He was damned whichever way he went. Goddammit, he wished he knew what that man was planning!
“Sir? They're here for the same reason we are.”
“I'm bloody aware of that,” James growled, wishing a sound solution would come to mind.
“Then wouldn't it make sense to stay here? They won't leave without the treasure any more than we will. And if we wait for them to come ...”
“Then we've shifted the control to our side.”
Yes, James liked that much better. Let Nate walk into this clearing while James and his men were strategically placed. Let Nate wonder what James was up to for a change.
“I still think we need to know what we're facing. We'll send two men over there. I don't want them to be seen, but I don't want to sit here completely unprepared either. If Nate has thirty men ashore, I want to know that. If there's a ship, I want to know that, too.”
And if Nate found his men and killed them? James shrugged. Losing another two wouldn't diminish his chances.
Twenty
Claire's stomach leapt to her throat a moment before Nate went rigid beside her. Clearly he'd heard the sounds as well, the footfalls below them. Though the fire lit up the sky, its light didn't carry far enough to where they'd chosen to hide, close enough to the beach to see the water come morning, far enough away from the flames for safety.
Since they hadn't been followed in the two days since James had arrived, it struck Claire as strange that she and Nate would be searched out now, when they'd lit a signal high enough to be seen for miles. Why wasn't James concentrating on the treasure? Surely he'd found it by now.
“Don't move,” Nate whispered in her ear, then he leapt from the tree.
Claire gasped. She couldn't help it. What the devil was he thinking? She held her breath as men groaned and thudded to the ground. Foliage shook, twigs snapped, and bodies rolled in the underbrush. Muted curses bruised the air. Finally she heard an exasperated whisper. “We're here to save your backside, you big lubber, not kill it.”
She closed her eyes, forcing her constricted lungs to open and draw breath. It was Vincent. Claire pressed her hand to her chest, steadied herself, then jumped. She landed on someone's back, clenched her hands to hang on, then yelped when she was shoved aside.
“It's bloody rainin' bodies,” the man grumbled.
“Careful who you're touching, Joe. That would be Claire.”
“Blimey, sorry, lass.”
Claire was on the ground, having landed hard on her own backside. She scrambled to her feet.
“How did you get here so fast?” Nate asked. More shuffling as he walked closer. “We only just lit that fire.”
Claire could see nothing more than the dark outlines of men. Five or six, it was hard to say exactly.
“Vincent wanted to surprise you.”
“Hell, you say. It was Luke who practically had the anchor hoisted the minute I spoke of treasure.”
Luke. Claire sifted through her memories. When she remembered that Luke used to be a pirate, she wasn't as happy to be rescued as she'd been a moment ago.
“Aye, and have you found it yet, mate?”
“It's complicated, and it's the reason for the fire. We need to find a safe place to discuss this.”
“We can go to the ship.”
“We don't have time. Come on, there's a cave nearby.”
The cave, where she'd gone to retrieve her father's skull. Yet the reminder didn't bring a sharp jab of pain, or a flood of tears, just the quiet wash of regret. If nothing else, Claire thought as she fell in line with the men, the island had at least given her that, an end to the wondering and a chance to heal.
The tide was on its way out, but the water nonetheless came to their thighs. They'd grabbed a lantern from the longboat and Nate lit it now. The end of the cave where the three chests had been came to life and Claire was finally able to see the men clearly.
There were four altogether, not counting Nate and Vincent. There was a bear of a man with grizzly hairâthe one she'd landed onâa younger one with a cap of blond hair, a serious-looking man with dark hair and dark eyes, and finallyâand she had to stop herself from gapingâa mustached blond man with a black patch over his left eye, a small treasure trove of gold chains around his neck, two pistols tucked into his sash, and a sword hanging in a scabbard at his side. She didn't have to be told she was looking at Luke.
The dark-haired man stepped closer to Nate, a slow smile curving his lips. “That fire's big enough to bring in the Navy. You used to be more subtle.”
Nate grinned. “Things change.”
“Yes, I see that.”
The stranger's eyes were warm when he met hers. He extended his hand. “Blake Merritt.”
Claire wiped her hand on her pants. Running and hiding hadn't allowed her the luxury of bathing. She felt dirty, and she didn't even want to think of how she must look. “Claire Gentry.”
Blake nodded, then released her hand. “Pleased to meet you, Claire.”
“And you. I've heard much about you.”
Blake arched a brow and looked over his shoulder. Both Nate and Vincent batted their eyes at him. Blake shook his head.
“I'm afraid to ask.”
Laughing, Nate drew him in for a quick embrace that included some firm backslapping. “Good to see you.”
Blake turned serious, but the affection in his eyes for his friend touched Claire.
“And you. Why the fire?”
“And where's the treasure?” Luke asked.
“Patience hasn't yet come your way, has it?” Nate asked.
“Never will either,” the grizzly-haired man added.
Their bickering didn't affect Nate, but it did seem to remind him he hadn't made all the introductions yet.
“Claire, this is Joe. The lad there is Aidan and this is Luke.”
She acknowledged them all with a nod, though the one she gave Luke was harder to summon. He seemed to know it, because his eye narrowed.
“You didn't find the treasure?” Vincent asked. He looked from Nate to Claire, his eyes dancing. “Were you too busy?”
“Careful,” Nate warned.
“We found where it was, but before we could dig it up, we were interrupted.”
“Pirates?” Luke asked. He almost looked hopeful. No doubt looking for some of his own kind, Claire thought ungraciously.
“No.” Nate turned to Vincent. “James. The one that followed us in Nevis.”
“I thought ye said ye'd lost 'im,” Joe said.
Vincent shrugged. “We had. We hadn't seen them in two days before I left Nate here.”
“And they're still here?” Aidan asked.
