Corsets & Crossbones (12 page)

Brooke stopped and looked back at him imploringly, her eyes trying to read his. “Do you trust me, Captain?” she asked him seriously.

Charlie smiled knowingly.  “Yes,” he told her genuinely.

“Okay,” Brooke said.  “I know where we can stay.”

The storm looked like it would never cease as Brooke led Charlie to the outskirts of town.  Brooke had been to this house many times, but Charlie had no idea where he was going.  Brooke seemed sure of herself, so he went along with her, without question although he worried nonetheless.  She had been wherever they were going many times, Charlie noticed, for they hadn’t tripped over spare roots or bushes nor had they gotten lost as they made their way towards their destination.  Charlie smiled at the thought.  At least Brooke had some sort of sanctuary these past few months, somewhere she could run to if she needed to get away from the pressures of the town, away from the life she was forced to live.  She stopped in front of a small, isolated house with smoke coming out of its small chimney, catching her breath and glancing at Charlie.

“Is this piece of property… abandoned, love?” Charlie asked, quirking a brow and desperately wanting to get out of the harsh rain, yet at the same time, he did not want to run into a house that was occupied.  If anything, he wanted to go back on sea, but that was, at this time, improbable.

“Not exactly,” she said, pulling Charlie along with her into the house. “A friend of mine lives here.”  She closed the door just as thunder crashed.  She studied Charlie, who had just sneezed, and raised a brow.  Was Charlie getting sick?  She wouldn’t doubt it; he’s been in the rain much longer than she had.  “Get out of those clothes, Charlie.  I’m going to run you a hot bath.”

“Well, love,” Charlie said, smiling seductively. “I didn’t know how anxious you were to make up for lost time.”

Brooke arched a steady brow, but didn’t banter with him.  This was not the time to.  She hoped Joel wouldn’t get mad at her unexpected visit, especially with a strange male companion.  Afraid of Joel’s reaction when he laid eyes on Charlie, she wondered whether or not to tell Joel the truth, that Charlie was a pirate and that she was really his companion.  She was afraid, however, because of how deeply Joel hated pirates and anyone even remotely associated with them.  Sighing, she made her way into the master bedroom and grabbed a spare tunic and slacks, and put them in the washroom.  Then, she began to warm cold water over the fire, in hopes that the water would warm quickly and that Charlie could warm up as quickly as possible.  Once the fire was burning enough, and the water was securely over it, Brooke grabbed a blanket from the spare bedroom and gave it to a sitting Charlie, who was intently staring at the embers flicker.  He glanced up when he saw Brooke place it tightly around him, watching her with curious eyes.  She certainly knew her way around the house, what to do, and where to get certain things.

This house had better belong to a female
, he thought, and without warning, Charlie sneezed.

“Excuse me,” he said, slightly embarrassed.

Brooke grinned at him. “Bless you, Father,” she jested lightly.

Charlie rolled his eyes but grinned at her anyways. “Well, you’re just a real comedian, love,” he said dryly.

Suddenly, the door burst open, and Charlie leapt up, throwing the blanket aside and pushing Brooke behind him in a manner of protection.  His eyes narrowed when he saw a man walk through the doorway.  Joel’s eyes met Charlie’s and he pushed his brows together in confusion, anger.  He was desperately trying to come up with some sort of quick scheme to defend himself from this intruder.  Before he could put anything into effect, however, Brooke managed to weasel herself around Charlie’s body and run into the man’s arms. 

“Oh Joel,” she murmured.

“Brooke, what’s wrong?” Joel asked, holding her and glaring at the stranger at the same time. “Did he hurt you?”

“I
saved
her,” Charlie corrected, deathly low.  “I would never hurt a lady, especially such a fine one as this.”

“Did he take you away from your marriage?” Joel asked, releasing Brooke to look into her eyes.  “Did he kidnap you?  Was he the one who took you away a few months ago?”

Brooke shook her head. “How many times do I have to tell you, Joel?  Charlie did not kidnap me.”  Her eyes pleaded with his blue ones to believe her.  “Charlie saved me.  It is true; I did run away from the marriage.  I do not love Lord Sutherland, Joel.  Please, try to understand.”  Her eyes welled up with tears, and she didn’t know why.  “Just imagine being forced to marry anyone but Fiona.”

