Caution to the Wind (36 page)

A short time later, the door opened again.

“That was qui—”

The words died in her throat. A burlap sack was thrown over her head and darkness surrounded her. The sack and the pressure of a man’s arm around her neck robbed her of breath. She struggled to hold onto consciousness.

****

Will breakfasted the next morning on charred eggs, blackened toast and coffee that could best be described as “grainy.” However, neither Cookie’s insipid fare nor the pitching of the ship during the summer storm that had rolled out to sea from the nearby coast could dampen his mood.

After a merry chase the previous day, one in which the
Amanda
toyed with her quarry, Will took all three ships in a feat of pure genius, if he did say so himself. The sailing skill of the
Amanda’s
crew had managed to confuse the merchant ships uncladent">“Not to worry dear.” He patted her hand before stepping out of the carriage. Rain blew in through the open door, spattering her green silk with dark splotches. “I’ll be back before you know it.”

He shut the door behind him, leaving Amanda by herself, with nothing to do but wait. She shut her eyes, leaned back against the tattered gold cushions, and listened to the rain beat against the coach, trying not to think about the dreariness of the future that awaited her.

A short time later, the door opened again.

“That was qui—”

The words died in her throat. A burlap sack was thrown over her head and darkness surrounded her. The sack and the pressure of a man’s arm around her neck robbed her of breath. She struggled to hold onto consciousness.

****

Will breakfasted the next morning on charred eggs, blackened toast and coffee that could best be described as “grainy.” However, neither Cookie’s insipid fare nor the pitching of the ship during the summer storm that had rolled out to sea from the nearby coast could dampen his mood.

After a merry chase the previous day, one in which the
Amanda
toyed with her quarry, Will took all three ships in a feat of pure genius, if he did say so himself. The sailing skill of the
Amanda’s
crew had managed to confuse the merchant ships uncladent">“Not to worry dear.” He patted her hand before stepping out of the carriage. Rain blew in through the open door, spattering her green silk with dark splotches. “I’ll be back before you know it.”

He shut the door behind him, leaving Amanda by herself, with nothing to do but wait. She shut her eyes, leaned back against the tattered gold cushions, and listened to the rain beat against the coach, trying not to think about the dreariness of the future that awaited her.

A short time later, the door opened again.

“That was qui—”

The words died in her throat. A burlap sack was thrown over her head and darkness surrounded her. The sack and the pressure of a man’s arm around her neck robbed her of breath. She struggled to hold onto consciousness.

****

Will breakfasted the next morning on charred eggs, blackened toast and coffee that could best be described as “grainy.” However, neither Cookie’s insipid fare nor the pitching of the ship during the summer storm that had rolled out to sea from the nearby coast could dampen his mood.

After a merry chase the previous day, one in which the
Amanda
toyed with her quarry, Will took all three ships in a feat of pure genius, if he did say so himself. The sailing skill of the
Amanda’s
crew had managed to confuse the merchant ships uncladent">“Not to worry dear.” He patted her hand before stepping out of the carriage. Rain blew in through the open door, spattering her green silk with dark splotches. “I’ll be back before you know it.”

He shut the door behind him, leaving Amanda by herself, with nothing to do but wait. She shut her eyes, leaned back against the tattered gold cushions, and listened to the rain beat against the coach, trying not to think about the dreariness of the future that awaited her.

A short time later, the door opened again.

“That was qui—”

The words died in her throat. A burlap sack was thrown over her head and darkness surrounded her. The sack and the pressure of a man’s arm around her neck robbed her of breath. She struggled to hold onto consciousness.

****

Will breakfasted the next morning on charred eggs, blackened toast and coffee that could best be described as “grainy.” However, neither Cookie’s insipid fare nor the pitching of the ship during the summer storm that had rolled out to sea from the nearby coast could dampen his mood.

After a merry chase the previous day, one in which the
Amanda
toyed with her quarry, Will took all three ships in a feat of pure genius, if he did say so himself. The sailing skill of the
Amanda’s
crew had managed to confuse the merchant ships uncladent">“Not to worry dear.” He patted her hand before stepping out of the carriage. Rain blew in through the open door, spattering her green silk with dark splotches. “I’ll be back before you know it.”

He shut the door behind him, leaving Amanda by herself, with nothing to do but wait. She shut her eyes, leaned back against the tattered gold cushions, and listened to the rain beat against the coach, trying not to think about the dreariness of the future that awaited her.

A short time later, the door opened again.

“That was qui—”

The words died in her throat. A burlap sack was thrown over her head and darkness surrounded her. The sack and the pressure of a man’s arm around her neck robbed her of breath. She struggled to hold onto consciousness.

****

Will breakfasted the next morning on charred eggs, blackened toast and coffee that could best be described as “grainy.” However, neither Cookie’s insipid fare nor the pitching of the ship during the summer storm that had rolled out to sea from the nearby coast could dampen his mood.

After a merry chase the previous day, one in which the
Amanda
toyed with her quarry, Will took all three ships in a feat of pure genius, if he did say so himself. The sailing skill of the
Amanda’s
crew had managed to confuse the merchant ships uncladent">“Not to worry dear.” He patted her hand before stepping out of the carriage. Rain blew in through the open door, spattering her green silk with dark splotches. “I’ll be back before you know it.”

He shut the door behind him, leaving Amanda by herself, with nothing to do but wait. She shut her eyes, leaned back against the tattered gold cushions, and listened to the rain beat against the coach, trying not to think about the dreariness of the future that awaited her.

A short time later, the door opened again.

“That was qui—”

The words died in her throat. A burlap sack was thrown over her head and darkness surrounded her. The sack and the pressure of a man’s arm around her neck robbed her of breath. She struggled to hold onto consciousness.

****

Will breakfasted the next morning on charred eggs, blackened toast and coffee that could best be described as “grainy.” However, neither Cookie’s insipid fare nor the pitching of the ship during the summer storm that had rolled out to sea from the nearby coast could dampen his mood.

After a merry chase the previous day, one in which the
Amanda
toyed with her quarry, Will took all three ships in a feat of pure genius, if he did say so himself. The sailing skill of the
Amanda’s
crew had managed to confuse the merchant ships uncladent">“Not to worry dear.” He patted her hand before stepping out of the carriage. Rain blew in through the open door, spattering her green silk with dark splotches. “I’ll be back before you know it.”

He shut the door behind him, leaving Amanda by herself, with nothing to do but wait. She shut her eyes, leaned back against the tattered gold cushions, and listened to the rain beat against the coach, trying not to think about the dreariness of the future that awaited her.

A short time later, the door opened again.

“That was qui—”

The words died in her throat. A burlap sack was thrown over her head and darkness surrounded her. The sack and the pressure of a man’s arm around her neck robbed her of breath. She struggled to hold onto consciousness.

****

Will breakfasted the next morning on charred eggs, blackened toast and coffee that could best be described as “grainy.” However, neither Cookie’s insipid fare nor the pitching of the ship during the summer storm that had rolled out to sea from the nearby coast could dampen his mood.

After a merry chase the previous day, one in which the
Amanda
toyed with her quarry, Will took all three ships in a feat of pure genius, if he did say so himself. The sailing skill of the
Amanda’s
crew had managed to confuse the merchant ships uncladent">“Not to worry dear.” He patted her hand before stepping out of the carriage. Rain blew in through the open door, spattering her green silk with dark splotches. “I’ll be back before you know it.”