“Far as we know. They were in the graveyard this afternoon but we haven't been back since.”
Nate explained about the camp, the chests, and the map they'd left behind. “I'm sure they've found it by now.”
“And either they've left with it or they're still looking for it.”
“With that fire,” Blake said, “they'd be fools to wait here much longer.” He looked at Nate. “Did you have a plan?”
Claire had been thinking while they'd been discussing, and though it wasn't well thought out yet, she said what had come to her mind.
“They don't know you're here. They won't know until daylight breaks and they see the ship, assuming they have someone looking for it. I say we attack before they figure it out.”
“I agree,” Luke said nearly the moment the words left her mouth.
Nate looked at Claire and frowned. “You're not going anywhere near a battle.”
Her hand stilled. “You don't have a say.”
“The hell I don't.”
“That's right.” Claire raised her chin. “You don't. I did fine earlier, didn't I?”
“He hit you,” Nate reminded her.
“Well, he didn't kill me.”
Blake chuckled. “Finally met your match, I see.”
“Isn't that what I told you? Claire won't put up with his overstuffed head,” Vincent added.
“Well, are we going or not?” Luke asked.
“We'll need more men and weapons,” Claire said and gestured around to the seven of them. “This isn't going to be enough.”
Luke sneered and pulled a pistol from his sash, caressing its gleaming barrel with his other hand.
“Missy, you've got the best pirates in the Caribbean right here in this cave so show a little faith, would you?”
“Pirates?” Claire gasped, looking from Luke to Blake, then to Vincent. Luke she knew about, but Blake, Nate, and Vincent? She looked at the men she'd just met. She couldn't imagine that the big bear of a man was a pirate. Despite his size, he seemed too gentle. And the boy? They'd turned him pirate as well? Had they no shame?
And yet, didn't it make perfect sense that Nate was a pirate? He had a ship, he was wealthier than any merchant sailor, and he was certainly fiercer than most privateers. And it explained, as well, his mercilessness in forcing her to share the treasure. Pirates always got what they wanted.
In the corner of her heart it made her wonder if that was all their time on Isla de Hueso was to him, a means to yet another treasure. Why else hadn't he told her about his being a pirate? He'd had ample time and opportunity. Or did he think, in the end, it wouldn't matter because he'd be long gone before she ever discovered the truth?
She wished she could know the answer by looking at him but his face was unreadable. His eyes were as cool as the emeralds they'd seen in those trunks. Where was the man who'd made her feel pretty and desirable?
“You're a pirate?”
“Ye've done it now,” Joe muttered to Luke.
“You're not going to swoon, are you?” Luke asked.
“I've never swooned in my life and I won't be starting today.”
“Claire, it's not as bad as it sounds,” Vincent said.
“Hell, man, who says piracy is bad?” Luke asked, looking utterly insulted.
Claire ignored Luke and focused on Vincent. “Yet neither of you troubled yourself to tell me.”
Vincent, at least, had the good sense to look ashamed.
“There's an abandoned town which lies between the two accessible beaches. It's heavily treed to get there, but it opens nicely once you reach it. We found a marked grave next to the graveyard. I say we start there,” Nate said.
His dismissal of her and her feelings hurt more than the combination of both punches she'd received of late. Ignoring the sting, she decided that she could be as cold as he was.
“We're short weapons, and Nate and I are out of ammunition.”
Luke grinned. “We sent a man back with the longboat. He was to bring back men and weapons. He should be there by now.”
“With my stinkpots,” Vincent added.
Though Luke had said there would be a longboat waiting, Claire was nevertheless surprised to see it there. She hadn't expected a pirate to speak the truth. The boat remained slightly back in the water until Vincent waved them over.
Another ten men spilled onto the beach, weapons in each hand. Luke strolled to the boat and, though it seemed impossible, loaded himself with more.
“Claire, you'll go back with the boat,” Nate said.
That he had the audacity to order her about was as infuriating as the order itself.
“I'll not cower.”
“Can you even fire a pistol without killing those of us who are on your side?” Luke asked.
Claire spun to Luke, her mouth tight. “Do you have this little faith in your wife?” Claire demanded, her hand on her hip and the other grasping to hold on to her temper.
Luke grinned. “Not since the first time she pulled a knife on me.”
“I like her already,” Claire stated and turned her attention back to Nate.
“I know how to fight and I will. I haven't plundered and stolen my way to wealth. This is my one and only treasure and I intend to fight for it.”
Nate's jaw clenched.
Claire didn't linger. She skirted around Joe and Aidan and went to the boat. She should have known Nate wouldn't be far behind. Claire ignored him as she worked her way through the pistols, muskets, and blunderbusses, testing each one for weight.
“We don't have time to argue,” Nate growled.
“Then stop doing it, because I'm going.”
His eyes narrowed. “When I give an order to a member of my crew, I expect it to be obeyed.”
“And when I'm part of a crew, I expect to be treated as such. Those men are here to fight. I'm no different.”
“I beg to differ.”
His eyes slid down her body, warming her even while his words infuriated her. She yanked on her arm but his fingers dug in.
“You got what you wanted from me, now let me go.”
Nate's eyes flashed, then his gaze narrowed. “I wasn't the only one,” he reminded her. Then he dropped his arm and stepped back.
“Excuse me,” Aidan said. “These are mine.”
Nate looked as surprised as Claire felt when the boy took out a bow and a quiver full of arrows.
“You know how shoot a bow?” Nate asked. “That's new.”
Aidan shrugged. “Friend of mine showed me. I've been practicing for almost two years.”
Nate waited for the boy to leave. His gaze locked on to Claire's for a long, silent moment before he followed Aidan back to the group. Claire wiped her hands on her pants, waited for them to steady. She hated that anger once again stood between them, but Nate needed to learn that the woman she'd become could handle herself.