Trapped in Love’S Magic Spell: Book 1: the Ships

By Joanne M. Baker

Anne is the owner of the shipping company Paw Print when the ship she is on is taken over by what she thinks are pirates. Anne learns that her beloved cats lives are in danger. She must pull out all the stops to save them. The captain of the privateers is totally intrigued by this beauty. Thomas sets out to teach her that her place in the world is at his side, but Thomas has a lot to learn about Anne.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: May 2, 2017
• ISBN: 9781524686314

Joanne M. Baker

I started writing Trapped In Love’s Magic Spell in high school. I was tired of weak female characters and someone told me if you don’t like the female characters write your own book so I did. At the age of 40 I feel it is time to publish the first book and see how it goes. I have lived in Maine, Alaska and now live in New Hampshire.

Book preview

TRAPPED IN LOVE’S

MAGIC SPELL

BOOK 1

THE SHIPS

By Joanne M. Baker

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© 2017 Joanne M. Baker. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 05/02/2017

ISBN: 978-1-5246-8632-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5246-8633-8 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5246-8631-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017905219

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Suzanne Simoneau for making me do something in study hall.

Mom for putting up with all that went into this and me.

Thank you!

also

M.m.o.J.

CHAPTER 1

F rom where she stood on the ship, she could see for miles out over the tranquil aqua surface of the ocean. Her mouth was set in a straight line and her eyes were narrowed, just staring out to sea, with her features set like she had been carved out of stone.

These were all warning signs that something was not right with her. The French captain took mental note of all these things as he came to stand beside her. He was watching her very closely, after a few minutes he asked, What is wrong, what do you see out there?

With a start the young woman leaped around and upon seeing the French captain returned to watching the sea. The woman said nothing at first. She almost acted as if she had not heard what was said to her. After a moment she took a deep breath and let it out on a sigh, before answering the captain’s questions.

Nothing, nothing at all. I think that’s what is bothering me. She replied shaking her head as if in disbelief.

Is that not a good thing that you see nothing? The captain asked in a heavily French accent, and a bit more at ease.

No it is not good. There are no fish jumping, no whales breaking the surface of the water for air, no dolphins or no porpoises riding the waves at the bow, no birds. Then as an afterthought, she stated, Not that there would be any birds out this far at sea. There is no sign of life anywhere, but here on this ship. Nothing to break the surface of the water, not even a ripple of a wave, it’s just flat water for as far as the eye can see. Not only is it empty, it’s so very quiet, even the water against the bow of the ship has a certain kind of quiet to it. There is not even a stray cloud in the sky. Just an empty sea, like the sea is just waiting for something to happen. I just don’t know what it is waiting for and I find it very disturbing. Yes something, is not right about all of this, and I don’t like it, not one bit! It is just to unnerving for me, not to be a little disturbed, or uneasy. The woman informed the captain, with a slight edge to her voice. I don’t like it, not one bit!!

The captain, who had been sailing for years, did not share Miss Anne’s feelings of doom. He had worked up to captain of a ship from being his father’s cabin boy. But in his own mind he breathed a sigh of relief and dismissed her worried feelings, for he had seen the sea just like this and it was good sailing weather. The captain was also no fool and didn’t voice his dismissal of what Miss Anne had said. For the captain, however, knew about Anne’s talents or special gifts, if one could call them that, and said nothing to her. He did, however, shake his head and looked out over the water to truly reassure himself.

The captain turned back to the lady at his side to say something insignificant, such as tell her not to worry and things would work out for the better. He noticed, just in time though, that Miss Anne’s eyes were closed. To anyone who knew her at all this was a sign that she was trying to concentrate or listen for something, or trying to figure something out.

Then without warning Anne’s eyes shot open, she turned around, and stared with her eyes wide at nothing. Then after a moment she yelled, as she pointed out to sea. There it is, a mast! I knew something was not quite right with this day, I just knew it! Now I know I was right!

Just a few moments later the look out, up in the crow’s nest, found the top of a mast of a ship and yelled down to the deck. As the captain looked out over the water again, the unknown ship was heading straight towards them.

On the deck of the ‘TIGRESS’ no one was moving to do anything, all the people were watching the other ship. The crew couldn’t see any more than the mast of the other ship and couldn’t identify it as a friend or foe. The only movement that could be seen on the deck came from Anne as she turned from the railing and started to walk across the deck to go below to her cabin, to wait out what ever happened next. She did not want to be in the way of a fight or the pirates. All other eyes watched the horizon and the mast of the unknown ship. Some of the crew talked quietly among themselves voicing the question that burned on every one’s mind; what is the other ship and what does its crew want? The captain was among those watching the other ship and a knot was slowly forming in his stomach, he had a feeling this was what Miss Anne had been talking about.

