The Raider Read Online Free PDF Page A

called over her shoulder.
    By the time they got to the dock, Eleanor was having to drag Jessica. Jess kept enumerating all the things that needed doing: the fishing nets that needed repairing, the sails that had to be mended.
    â€œWell, Jessica,” said Abigail Wentworth as the Taggert sisters stepped onto the dock, “I see that you couldn’t wait to see Alexander again.”
    Jessica was torn between wanting to smack the woman and turning to leave the dock. Abigail was the second prettiest girl in town, and she hated being second to Jessica’s first. Therefore, she loved to remind Jessica that she was a ripe and ready sixteen while Jess was drying on the vine at the grand old age of twenty-two.
    Jessica gave Abby her sweetest smile and prepared to tell her what she thought of her when Eleanor grabbed her arm and pulled her away.
    â€œI don’t want you two to get into a fight today. I want this to be a good day for the Montgomerys without Sayer having to get you out of the stocks. Good morning, Mistress Goody,” she said sweetly. “There it is, that’s the ship Alex is on.”
    Jessica’s jaw dropped at the sight of the ship. “But that beam is too narrow. I’m sure that’s against statutes. Has Pitman seen that yet? He’ll probably confiscate the ship and then where will your precious Alexander be?”
    â€œHe’s not mine. If he were anybody’s, Abigail wouldn’t be here waiting for him.”
    â€œHow true,” Jess sighed. “Wouldn’t she just love to get her hands on the Montgomerys’ eight thousand feet of dock space? What are those people looking at?”
    Eleanor turned to see a group of townspeople standing stock still and gaping. The crowd began to part, their mouths open, but no sound came forth.
    As Jessica and Eleanor waited, a man came toward them. He was wearing a jacket of canary yellow, with a wide border of embroidered flowers and leaves about the edge and hem. The jacket covered an enormous belly, and sunlight flashed off the many colors of the silk embroidery. The breeches covering his fat legs were emerald green, and he wore a full wig that hung down in curls past his shoulders. He walked across the dock, stumbling now and then from what was obviously too much drink.
    The townspeople seemed to think he was another official from England, but Jessica recognized him right away. No amount of weight or wig could completely cover that imperious Montgomery expression. In spite of his extra hundred pounds, she could still see those cheekbones that Alexander had inherited from his grandfather.
    Jessica walked forward, swishing her skirts and letting everyone see her. She’d always known that Alexander Montgomery was rotten to the core and here was proof. The minute he was out from under his father’s rule, this is what happened to him.
    â€œGood morning, Alexander,” she said loudly and with laughter in her voice. “Welcome home. You haven’t changed a bit.”
    He stood there and looked at her, blinking uncomprehendingly. His eyes were red from drink, and once he swayed so badly that a dark, burly man had to catch him.
    Jessica stepped back, looked Alex up and down, then put her hands on her hips and started to laugh. Moments later the townspeople began to join her.
    They couldn’t stop even when Marianna Montgomery came running onto the dock. She halted when she saw Alex.
    â€œHello, Mary, my sweet,” Alex said with an off-center smile and again the man in the dirty shirt had to steady him.
    The crowd stopped laughing while Marianna looked at her brother in disbelief.
    As Alex kept smiling, Marianna’s mouth kept falling farther open. At last, she put her apron over her face and began crying. She ran from the docks, her heels showing beneath her skirts, her sobs carrying on the wind.
    That sobered the crowd. They gave Alex and his peacock coat a few contemptuous looks and began to go