Hart's Passion (Pirates & Petticoats Book 2) (32 page)

Landon cocked his head. “What is it Henry? You look a bit rough. Is something wrong?”

Henry dragged his gaze from Keelan and nodded vigorously. “Yes, sir! A band of pirates has taken the
Seeker,
sir. They put most of us on longboats and set us adrift, pitching the oars over the starboard side of the ship. It took us quite a while to fetch ‘em then row ashore.”

This information sobered both Landon and Brendan, and they sat forward in their chairs. “
Most
of the crew? Where’s O’Brien?” Landon asked quickly, setting down his glass.

“Still aboard the ship,” Henry said, shoulders slumped. “He was caught unawares when they came aboard. They trussed him up along with Remus and his watch.”

Oh no, Conal!
Keelan’s hand crept to her throat.
 

Brendan was already on his feet. “I’ll prepare the
Reward
to give chase immediately.” He paused, concern creased his face. “The cargo bound for Philadelphia…”

Landon took a deep breath then took Keelan’s hand. She wanted to go after her brother. Landon had an obligation to deliver the runaways; they were depending on him and had placed their lives in his hands. She gave him a slight nod. He had a duty to perform. She wouldn’t interfere.

“I’ll see it delivered then join you in your search.” To Henry, Landon asked, “Did you happen to note the bearing?”

Henry rocked from one foot to the other, wringing his hat in his hands. “Didn’t need to. They made it no secret they were heading to Jamaica and needed the cargo in the belly of the
Seeker
to use as a tribute to the Pirate King.”

Brendan stiffened. A flash of panic crossed his face before he nudged Landon. The two of them walked a few steps away and spoke for quite a long time. She couldn’t hear what they were saying, but by the expression on Landon’s face, it was a grave matter.
 

Landon reached for Keelan and she stepped into the shelter of his arms. He hugged her tightly before he spoke, “I’m sorry, love, we won’t be able to exchange wedding vows this evening. We’ll be hard-pressed to get Brendan’s ship underway fast enough to catch sight of the
Seeker
.”

He tried to give her a small reassuring smile. His eyes, however, were flooded with concern. “Don’t apologize,” she said. “Our wedding is secondary to the issues at hand.”

He nodded. “Brendan will be able to set sail immediately, since the
Reward
is ready to depart. We’ll sail the
Desire
back to Charleston, then arrange for our cargo to get to Philadelphia using another Freedom Runner. Then, I’ll be free to follow Brendan to Jamaica, and join in the search for Conal.” He kissed her fingertips. “I wish I could join Brendan right away. However, with other lives on my shoulders, I must fulfill my other obligations and promises. We’ll only be a few days behind.”

“I understand,” she said. Turning to Brendan, she placed a hand on his forearm. “Find my brother.”

Brendan covered her hand with his and squeezed. “I will.” He shook Landon’s hand. “I’ll leave word for you with the harbormaster in Baracoa. There are a couple of crew mates still there, I’ll put their location in the note for the harbormaster. I dropped them off to recover from their wounds after the last attack with Gampo. If they’re healthy and healed, I’d like you to bring them along.” He tossed some coins on the table and left.

“Baracoa?” She’d never heard of Baracoa.

“We use Baracoa, Cuba as a stopover port on the way to Jamaica,” Landon explained. A strange light flickered in his eyes and he smiled. “I think Brendan has been keeping secrets, but we won’t know for sure until we drop anchor at port.”

Offering an arm to Keelan, he took her back to the hotel. Within the hour, they had changed, retrieved their things and joined Henry and his men in the longboat. Keelan was once again dressed as Mahdi. Although it was unlikely the pirates returned to Charleston, the reward he’d offered for Keelan was likely to be still active. She’d have to remain disguised until they were well away from there.
 

She’d have to reapply that dreaded dye. In fact, she’d probably need a good reason to eat ham ever again.