Joel glared at the priest, and rubbed Brooke’s back soothingly.  Charlie looked away, out the window, into the pouring storm.

“Brooke, who is this?” Joel asked.  “Why aren’t you marrying Lord Sutherland right now?  I still do not understand.  Is this man your Fiona?  Is this what you’re trying to say?”

Brooke shook her head and pulled away, going over to stand next to Charlie, who, after this action, grinned triumphantly at the younger man.  Brooke took in a deep breath.  It was now or never.  Joel should know the truth.  He wouldn’t really throw away years of friendship if he knew the circumstances, right?

“Joel, listen, this is my companion, Captain Charlie Colt,” she said, introducing him to her pirate friend.

“Love, do you really think that you should be telling him this?” Charlie asked suspiciously, still staring at Joel.  He was rubbing her back in a manner of comfort; he could feel how tense, how nervous she was for doing this.

Brooke rolled her eyes as she went to go fetch the hot water and move it to the bath, breaking away from Charlie’s touch and Joel’s stare.  She hated disappointing people, and with the two most important men before her, one was going to be disappointed.  But she couldn’t go on lying to Joel because he didn’t deserve being lied to.  He had never lied to her.

“Oh Charlie, he’s my best friend,” Brooke explained from the bathing room.  “I can tell him anything.”

“Am I not your best friend?” Charlie asked, trying to mask being offended and maybe even slightly envious at how casually she threw around the ‘best friend’ title. 

“Of course you are,” Brooke said as Charlie sneezed again.

“Here, let me help you with that, Brooke,” Joel said, and went into the bathing room to grab the hot water from her.

“I can help her,” Charlie interjected, going to grab the hot water from Joel.

“Charlie, go sit down,” Brooke said firmly. “Stay by the fire, and how many times must I tell you to get out of those clothes?”

Charlie winked at Joel.  “This is a request she always seems to desire from me,” he said, playfully.  “And I, being her best friend, would never reject her desires.”

Joel glanced questioningly at Brooke, and Brooke threw a towel at Charlie, hitting him on his face.  She followed Joel into the washroom, Charlie’s eyes on the pair the whole way.  Joel was carrying the hot water, wondering why, exactly, Brooke was with this man, this Father?  No, no, he was a captain or something.  But of what, he had no idea.  All he knew was that Brooke had left her wedding and currently was in his house, in merely her under gown, her face hidden underneath ruined make up, and was accompanied by her recent abductor.  The circumstances were suspicious, and Joel wanted to come to the conclusion of it all.  But first, he wanted to make sure Brooke was taken care of.

“Why don’t you take the first bath?” Joel asked her. “You need it much more than the Father... or captain. 
Whatever he is.”

Brooke shook her head.  “No, Charlie needs it more,” Brooke told her close friend.  “He’s getting sick.  He needs to warm up.”

Joel looked like he was about to disagree with her, but the look on her face warned him not to.  There was much to discuss with Brooke, anyways, and he didn’t need this stranger to keep interrupting with territorial banter or sexual innuendos.  Why would Brooke associate herself with someone who was not a proper gentleman?  She was much better than this man.  Joel was dumbfounded.  Years of friendship, and Brooke never told him of this man.  Was she being kidnapped by him?  No, he didn’t believe that.  She seemed too comfortable around him, and why would they end up at his house?  No, no, Brooke knew this man, and from where, Joel was about to find out.

“Charlie!” she called from behind her.  “Strip and get into the bath!”

“I shall give you the honor of bathing me, love,” Charlie said cheekily, following the two.

“Her name is Brooke,” Joel said under his breath, and then was about to warn Charlie about talking that way to a woman, but Brooke rolled her eyes.

“As a captain of a ship, you are fully capable of bathing yourself,” Brooke said, giving Charlie a stern look.  “And that is all I’m going to say about that.”

Charlie grumbled to himself, walking into the washroom, and closing the door behind him.  He could hear the two walk away and sit down; he could hear the fire cackle, so whatever they were about to discuss (because Charlie knew they would be discussing something) he would be able to hear every word.  He stripped, and crawled into the large bathtub, suddenly sighing with relief.  He was suddenly glad that Brooke made him take a bath; he didn’t realize how cold he was until he stepped into a hot bath.  Steam rose up from the calm water, almost as though it was an aphrodisiac, and Charlie leaned his head back and sighed.  He smiled; he had successfully completed his plan.  Brooke was safe; his girl was safe.  If only they were on his boat, though.  He didn’t like the fact that Brooke knew her way so comfortably around this stranger’s house, especially since the stranger was a man.  Was Brooke involved with him?

