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possibility of running aground. So Jack assigned one of the crew the task of measuring the depth of the water. Everyone, even the cabin boy, stood still, waiting as the man called out the depth. Either they’d have room to turn the ship, or they’d bottom out. The lives of his crew were in his hands, not to mention the life of Lady Katherine…but Jack tried not to think about that; he had enough on his mind.
    “Eighteen fathoms, fifteen fathoms, twelve, ten, twelve, fifteen, sixteen!” The numbers kept coming, and then, after what seemed like an hour had passed, “Twenty fathoms and rising, Captain!”
    The bottom was dropping fast, and soon they were heading out to sea in the opposite direction. But now they were headed straight into the storm.
    Jack thought fast; if he could make it there in time, they could take refuge on a small island at the far end of the chain. He’d been there once before, when they’d had to lay up and make repairs to the ship’s rudder. This time the island would afford them shelter from the storm, which by Jack’s assessment was the sort that made even the stoutest sailor shake in his boots. A sky that black meant winds that would break a mast and ice that would put a dent in even the sturdiest of decks. Even in the lee of the island, the ship would be lucky to survive, but it was the only chance they had.
    When they reached the island ahead of the storm, and Jack saw the pockmarked cliff face he remembered from his previous visit, he knew he had done the right thing. There wouldn’t be a sandy beach or a green meadow for Katherine’s enjoyment, but there would be shelter from the storm…for all of them. He would keep Katherine with him in one cave, while his men could bunk in another. She would be safe from the storm and from his crew. While they were good sailors, and he trusted most of them with his life, they were also red-blooded men, and Katherine’s beauty was enough to tempt even the most loyal among them.

Chapter 6
    Seated on a blanket inside the cave, as the wind howled outside, Katherine considered what she should do. Escape was her goal, but was this the right time and place? There was only one man guarding her, but the other men had taken refuge in a nearby cave, and except for these pirates, or whatever they were, the island appeared to be uninhabited. Plus there was a storm raging outside. If by some miracle she was able to escape, perhaps she could hide, take her chances with the weather, and hope that a friendly ship would happen by before she starved to death or got eaten by insects. Or she could stay here with Captain Jack. After all, he had been her trusted friend once upon a time. Surely he would not harm her.
    He was gone now on some sort of business, or so he’d said, but he had assured her he would return shortly. To ward off the cold of the approaching storm she had been given a blanket, and one of the crew had built a fire. Now that same crewman stood at the entrance to the cave, and although he leaned casually against the wall, she suspected he was not relaxed.
    “Where did the captain go?” she asked him, her eyes darting to the gun in his waistband as she spoke. Would he shoot her if she tried to escape? And then there was the storm which, according to Captain Jack, could last for two days or more. Without a roof over her head, or a fire to keep her warm, she would be miserable, and she could catch her death, so staying put was probably the wisest thing to do.
    It had already begun to rain, and just then a chilling gust of wind burst into the cave and sent sparks from the fire floating in her direction. She quickly got up and moved to the other side of the fire, taking the blanket with her. Then she sat on one corner of it, while using the rest to cover herself as best she could. The sailor had not answered, so she asked her question again. “I said, where did the captain go?”
    “Don’t be worryin’ yerself, yer ladyship; he’ll be