The captain turned from the railing and watching the other ship, to turn his attention back to Miss Anne, but she was heading across the deck. The captain was about to ask her what she thought about this other ship, but just as the captain was about to ask her and before she went below, Anne turned back to face the captain as if she had read the captain’s unasked question. The other ship you see there, is… she stopped and pointed at the other ship. Then she continued in a calm voice with an even calmer stance. Before she went on with what she had been saying, Anne took another deep breath and let it out in a long drawn out sigh.

The other ship you see here is, well they are pirates. The way I understand it, you have choices, captain. One; is to try and fight the pirates and possibly have them blow this fine ship out from under us, as well as kill your crew in the process and the ones that are lucky enough to survive the fight only to be taken prisoner and there is no hope then or with that option. Two; you can just kill all of us now and be done with it, leaving you to deal with the pirates. I will tell you this captain, I won’t die at your hand, so I too will deal with the pirates, in my own way of course. The third option is to… Anne paused again, turned back to the stairs for she could no longer stand the sight of the other ship, now clearly visible on the horizon. Again before she continued, Anne took another deep breath and let it out, then went on. Just surrender without a fight, saving every-ones life, my ship, and a lot of hassle, the only problem is that we will all be taken prisoner. Then to herself, at least for a while any way, for I don’t plan on staying long, I want to get home sometime and soon! After this thought, Anne spoke to the captain again. The third option is what I would highly recommend you do, captain!! It is the easiest way. Anne finished with a firm tone to her voice, to a now very puzzled captain of the ‘TIGRESS.’

The captain watched Anne go below decks with a lot of questions raging war on his mind that didn’t have answers right now, do to the confusion he now found himself in. He also guessed that something would happen soon and sometime soon he would have the answers that he needed. He just hoped he would be happy with those answers. He then decided two things: one that he would have to be satisfied with the answers that were given, because there would be nothing else forth coming especially with or from her involved. The second thing he decided was that all his questions would not be answered, and he would have to be content with that as well.

So he just stood there and watched Anne disappear below deck. He thought about what Miss Anne had said about the pirates. It came to him just what she had said and he thought to himself, pirates don’t take prisoners, or do they? I don’t know for sure, but I thought that they only take dead bodies and riches. If this is truth then we are dead any way, but Miss Anne probably knows more about these kinds of things than I do, so I will take her word. Besides she has been very helpful on this journey so far. Besides I’m one to give anything a try once and maybe we’ll be lucky and survive this day by doing what Miss Anne has said. We will surrender. All this the captain said to himself, to the crew he declared out loud in his French accent. The lady could speak French very well among other languages but only one or two others could so they all spoke English on her ship. In fact she had taught him English so he could talk to her other crew men, before he could come to work for her. It was this as well as the other reasons that the captain would surrender to the pirates. She was the boss and people did what would please her and what she wanted done.

I’ve decided that we will surrender to the other ship and not fight them, if that is what they want and that is what the lady wants! That way we may live to see out this day and others, God willing! The other ship appears to be pirates, well you heard her.

The captain was readying the ship and mentally readying his mind to take his chances with the pirates when he heard the unmistakable sound of a cannon being moved on the deck. The cannon was rolled into position and then was fired at the pirates’ ship. Then next thing anyone knew the pirates’ ship returned the threat with a firing of cannon balls. Their fire didn’t hit the ‘TIGRESS’, but splashed into the ocean and for this the French captain was glad. He would not have liked to be around Miss Anne if her ship was destroyed, because she would have been terrible to deal with if this ship had been destroyed. She would have been fit to kill the person or persons responsible for its destruction, or just be really mad and yelled at every one with in the area.

Down in her cabin Anne heard and felt the cannon fire from the ‘TIGRESS’, but thought it was one cannon, because more cannons would have rocked the ship more than it did. Then Anne heard the returned fire from the pirates’ ship and waited for it to hit the ‘TIGRESS’, she was ready to skin who ever fired that cannon after her warning. As she listened the ball smashed into the ocean and she breathed a sigh of relief. After the returned fire there was only silence to be heard, Anne thanked God for this silence which meant the ‘TIGRESS’ would stay in one piece which meant that a plan could be made to leave these pirates behind and sail to freedom. Anne knew that if they got some supplies on board the pirates would never see them again. The crew could set sail on the darkest night, with no moon or stars. Anne had faith in that because she had taught them all to do it, and they could also set sail in any kind of weather.

After sometime had passed Anne wondered for a brief moment if the crew was being killed. This thought soon left her mind, for over her head on the deck, Anne heard the order to take the prisoners aboard their ship and then below deck from a booming voice. The ones not dealing with the prisoners were ordered to take and clean out the hold, place the cargo in the other ship’s hold.

The next thing Anne heard was stomping, staggering, laughing and a lot of other noises from the upper deck and to her it was a sure sign that the pirates were on the ‘TIGRESS’. Anne also knew that these were sure signs that soon she would be discovered by the pirates. Anne shuttered at that thought and wished for one of her weapons to protect herself, but she didn’t have any of them, and she bared her teeth in a silent snarl. To focus her mind she began to pace the space of the cabin. After a few moments she decided this was not helping, so she started to pick up the few things that she had out. She then packed and repacked her few belongings that she had in the cabin with her. This did not really help her, but she did it anyway to try and keep calm.

