Maurice.
The old piratewas trying to rape me and had my body pinned to the crateunderneath.
“Nowthat the captain is done with ya, I figures I’ll have ago.”
His raunchybreath blanketed my face and it took all I had not to vomit. Mynaked breasts chaffed under the rough terrain of his jacket and Ifelt him shift as he fetched something from his pocket.
The sound of ablade sliding from its sheath set me over the edge and I flew intopanic mode. With only one of his arms holding me down, I managed totwist my head enough to uncover my mouth and I let out a scream. Itwas stopped short, though, when Maurice threw a blow to my jaw. Myears rang, and my head swam as it threatened to black out. Hisblade rested between my legs where I felt the quick thrust of itslicing into the crotch of my trousers.
Maurice’sentire body held me down, and I succumbed to the weight of it, mylungs hardly able to take in a breath. Tears poured from my eyes asI accepted what was happening. But before I gave up entirely, theman’s heavy figure ripped from my body and I glanced up to findHenry standing over me.
“Maurice!” he bellowed, a pistol aimed straight ahead. “Howdare you put your hands on her!”
The manbrought himself to his knees. “Captain, I beg of you, I had noidea. I thought you were–”
Henrylunged forward and put the clunky pistol to Maurice’s forehead.“Were what? Done with her? You disgust me. I shouldend your life right here, right now.” I could see the shakiness inhis arm, in the way he held the gun. I stood and placed my hand onHenry’s arm, and he turned to look at me, his eyes enraged and fullof tears. “He deserves to die, Dianna.”
“Yes,but you don’t deserve to kill him,” I replied. Henry shouldn’t bearthe burden, shouldn’t have the blood on his hands. I knew how muchit hurt him. “Tie him up. We’ll have him arrested when we meetlandfall.” The pistol never wavered from the direction it pointed,and I tightened my grip around his arm. “Henry.”
I watched asthe heaviness of rage left Henry’s body and he handed me the gun.Then, as if it killed him to stand there and not touch me, hisdesperate hands took my face and pressed it to his chest where Icould hear his heart beating wildly.
“God, Iheard you scream and it was as if someone had shot me through thechest.”
I didn’tanswer, I just let him hold me and breathed in as much of him as Icould. Just a few days apart had now felt like an eternity and Irealized something. Perhaps, I knew it all along but didn’t want toaccept it because we’d only known each other a short while, ormaybe for fear it would prevent me from going home.
I lovedhim.
I wasabout to speak the words when I caught a glimpse of movement in thecorner of my eye. Maurice had lunged for the pistol I set down onthe crate and my body took on a mind of its own. I wrapped myfingers around the hilt of Henry’s sword and yanked it from hisside. It all happened so fast, toofast, but I didn’t want this man’s blood on Henry’s soul. Iswung the heavy blade to the side and heaved it back toward Mauricewhere it sliced through his body and came to a stop in the centerof his chest.
“Dianna!” Henry yelled next to me.
He tried topry the sword from my grasp, but my hands had a death grip aroundthe hilt. My mind was screaming for me to let go, but I couldn’t. Icould only stare at the man whose life was dissolving before myeyes, the life I took, his wide gaze looking up at me as the blooddrained from his carcass and began running toward my feet. Justthen, footsteps came hurdling in our direction.
“Captain!” Finn called, “What the Christ is going onhere?”
“I foundMaurice attempting to force himself on Dianna,” Henry replied. “Imade my orders quite clear on that.”
“Aye,”Gus answered and let out a long breath, “Did she–”
“Yes,before I had the chance,” Henry told them and ripped my shakinghands away before sweeping me into his arms. I felt him pull myjacket closed, covering my naked breasts and he kissed my forehead.“Can you take care of this?”
“Aye,Captain,” Finn responded dutifully.
Henry beganwalking, taking me away from the scene. “Christ, Dianna, what wereyou thinking?”
“Uh,better me than you?” I offered a weak and shakyresponse.
We entered hisquarters and the warmth of the fireplace began to thaw my chilledskin. I didn’t even realize I was cold until then. My mind slowedand the reality of what I’d done started to smooth out. Maurice wasgoing to rape me. Then, who knows what else? I was strong. I couldlive with it, deal with it. I could even get some professional helpwhen I got back home if I needed to.
But, theold man was going to kill Henry, and the captain would have surelytaken his life. I couldn’t let him live with it. Forthat to be one of his memories ofme. The woman he damned himself to save, only to have lost her. No,I would carry that burden for him.
Henrypaced the floor in front of me. “I’ve enough blood on my hands,Dianna. What’s one more drop? Now you have to live withthis.”
“I didit for you,” I told him.
“Forme?” he chortled, still pacing. “You did this forme? Why would–” He came to a halt,his eyes locking on mine. They sparkled with a glimmer of hope.“Why?”
Even though Iadmitted it to myself, I still couldn’t form the words for him. Myshoulders gave a shrug. “I just… I didn’t want you to do it. I knewit would eat you up inside.”
“No,” hereplied curtly.
“No?”
“Tell
