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

Gracie lay back pressing the heels of her palms into her eye sockets. “I’m so sorry. You shouldn’t be bedside tending to my silly ailment.”
    “Nonsense. Seasickness is quite common. I know of only a handful of men who haven’t succumbed. Even the greatest of warriors become ill.”
    She offered him a weak smile. Anything more might set her to gagging again.
    Hobbs came with the tea and the captain quickly sent him on his way. He helped her lean up, putting the cup’s rim to her lips. The tea was bitter, pungent, and tasted something awful. But the warmth coated her insides.
    “Just a few sips, then rest awhile before sipping more.”
    “Thank you, Captain Banning.”
    “Cutler. We’re a step beyond formalities in the privacy betwixt ourselves, wouldn’t you say, turtle dove? ’Twould be far less impersonal to call out our given names in my bed.”
    Hooded, determined eyes captured hers, and lips didn’t quite tip into a sinful smirk. Her cheeks heated. ’Twasn’t like her to fluster like a fair virgin. But there she was all atwitter.
    Cutler. A fine strong name, much like the man.
    “Very well, Cutler.” She whisked a strand of hair behind her ear. “You may call me Gracie.”
    He stood and covered her with a blanket. “Rest. When you are better, you will entertain me...” He paused, his eyelids flickered as he studied her from head to foot. “...with our exchange of the nugget.”
    Ah, yes. The nugget. She hadn’t worked out that part of her plan yet.
    The rest of the day and all the next, Gracie struggled to overcome her seasickness. Cutler had looked in on her and though only briefly, each time he did, she felt a little better. How could she not? He showered her with sincere concern and encouraging promises she’d be well soon. But mostly ’twas the flash of his seductive smile which seemed to be a special secret meant only for her.
    Richard had also visited her quite a few times, keeping her company, eating with her when she could stomach broth and bread. They talked of medicinal herbs and of ship navigation by way of the stars. Conversations were easy with Richard. ’Twas why she pried about his childhood with Cutler. Richard was off-handed and vague, but Gracie managed to piece together that they, as well as several others from the brethren, were kidnapped, sold, and otherwise impressed into the seaman’s life. Expendable boys exposed to tortures, starvation, and mutinies. He refused to elaborate and shut down altogether when she nudged him further. Not unlike what she did when he asked of her past. He didn’t need to know how deep were her family’s pagan roots.
    Shadows crossed Richard’s face at the memories she dredged up, just as it did Cutler’s. ’Twas enough to give insight into the man who occupied so much of her thoughts. Cutler was scared, as was she. She wanted to ease any hurt he suffered. But, blast it, she needn’t think on such girlish matters. She would not lose sight of what he is to do for her—get her to St. Augustine and Carrion. Whatever she had to do for him, well, she should count it as a blessing. Surely the captain had a favorite mistress, someone he loved. The coy smiles and giggles of the serving girls hadn’t escaped her notice the first time she met him at La Plata Taza . ’Twas absolutely no doubt he made good with many a pretty face—even said as much.
    Her curiosity trumped her good sense and mouth. “Does Captain Banning have a woman?” she asked.
    Richard’s lips tightened, an unhappy crease cut between his eyes. He reached for the simple cross at his neck, as if from habit, and cleared his throat. “The captain frequently calls upon the devil’s vices and lies with women. He refuses to come to terms with his mistakes, may well be incapable of it, and has shunned the idea of love everlasting. Not with a lady or his God. His heart beats foul, Graciela.”
    “I don’t believe it,” she said. “For him to shun love, he has had to have felt