Rescued By the Captain Read online

  Rescued By the Captain

  Laura A. Barnes

  Copyright © 2017 by Laura A. Barnes

  All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review or scholarly journal.

  First Printing: 2017

  ISBN 978-1-365-60650-2

  Laura A. Barnes

  www.lauraabarnes.com

  Cover Art by Cheeky Covers

  To: William-for being my inspiration.

  To: Ashley, Nicholas, & Joshua

  Thank you for all your love and support in helping make my dream come true.

  Chapter 1

  Somewhere in the North Sea

  April 1810

  Thorn stood at the bow of his ship ‘My Hedera’ starring out into the dark night, lost in his deep thoughts. The brigantine dipped and swayed into the huge waves that rocked the sea. Dark storm clouds stretched across the skies blending into the black sea. None of the stars lighted the sky tonight; because the heavens had opened for a fierce storm. As he ran his fingers through his long, dark, wet hair he brought them down to his sides, fisting his hands in anger. The storm was nothing compared to the turmoil of emotions that were running through him.

  “Captain, do you think it is her?” Sammy his first mate shouted to be heard above the thunder as he twisted his hat in between his hands.

  “I don’t know Sammy, I don’t know.” Thorn whispered into the storm.

  Marcus Thornhill, Thorn, to his friends continued staring out into the dark night. He knew it was her; he just didn’t want to admit to it. While trying to get control of his anger he tried to figure out who would have done such an awful thing to her. Before he returned to her he needed to be calm. He was angrier with himself than with anyone else. If he would have come home sooner, he could have prevented something like this from happening.

  As he made his way down the stairs to his cabin, that is where he found her sleeping on his bed. She hadn’t woken since they found her in the small lifeboat that was drifting aimlessly in the sea. He didn’t know how long she had been adrift. Her clothes had been soaked through from the rain. The night air was chilled and she would have frozen to death if they had gotten to her any later. Thorn could still remember how her body felt as he lifted her from the boat. She had been chilled to the bone, her lips blue, and her body shaking uncontrollably.

  He was just grateful that Sammy had been on lookout for any suspicious ships in the area. When Sammy had spied the lifeboat just floating in the open sea he called to Thorn to investigate. Not knowing if it was a trap or not, Thorn decided to row out to the boat to see for himself what could be floating out in the middle of nowhere.

  Thorn was not prepared for what he had seen. A lifeless girl abandoned alone with nothing for her comfort. He climbed into the boat and knelt next to the girl, pulling her long, blond hair back from her face; it was wet and clinging to her cheeks and neck. That is when he got the shock of his life. His heart stopped as he took in what he saw as a familiar face of his past. It looked like her but he wasn’t for sure. He just knew that he had to get her to safety.

  He lifted her up from the puddle of water that had collected in the boat. As he lifted her in his arms, he recalls yelling at his men for a blanket. He passed her to one of his men as he made his way back onto the boat. As he settled down he grabbed her wrapping her in the blanket and held her tight in his arms.

  “Get us back to ship swiftly,” Thorn yelled at his men.

  As they made their way back the rain started again, pelting their bodies harshly. Thorn pulled her closer into the warmth of his body to protect her from the storm.

  When they returned to the ship, Thorn ordered her to be taken to his cabin. As Jake one of his crew members took her to his cabin, he ordered the rest of the crew to prepare the ship for a storm.

  He had so many questions that needed answered, but for now he had to help her fight to stay alive. She had to live, because without her alive, his life wasn’t worth living.

  She was lying on his bed so lifeless. If it weren’t for her soft moans, Thorn would have thought that she had died while he was up on the top deck. Thorn reached down to touch her red cheek; she was burning up. He went to the door and called out for Sammy to come below to his cabin.

  Sammy limped into the room, “What do you need Capt’n?”

  “Bring me some wet towels. I need to bring her fever down.”