A slight breeze had kicked up, and the fog appeared more translucent than it had earlier. The
Desire,
as well as other ships in the harbor, seemed more clearly defined. While the men rowed, Keelan glanced over to where the
Seeker
had been. The empty space looked wrong and uneven, as if the the vessel had tried to leave a sign that she was unwillingly dragged away. Even the gulls seemed disconcerted, their cries sparse and muffled.

As soon as they boarded the
Desire
, the crew hoisted the blue flag and rang the ship’s bell, alerting the crew the ship would soon depart. Landon took Keelan on a tour, and introduced her to several of his men as Mahdi. He sent Henry to interview the newer crew mates.

“If Gampo has spies on this ship, I’d like to flush them out before we’re underway,” Landon told her. “Henry has a way of asking questions that can make an innocent man feel guilty. If a man shifts his eyes at the wrong time, Henry will pounce on him like a hungry cat.” He headed toward the hold. “Follow me. It will be a short while yet before we can be away. I have something to show you.”

Below, he lit a lantern and took her hand, leading her toward the aft section of the hold. Freshly cut wood, livestock, and hay wafted through the air. Of course. Landon had purchased a horse, Orion, from her uncle. A loud snort confirmed her suspicion. There were two new timber stalls in the center of the hold. Landon paused at the first one and Orion immediately poked his nose between two slats in the side. Landon laughed and walked around the corner and opened the top half of the stall door.

“How was your first sea voyage, my friend?” Landon stroked the stallion’s neck.

Orion gave another snort and nuzzled Landon’s pocket. He winked. “I think he’s more interested in meeting his neighbor.”

“His neighbor?” She glanced at the other stall. “Did you buy another horse?”

Landon nodded. At the sound of Keelan’s voice, a set of hooves rustled the straw next door, followed by a low whicker. Her heart leapt. “That sounded like…” Keelan reached over, opened the second stall door, and peeked inside. “Juliet!” She reached in and rubbed the mare’s nose then laughed with glee. In the shadows wobbled her dark-eyed, young foal, peeking at Keelan from behind his dame’s hind legs.
 

Landon moved behind her and slid his arms around her waist. “This is my wedding gift to you, my love.” He kissed the top of her head, and then let out a frustrated huff. “And I promise you, there
will
be a wedding, soon.”

“Oh, Landon, thank you for buying Juliet from Uncle Jared. I feared I’d never see her again.” She turned in his arms and put both palms on either side of his face and kissed him. He tightened his hold around her waist and pressed her body against his. His hands traced a path up her side to her breasts and gently stroked her until her nipples tingled and her lower belly ached.
 

“My gift makes you happy?” He leaned his forehead against hers and she found she liked this little show of his affection.
 

“
You
make me happy,” she replied, kissing him again.
 

He reached for her hands. Entwining his fingers with hers, he said, “And you make me happy, sweet Keelan. Wait—
Cailyn
.”
 

She laughed. “They are so much alike, it doesn’t matter.” It seemed wrong to feel so happy when her brother was in the hands of pirates. “I fear for Conal.”

He pulled away enough to look into her eyes. “You don’t know Brendan well, but I do. I sailed with him and his father from the time I was twelve years old.” Landon paused, looking up as if he’d find inspiration for his word choice written on the bones of the hold. “Brendan…is like a dog with an old sock. He won’t let go until he has complete possession.” He squeezed her shoulders. “He’ll find the
Seeker,
and
we’ll free Conal. I promise you, as soon as our business is complete we will join him. We’ll find both your brother and your cousin.”

She wanted to believe him, she truly did; her mind wouldn’t let go of visions of Conal being tortured by Gampo and his crew. “But, Gampo is a cruel man. What if he…”

Landon pulled her into the circle of his arms and gave her a comforting squeeze before releasing her slightly. She was startled to realize he was chuckling. How could he take such a situation so lightly?

“Why do you laugh? I’m concerned and terribly fearful for Conal, and Brendan as well,” she said, both bewildered and annoyed. “How can you be so light-hearted?”

