Romancing the Pirate by Michelle Beattie Read Free Book Online

round face, looking more like a young lad than a man nearly the same age as Blake.
    “Thank God. I tried to sleep last night, before my turn on deck, but that new whelp you hired on in Tortuga kept throwing up. I’ve never heard such a bad case of seasickness in my life.”
    Blake’s hand froze midreach to the helm. “You hired one on. I didn’t.”
    “The man I hired is named Lewis. I’ve never seen this one before. He came on board in Tortuga, said you’d given him a job.”
    Blake got a very uneasy feeling low in his belly, and the knots came back into his shoulders.
    “Where is he?”
    “Below, keeping company with the chickens.”
    Perfect. “Can you take her a little longer?” Blake asked.
    Vincent simply moved the crate back into position.
    “Thanks. I shouldn’t be long, and then you can get some sleep.”
    “As long as you can keep that boy from heaving, I will.”
    “Well, depending on why he stowed away on my ship, I may just toss him overboard.”
    Vincent smiled. “You’re not that mean.”
    Blake scoffed and slipped below. He passed the hammocks of snoring men and followed the smell down another level to where they kept their livestock. The goats stretched their necks when he walked by, reaching for anything they could nibble on. The chickens watched silently from their wire cages. He sidestepped the worst of the streams that crossed the walkway between the cages and pens, wondering why anyone who was seasick would choose to stay in the worst-smelling part of the ship. Unless he was someone who didn’t want to be found.
    Blake didn’t have to search hard. He simply had to follow the moans of the sick boy. Blake found him sprawled on his side in a clean patch of straw, a thin boy wearing worn brown trousers and a cap, a bucket next to his face and his back to Blake.
    “Having difficulties, son?” he asked without sympathy.
    A long moan answered him, and the boy tugged the brim of his cap farther down on his head.
    “A little late to hide now, boy.” Blake kicked his boot. “Get up.”
    For a while, Blake didn’t think the boy was going to comply. But finally he moved, keeping his back to Blake while he got to his feet, the bucket clasped tightly in his hand. He swayed slightly and Blake cursed. This wasn’t anybody who would be of value on his ship.
    “Turn around.”
    Lowering the bucket, the boy drew off his hat as he turned. A long braid fell over what should have been a boy’s shoulder. Only it wasn’t a boy looking out at him through a face pale as the canvas of his sails.
    Blake felt as though he’d been punched hard in the stomach.
    “Hello, Mr. Privateer.”
    “Alicia? What the bloody hell are you doing on my ship?”

Six
    She didn’t answer. He could see she wanted to, but each time she opened her mouth to speak, she slammed it shut again, closed her eyes, and swallowed repeatedly. She swayed and stumbled back against the wall, then slid down until her backside was on the floor. She settled the bucket between her bent knees.
    “Take me ashore, you’d be doing me a favor,” she muttered.
    He’d be lying if he said he wasn’t tempted.
    “You snuck on in Tortuga?”
    She nodded.
    “You’ve been sick ever since?”
    Another nod.
    “Dammit, Alicia, that was a day and a half ago!”
    She wretched again, though nothing was left to come up. Wiping her face, she leaned back, looking as frail as a newborn lamb.
    “I’m well aware of the hours that have passed, since they’ve been dragging like a lame dog.”
    Judging from the pale cheeks and dark circles under her eyes, Blake had no doubt she’d counted every second. But he refused to be moved by it. Since leaving Port Royal behind seven years ago, Blake had always had a clear vision and goal. He’d wanted to be a privateer, and from the moment he’d acquired his ship and received his first letters of marque, he’d felt all the pieces of himself fit perfectly for the first time in his life. He’d had a purpose and