  Sammy left the cabin and returned quickly, bringing with him a bowl of cold water and some towels. He watched as the Captain wetted the towels and gently wiped them over the young girl’s face. He noticed how the Captain took such gentle care of her, like she was a priceless doll. Sammy had never seen this side of the Captain before. It wasn’t that the Captain was a cold man; he was just a hard man that didn’t show too much of his softer side that often. But during times of war the Captain couldn’t show his softer side if so they would all be dead by now.

  “Capt’n?” Sammy tried to get Thorn’s attention.

  Thorn turned towards Sammy, not realizing that Sammy was still in his cabin. He raised his eyebrows up at him in silent inquiry of what he was still doing there.

  “The storm is getting worse Sir, we need you on deck,” Sammy stuttered.

  “Get all hands on deck and steer her to calmer seas yourself. I’m needed here. I cannot abandon her again.” Thorn shouted in annoyance to Sammy.

  Sammy left the cabin and went on deck calling to the crew that all men were wanted on deck to help him get the ship to safer waters. Sammy directed the crew to their positions while he took up his position behind the wheel. The crew worked on bringing down the sails, while Sammy started to steer them out of the storm. They had their work cut out for them tonight because the wind was strong and sea was rougher than ever. Their feet were unsteady on deck as the sea was throwing the ship back and forth between the huge waves. It was going to be a miracle to keep this boat afloat thought Sammy, but he planted his feet down firmly and held onto the ship’s wheel for dear life.

  Chapter 2

  She moaned softly. Thorn pulled the covers back and realized that her dress was soaked from the sea and rain. Knowing that was the cause for her fever, he slowly cut the wet dress from her body. As he pulled the wet material from her body he wiped her dry with a towel. He slid off her chemise and laid her back on the bed pulling the covers over her naked body. Her body was on fire and growing hotter.

  Thorn reached for the wash cloth and dipped it into the cold water, sliding the wet towel gently over her body, trying to cool her down. He repeated this over and over, trying to bring her some comfort. As he was doing this, that is when he noticed the long scar that ran along the back of her thigh. He traced the scar with his finger over and over and knew that it was her. Looking up to gaze upon her face he saw the face of the woman that he loved and noticed the subtle changes from youth to womanhood that had occurred since last he saw her.

  The last time he saw her she was a young beauty of sixteen on the verge of womanhood, but seven years had passed since then. In those years, her beauty had only matured her into a beautiful temptress. Even wet and lying sick she was all that he desired.

  He also noticed the beads of sweat dotting her forehead as a fever was overtaking her body. It seemed like she was getting worse.

  She started mumbling in her sleep, not making any sense at first. Then as the night wore on her cries only grew louder. Thorn could hear the misery in her voice as she spoke in her sleep.

  “You have to help me escape Tommy. Please you can come with me.”

  “Charles, you have to go to the authorit
ies with this information.”

  “I feel so alone; there is no one else to help me. There is one person, but I know he will never come.”

  This went on like this for two days, and then she took a turn for the worse. It seemed like she was giving up the fight to live. She quit talking and thrashing around. Her body just grew hotter and more lifeless. Then the chills overtook her body. Thorn felt so helpless; he didn’t know what more he could do for her. He had fed her water from a spoon and wiped her body down countless times with cold wet towels. Even holding her hand her hand and speaking soothing words to her didn’t help her get any better.

  Meanwhile, the boat rocked and groaned as it fought the fierce sea. The storm was making the ship ride upon its huge waves. The ship would rise high about the water, floating in midair for a few brief seconds only to slam back down upon the rough waters. It would repeat this over and over throughout the days and nights. Sammy would come in, give him reports, bring him food, and ask about the lass. The crew seemed to be holding their own. He trusted Sammy to keep it all under control.

