Free A Brother's Honor by Jo Ann Ferguson Page B

laugh, she looked away. With the white bandage twisted like a turban around his forehead, he could have been one of the legendary pirates who sailed the Caribbean over one hundred years ago. She refused to let his enticing gaze daunt her. She was no longer his captive.
    Abigail stiffened as she heard a sound from beyond the trees. Voices! The villagers must be returning with the first light to discover what had washed ashore. “You may get your chance for that last thought pretty soon,” she muttered as she motioned for him to follow her.
    He took a single step, then dropped to one knee. She hoped the hiss of his bitten-off curse did not reach English ears. Bending, she put her shoulder under his left arm and helped him back to his feet. As his arm draped over her, she feared her frantic heartbeat would betray them to their enemies. She should not be affected by him like this. She did not even like this pirate.
    His breath scorched her skin as he leaned heavily on her with each unsteady step through the undergrowth. She glanced again and again in the direction of the path that paralleled the beach. A parade continued along it as more and more villagers joined the others by the water’s edge.
    Abigail swallowed her gasp as Dominic suddenly pressed her back against a tree. She looked up at his face, which was as sharp as the trunk behind her. Nodding when he put a finger to her lips, she held her breath as she heard someone crashing through the underbrush. She tensed when the noise grew closer. Slipping her hand into her pocket, she gripped the butt of the pistol. Firing it would alert everyone on the beach, but she would not be captured without a fight.
    Her breath slipped past her tight lips when a dog ran past them, not pausing as it headed for the strand. Sagging against the tree, she smiled when Dominic did. There was nothing amusing about being spooked by a dog, but she was so relieved she could not help grinning.
    By the time they reached the battered hut that was set in a thick stand of trees, Abigail was fighting for every step. Dominic’s arm ground down into her shoulder. She wanted to tell him to lessen his weight on her, but she knew from his gray pallor that she had been fooled by the passion in his kiss into believing that he was as strong as he had been on the ship.
    â€œHow did you find this?” Dominic asked as Abigail helped him through the door and out of the rain.
    â€œAs soon as the thunderstorm passed—”
    Compassion blossomed in his eloquent eyes. “That must have frightened you greatly.”
    â€œYes, and I was determined not to be outside in another.” She sat him on the uneven floor, for there was no furniture in the room that was so short he could not extend his legs fully. “I was scared and hungry and thirsty, so I went a short distance along the beach and found this.”
    Dominic leaned his head back against the wall, struggling to hold on to his senses. He needed to stay awake, because she could not fight alone if the English came here. He almost laughed bitterly at that thought. He would be of little use when he could not walk without her help.
    His head spun, and he knew he was fading. He had to keep her talking. That might keep him alert. “You have proven your skills are many, Abigail.”
    â€œAt least I knew enough to get off the Republic before it exploded instead of vowing to go down with the ship.”
    â€œI assume from what I saw in your cabin that you had warning of what they planned.”
    She nodded. “Cookie told me.”
    â€œWhen?”
    â€œIf you think I knew of their plans before last night, I assure you I did not. Of course, even if I had, I would not have told you.” She laughed tersely. “Not that they would have shared their plans with me when they were sure I told you every secret during the nights we shared a bed.” She folded her arms in front of her, then frowned as water coursed down the