Sapphire Dream Read Online Free PDF Page B

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    Rourke sighed, weary of the ever-present fighting. It was like captaining a pack of ill-mannered dogs.
    “I’ll kill you,” Cutter spat.
    “Now, Mr. Cutter.” Jules stood well out of the reach of the fight. “ ’ Tis no shame in it. She bested us in the hold when we found her. Near broke my nose, she did. And Gordy won’t be standin’ any straighter’n you for another sennight, I vow.”
    Cutter whipped out his knife and slashed at Jules, missing his chest by a hair’s breadth. Jules pulled his own blade.
    The time had come to end this. Rourke needed every able hand to mend his ship. He could not afford to lose a man to a brawl.
    The clash of steel upon steel rang over the deck as Rourke put two fingers between his lips and gave a shrill whistle. The onlookers jumped and dispersed, but the combatants were locked in battle. Jules glanced up and blanched as his gaze met his captain’s cold glare.
    But Cutter seemed unaware of his arrival. He fought like a rabid dog, his lip curled back, his eyes wild. His chant of “I’ll kill you” slowly changed to “I’ll kill her.”
    Rourke’s blood went cold. He pulled his sword and entered the fray. With a single upward swipe, he parted the men’s swords. Jules leaped back, allowing Rourke to take on Cutter unchallenged. The man lunged for Rourke, seemingly oblivious to the change in opponents. He wanted blood and cared not whose.
    Rourke knocked Cutter’s sword out of his hand, then sheathed his own and rammed his fist into the man’s jaw. The blow sent Cutter sprawling.
    Rourke stood over him, his eyes cold. “If the lass lives, she has my protection, aye? You willna go near her again.”
    Cutter sneered as he rose slowly to his feet. “I know why she’s here.”
    Rourke stared at him, dread pooling in his gut. Cutter couldn’t know. Could he?
    But now was not the time. He’d pursue the comment later, when his ship was no longer in danger. “Mr. Baker!”
    His first mate scurried to him, looking more mouse than man. “Aye . . . my lord?”
    My lord. Rourke clenched his fists against the violent urge to choke the man. “I am not a lord.”
    “But . . .” His voice wobbled with terror.
    “Hoist the plague flag. If they query us, we’ve two sick with the scourge belowdecks.”
    “But . . .”
    “ ’ Tis a bluff, Mr. Baker. Be gone with ye.” He turned his hard gaze on Cutter and the rest of his crew. “To your posts, the lot of you!”
    Out of the corner of his eye he saw Hegarty emerge at last. The little man moved toward him looking weary but satisfied, his mane of wild hair bobbing in the sea breeze.
    Hegarty wiped his brow with his sleeve. “She lives.”
    The news brought both relief and dread. “For how long?”
    The dwarf’s eyes shone with a mischievous glint. “Now, Pup, you know I’m a fine healer.”
    “I want her away, Heg.” He heard a thread of desperation in his voice and cleared his throat to cover it. “Do what e’er you must, but do it off my ship. I will set you ashore at the first port.”
    “Ah, lad, she may not be well enough to travel that soon.”
    Rourke saw the gleam in the little man’s eyes. “Nay. You’ll not involve me in this.”
    “You have always been involved, Pup.”
    “ ’ Twas accident, nothing more. ’Tis about her and her alone. The prophecy has naught to do with me.”
    Hegarty met his gaze with sharp devilment. “She’ll need a champion if naught else.”
    Rourke’s gut tightened. “You’ll not foist her on me. You are her champion. ’Tis you who’ve been waiting for her, not I.”
    Hegarty looked at him with eyes that were unusually serious and far too wise. “The prophecy affects us all. Naught will be right again until its words become truth. Now I’m off for a wee bit o’ sleep.” He looked at Rourke sharply. “Leave her be. You can see her when she’s full recovered.”
    Hegarty left and Rourke turned back to the work at hand, clearing the deck of storm debris alongside