Charlie shook his head of the thought, pursing his lips.  No.  No.  Brooke and this Joel fellow did not look good together.  Even though Joel was boyishly attractive and Brooke was drop-dead gorgeous, the two had no chemistry.  No sexual appeal.  Joel would not be able to satisfy Brooke like she secretly wanted.  Charlie knew Brooke’s type; sweet and innocent to the outside world, but get her alone with a bed and let her unleash her wild side.  A lady in the streets but a tiger in the sheets.  And could this scrawny boy be able to give that to her?  No!  And being the compassionate friend Charlie was, he could not allow Brooke to suffer through a doomed-to-fail relationship.  With that, he let his mind clear and inhaled the warm air, relaxing every limb and sighing with comfort.

Brooke, on the other hand, was sitting out in the living room with Joel, a heavy blanket engulfing her body.  She was trying to mask her shivers, biting her lip to keep her mouth from trembling.  The rain was slowly starting to cease, the thunder getting softer and softer.  Brooke figured she and Charlie would leave as soon as dawn broke.  She shivered as a chill ran down her spine.  Hours had passed since the wedding; they wouldn’t be looking for her here, right?

“They are not looking for me, are they Joel?”  Brooke asked, trying to keep warm.  Maybe she should’ve taken the first bath.  She was very picky about her hot water…

“You know they are Brooke,” Joel said, staring intently at her.  “By the time I left, Sutherland had the governor sending half of his navy out on the seas, despite the heavy rainfall.  He suspects that some pirate took you.”  Joel’s brow furrowed as he leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees, his stare becoming more and more quizzical.  “Who is this man you’re with Brooke?  Why are you so casual with him?”

“Charlie is my best friend, Joel,” Brooke said again, staring into the flickering embers.  “Charlie and I were stranded on a deserted island, and Sutherland picked us up.”  She paused, but pinched herself into continuing with the story.  “Charlie is a pirate, so he would have been hanged the next day.  But…  I managed to work out a deal with Sutherland, arranging a marriage with him.  So Charlie was set free, and I was brought here… and now he has come to rescue me just like he promised he would.”

Joel looked at Brooke with disgust. “A pirate, Brooke?” he said loudly.  “Out of all people, you’re on friendly terms with a
pirate
? Are you in love with him Brooke?”

“No…” Brooke said, her voice trailing off, and she felt her face get hot at Joel’s sudden harsh tone.  “Charlie is my best friend.  He and I have a history together.”

“Brooke, I honestly do not know what to say,” Joel said, staring at the ground.  No, not staring.  Glaring.  Was he really this upset because Charlie was a pirate?  Brooke could not believe it.  Joel wasn’t the accepting person she thought he was. 

Brooke nodded.  “What is the matter with you, Joel?” she asked him. “You accepted me before.”

“I thought you were a different person,” he said desperately.  “You are a pirate, Brooke, by association.  You’re a pirate.”  He sighed.  “You can stay here for the night… but leave once the last drop of rain falls.  You cannot stay here after that.  I cannot see you afterwards.”

“So you are ending our friendship?” Brooke asked, tears blurring her vision.  This time, one managed to slip down her face.

“What friendship?” Joel asked. “Our friendship was based on a lie.  I apologized for thinking you were kidnapped by this man, and it was
my
fault, but you
chose
to leave.”

“Probably not a good time to finish my bath,” Charlie said, walking into the living room, carrying his old, damp clothing in his hands, a towel draped over his shoulders so his wet hair wouldn’t transfer to his clothing.  He heard every word, and thought it was only right to interrupt at this point in time because he hated hearing Brooke when she was hurt.  The only thing keeping him from knocking the kid out was the fact that for whatever reason, Brooke was friends with him, and they were also on the run and happened to be laying low at said kid’s house.  He looked upon Brooke with concern, but she blinked rapidly and got up, going into Joel’s room to grab some spare clothing and wiping the tear from her face.  Charlie then shifted his attention to the man who caused Brooke’s sudden change in attitude, and pursed his lips, deep in thought.  “Is something wrong,
mate?”