Then Anne heard a steady noise coming out of the hold and she stopped to listen to it for a minute, then laughed to herself. So they are bringing my personal things out of the hold and taking them to their ship for me, after all they are only things in the hold. How very convenient and thoughtful of them to bring them along for me. Anne thought happily, then on a more serious note she thought to herself, I wonder if they know what’s in all those boxes, barrels, crates, and other stuff that they are happily moving for me. I would guess that they don’t for three reasons, one: the pirates haven’t had time to get into the stuff yet; two they probably don’t know how to open the boxes, there is a trick to it of course, just in case something like this ever happened. The third reason I know that the pirates don’t know what’s in the boxes, is because they probably would not take them if they did know.

Although even if they left it on the ‘TIGRESS’ I could get to it. They would be really dumb to blow up this fine ship, so I have a feeling that they will take the ship with them. I’ve heard that pirates take ships to enlarge their own fleet of ships, which makes sense in a way. We build them and they take and get them. Oh well, if it keeps us alive then so be it. So there! Anne thought with a huff. If they take the ship with them then there maybe a chance that I can get the ‘TIGRESS’ back from these pirates. And if a chance presents itself then I will willingly leap at it and take it as a hunter would leap at its prey. At this thought Anne smiled sinisterly to herself.

Whatever it takes I will not stay a prisoner of these pirates for long. Anne then decided to rethink this thought. Well almost anything, anything but let them have their way with me, without a serious fight, between the sheets or anywhere else for that matter. Nor will I surrender to them in anyway, except for the taking of the ship and that I hope to get back! I will stay a strong woman and not let my G.G.ma down, or in no way or anyway become my mother to be used and broken! Well if that makes me a bitch then so be it!! I will live my life as a bitch and no one will take my life and use it for their own pleasure!! Anne pledged to herself and with that and a very determined nod of her head she turned back to the door and waited for whatever came of this day.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the loud noise of wooden planks being broken from their frames, Anne guessed that the doors were being kicked open by the pirates, in their haste to open them and see what was behind them. Anne chuckled for she knew that there was not much behind those doors so she knew the pirates would be disappointed, after going through the cabins and finding this out for themselves. There was not much in the cabins because Anne didn’t want the ship weighed down any more than it had to be and it was safer in storms if there were not a lot of things to fall over, or on to people. She made this very clear to all that sailed on her ships. The cabins were comfortable for the occupants of them, but not cluttered with things.

The idea of the pirates ruining any part of her ship, made Anne mad and she would let them know about this when they found her, for she would not show herself to them. Anne heard a pirate’s voice yelling to a man to come back followed by some colorful expressions. Anne who had heard worst, but being a lady, still blushed a little at the language that was being used. She shook her head and dismissed it as the man not knowing about her, or not caring about what he said, and this too displeased Anne and pushed her temper up a notch.

After a moment or two Anne recognized the French captain’s voice just outside her door and smiled at the reason for the commotion. Then she heard his voice and silently blessed him for being loyal to her. She knew his loyalty was real by what he was saying. I can not nor will not let you into this room, Monsieur pirates! There is nothing in this room of any concern to you!

The pirates were laughing at him as they came up to the Frenchman. Over the noise of the laughter a booming voice could be heard. Ah, my fine French fellow, you are no longer the captain of this fine ship, here. Now are you? Of course you’re not, I took over that title when I took over the ship. As captain of this ship I will go where I want, at whatever time I want to go. Right at this moment I want to go into that room behind you. So if you’ll be a good French boyo and move on your own free will no one has to get hurt. I’ll warn you that if you don’t move I will have you moved with some help from my crew. I’ll also warn you they get a little rough with things in their search for riches. Please don’t take to long to decide for I’m not a very patient man, but if you like I could make a choice for you.

The next thing that Anne heard was the sound of metal being drawn out of its sheath and realized that a sword or many swords were coming out to do battle. Anne shook her head in disgust. Men, don’t try to figure them out because it won’t help, just a waste of her time and mind. The French captain Andrew was the next person to speak in a calm voice. That was just bravado, Anne feared for any one would be scared in this event of being out numbered so many to one.

He stated his case. Sir, I have given my word to my employer that I would not let any harm come to what is behind this door you see to my back and as an honorable French man I must keep my word that no harm will come to this most perfect thing. I must keep my word after all, no monsieur? Therefore there is no way I can move away from this door without some fight. I’m sure with all your men you will win in the end, but I must try to protect it anyway.

That is a very noble case sir and I commend you for it. Now if that is your answer to my question… The other man stopped for a moment, then went on with what he was saying. …then I must insist that you leave. Take care of it boys, but do use care with our fine French captain because you know what will happen to you all if you disobey me. I’ve come to honor this man. He has a noble heart and that is something very rare on the open ocean.

