Hart's Reward (Pirates & Petticoats #3) Read Online Free PDF Page A

made scones for Landon and his officers.  
    That part of her work done, Keelan wandered up to the main deck. The crew gathered in a circle near the main mast. Before she made it to the edge of the group, the clash and ching of metal against metal told her there was a sword fight. Unable to see past the crewmen, she headed toward the companion ladder near where Landon and Gus relaxed at the helm.  
    Landon, while upright, leaned heavily against the rail, pale and drawn. Even so, his keen azure gaze trapped hers for a moment. She caught her breath, hoping. He shifted his attention to the sword fight. A heaviness pressed on her shoulders and chest. He still didn’t know her.
    She meant nothing to him.
    When she topped the third step, she could see over the heads of the sailors. Daniel and Ronnie circled each other, sabers up. Ronnie swung his weapon. Daniel was still and fluid at the same time. A flash of silver followed by a strident, metallic clash blocked Ronnie’s strike. Ronnie parried and struck out again, only to end up with the tip of Daniel’s sword at his chin.
    The men roared and clapped. Ronnie, grinned and shook his head while Daniel raised his sword and gave him a spry salute. When Daniel lowered his weapon, he caught sight of Keelan.
    “Let’s have another go, Mr. Kahlil, what do you say?” Ronnie used Daniel’s alias, keeping with the charade Daniel and Keelan had to play.
    “I have a suggestion instead, Mr. Ahern,” Daniel replied nodding toward Keelan. “Mahdi has been negligent in his training of late. It would do him good to exercise his sword arm a bit. Mahdi?”
    Ronnie’s eyes widened, “But, sir—”
    “It’s quite all right. Mahdi and I used to train together every morning. He should be an adequate sparring partner for you.” He gestured to Keelan then paused as if he might reconsider. “That is, if the wounds have healed enough on your back?” His forehead creased with concern. He’d forgotten about her still healing lashes, but they were healing well.
    Gampo and his men had stolen Landon’s cargo, then kidnapped her from her uncle’s Charleston town house. One of Gampo’s men had whipped her for refusing his advances. That was close to a month ago. Landon had asked her to sail away with him that night, as his wife, and she’d joyfully accepted. She glanced up at her husband again. He simply stared at her, waiting for her to respond to Daniel’s challenge, nothing in his gaze but a mild interest.  
      Their first meeting had occurred after a sparring session between her and Daniel. She’d been dressed much as she was now, in boy’s clothes and boots. Her heart lifted a bit. Perhaps this exercise might nudge his memory of that day.
    She shifted her gaze back to Daniel and smiled. “I believe they’ve healed enough for a small test.”
    The men roared with approval and parted for her to enter the circle.
    “But…” Ronnie looked from Daniel to Keelan. “Mahdi is…is….”
    Daniel lowered his brows in warning, lest Ronnie forget himself and expose her.  
    “I’m a head taller and two stones heavier! Tis not a fair fight!” Ronnie blurted.  
    Daniel caught Keelan’s eye and the corner of his mouth twitched. “You’re right, it’s not a fair fight.” He handed her his sword. “But I’m sure Mahdi will go easy on you at the beginning.”
    The men guffawed and Ronnie’s ears reddened. He reached up and scratched the back of his shoulder, then still dubious, gave a slight shrug of acquiescence.  
    Keelan attempted a few practice swings to test the elasticity of the skin across her shoulders. An uncomfortable pull stretched against the gently healed wounds, but nothing painful. How fast could she move? She increased the speed and made a figure eight and nothing stung or pained her, so she stopped and nodded to Daniel. “Feels good enough.”
    The men were silent a moment before one of the sailors called out, “Sixpence on the boy!”
    “Which one?”