Chapter 8
Eight
Rhys did not go to the hut that night. Instead, he ate Acerola berries, which were not all that filling, but he needed to avoid Tempest, at least for now.
A temptation, stronger than he’d ever experienced happened suddenly, when he found himself on his back, in the sand, and staring into Tempest’s blue eyes, darker than normal, or maybe they only appeared that way because of the deep rose that spread across her face.
He had almost kissed her. He wanted to kiss her.
He wanted to pull Tempest into his arms, place his lips against hers and just forget about the younger sisters, the French soldiers and the Royal Navy.
But he did not have the luxury and she was a miss that he should not even touch.
Except, it became doubly difficult to ignore his desire and urgings when he saw her legs, skirts hitched up to her thighs. They were perfect legs, shapely, and he could not help but imagine what it would be like to have them wrapped about his hips…
He had to stop that train of thought.
Instead, he held out his hand and helped her to stand.
It was only after she was gone that he walked into the ocean to cool his loins, not that it did any good. The Caribbean Sea wasn’t exactly cold.
He would have stripped down completely but if Tempest came back for any reason, she might note the state of his desire, not at all flaccid as the French soldiers she had observed.
Instead, he floated in his clothing and concentrated on what was truly important.
It was good to know that Tempest was as much aware of the situation as he was and there were no longer any secrets between them.
In fact, he was glad to have someone he could talk to about the situation.
He’d then retired to his hammock, drank rum and ate berries while his clothing dried and he finally slept.
Some of his dreams had been pleasant, with Tempest and her stormy blue eyes, golden hair, and dress pulled up to reveal her legs as she walked to him. Others were not so pleasant because French soldiers appeared and took her away, holding him so that he could not help her.
He woke often and returned to sleep, but when the morning came, he did not feel rested and if he had been in a comfortable bed may have rolled over and pulled the blankets above his head and slept some more.
Instead, the made his way to the hut for coffee and something to fill his empty stomach.
There was a lot that he needed to accomplish today and he required sustenance.
When he knocked on the door, not certain of the time and hoping that he did not wake them, it was Tempest who opened it then stood back.
“Have you made coffee? I need coffee and food.”
“I am not surprised since you did not join us for supper last night.”
If she was so concerned, she could have issued an invitation, but Rhys did not voice that fact.
She opened the door further and he stepped inside then went to the cupboard where he had stored his folded and clean clothing, retrieved a shirt and a pair of trousers. What he was wearing had grown stiff and uncomfortable and needed to be laundered to remove the salt from the sea.
Tempest poured him a cup of coffee then set it on the table with a biscuit. “Our supplies are low,” she said quietly.
It had been a sennight since he returned from Fort-de-France to find them in his house. He’d only purchased enough food for one person and was rather surprised that they had not run out already.
“I am going to look for other locations to…” He glanced to see the younger sisters watching and listening. He could not use the word hide because he did not want to frighten them any further. “Another place to shelter.”
“Why is another needed?” Margaret asked.
“Because I need somewhere to go if it rains since my home is currently occupied,” he answered with less irritation than may have accompanied his tone a few days ago. “After I have found a suitable location, I will return to Fort-de-France for bread, eggs and whatever else you need.”
“Milk,” the youngest demanded.
“It will spoil before I return,” he said. “You will have to drink water, coconut milk or coffee.”
“We are not allowed coffee,” the child said.
“Then cocoa. That should keep you happy.”
“Cocoa?” Ruth asked suddenly interested.
“Yes. I brought supplies back to make some—cocoa, chili, allspice, vanilla, maize…I had assumed that you had already drank it.”
The sisters looked at Tempest, accusations in their eyes. Had they not known about the cocoa?
“You drink cocoa, Mr. McNaught?” Nicoll asked with disbelief.
“I may have a liking for it,” he reluctantly admitted. “I do not always drink rum.”
“I am coming with you,” Tempest announced.
“You are not going into Fort-de-France! Are you mad?”
Tempest pursed her lips, tilted her chin and stared him down, as if he were a clodpoll. “To find a place for shelter. I am no fool, Mr. McNaught.”
No, she was not. That had been confirmed yesterday. However, it was best if he did this alone and stood back to take in her appearance. She still wore the deep rose gown that she’d had on yesterday when they fell into the sand and the one that had exposed a good portion of her legs.
“You are not traipsing through the forest in a dress,” he argued. “It will get torn and dirty. I can find a cave on my own.”
“I must insist.” Tempest pushed the cup of coffee into his hand then pressed her palm against his chest and maneuvered him out of the house. “You will wait for me,” she said right before she shut the door on his face.
He could leave while she changed and made use of his clothing again, but then she’d probably try and track him down and end up getting lost in the forest.
Besides, if he did find a good place to hide, she would need to know where it was since it was for them and their safety.
He paced and whistled until she finally emerged in a pair of his dark brown trousers and ecru linen shirt.