At this Anne quickly closed her eyes and waited for the sound of a man being mishandled as he was taken away from his post. She was concentrating so hard trying to picture what might be happening on the other side of the closed door that when the picture became very clear she was a little startled by it. It came from a weird angle and it took her a second to figure the picture was from a rat’s or mouse’s point of view.

Through this rodent’s eyes Anne watched as the French captain was ambushed. After two of the pirates had a tight hold of the French man they pulled him away from the door as he was yelling, No! Don’t go into that room! I can’t let you in there! Please don’t… His voice was cut off by a man’s hand as he was taken out of the way of the door.

The next thing that Anne saw was a tall, young, bronzed faced man that looked like an old tree or a full grown bear and he had his sword out, but was putting it away. He was very much muscled like a bear and Anne felt a moment of AWE for this man, but the awe didn’t last long and was soon gone. Anne was not one to fawn over any man, but she had to admit to herself that if she was; this man would be the perfect or understandable choice for any woman including herself. These thoughts put an edge to Anne’s temper and put her more in a bad mood, which could be good or bad for her survival in the next few minutes.

The man turned around, with a smile on his bearded face, back to the door that had started all the dispute. Anne was shocked that he was handsome. Well sir, you have made your choice and I have made mine. Now, I would say that you don’t have a choice any more. I have decided to go into this room and any other room on board when we took over the ship. Even through you are noble and didn’t fight us. Why I’m not yet sure of the reason for this but I don’t really care. We are still are in control of your ship and we will do as we damn well please with it.

The man’s sureness of himself was just to much for Anne. His attitude brought her temper to the overflowing point and anyone who knew her would have been sure to run and hide at this point. She was fit to be tied or kill any one she came in contact with. Anne had been known to pick fights with the older boys when she was younger. She may not have always won those fights, but she had given her fair share of bruises. After a while they had all learned not to make her this mad. New comers soon learned fast, if not from personal experiences then from the others. It was even worse when she learned her talents with all kinds of weapons. When they decided that she was a woman, their efforts turned to try and catch her eye for marriage, then for wealth. Anne had only turned away from all this.

The pirate then turned to his crew for a moment and he asked or rather said, Well me boyos shall we see what’s behind this door that the good captain was so bravely and gallantly defending? The crew broke out in cheers and more laughing once again. Then it’s an unanimous vote and who am I to stand in the way of the people and what they want? So let us see what great treasure awaits us on the other side of this door. With that the pirate raised his booted foot to break it open. To everyone’s surprise the door flew open wide all on its own to reveal a narrowed eyed, hard lined mouth, with a even harder faced, furious goddess-angel on the other side of it.

The men of the pirate crew just stood there for a few moments and stared at the true treasure they had found, but none of them really believed their own eyes. Then all of the men looked from her head to her toes and back up, all in shock at what they saw standing there. None of them wanted to speak first in fear that this vision would disappear before their eyes if they did. Anne, however, looked from one to the other and back again, preparing for anything. She was ready to defend herself against these men.

She saw the man who was obviously the captain of the pirates, for he seemed to be the one giving the orders. As well as the one in charge of the proceedings, from what Anne could guess from what she knew of things; (in charge that is until she made the scene. She would reclaim her ship from them even if it killed her, but she would see her crew safe no matter what;) he was also the first one to make any kind of sign of recovering his senses. The pirate captain made a low bow to Anne and making a grand jester with his hand as if he had a fancy hat to sweep the ground before her with and she was at the highest of court and he the perfect gentleman. Anne almost laughed at the thought.

Coming up from his bow he said to the lady, Why my dear sea angel I do believe that you have robbed all of us including myself of any and all manners or shivery. I also believe you are gracing the wrong area of the ship or the wrong ship all together. He smiled at her, then went on with what he had been saying ignoring the murderous look on her face. You should not be locked away in a hole like this, you should be gracing the heavens with your beauty. With that said, the pirate captain looked more closely at the woman. She had tanned skin that was just kissed by the sun’s rays, eyes that flashed black but with an inner fire and he wondered at their true color. She was built in all the right ways a woman should be built.

The captain of the pirates then noticed that her beautiful but simple pink dress complemented her tanned skin very nicely. He could also imagine that the skin under that dress was also tanned. The captain could guess from the sun that filled the cabin behind the vision, that she spent some of, if not most of her time just lying in the sun. With this thought in his mind, the captain was forced to smile all the more, until without warning; a fast, surprisingly very strong hand came out of nowhere to slap his bearded face, HARD! Hard enough in fact to make his face sting, with the impact of it turning his head to the side.

A ringing silence followed, because all the other pirates just stared at the woman and their captain. They wanted to see what he would do next to this woman who dared to strike him and challenge his command like that. His face wasn’t the only thing that stung. Anne found that her hand hurt from meeting the hard wall of the man’s check, so she hid it in the folds of her dress and shook it to try and get the sting out of it.

