Free Alanna (When Hearts Dare Series Book 2) by Kathleen Bittner Roth Page B

well to any harm coming to women or children, that’s all. Never have been able to figure out what would go on inside a man’s head to cause him to do such terrible things.”
    He stood, took in a deep breath, and spoke as he exhaled. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll get the telescope for Mr. Malone.”
    “Let me check the sky before you do that.” Thompson was at the door before he finished speaking and stuck his head out. “As I figured, not a star to be seen.” He returned to stand behind his chair. “It’s just as well. Ladies and gentlemen, this weary captain needs to be sharp as a penny nail tomorrow, so I beg to be excused.”
    When the Malones departed, Thompson locked the door, and strode over to where Wolf sat in front of the fireplace, his feet on the grate, his arms resting on his lifted knees, and his head buried in the folds of his sleeves.
    “Take your feet off the fireplace, son, so I can light a fire. We need to talk.”
    When Wolf finally raised his head, Thompson’s brows furrowed even deeper. “That little boy with his hair like dandelions gone to seed?”
    “Yeah?”
    “That boy was you, wasn’t it?”

Chapter Six
    Wolf rolled out of his bunk and into his trousers in one fluid motion. After a night of too much whiskey, his tongue was coated, his mouth dry. A furious pounding in his head served him well—it kept thought at bay. He’d had enough of dealing with feelings and thinking to last a while.
    The only thing on his mind this morning was that Julia had not returned after he’d been let out, and Thompson hadn’t come back from a meeting with the Malones. Wolf had propped the door open with a chair so he wouldn’t have to get up again, but still, no dog. Despite clear skies, the crisp air blowing through the open door sent a shiver down his bare arms. They must have sailed into cooler waters during the night.
    “Damn, Julia. Who thought you’d be so much trouble?” He eased into his boots and shirt, and yanked on a sweater. Shoving his fingers through his tangled hair, he headed out the door.
    When he didn’t find Julia at the back of the ship, and the helmsman said he hadn’t seen the dog in quite a while, his mood worsened. He made his way toward the stairs leading to the lower deck, where Thompson held his meetings with the Malones.
    He spied the lady’s maid, Hsui Lin. She stood with one hand on her thin hip, the other protecting her eyes from the sun’s hard sparkle. She stared upward, at something in the rigging. Beside her, fast asleep, lay the scoundrel dog.
    Wolf’s gaze tracked hers into the mass of billowing sails. “Holy mother of God.” Shielding his eyes, he moved forward, positioning himself for a better view.
    There was Alanna, at least twenty feet up the mainmast, scampering up its one-hundred-forty-foot spire like a monkey on a vine. Barefoot and clad in sailor’s jeans, she also wore what appeared to be a man’s shirt, rolled at the sleeves. A single braid hugged the back of her head and trailed down the middle of her back to her waist.
    Where the hell was the crew? Suddenly, it dawned on him. Miss Malone’s exercise period. He dropped his hand from his eyes and turned in a slow circle. The deck was as empty as a ghost ship.
    He moved into the shade of the boatswain’s cabin to cut the sun’s harsh glare. He leaned into the wall, folded his arms over his chest, and watched, fascinated.
    Here was an arena in which Alanna played with obvious familiarity. Long, lithe legs stretched through the air as she reached out, hooked her toes in the ropes, and deftly drew them to her. Up she went, at times using only the sheer strength of her arms. Gracefully, she lifted her body to hang in midair like a trapeze artist, timed the wind’s blustery forces against the ropes and white canvas sheeting, and made a leap. She paused, and stared off at the horizon, clearly lost in her own sensory world, a look of sheer bliss on her striking features. The sun created a