Aye, Captain,” Jake yelled back.
    The humming in my ears became deafening and my grasp upon the ropes of the rigging tightened to the point my knuckles grew white. My palms began to sweat and I feared I would lose my grip.
    “Get her down from there immediately!” the Captain ordered.
    “Captain, I don’t be thinkin’ she can move,” Jake called back.
    Jake placed his hand softly upon my shoulder and said, “Countess, do ye think ye can climb down?”
    I stared straight ahead, seeing nothing, and it took all my strength to whisper, “I don’t know.”
    “Try. Try to move yer foot. Bring one foot down to the rope beneath ye.”
    But no matter how hard I concentrated, I could not force myself to move.
    “I can’t Jake. I-I’m ...” I couldn’t bring myself to say I was afraid.
    “Jake, what the devil is going on up there?” the Captain called.
    I flinched as the pirate’s ire only added to my anxiety.
    “Give me a minute, Captain,” the boy replied. Turning to me, he said, “Me Lady, don’t look down ... look at me ... look to me eyes.”
    I forced myself to face him, staring into Jake’s soft brown eyes.
    “Good ... now, we be goin’ to climb down the riggin’ ... together. That be all right?”
    My breath sounded like thunder, sweat trickled down my back, and my limbs were shaking. I couldn’t even answer him.
    “Jake, I’m coming up,” the Captain yelled.
    I closed my eyes, trying to gain some courage, but found that to be a mistake for then I couldn’t force myself to open them again. I kept my eyes closed as tight as I could and tried to focus on breathing. Why did going up not bring so much as a glimmer of fear, while looking down from where I came threatens to send me over the edge of panic?
    “Milady.” Edmund’s voice was a whisper against my ear. “I’m here and I’m going to take you down. We’re going to do this together. I vow to you, I shall not allow you to fall.”
    It was then I felt the warmth of his body seeping into me as he drew himself up behind me.
    “Lean back. We shall move as one.” He put one hand over mine upon the ropes. Still, I couldn’t force myself to move.
    “Catherine,” he whispered against my ear, “trust me.” Placing his arm around my waist, he drew my body against his. His arm around me felt like an iron band and from somewhere deep inside, I managed to gather a small measure of courage and loosened my grip upon the rope. My breathing was still raspy, but closer to normal as we slowly began descending, moving together, all the while he whispered soft encouragements in my ear.
    Finally, I felt the solid deck beneath my feet. Turning me to face him, he placed his fingers beneath my chin and lifted my face to look at him. “Catherine, you must give me your word that you will never do anything so