The next thing to break the silence, was a voice that was filled with scorn but also filled with mock caring. It had to have come from the hand itself or maybe from the woman. Oh I’m so sorry, did I hurt you?! I had hoped in doing just that, if I succeed then that is just GREAT with me!! It was meant to hurt and it will for a few minutes or maybe it will be hours I don’t think I can hope for a day or two but oh well. You can just stop rubbing your hand over it, you pompous moron!! What do you want with the ‘TIGRESS’?! There is nothing on it for you or your pack of thieving pirates! Oh there is no need, I all ready know the answer to that question, so just don’t answer that! Now I’ll tell you this there is nothing down in the hold of any interest to men of any kind be they merchants or pirates, but if you want to take the cargo then just take it and leave the people on the ‘TIGRESS’ alone! I will, however, make one point very clear to you I am NOT part of the cargo!!!! I also will not let you pirates blow up the ‘TIGRESS’! Do you understand this pirate?! Did I make myself clear or would you like me to use smaller words?! The woman growled with a smug smile and a false sweet bat of her eyelashes at the tall man. Anne then turned turn towards the French captain and asked with true concern and her voice kind and it sent an unexpected shiver down the pirates’ spines. Are you all right captain? These creations didn’t hurt you, did they? If they did, then may their God help them and help them now! Something seemed to be building but the others couldn’t figure it out.

My dearest female you will kindly use that title to address me, after all I am the captain, am I not? the captain asked with a roguish grin as he kind of spread his arms and turned a little toward his crew men. There was something about her he couldn’t quite take his eyes off completely. He returned fully to her and he defiantly like what he saw. Let me introduce myself to you fair lady, Captain Thomas J. Coverts at your service. I’m a little stunned but other than that I’m fine and thank you for the concern. If I maybe so bold as to ask, my lady, what is a tigress? I hate to ask a question that should be obvious to me, but I feel I must ask it anyway. The tall man bowed to the woman again. A few of his men’s eyebrows rose slightly at him but they said nothing at the moment. The woman didn’t look any friendlier now than before the pirate introduced himself. In fact she didn’t look like she had heard him at all and they began to wonder about her.

"Oh I am sorry to hear that you’re all right, you self-centered person, but I don’t care what you think you are! Let me tell you something else, PIRATE, as far as I’m concerned you are not the captain of the ‘TIGRESS’, now or ever! You maybe and probably are the captain of these pirates and the other ship, but rest assured that you don’t command the ‘TIGRESS!’

Oh, yes to get back to your question that you asked earlier, the woman said almost to herself, as if she had just remembered that the pirate captain had even asked a question.

The pirates shifted, they had never seen anyone challenge their captain so brazenly before and they didn’t know what to make of it or their captain for letting her get away with it. What they didn’t realize and neither did he really, was the fact that he too was shocked that he was letting her get away with it; how easy he was letting her and not putting her in her place and lastly how much he was enjoying it. He was actually thrilled a woman would stand up to him like this one was.

Well your right of course, it should be obvious to anyone who can read! Now she went to far. This also stung the tanned, tall man, but this time it was his pride that was struck and Anne was very pleased to see the man bristle a tiny bit before she went on with what she had been saying. The ‘TIGRESS’ is the name of this ship that we all find ourselves standing on. It is named after the female of the tiger, a large member of the cat family with strips. The ‘TIGRESS’ is MY finest ship and I had the honor of naming it. To herself she added this little bit of information that she decided the pirates didn’t need to know, It is also named this for the cat’s spirit who lives in the ship and it is a floating fortress. Although at this time she is a little bit on the low side and we are in need of some things, but she still has her claws and teeth and they are very sharp make no mistake on that. She is still ready for anything that might come her way, just like me. Anne smiled to herself at these thoughts, before going on with what she was saying to the really annoying man and the French captain or tried to.

That is an odd name for a ship, lady.

Not if you knew me and why it is called that. With that she turned back to the French captain. Now my dearest captain, are you alright? Something hot and dangerous lanced through the pirate captain at her words and he had no idea what it was and was shocked by it. Did these beasts hurt you? Anne turned sharply to look at Captain Coverts with hate in her eyes and stated in a harder tone of voice, Don’t you even think about saying anything, for I’m not talking to you! You will know when I want to talk to you, I’ll address you when I see the need to or choose to!!

Thank you for the concern and I am fine, Miss Anne. Have they hurt you? For if they do, well I would give my life to save you from these black hearted thieves. Anne smiled at him to let him know that she was all right, for the time being anyway.

The pirate captain decided it was time for him to go, he had also decided because they had basically surrendered without a fight the men would be taken prisoner and not killed or they could just go if the pirates had found nothing in the hold. They had found some things so the men were taken prisoner, it was dangerous to take a cargo and let a crew just go, they had a tendency to come after it. Of course he had not counted on a woman being aboard. This was a man’s world but here she was bold as anything and it explained all the men’s strange behavior. They hadn’t really acted like they were defending themselves but something or he realized someone else and here she was, but it explained everything now.

