A Pirate's Curse (Legends of the Soaring Phoenix) Read Online Free PDF

she was a woman?
    Remain calm. Who was she kidding? Remain calm? She was about to burst through the cabin and dive into the ocean and take her chances with the sharks. But she didn’t. Her father needed medical attention. She refused to disappointment him again.
    “I’m Captain Kane O’Brien. ” He motioned with his hand. “Cook has prepared food for us, and I invite you to break fast at my table.”
    Salt pork, sliced pineapple , and hard rolls decorated each plate on a table set for three. A steaming pot sat in the middle of the table. She shivered from her shoulders down to her legs. Would she ever feel warm again? Her frozen, stiff fingers ached to put her hands around the pot.
    She tried to swallow her fear and cleared her throat.
    “My father,” her voice squeaked. “He’s bleeding. Will you please help him? The man Doc? He’s a doctor?”
    “I suggest you sit,” the Captain reiterated. "I sent word to Doc to redress your father in warm clothing and look after him."
    His decisive tone left her few options.
    Th e Captain dragged out a chair, screeching wood on wood, and he seated himself across from her. He tapped his finger on the table. With each tap, she shrank. Was he going to beat her? Was he like the other pirates?
    “The food will get cold as a wet Christmas if you don’t eat, lad. I assure you, ’tis safe. Cook hasn’t killed any of us yet.” The Captain picked up a piece of salt pork and swallowed.
    “I want to go check on my father,” Hannah insisted. “I…”
    “Doc will watch your father. I have questions I need answered.”
    Hannah slunk deeper into her chair. Her stomach twisted into a square knot. “But I…”
    The Captain ’s jaw twitched. “That’s not a choice. I want to know what happened last night. Your cargo, your destination, why did the Fiery Damsel attack you?” The Captain leaned back in his chair. “Lie to me and you’re dead.”

Chapter Three

    Kane waited for the lad to answer. He was a fool if he thought Kane would not hesitate to use brute force to get the answers he needed.
    The lad stared at his uneaten food on the table, then lifted his head and sat taller in his chair. “I don’t know why we were attacked.”
    Kane rubbed his chin. “So, you believe the attack was by chance?”
    “Yes, they were pirates. Pirates don’t need a reason to attack.”
    “Not the Fiery Damsel ,” Kane growled.
    “Maybe ’twas a mistake,” he said. 
    The lad’s hands twitched. Glowering, Kane grabbed the lad’s arm and yanked him off the chair. “Be warned, I can make you talk. I tell you true. Tell me what happened last night.” He shook the lad and the boy sucked in his breath.  His huge brown eyes stared at him and he trembled beneath Kane’s hand.
    Kane hardened his voice, “Palmer was questioning your crew for a reason. I want to know why. He never questions his prey.”
    “Palmer?”
    “Quinton Palmer is the Captain of the Fiery Damsel . Almost seven feet, red hair, long beard. Any of this ring true?”
    The lad pulled on his arm, but Kane held firm. He could smell the lad’s hot sweat of fear, but there was no turning back, not with his crew’s safety at stake. He released the lad and stormed over to another table and snatched up a cat o’ tails. He had hoped not to have to use the whip, but his patience had run out. “I need to hunt down Palmer and I want you to listen very carefully, lad.”
    He snapped the whip twice. The air cracked.
    The lad swallowed and his face paled.   His brown eyes widened. The lad gasped. “I swear…”
    “You don’t know anything?” Kane finished. “Are you asking me to doubt my own eyes?”
    “I ...I...I am telling the truth.” The lad insisted, but his eyes shifted and he licked his soft lips. He was lying.
    As if by magic, the coffee pot flew across the table and fell over the edge, crashing onto the floor and nearly hitting Kane’s boot. Hot coffee splashed onto Kane’s hand and thigh, scalding his