  On the third day, they hit quieter waters. It stilled rain, sometimes heavier than others but not as fierce. But she became worse. Thorn slid off his clothes and crawled under the covers with her. He pulled her body up against his and gave her all his warmth. She felt so small and lifeless in his arms. His hands slid up and down her body hoping to warm her up. Her chills shook them both. Thorn heard her teeth rattling together. He spent the night like this touching her and whispering words into her ears. Letting her know that he was there and to fight. Not to give up. He would be waiting here for her when she awoke.

  Thorn drifted off to sleep this way, holding her close to his heart. When he awoken a few hours later he noticed her chills had stopped and the fever had come down. He felt like they were almost out of the woods. But not wanting to let her go, he tightened his hold on her as he drifted back to sleep.

  When Thorn awoke again he watched her sleep as he held her. He knew this was wrong. That she was out of harm and he shouldn’t be lying with her this way. Even though nothing had happened, he knew that he had compromised her. But he didn’t want to let her go. This was the only time he could be with her with his guard down and he just wanted a few more precious moments like this. She was beautiful. That didn’t even begin to describe her. Even sick she still looked like an angel. She always was his angel from heaven.

  He softly stroked her cheek, feeling the softness of her skin against his rough hands. They were callused from all the hard work he did on his ship. Remembering the last time, he touched her cheek; it was another time and another place. It happened seven years ago. So much has happened since that time, but he remembered it like it was yesterday.

  He watched her picking the flowers in his mother’s garden. She was so young, so fresh, and he knew that he shouldn’t be having the feelings for her that he did. There were too many years that separated them. But, he was in love with her. She was bent over the rose bush softly talking to the flowers telling them how beautiful they were and how wonderful they were going to look for his mother in her bedroom. She looked up and saw him watching her.

  “Oh, Marcus you scared me, I didn’t see you standing there. Your mother she is well, isn’t she?”

  “Yes, she is fine, just resting.” Marcus answered.

  “Oh good, I’ve have been so worried about her.”

  “I know you have been, you have been so helpful getting her through her sickness. We are forever grateful to you my lady.”

  “Marcus don’t my lady me. We are family; you know I think of your mother as mine. Our fathers are best friends, just like you and Charles are best friends.”

  “Are we friends Ivy?” Marcus asked softly.

  Ivy blushed a pretty shade of pink, bowing her head she softly sighed. “Yes, Marcus we are friends.”

  But Marcus wanted to be more than just friends with her. He reached out and softly stroked her cheek running his thumb across her lips. She raised her head looking up into his eyes.

  “Marcus?” Ivy asked in confusion.

  He bent his head and softly brushed his lips across her lips, so gently that he could barely feel their lips touching but enough for him to feel an impact to his very soul. Ivy gasped as she dropped her basket of flowers. She stood up on her tiptoes to reach his lips better pressing them into his. Thorn groaned and brought her deeper into his arms. Pulling her up higher on his chest, he devoured her mouth. Feeling her eagerness, he kissed her deeply. Thorn kissed her a long slow gentle kiss, drawing out her sweetness, breath by breath.

  He could feel Ivy grabbing on to his shoulders hanging on tightly. He softly brushed his lips against hers as he pulled away. Thorn watched as Ivy slowly opened her eyes. Her eyes were dazed as she stared into his. Then when she became aware of his hold on her, she blushed even deeper.

  “Forgive me Ivy, I shouldn’t have done that,” Marcus said as he lowered Ivy to her feet and slowly pulled away from her. “I have overstepped my bounds especially all that you have done for us these past two weeks.”

  Ivy looked away. Twisting her hands together she looked down at the flowers. Realizing that she dropped them she bent down to pick them up, staying quiet.

  Marcus knelt to help her pick up the flowers and to help her to her feet.

  “Say something Ivy. I am so sorry; I never should have pressed myself onto you.”

  Ivy looked up, with a tear sliding out of her eye and whispered, “Why did you?”