Anne had only smiled because she didn’t have time to answer in any other way, for the two men who were holding him took and got a firmer hold on the French captain and lead him or dragged him away. Thomas smiled smugly to himself now she had no one but him to talk to, well his men but she hadn’t even acknowledged them and they too could be sent away.

Anne sighed and shook her head at the treatment of her crew men, turning her back on the pirates and momentary dismissing their presence. Anne then picked up her bags, then turned around the room, finishing at the door and looking at the pirate who stood close to the door. Anne groaned inwardly, this was not how she had planned to spend her day but there was no help for it now because it was happening. She sighed resound, then with her head held high Anne walked out of the cabin, passed the pirates without a second glance at them or their captain, and with that Anne started for the companionway.

As Anne passed them she could feel their eyes on her, some were even so bold as to reach out to grab at her. Anne very carefully side stepped their roaming hands. The thought of one of them getting hold of her made her skin crawl. She forced herself not to show any kind of emotion. However, she knew that her eyes would show what she was feeling, so to hide them Anne kept them as hard as she could, hoped they wouldn’t look that close and with her head held level, eyes straight ahead and her feet moving fast caring her forward past this pact of the pirates but she also forced herself not to run. Everyone knew what happened when you run from predators, they run after you.

At her passing some of the men, who now seemed to fill the whole companionway, reached for the vision that seemed to fly throw their mists. Every time one of his crew reached out for the woman, she would just step out of the way as if feeling it and not seeing it or where she was going. Though her feet moved around to carry the woman away from the men, they never stopped on their fast forward movement away from them and up on deck.

Thomas watched this woman with much interest as she moved her way throw his men, her hips swung just enough to lure a man into being fascinated and hypnotize by them, something like the movement of a snake’s head right before it strikes its prey. Thomas wondered if she was like a snake and just as deadly, if so Thomas would have to watch her very closely and that thought appealed to him greatly. Thomas had bowed his head a fraction as she pasted him and he could have imagined it, but he was almost sure that the woman’s head had dipped just slightly and her eyes widened a mere fraction of a second. Then she was just as she was before. It seemed to take her a long time to move the short way to the stairs, a life time in Thomas’s opinion but then upon reaching the stairs to the deck, she climbed them and was gone from view way to quickly for his taste but then again not quick enough.

Thomas smiled, chuckled softly to himself, and gave a small shake of his head; he would tell himself later to clear it of the surprise at find a woman and such a woman at that, not to mention the strangeness that seemed to be around her and her effect that she had had on him. He wouldn’t admit it but she had effected him; a LOT and he didn’t know how she had or why or even how she had done it or what it means but she had all the same. He shrugged, who knew, this ship maybe more interesting than he had first thought it would be when his look out had spotted it on the horizon, it wasn’t even riding that low in the water. He had agreed to take the ship, though he didn’t know why but the vote came in over ruling his and the very few other no votes and now that he had seen what treasure this ship held, he could give a damn less why they had taken it, he was just very glad it had been taken. Of course none would have gone totally against him, for he was the captain and the consequence of that would have been severe. This would have put their thoughts of defiance from their minds. Even though Thomas was captain, he tried to be fair with his crew and a vote is a vote and the majority ruled on Thomas’s ship.

Thomas had a funny feeling that there was more to this whole thing then what was known to him, that his life had just changed for the better; although it would be a while before it would be revealed to anyone in this part of the game that had just been put into motion. Although Thomas didn’t know everyone who was involved in this particular part in the game or what the outcome would be. He was definitely sure that it would be for the better and for all involved and he was also sure that it had to do with the woman who just left.

Thomas shrugged, for whatever will happen, will happen; for whatever reasons and there was little any one can do to stop them now. Thomas had decided a long time ago that life would take him were it would and he could do little to stop it. He had seen people try to fight life and for a while they seem to beat it, but sooner or later they wind up where life wanted them. Thomas’s father had taught him this and he could still hear his father saying: ‘Life puts you were it wants but it is also like chess. The man who plays it right and by the rules wins. If he meets someone better he can lose once in a while, but that is the way things work. In the end, however, he is most likely to win the game. Now the man who cheats to win in life and doesn’t play by life’s rules then he is most surely to lose it all in the end.’ Thomas would then ask how was one to know the rules that life set for the game. His father would think a few minutes then reply to his son: ‘Life changes the rules whenever it feels like it as it changes situations, but if you just go along with it and ride it out like a storm at sea then life will reward you for your patience with it. Just like the worst storms break and give you good weather. So go where life takes you and accept it and you’ll be fine.’ With that advise ringing in his ears, Thomas had set out into the world and that is how he came to be a pirate and also how he came to be here on this ship, with this woman and the rest of the people that were on these two ships.

