Bring Me the Horizon by Jennifer Bray-Weber Read Free Book Online

in his eyes dulled. “I must go. Enjoy your wine.”
    Gracie floundered in his harried departure. Instead of deciphering the meaning of Richard’s visit, she decided it was simply concern and curiosity. She’d sip her wine, will away the thrumming in her head and soothe her choppy stomach. And plot. Plot and prepare for the battle ahead with Carrion—and Banning.
    A couple hours later, Richard returned to take Gracie for a walk topside. Captain’s orders.
    With her hand in the crook of his arm, they strolled the decks. The air was wet and oppressive. Decking radiated heat from the midday sun. Sweat beaded on Gracie’s forehead despite the sea breezes pushing the Rissa forward. The dips and swells the vessel took wreaked havoc on the stomach. No bother. It felt good in the warm sunshine. To hear the ship carving through the blue water was divine. Every nautical mile brought her that much closer to Carrion.
    Toiling crewman spared glances at her as Richard escorted her across the waist. Most eyed her suspiciously, a few whispered to one another, and one pushing a mop toward them did a complete turnaround in the other direction.
    “Bringing me on deck is to show the men they’ve nothing to fear from me, am I correct?” Gracie was not blind. Captain Banning ordered Richard to bring her out not for the fresh air, but to alleviate doubts about her as a witch. What better way than parading her about with a priest.
    Witch , she hated the word.
    “You cannot fault him for that, Graciela,” Richard said. “He must maintain surety and order. He is their shepherd and they look to him for intuitive leadership and conveyance, especially in the unknown. Their commission, the riches as well as the dangers they may face, are because of you.”
    When he put it that way, she understood. Because of her, they were headed for unspeakable peril. But weren’t pirates used to danger and death? After all, theirs was a trade of larceny, blood, and evasion.
    They strolled the deck and Gracie listened as her companion pointed out the various ropes, sails, equipment and their roles of the ship. He introduced her to several men, explaining their duties. Though they seemed cordial enough, she’d do well to keep her distance. Richard was a pleasing conversationalist and though he was a man of the cloth, he surprised her with his ability to make her laugh. Yet, she battled incessantly with nausea wrenching her belly. ’Twas difficult to stay focused and stave off irritability.
    “Where is the captain? Will he show himself?” She was eager to see him—his handsome face, solid body—and settle up with her shame.
    Richard cast her a sideways glance. “He is about,” he said. “A captain has duties that require him in his cabin more than on deck.” He let out a heavy sigh. “But he’ll want to see how his men are conducting themselves around you. He’ll be here soon enough.”
    “I do hope he isn’t too long,” she grumbled.
    The ship took a dip and Gracie groaned. She hurried to the gunwale and gripped the sun-baked railing. Concentrating on the swirling water, she breathed deep through her nose, exhaling through her mouth.
    “Are you all right?” Richard gripped the underside of her elbow and bent to look at her face. “You’re pale.”
    Her head grew dizzy and the pounding in her skull beat anew. She swallowed hard forcing her breakfast down. “I’m...I’m fine. Just a bit queasy.”
    “Perhaps I should take you back to your cabin.”
    “Already?”
    Gracie twirled around, and cursed herself for the sudden movement.
    Captain Banning sauntered over. If she hadn’t been breathing in through the nose and out the mouth, she’d have gasped. Every bit a pirate captain, Banning wore a red scarf wrapped around his head, long loose brown locks fluttered in the sea breeze under the cap. Tanned chest muscles—a chest as hard as marble—peeked from under his tunic. A large hand rested on the hilt of his cutlass. Formidable,