Free Raven Quest by Jo Ann Ferguson

recollections of soft touches and loving lullabies. Her fingers toyed with the pages. Odd that the Blindman had given the book to her after all this time and that he never had mentioned he had it.
    She frowned as two pages stuck together. “Oh, my!” she whispered when she saw the psalms printed on the pages. Throwing the door open, she called, “Nathan!”
    He waved from where he stood with a crewman by the prow. She fought to be patient, but it was impossible. When he came toward her, he put his hand on her cheek and tipped her face up to kiss her.
    Pulling away, she gasped, “This isn’t the time, Nathan.”
    He chuckled. “It’s always the time to kiss you.” He bent to whisper in her ear, “Why don’t you stop telling me no when you know your heart says yes?”
    â€œForget about kissing me!”
    With a laugh, he swept her into his arms. She slapped his arm with the Bible.
    â€œRory, if you’re trying to knock some sense into me—”
    â€œWill you please be serious for a moment?”
    He placed his lips against her neck. “I thought I was.”
    She held up the book. “I think I’ve found a clue to the next line of the poem.”
    â€œWhich section?”
    She drew him into his quarters. “Not outside. I’m afraid of whatever it is flying away on the wind.”
    â€œFly away? Did a sea bird whisper the answer in your ear, Rory?”
    â€œDo you want to find the treasure or not?”
    Nathan’s smile vanished. She was not jesting with him. Could she have figured it out all alone? So quickly? He shoved his battered pride away. The poem had said the “blackbird of the dawn” would lead to the solution.
    Looking into her glowing eyes, he curved his palm along her soft cheek. She was as intelligent as she was pretty. No other woman could have survived as she had in Port Royal. And now she was helping him obtain his dream.
    Over his shoulder, he called, “Ernest, come here.”
    He smiled again when he saw Rory sitting cross-legged on his bunk. There was still so much of the ragged lad about her. But she was unquestionably a woman. He sat beside her and inclined her mouth toward his. When she laughed, he asked, “What’s so amusing?”
    â€œThat you can think of anything but the Raven now.”
    â€œYou’d be surprised how often I think of this.” He enfolded her to him so her pliant breasts brushed his chest. Tasting her luscious skin, he ran his fingers through her hair. It sifted through his hands, teasing him to touch all of her. Her rapid breath scorched him.
    When he heard a soft, “Cap’n?” he bit back a curse and motioned for his disconcerted first mate to enter. Ernest sat at the table without speaking.
    Nathan released Rory and said, “Ernest, Rory thinks she has discovered something to help.”
    Ernest’s eyes lit with excitement. “What?”
    â€œHere.” Rory smiled and opened the book. “The Blindman gave me this. It’s my mother’s Bible. When I opened it, I found two pages stuck together. On one page is the Twenty-third Psalm.”
    â€œâ€˜The Lord is my shepherd,’” Nathan whispered, then grinned. “‘The shepherd’s tale!’”
    He took the book and slipped his knife between the pages. They came apart with a snap. Several sheets of paper dropped to the floor.
    Ernest bent to pick them up. Ignoring Nathan’s outstretched hand, he placed them in Rory’s lap.
    â€œThey’re addressed to Miss Rory,” he said quietly. “I think she should read them. These pages may not have anything to do with our search.”
    â€œThey must! They were with ‘the shepherd’s tale.’” Nathan relented with a frown. “At least read them aloud.”
    Rory stared at the faded handwriting. “To the child of Captain Stuart Powell and Kassy Mullins.” Her heart cramped