“Shall we search?” she asked brightly.
There were far more pleasant things that he would like to do, several of which came to mind when she bent to slip on her shoes, revealing her bum when the shirt rose up. Now she simply stood beside him waiting.
“What of your sisters?”
“I told them not to go beyond the terrasse.”
“It is better if they do not leave the house at all.”
“Yes, well, we cannot keep them prisoner and I do not think more French soldiers will be in the area today.”
“How could you possibly know that?” His exasperation of her assumptions was not concealed in his tone. “What if the captain was upset at not having turtle soup and sends more soldiers to find one?”
Tempest rolled her eyes. “Then the girls will hide again.” She then marched past him without a care.
* * *
Rhys snatched up the torch that he’d stuck in the sand at the corner of the terrasse, which he had used previously when he ventured through the forest at night and assumed it would be needed to inspect a cave, if one was found.
“Why did you insist on coming with me?” Rhys demanded as he caught up with her.
“Ruth is afraid of spiders and Ann is attracted to snakes and has to be warned constantly that they bite and could kill. Margaret does not like complete darkness and Nicoll does not like being in close, narrow spaces. Then there is Ellen who likes to wander so the cave cannot be so deep that my youngest sister could be lost.”
“Would you like me to dig one out of a hill to your exact specifications?” he suggested, sarcasm at the edge of his voice.
“While that would be preferable, it is far from expedient.” Tempest marched on.
“You do realize that we are not likely to find the perfect accommodations if we find a cave at all.”
“I am aware, but I will need to make certain that my sisters can be inside and I must be prepared for the objections and fears if it comes to us having to retreat there.”
Tempest noted the location of the sun, the time of day, direction they were walking, and memorized the hill ahead of them so that she knew where to lead her siblings if it became necessary.
She also hoped that it wasn’t too far. The cave needed to be a close enough distance that the girls could run to without getting lost by having to take turns through the brush.
“I also need to go into Fort-de-France if not today then tomorrow,” Rhys said as they walked through the forest.
“How long does it take to walk there and back?”
“About two hours total.”
She stopped and turned to him. “We are so far away?”
“I cannot exactly live right next to the port. That would defeat the whole purpose of a clandestine mission.”
“Yes, of course. I just had not realized how far away we were.” She turned and kept walking. “I suppose it is for the best. Otherwise, we would likely have more French soldiers near.”
“I am surprised we saw any,” Rhys admitted. “I have lived here for months and those were the first soldiers that have come this far.”
She had thought it was a common occurrence. “Why is that do you suppose?”
“They hoped that the French had managed to drop supplies the first time. The second they were looking for a turtle.” He provided the answers they already knew.
“I suspect that more may venture to the forest to hunt for food if they become more desperate because of the blockade.”
Tempest sucked in a breath. “In that case, I will make certain the girls remain close to the hut. I would hate for them to be playing in the forest and get shot.”
“If soldiers come close to where the girls have been, because I assume they do not go beyond the stream, then they will be close enough to discover the hut.”
Her stomach tightened with worry. “Maybe there is a better place to hide further down the beach instead of running into the forest where there would likely be more soldiers.”
“It would be a reasonable suggestion, but I have walked the shoreline. I did so after I arrived to scout the area, and there is no place suitable.”
“Then I suppose we just hope for the best.”
But she would warn her sisters not to stray far, and not to go beyond the stream and if they did, not to speak and be very quiet. The last thing they needed was to bring attention to themselves.
“I cannot promise that I will be able to bring back much more than before from Fort-de-France—bread, eggs, and dried meats. Those are available locally.”
“We understand and will make do.”
“I will not only be purchasing supplies,” he informed her.
Tempest turned to face him. “What else will you be doing? I hope it is not something that gets you killed.”
Rhys could not help but laugh. “Ah, so you do not mind having me around.”
She turned and continued to march ahead of him because she was beginning to like having him around very much, not that she would ever admit it to him.
“I understand that it is beneficial to have your presence as an extra security measure. I have also decided that you are not nearly as disagreeable as you were when we first met.”
“Nor do I find you as difficult.”
She whipped around and planted her fists on her hips. “I have never been difficult a day in my life.”
“Stubborn, then.”
Tempest blinked at him. Oh, she was stubborn and had been since she was a child. Rhys was not the first person to comment on that failing. “Yes, well, I do know what is best for my sisters.”
She gave a quick nod, turned away from him and stopped to look up to determine where they were in hopes that she hadn’t lost the trail from where they had come.
“Straight ahead.” Rhys pointed past her shoulder.
The hill was not so far away and she trod through the weeds, though there were few because the trees produced a good deal of shade.
“I must also show a strong sense of morality and discipline in front of my sisters and not be a poor influence, especially since these circumstances are unusual.”
“Thus, the rum,” he offered.
“Thus, the rum,” she confirmed.