The Pirate's Tempting Stowaway Read Online Free PDF Page A

covering all expenses, and she hoped that was true. She already felt indebted to him for rescuing her from loneliness and despair. She was still tired, still coughing, still unsure the surgeon had been wrong in his diagnosis. But her heart now held a spark of hope. And a spark, once lit, burned brighter as it grew. She could almost smell her childhood home.
    England . It would feel so good to be home. To hold her daughter. To finally face her parents.
    When Mr. Steele offered his elbow, she took it, and let him lead her down the stairs and out the front gate, where a single horse was tied to an iron post next to a stepping stone.
    Her eyes narrowed. “I thought you said the innkeeper was readying us a carriage.”
    “Hmm, did I?” His eyes twinkled as he hoisted her up and hauled her into his lap. “I thought you said you preferred to ride with me.”
    She opened her mouth to respond.  
    Her words were snatched away on the breeze as the horse shot away from the inn to hurtle down the dirt road.  
    Since he couldn’t see her expression from his vantage point, she allowed her lips to curve into a reluctant smile. The insufferable man had manipulated her into doing precisely what he wanted, and didn’t even bother to hide the evidence of his duplicity. He was positively shameless.
    ’Twas a very good thing that they were both on the same side.
    The wind and the relentless pace made conversation impossible. Despite a long night’s rest, Clara found herself drowsing off between the infrequent stops for meals and to exchange horses. The bustle of Philadelphia wakened her as soon as they were within a few miles of the city. Her eyes absorbed with curiosity all the colors, buildings, people, and traffic.
    The scent of the river indicated their proximity to the port moments before the docks came into view. Ships of every size filled the view. Fruit vendors, flower vendors, pie vendors, newspaper boys, and men and women of every age flooded the wooden boards, surrounding every ship in port with their constant movement and shouts.
    Every ship except one.
    Clara’s breath caught. There, at the furthest end of the port, floated a beautiful three-masted schooner with a profusion of billowing white sails. Her heart thudded. The only reason anyone could have to avoid such a lovely vessel would be if it were…
    Balderdash. Of course there wasn’t anything ominous about that ship. Why would there be? Believing in such nonsense was a flight of fancy from reading too many lurid newspaper accounts of soulless pirates like the Crimson Corsair going on murderous rampages in search of treasure.  
    But that was in the Caribbean, not here. What would pirates be doing in Pennsylvania? She was perfectly safe.  
    Steele dismounted the horse, helped her down, and then hoisted their satchels over his shoulders. “Come. We should make haste.”
    She nodded. She would make all the haste he wanted, if it brought her back to her daughter.
    Except every step took them past the brightly lit passenger liners and brought them closer and closer to the swift-looking schooner at the end of the dock.
    “Welcome back, Cap’n,” came a hearty shout from overhead as a long wooden gangplank lowered to the ground near Mr. Steele’s feet. “Knew you wouldn’t ’ave any trouble with the booty, sir.”
    Captain? Clara shook her head as she began to back away from the ship. Booty?
    Mr. Steele tossed both heavy bags to his other shoulder and grabbed her wrist with his free hand. “Welcome aboard, Mrs. Halton. Adventure awaits.”

Chapter 4

    Just inhaling the scent of the sea was enough to imbue Steele’s spirit with a healthy dose of Captain Blackheart.
    He flashed Mrs. Halton his most irreverent smile. “A gentleman wouldn’t toss you over his free shoulder and carry you aboard a ship against your will…but then, I’m rarely mistaken for a gentleman. Shall we?”
    The fury in her eyes, he expected. The flash of indecision, he had not. Interesting.