Landon bent down and kissed her cheek, then trailed his lips down her neck, raising the gooseflesh on her throat, shoulders, and arms. “Because, I’ve been around both Conal and Brendan long enough to tell you that I almost feel sorry for Gampo for raising their ire.” He pulled away and traced his finger along her jawline. “I promise you, Keelan, we will find them.”

A tight warmth radiated from her heart throughout her chest, and her eyes watered. Rather than try to express what she was feeling, she drew his head down and kissed him. He pulled her hips to him, his hardness urgent and hot against her belly. This time, it was her hands traveling down his ribs and over his muscular buttocks, and sliding into the back of his breeches.

 
“I’m slightly disappointed in your boat,” she murmured.
 

He pulled away from her and lowered his brows in a mocking scowl. “The
Desire
is a
ship
, not a boat,” he said sternly. “A
boat
has only two masts. A ship has three. The
Desire
, as you can well attest, has three masts. Therefore, she is a
ship
…not a boat.” He tugged playfully at her hair before sweeping his arm around the hold. “And why are you disappointed? She’s almost as big as the
Seeker
, although just a little shorter stem to stern.”

“I have yet to be invited to the captain’s cabin,” she said, fighting hard to appear disappointed. “So, I must come to the conclusion that there is none, and I shall have to lash up my hammock with the rest of my mess mates.”

“It will be my distinct pleasure,” he said, eyes warm and knowing, “to give you a personal introduction to the captain’s cabin.” He lowered his head for another kiss.
 

Landon’s aura would always consist of leather and the sea, of the wind and the earth, and he belonged to her and she to him. Wherever in the world Landon would go, she would be at his side.
 

He was her home.

He grasped her hand, and then led her toward the hatch. Before leaving the quiet darkness of the hold, he paused and enveloped her in the warmth and love of his embrace. “I love you, Keelan Hart.”

She smiled. “And I love you back, Landon Hart.”

Hart’s Reward
 

Pirates & Petticoats
 

Novel Three

Before Landon and Keelan can set sail for Jamaica in search of the pirates who took Conal and his ship, they have to journey back north to transport a group of runaway slaves to Philadelphia. When an attack leaves Landon with a head injury which erases the last five years of his life, Keelan is forced to fight for the man she loves. Will Landon fall in love with her twice in a lifetime?

Other Books on Amazon by Chloe Flowers:

Author Page on Amazon:
http://
author.to/ChloeFlowers

Pirates & Petticoats Novels:

Hart’s Desire
 
http://mybook.to/HartsDesire

Harts Passion
 
http://myBook.to/HartsPassion

Hart’s Reward
 
http://myBook.to/HartsReward

Pirate Heiress (July 2016)

Pirate King (September 2016)

Coming Fall 2016!
   

The Bridal Veil Falls Series
 

A contemporary romance set in a small town in upstate New York that boasts it’s “The Town of Happily Ever Afters.”

Dear Reader,

I am honored that you have read my book. I have included some bonus material from the next two books in the Pirates & Petticoats series: Hart’s Reward, and Pirate Heiress.

I always enjoy reading your comments. Your opinion means a lot to me and I appreciate any feedback you’d like to share.
 

You can also email me personally at
[email protected]
, or via snail mail (and if you’d like a print book signed):

Flowers & Fullerton Publishing

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Suite 165

Medina, Ohio 44256

If you have enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a review and loaning it to your friends! If you send a book for me to sign, don’t forget to include your return address.
 

 
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Thank you for reading Hart’s Passion!

Fondly,

Chloe Flowers
 

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Hart’s Reward
 

Before Landon and Keelan can set sail for Jamaica in search of the pirates who took Conal and his ship, they have to journey back north to transport a group of runaway slaves to Philadelphia. When an attack leaves Landon with a head injury which erases the last five years of his life, Keelan is forced to fight for the man she loves. Will Landon fall in love with her twice in a lifetime?