Cold Lonely Courage (Madeleine toche Series Book 2) by Soren Petrek Read Free Book Online

two had a prominent nose and a rosy-cheeked complexion. The other was much younger and stayed on the dock as Jacques and his companion stepped onto the deck.
    “Madeleine, this is my nephew, Benant, and that shy young man is, Domeka, his brother.
    Benant stepped forward and held out his hand. “I’m very pleased to meet you, Madeleine. I understand you’re looking for passage to Gibraltar. Jacques explained everything. My family and I would be happy to help.”
    “I can’t thank you enough. Hello, Domeka,” Madeleine said glancing over Benant’s shoulder. Domeka waved, jumping on board and walked up behind the two men.
    “Glad to meet you, Madeleine. I’m not shy, it’s just that my brother never stops talking long enough for me to say anything.”
    “I had a brother like that too. He loved to tease me,” Madeleine said.
    “Jacques told me he was killed in battle. I’m sorry,” Benant said.
    “Yes, and if I could I’d kill every German I could get my hands on,” Madeleine answered.
    The two Basque men laughed.
    “Did I say something funny?” Madeleine asked, confused.
    “Not at all. With you and Alize on board, we’ll be outnumbered,” Domeka said.
    “Two against two, those are fair odds,” Madeleine said.
    “Two against four,” Benant said chuckling. “We have two other crew members.”
    “Oh, I see,” Madeleine said with a grin, “I can’t wait to meet her. Lead the way.”
    Madeleine and the men walked for several minutes along the dock and into the area nearest the open water where the larger boats were tied up. They stopped alongside a fifty-foot trawler, sea battered but well kept. New ropes hung from the rigging. The deck had a fresh coat of paint and the brass fittings gleamed. A plump blonde woman with kind eyes stepped out from the bridge. She watched Madeleine as the story was told, and her eyes crinkled into a smile. Alize pushed past the two men and jumped onto the dock. “I’m sorry you had to endure the hospitality of these two,” she said in French, gesturing to Benat and Domeka. “Unfortunately, Domeka learned his manners from my husband, and Benat doesn’t have any. Did they even offer you a drink of water, much less anything stronger?”
    “Not yet,” Madeleine answered, taking Alize by the hand and kissing her on both cheeks.
    “Then come below. We’ll have some wine and make some supper. Maybe we’ll even let them have some of it.”
    “Wine would be marvelous,” Madeleine said following, as Alize gestured her on board.

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    CHAPTER TEN
    Madeleine stood on deck of the Basque trawler as it meandered into the port of Gibraltar. British flags adorned many of the boats. There were signs everywhere of the bombing the Germans had heaped on the city. Piles of rubble stood next to ramps and jetties being rebuilt by the British navy. Basque sailors and British and Spanish seamen rushed about, crowding the piers.
    “Madeleine, you’re going to need a suitcase and some clothing. You’ll look strange traveling without luggage. I have a case and a few clothes to put in it, but I think you should go to the market and find some that fit you before you leave,” Alize said.
    “I didn’t think of that. If I’m going to blend in, I’ll have to look like a normal passenger. What I’m worried about is, if I should take a British or Spanish boat to England. I didn’t have much time to plan ahead.”
    “Spanish, I think. But I doubt whether the Germans would sink a British passenger liner, although it’s happened before.”
    “I’m thinking that there will be more prying eyes on a Spanish ship,” Madeleine said.
    “I’m sure there’ll be German agents on board. They like to keep an eye on who’s going to England. But they’ll want to remain behind the scenes and I doubt that you’ll be bothered. Either way, you look too young to attract much attention. I have to admit that when I saw you I was surprised to hear that you killed a German officer,” Alize said.
    “I