Thomas was brought out of his thoughts as a man jabbed him in his ribs in his haste to go after the woman. Then Thomas was aware that his whole crew down here was making a huge racket of calls and whistles to the woman who had gone up on to the deck. This annoyed Thomas, they were acting like they had never seen a woman but also there was that blackness again that really didn’t like it and he decided that it would have to be stopped for their sakes as much as hers. He also realized they were also forming a mob in their haste to go after her. Thomas maybe just a pirate to these men, but he would be damned if he’d let that female fall prey to this hellish crew and their lustful ways. Then without warning Thomas drew his sword again as he turned to them and moved it around in front of the leaders faces, then held it so that all the pirates in the hallway could see it and the threat that it held for their lives. He had had enough.

I hate to bother any of you in your pursuit of the lady, but I feel I have to, call it honor if you will. He paused for a moment to get every man’s undivided attention, which didn’t take long and Thomas smiled to himself. There was just a few things in life that could get a man off the scent of a woman and their own pleasure, the threat of death was just one of them. When he had it and was sure he went on with what he had been saying. Now each and every one of you listen to what I’m about to tell you, for I will only say it just once. His eyes and voice turned cold and to make sure that they all got the massage Thomas moved towards them with the sword ready for anything that it came in contact with. From now on the lady that you all seem so taken with, is under my protection and care and any harm that comes to her will result in men’s deaths with no questions asked. You might want to tell the others as well because I will make it known. You will be hung, whipped, or tied to the bottom of a long line that will be thrown overboard so you can be bait for the sharks or whatever else I feel like doing. I don’t care what she says, as far as I’m concerned and you all as well the woman is part of the prize and as CAPTAIN, I aim to claim her for my own! Now is there any questions on the matter, for if there are ask them now for you won’t get a second chance to?! Oh and if any of you wish to challenge my right to claim anything that is taken as a prize as captain of you all, please let me know so that it can be discussed. Thomas gave the sword another wave in front of their faces to give cause to his statement and also let them know just how it would be discussed. There was only a few moments of murmured conversation among them, but none of them came forward to challenge him, as he knew they wouldn’t, for he had in more ways than one and more than once proven his fighting skills.

Then from the back came a question from one of them. How come you let her get away with slapping ye, Cap’n? There were yeahs of agreement from others in the crowd as if they had wondered as a group the same question.

Thomas acted as if he was thinking on this for a moment then stated, There are two reason I didn’t do anything to the woman for slapping me. One is my father taught me: you never hit a woman. I don’t really care who she is or what she is, it doesn’t matter, you should never hit a woman. They nodded and Thomas went on. The other reason is that I probably deserved it. He smiled roguishly at them, they got the idea and they chuckled as they jabbed each other. Thomas didn’t need to say that he did deserve it, for he smiled as he remembered right where his thoughts had taken him and probably his eyes had willingly followed as well. Besides one can not blame a lady for defending in front of others what was hers to defend, but Thomas had learned long ago that most will readily show it in the darkness away from others. Thomas sighed he could hardly wait for that time when that lady would yield to him and he felt a tightening in his body for it. Let her have the light of day but the night was a ways off yet and he need to focus on what he was doing now but he promised himself he would claim her as his own and she would yield her body to him. Thomas thought he heard a chuckled snout and he scowled for a second but his men were not paying attention to him so he dismissed it and returned to the nonchalant of before.

When Thomas thought that his men had had enough time to think about all his reasoning and dispute it if they had wanted to, he put his sword away, took up a casual stance, and smiled to his crew. Well buckos shall we see what the lady left for us in her quarters? Thomas received hearty cheers from his crew. Thomas kept his smile on his face, how well he had learned from seamen sense he had taken to the sea with his father. Any and all men would lust after a woman, like dogs after a bitch in heat, until they smell money or profit, than hunt that down like the best hounds on a fox hunt, leaving the woman to get away. Oh they would return to her in a second but money and a threat of death were the best way to put them off. None of this pack of mongrels would challenge this dog for this bitch’s bone and tonight he planned to go on the hunt for her and she would pant and howl out her pleasure for him.

Then when the pirates looked into the cabin, they all groaned for the room was completely empty. Having looked in all the other cabins and their work done to this end, some went to the hold to help clean it out. For a few minutes Thomas stared: there was NOTHING in the cabin, not a bed, chair, not a hammock or even a pallet on the floor for her to sleep on. No window just nothing and the room wasn’t even that big. What kind of men put a woman like that in a cabin like this and with nothing for her comfort. True out of sight was one thing but this was just cruel. Thomas turned to go, discussed and stopped and looked back with a scowl on his face as he stared into the cabin again.

What is wrong Capt’n?

When the woman first appeared in this door I could have sworn that the room was full of sun light and now it is not.

Ya know I thought the same thing but I guess it was just seeing the woman. Wow what a looker huh Capt’n?

Thomas turned to the man and smiled, Yes she is. Then Thomas scowled again, There is nothing in there, not even a place for her to sleep, what kind of men are they? he asked crossly.

