Unexpected Treasure: A High Seas Adventure

COPYRIGHT

This is a work of fiction.  Names, characters, organizations, places, events, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Copyright © 2016 Tammy Andresen

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the express written permission of the publisher.

Published by Tammy Andresen

TITLES BY

TAMMY ANDRESEN

Lily in Bloom Series

Seeds of Love

Lily in Bloom

Other Books

Taming a Duke’s Reckless Heart

Taming a Lady Wolfe

Midnight Magic

Stealing a Lady’s Heart: Fairfield Fairy Tales

Coming in September 2016

The Golden Rules of Love

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to men who stand by their ladies. I am lucky enough to be married to one of them.

UNEXPECTED TREASURE

CHAPTER ONE

Off the Coast of England, Atlantic Ocean

Rex Masters lowered
his spyglass, oblivious to the rocking of the ship. “You’re sure One Eye is bearing down on that vessel?”

“I’d stake my life on it.” His first mate, Sanders, gave a nod. “He’s been tacking just out of sight of that merchant ship for three days. He would have attacked already if it weren’t for this storm.”

Rex grimaced. It was a nasty bit of weather, to be sure. They had been riding alongside One Eye’s boat for close to a week. Sailing parallel and coming into sight only long enough to keep tabs on the other ship. Though, he had nearly lost the pirate ship twice in as many days until they had discovered the pirate’s prey, a small merchant boat. Since then, it had been much easier to keep track of One Eye. Now the question was how to further use this knowledge to his advantage.

As if his first mate was reading his thoughts, he asked, “What do you want to do?”

Crossing his arms over his chest Rex assessed the merchant ship. It was small. There was a good chance it wouldn’t survive the storm. If it did, it surely had no method of protection against invading pirates. They were defenseless on both fronts. If the ship did go down, Rex would most likely lose One Eye. It was difficult to track a pirate but the merchant ship had been easy to follow, knowing that it had become One Eye’s prey.

“We could wait till the pirates attack and then come around One Eye’s flank and catch them by surprise.” Sanders stared towards the rolling vessel.

Rex shook his head. “We’ll lose them both. That boat could go down and then One Eye will flee.”

Sanders gave a curt nod of understanding. “What then?”

“We take everyone off the boat. They’ll be safer here. Then, if the ship doesn’t go down. The pirates will attack and we will trap the pirates then.”

Sanders eyed him. “That’s a big risk, loading all those people on this boat. What if One Eye sees you?”

Rex gritted his teeth. Sanders was right. But he couldn’t let innocent people die if he could stop it. He had lost one innocent life this month already, he couldn’t let it happen again. There were things more important than returning the crown’s gold. Though he doubted Prinny would agree.

* * *

The boat swayed just as the woman lying in bed in front of Sarah screamed. It was long and low and she grasped her friend’s hand harder, her eyes wide with fear. If someone had told Sarah what was happening in front of her eyes could frighten her more than the storm that raged outside, or the events of the last six months, she would have never believed them.

Anne had been in labor for two days. Now her screams came almost nonstop. The boat lurched to one side, but Sarah hardly noticed. “I have to push,” Anne panted out.

“It’s time.” Mrs. Flannery nodded to Sarah. The boat gave another sickening dip, but Sarah was oblivious. “Get me more hot water and more rags. Hurry!” Mrs. Flannery’s voice screamed over the howling wind and creaking wood.

Sarah shot up, thankful to have something to do other than stare in fear. Racing along the dark hallways to the galley of the ship, she held out her hands to keep herself from crashing into the walls.

“I need hot water,” she gasped the second she spied Cook. “The baby’s coming.”

“Have you felt this ship?” he said, his normally friendly demeanor gone. “I couldn’t heat water if I wanted to and we’re dying anyway.”

She gasped at his words, taking stock of the storm for the first time. The ship rocked wildly again. “I can’t be certain we will die from the storm but I am absolutely sure that baby is coming. I need water.”

He handed her a bucket and then crouched behind a cabinet bolted to the wall. A loud crash made the boat shudder as Sarah turned to head back to Anne’s room. Taking a deep breath, Sarah began the laborious trip down the narrow, swaying hall.

As the ship leaned to the right, Sarah crashed into the wall and water splashed all over her front. Steadying her feet, she kept moving down the hallway. But this time, tears pricked at her eyes.

Cook was most likely correct. They would perish in this storm and her uncle would have his way after all. She should have known this trip was doomed from the first. A desperate act of a desperate woman.

A tear slid down her cheek as she shook her head, unable to believe this is what it had come to.  A shadow crossed her path, for a split second, she simply thought the lamp lighting the hall was simply swinging with the rocking of the ship. But as the boat righted itself, the shadow remained in place.

Slowly she turned to see a man looming over her. Tall and dark, fear prickled over every inch of her skin. He was wet from the storm and it slicked back his hair, adding to his menacing appearance. Instinct took over. Taking a deep breath, she opened her mouth to scream.

His hand covered her mouth. “Please don’t scream. We are here to help you.”

Without waiting for confirmation, he began pulling her down the hall and away from her friend and towards the hatch. It took several steps for her mind to register what was happening. His hand was like a vice around her upper arm and he pulled her effortlessly as if she weighed nothing at all. Attempting to pull away, she didn’t break his stride at all. Any woman one her own would be frightened out of her wits, but she’d been looking over her shoulder for so long, she barely talked to anyone save Cook, Anne and Mrs. Flannery, that desperation was seeping in. Was this man a pirate? Worse, had he been sent by her Uncle to take her back?

“Stop.” Her voice was still muffled by his hand and he ignored her, continuing to propel her away from Anne. She pulled harder but his arm came around her waist. Dimly she registered that his arm was pure muscle as it wrapped around her.

“Stop,” she cried more loudly but he still disregarded her protests. Not knowing what else to do, she sank her teeth into his hand.

“Bloody hell!” he yelled is as hand withdrew from her mouth.

“Please, I beg you, don’t do this. I’ve nothing for you.”

He looked near shocked, as he assessed her. “Why, you’re a proper lady.” He stared down at her, his eyes drinking in the details of her face.

Sarah cursed herself. She was dressed in very humble clothing, but he must have recognized her accent. Normally, she tried to hide it or just not speak. She’d never really been able to replicate the cockney slang of the London lower classes.

“Ladies do not bite men’s hands.” She feebly attempted to deflect his observation as she slowly backed away. If he were a pirate, he may try to ransom her. If he was sent by her uncle, he would know she was the woman he was looking for.

“We have to leave, time is of the essence.” His voice was incredibly pleasant. It trickled over her senses like warm honey on a cold day. Strange to find your kidnappers voice pleasant.

“I could not possibly leave with a strange man. Who are you? Why are you here? Besides--”

He cut her off before she could suggest he was likely a pirate, “I must insist.”

The cries of an infant carried down the hall and Sarah turned on her heel and ran.

UNEXPECTED TREASURE

CHAPTER TWO

Rex watched her
run down the hall, holding the bucket. What was a beautiful debutante doing aboard this tiny merchant ship? Well he didn’t know for sure she was a debutante but she was young, ridiculously beautiful, and obviously well bred. Her accent had all the markings of money. But she had denied it when he asked. Why? A slight grin turned up the corners of his lips. Beautiful and mysterious.