  “I can’t explain it and you are too young to understand the depth of my feelings for you. I am too old for you. I just couldn’t help myself when I saw you standing there and you have been so helpful to us here at Thornhill.” Thorn explained as he wiped the tear from her cheek.

  “So you kissed me out of gratitude?” Ivy asked in shock.

  “No, it had nothing to do with gratitude. You looked so pretty in the garden. With the sun shining down on your hair, you are a breath of fresh air to gaze upon.”

  Ivy put her fingers to her lips and asked softly. “Do you regret kissing me?”

  Marcus grabbed Ivy’s hands holding them in his. He leaned down and gently placed a kiss on the top of her head. He gently squeezed her hands.

  “No, that is one thing in my life I will never regret. But it was mistake. Nothing can ever come out of this.”

  “Why?” Ivy asked.

  “Because, we are all wrong for each other and I am leaving tonight. I don’t know when I will return or if I will return from this war. Also, you are going to London for your first Season. I won’t take that opportunity away from you.”

  “I don’t care about the Season. I only want you; I’ve only ever wanted you. I love you Marcus.”

  “But I don’t love you Ivy.”

  Marcus watched as the color left Ivy’s face as she gasped. She lifted her hand to her mouth, her fingers touching her lips as she looked into Thorn’s eyes. He felt her tears before he saw them slide slowly out of her eyes, trailing down her cheeks. She turned and ran into the house, leaving him standing in the garden as he became like all the other statues in his mother’s garden, turning to stone.

  Thorn sat there watching her sleeping. That is all he had done for five days. He turned his ship over to Sammy while he took care of her. His hands were shaking as he poured some whiskey into a glass, the liquid sloshing all over. He raised the glass to his mouth and drank the whisky quickly, feeling the burn travel down into his chest. The whiskey didn’t seem to do the trick that he wanted it to. He still felt chilled to the bone from the feeling that he was going to lose her before he even got to have her. Pouring himself one after another, he continued to watch her for any type of change.

  He knew that getting drunk was not the wisest course of action right now. But he did not know of any other way to ease the ache he felt in his heart. Thorn wanted to yell, scream, and pound out his anger. Not that any of that would be fair to his crew or to the young lady lying helpless in his bed. He woul
d get his revenge one day on whoever was responsible for this.

  Thorn continued watching her sleeping as he kept drinking alongside his misery.

  Chapter 3

  Her fever just broke. While Sammy battled the fierce storm, Thorn battled the fiercest storm of Ivy’s life. The sun broke through the small window at the same moment her fever broke. As the sea settled down into gentle waves; he waited for her to awaken; to show more sign of life. He needed to hear her speak his name from her lips.

  With the soft light from the rising dawn shining in on her, Thorn saw her lashes flutter softly against her cheek. Getting up quickly from his chair; he toppled it to the floor as he rushed to her side. He gently brushed her long, blond hair back from her face; holding his breath to see if she was finally waking up.

  Her eyelids rose slowly as she came out of her deep sleep. She looked around taking in her surroundings. Thorn could she the confusion in her eyes as she glanced around before they settled on him.

  “Marcus?” she whispered.

  Thorn was so overcome with emotion he couldn’t answer her. He slid his hand down and laced his fingers through hers. Slowly bringing her hand up to his mouth he gently brushed his lips across her fingers.

  “My sweet Ivy,” he whispered back.

  He sat on the edge of the bed holding onto her hand as his eyes roved over her body, checking to make sure that she was with him again. He felt so relieved that she had finally awoken. Fearing that this moment was not going to happen and now that it had he did not want to let her go.

  Ivy tried to sit up, but her body felt so weak. She fell back onto the pillows and softly moaned.

  “What happened to me?” she asked Thorn.

  Thorn sat down next to her on the bed and adjusted the blankets around her. He softly brushed her hair back from her face, letting the softness drift through his fingers. Laying his hand across her forehead to satisfy his curiosity that her fever had broken, he let out a relived sigh when his touch felt the coolness of her skin.