Don’t know but I am sure she will show her appreciation tonight in your soft comfortable bed with you tonight Capt’n.

Thomas smiled again, Yes I am sure she will and she will melt into it I am also sure. Come on let see what is happening up on deck. With that he turned and the rest of the crew that was down here followed their captain up on deck. The ones that went up on to the deck stopped as soon as they mounted the top of the steps reaching the deck. Thomas was surprised anything was getting done at all, for standing on the deck with the sun shinning down on her and making her glow with an aura of great brilliance stood the woman in the pink dress. All his men were watching her and paying for their lack of attention, her crew men were having to do the work just so no would be killed. She was just standing on the deck oblivious to the men that watched her, which most all of them were. She paid the men little or no mind because she was intensely watching the things that were happening on both ships decks, as if she was in command of the operations.

Thomas wondered how she could watch both: this ship and the one across the water at the same time. He had a hard enough time just watching one ship with all that was going on or could go on, under normal circumstances let alone two, but add her to the mix and there was no watching anything else. There she was watching two ships, maybe it was easier for a woman after all they could do a lot of things at once and they had a word for it: multitasking. Any way somehow this woman seemed to be and was taking in everything as if there were two of her or she was taking it all in to give a report to her father or husband.

Thomas cringed and sucked in his breath at that thought, the other reason that he sucked in his breath was just the sight of the woman. Thomas thought he might just have to keep this treasure for himself for a while, after all what kind of man would let this beauty travel the seas alone. A man that was not worthy of her that is who and he couldn’t even think about that she was on her way to an arranged marriage because she wouldn’t be making it. She was now HIS. As soon as these thoughts entered his mind, Thomas put it out of his mind. For if he kept her he could almost see the angry man who would come after him and he would probably bring guards from any and every prison not to mention the navy to hunt down the person who had captured his beautiful woman and that person would be him and Thomas had decided that no woman was worth dying for. (What Thomas didn’t know was this one was and he would offer his life to her and others lives to save her.)

Anne stood watching the two ships without really seeing anything that was happening on them. Her mind and thoughts were very busy working on a way to get out of this mess she now found herself and her people in. She was slightly annoyed that she didn’t have some things but mostly she lacked knowledge of the men who had taken the ship and that scared and infuriated her. Without knowledge she didn’t know what she could do and live though. That is why she studied the men as if her life depended on it because it did, but how did one study and learn if the things you are studding are just standing around watching you? She was losing patience and was seriously thinking about yelling at them to stop it and leave her be, but she stayed silent. She did, however, watch with interest as the crew of the pirate ship as they easily swung across the water all that were leaving the ‘TIGRESS’. Some of the crew were to stay on board to sail it and bring it along behind the other ship, the ‘COMMANDER’, is what it read on the side of the pirates’ ship. It would help and make it easier but the idea of the ‘TIGRESS’ sailing behind any ship was almost absurd, any one could see the ‘TIGRESS’ was the better ship and should lead the way. Anne wanted to stay on it but the others were on the other ship so she would go there and besides she didn’t think they would let her stay or the captain wouldn’t.

Anne was watching the happenings and so involved in her own thoughts that she forgot about everything else which she most never did. So much so that she didn’t feel or sense the man come up behind her and when the pirate captain came up to her and spoke to her right in her ear it startled her. It brought everything back to her sharply, like where she actually was and what was happening not to mention the men.

I would be most delighted, most willing and very much honored if you want me to help take you across the water, dear lady. This can be very difficult if you don’t get it just right. One could crash into the deck of the other ship and could be wounded or killed. Then there is the possibility that one could slip and lose hold of the rope and this could most assuredly result in a very cool dunking in the ocean and with all those skirts on I don’t think you would make it. I really think that the world would miss a lady as beautiful as you are. I know I would grieve at such a tragic loose of a fine woman. Thomas smiled at the woman, who had jump away from him and around to face him at his first word in her ear, but other than that she just stood there looking at him with a very blank look on her pretty face.

Thomas went to reach for her, but with one swift movement she easily stepped out of his reach. She had moved so fast that Thomas was shocked by it. He didn’t think anything could move like that or that fast, but now he knew the truth of the matter and that is his thoughts were wrong. Something could and she did, Thomas stared at her it was like one second she was in one spot and a half a second later in another it was strange but Thomas also thought it interesting.

Anne had not been at all pleased with this man being any were near her, but she couldn’t say anything to him for he was a thieving pirate that could do anything to her or to the crew of the ‘TIGRESS’ he wanted and Anne inwardly cringed at the thought. This made her just stand there and look at him as if she was dull whited which was easy to pull off because most men expected women to be that way but they were not. In Anne opinion it was men who where dull whited, oh yes there were some women who were but women didn’t start wars and things like that. Anne, however, wouldn’t let him help her any were or even touch her if she could get away with it! That thought made her sick to her insides, but on the other hand the same thought made her tingle all over, inside and out. She decided not to chance the pirate touching her, it was always better to be safe than sorry and