UNEXPECTED TREASURE
CHAPTER ONE
Off the Coast of England, Atlantic Ocean
Rex Masters lowered his spyglass, oblivious to the rocking of the ship. “You’re sure One Eye is bearing down on that vessel?”
“I’d stake my life on it.” His first mate, Sanders, gave a nod. “He’s been tacking just out of sight of that merchant ship for three days. He would have attacked already if it weren’t for this storm.”
Rex grimaced. It was a nasty bit of weather, to be sure. They had been riding alongside One Eye’s boat for close to a week. Sailing parallel and coming into sight only long enough to keep tabs on the other ship. Though, he had nearly lost the pirate ship twice in as many days until they had discovered the pirate’s prey, a small merchant boat. Since then, it had been much easier to keep track of One Eye. Now the question was how to further use this knowledge to his advantage.
As if his first mate was reading his thoughts, he asked, “What do you want to do?”
Crossing his arms over his chest Rex assessed the merchant ship. It was small. There was a good chance it wouldn’t survive the storm. If it did, it surely had no method of protection against invading pirates. They were defenseless on both fronts. If the ship did go down, Rex would most likely lose One Eye. It was difficult to track a pirate but the merchant ship had been easy to follow, knowing that it had become One Eye’s prey.
“We could wait till the pirates attack and then come around One Eye’s flank and catch them by surprise.” Sanders stared towards the rolling vessel.
Rex shook his head. “We’ll lose them both. That boat could go down and then One Eye will flee.”
Sanders gave a curt nod of understanding. “What then?”
“We take everyone off the boat. They’ll be safer here. Then, if the ship doesn’t go down. The pirates will attack and we will trap the pirates then.”
Sanders eyed him. “That’s a big risk, loading all those people on this boat. What if One Eye sees you?”
Rex gritted his teeth. Sanders was right. But he couldn’t let innocent people die if he could stop it. He had lost one innocent life this month already, he couldn’t let it happen again. There were things more important than returning the crown’s gold. Though he doubted Prinny would agree.
* * *
The boat swayed just as the woman lying in bed in front of Sarah screamed. It was long and low and she grasped her friend’s hand harder, her eyes wide with fear. If someone had told Sarah what was happening in front of her eyes could frighten her more than the storm that raged outside, or the events of the last six months, she would have never believed them.
Anne had been in labor for two days. Now her screams came almost nonstop. The boat lurched to one side, but Sarah hardly noticed. “I have to push,” Anne panted out.
“It’s time.” Mrs. Flannery nodded to Sarah. The boat gave another sickening dip, but Sarah was oblivious. “Get me more hot water and more rags. Hurry!” Mrs. Flannery’s voice screamed over the howling wind and creaking wood.
Sarah shot up, thankful to have something to do other than stare in fear. Racing along the dark hallways to the galley of the ship, she held out her hands to keep herself from crashing into the walls.
“I need hot water,” she gasped the second she spied Cook. “The baby’s coming.”
“Have you felt this ship?” he said, his normally friendly demeanor gone. “I couldn’t heat water if I wanted to and we’re dying anyway.”
She gasped at his words, taking stock of the storm for the first time. The ship rocked wildly again. “I can’t be certain we will die from the storm but I am absolutely sure that baby is coming. I need water.”
He handed her a bucket and then crouched behind a cabinet bolted to the wall. A loud crash made the boat shudder as Sarah turned to head back to Anne’s room. Taking a deep breath, Sarah began the laborious trip down the
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