Columbine by MIRANDA JARRETT Read Free Book Online Page B

that Abraham had made this assumption about his brother before, just as it bothered him that the captain seemed so unaffected by Caleb’s death. But then Kit had learned more than he wished about his father’s old friend on this voyage.
    Abraham was a superb mariner, but as a companion, he was far less satisfactory.
    “I may be the Prosperity’s owner on Paper, but she’s all Jonathan’s in every other way.”
    Abraham sucked on his pipe stem
    “About Jonathan, Kit. I’m not wishing ill to the lad, but if he’s still not well-mended, I’d be willing to take on as captain for you again.”
    “There’ll be no need,” said Kit quickly.
    “I’m certain Jonathan’s fine.” if Kit said it Often enough, maybe he’d come to believe it, too.
    “There now, Kit, I told you you’d be taking it wrong.” Suddenly Abraham scowled and laid down his pipe. The rapping on the cabin door was sharp and insistent.
    “In with you, then, if you be in such an infernal hurry!”
    It was the heady fragrance of the stew that struck Dianna first, the sweet smell of onions and, oh, could that really be chicken? She inhaled convulsively, gulping at the air as if it alone could end her hunger.
    “Don’t stand there a-gapin’, girl,” said Abraham irritably.
    “If you’ve something to say, then say it and be gone. You don’t have no place here anyways.”
    With a little shake, Dianna drew her attention away from the table and boldly confronted the captain.
    “You don’t give your passengers the food they’ve paid for.”
    Abraham snorted.
    “No French pasties and kickshaws, y’mean! What would a spoiled female like yourself know about seagoing fare?”
    “I know that you’re letting them starve so you can fill your purse with the difference! There’s half of them sick already, some close to death, and the children–oh, the children…” She faltered, thinking of little Benjamin Penhallow.
    Abraham struck his palm sharply on the table.
    “If things be so bad, why don’t one of the menfolk come to me, eh? Why did they send a little baggage like you t’do their begging?”
    “They don’t know I’m here. They don’t believe you’d try to cheat them or that there’s more in your stores than one mealy biscuit apiece each day!”
    “One biscuit apiece?” asked Kit incredulously.
    There should still be plenty for the passengers to eat.
    “One biscuit a day?”
    Dianna tried to answer him evenly. Why hadn’t she noticed him there before, sprawled in the chair at the end of the table?
    “Aye, one a day, and that often as not ripe with weevils.”
    “She’s daft, Kit, a troublemaker,” said Abraham quickly.
    “You’ve told me that yourself.”
    But Kit wasn’t listening.
    “Leave us, Abraham,” he ordered.
    “Now.”
    Crumbling, Abraham shrugged on his coat and left the cabin. If the captain cared at all for his reputation,
    thought Kit grimly, he’d be off to find those missing provisions, and fast.
    With a sigh, Kit turned his attention to Dianna. He had intended to ask her more about the conditions between decks, but now that he really looked at her, he knew she had not exaggerated. Hunger had hollowed her cheeks, and her black gown hung loosely from her shoulders. He’d been so intent on avoiding her that he’d forgotten the other nineteen passengers in his ship. God only knew what else that avaricious bastard Welles had done to them, and it was Kit’s fault for letting it happen. The girl had mentioned children, sick children. Wasn’t his conscience burdened enough already? Angrily he swore beneath his breath.
    Dianna watched him warily in return. Kit looked well-fed, tree, but his eyes were red-rimmed, and beneath a ragged growth of dark beard, the lines around his mouth were drawn deeper than before. She was no longer afraid of him—if the man had left her alone this past eight weeks, she doubted he’d be interested in her now.
    Curiously, she was almost sorry. ThroughouLthe long misery of the