Trapped In Love's Magic Spell: Book 1: The Ships

By Joanne Baker

Anne is the owner and there for in charge of the shipping company Paw Print when women were thought to be property; when the ship she is on is taken over by what she thinks are pirates. Anne soon learns that her beloved cats lives are in danger, she then must pull out all the stops to save them before it is too late. The captain of the

• Language: English
• Publisher: Stratton Press
• Release date: Aug 27, 2021
• ISBN: 9781648955204

Joanne Baker

I started writing TRAPPED IN LOVE'S MAGIC SPELL as a junior in high school when a teacher told me I had to do something in study hall. I was tired of weak female charters and someone told me 'if you don't like how they are, write your own,' so I did. A grand total of 4,379 hand written pages and twelve years to write but also a lot of just life in that twelve years too. I have lived in Maine, Alaska and now live in New Hampshire.

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TRAPPED IN LOVE’S MAGIC SPELL

Copyright © 2021 Joanne M. Baker

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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ISBN (Paperback): 978-1-64895-519-8

ISBN (Ebook): 978-1-64895-520-4

Printed in the United States of America

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

1

From 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 heavy French accent, 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 too 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 lookout, 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 toward them.

On the deck of the Tigress, no one was moving to do anything; everyone was 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 whatever 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 everyone’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, returning 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 there 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, let it out, then went on. Just surrender without a fight, saving everyone’s 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 in his mind that didn’t have answers right now. He also guessed that 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 forthcoming, especially with or from her. 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, 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 anyway, 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.

The lady could speak French very well, among other languages, but only one or two others could speak French, so they all spoke English on her ship. In fact, she had taught him English so he could talk to her other crewmen 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.

To the crew, he declared out loud in his French accent, 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. The next thing anyone knew, the pirates’ ship returned the threat with a firing of cannonballs. 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. She would have been fit to kill the person, or persons, responsible for its destruction or just be really mad and yell at everyone within 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 whoever fired that cannon after her warning. As she listened, the ball smashed into the ocean, and she breathed a sigh of relief. After the return fire, there was only silence to be heard. Anne thanked God for this silence which meant the Tigress would stay in one piece; that 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. 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 and 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 shuddered at that thought and wished for one of her weapons to protect herself, but she didn’t have any of them. 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 packed and repacked them. 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, 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 may be 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. 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 any way, 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, 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 worse, 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 cannot 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 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 too 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 anyone would be scared in this event of being outnumbered 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 Frenchman, 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 Frenchman, 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, bronze-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. 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 anymore. I decided to go into this room, and any other room on board, when we took over the ship. Even though you are noble and didn’t fight us. Why, I’m not yet sure, 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 too 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 to 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. Newcomers 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 a 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, the man continued with.

With that, the pirate raised his booted foot to break it open. To everyone’s surprise, the door flew wide open, all on its own to reveal a narrow-eyed, hard-lined mouth, with an even harder-face, 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 made a grand gesture 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 chivalry. 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 cheek, 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 to do 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 already 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 toward the French captain and asked with true concern, her voice kind, and it sent an unexpected shiver down the pirates’ spines. Are you all right, Captain? These cretins 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 crewmen. There was something about her he couldn’t quite take his eyes off completely. He returned fully to her, and he definitely liked 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. 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, you’re right of course, it should be obvious to anyone who can read! Anne shot at him angrily.

Now she went too 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 stripes. 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 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 all right?

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. 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 got a firmer hold on the French captain and led 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 crewman, turning her back on the pirates and momentarily dismissing their presence. Anne picked up her bags, then turned around the room, finishing at the door and looking at the pirate who stood close to it. 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, resigned, then with her head held high, walked out of the cabin, passed the pirates without a second glance at them, or their captain, and 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, carrying her forward past this pack of 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 through their midst. 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 through his men, her hips swung just enough to lure a man into being fascinated and hypnotized 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 passed 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 lifetime, in Thomas’s opinion, but then upon reaching the stairs to the deck, she climbed them and was gone from view way too 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 finding 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 affected him a LOT and he didn’t know how she had, why, or what it meant, 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 lookout 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 overruling 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 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 than 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 what had just been put into motion in the game that is life. Although Thomas didn’t know everyone who was involved in this particular part or what the outcome would be, he was definitely sure that it would be for the better and for all involved. 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 anyone can do to stop them now. Thomas had decided a long time ago that life would take him where it would and he could do little to stop it. He had seen people try to fight life; for a while, they seem to beat it, but sooner or later, they ended up where life wanted them. Thomas’s father had taught him this, and he could still hear his father saying, Life puts you where 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 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 breaks and gives you good weather. So go where life takes you and accept it and you’ll be fine.

With that advice 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 before, 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 may be 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. 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 once. His eyes and voice turned cold, and to make sure that they all got the message, Thomas moved toward 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, 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 reasons I didn’t do anything to the woman for slapping me. One, 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 cannot blame a lady for defending in front of others what was hers to defend. 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 needed 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 snort. He scowled for a second, but his men were not paying attention to him, so he dismissed it and returned to the nonchalance 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 offered his crewmen. Thomas received hearty cheers from his crew. Thomas kept his smile on his face, how well he had learned from seamen since 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.

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 that 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, disgusted 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 sunlight 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’s 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 shining 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 crewmen were having to do the work, just so no one would be killed. She was just standing there, oblivious to the men that watched her, which most all of them were. 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. Anyway 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. 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 studying 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 the crew of the pirate ship that was leaving the Tigress, as they easily swung across the water. 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; anyone 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 here 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 and spoke, 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 loss of a fine woman.

Thomas smiled at the woman, who had jumped away 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 that fast, but now he knew the truth of the matter and that 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 anywhere near her, but she couldn’t say anything to him, for he was a thieving pirate that could do anything he wanted to her or to the crew of the Tigress, and Anne inwardly cringed at the thought. This made her just stand there and look at him as if she was dull witted, which was easy to pull off because most men expected women to be that way, but they were not. In Anne’s opinion, it was men who were dull witted; 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 anywhere 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 inside and out. She decided not to chance the pirate touching her; it was always better to be safe than sorry, and this man was trouble and there was no doubt about that.

With her head held up and level, Anne answered this pirate in a voice filled to the overflowing point with brimstone. "I don’t need your so-called help or any other man’s help just to go swinging across some water! I most assuredly don’t need any help from you, Captain! I know what you are after, and you will not get it, so just leave me be! I don’t need or want anything from YOU, except the freedom of the people of the Tigress, which includes myself, of course!"

With that statement ringing in his ears and before he could form a retort, Anne grabbed the rope that had just swung back to her ship. She got a firm grip on the rope with one hand and her bags firmly in the other,