Read Online Caution to the Wind by Mary Jean Adams - Free Book Online
Authors: Mary Jean Adams
Ads: Link
join the fight when war broke out at last. With Bull’s rough edges and his disregard for authority, he made a natural privateersman, especially under Will’s command. He had great respect for Bull’s experience and trusted the grizzled old veteran without question. On the rare occasion when Bull argued with him, Will listened. Bull respected his captain too, and if he saw fit to resist an order, he usually had good reason.
Although Will trusted Bull’s counsel, he trusted his own instincts more. He watched Adam go about his duties. The boy juggled three of the nine-pound balls while his brother yelled at him to keep up.
Had he been wrong this time?
After more than two weeks of hard work, Adam still looked like he might snap in a stiff wind. Struggling with his load, fear showed in the boy’s wide eyes and colorless lips.
As if sensing Will’s gaze on him, the boy looked up. He gave Will a look that was clearly apologetic, then tightened his grip on his load.
Sighing, Will focused his attention on the rest of the preparations. With the Amanda bearing down on a much larger vessel with vastly superior armament, he couldn’t allow himself to be absorbed in concern for one ship’s boy.
“I don’t think we’ve woken her up yet, men,” he bellowed. “Prepare to give her another round.”
“Fire!” The boom of his voice was echoed a moment later by a chorus of cannons.
A momentary chaos descended on the Amanda when shot from one of the merchantman’s guns struck a railing. Wood splinters rained down on the crew, a man screamed, and Buck and Bull shouted orders above it all.
Once the smoke cleared, Will assessed the damage. Minimal, he thought with relief. A railing could be replaced. Masts and men and guns were not so easy.
One man lay on the deck, his face chalky. A large piece of wood pierced his thigh. He struggled to get up while another sailor held him down.
Another good sign, Will concluded. He had seen men have an arm blown off and still want to fight. This man had heart. Will hoped the sailor’s wounds weren’t serious, and he would be able to rejoin them in the next fight. However, for now, he was in the way.
“Take him below!” he ordered.
****
Amanda stared at the jagged wood protruding from the sailor’s thigh. A red stain seeped through his canvas trousers.
With the captain’s order given, Bates, the sailor who had been holding the man down, grabbed him under the arms and motioned with a sharp nod for Amanda to take his feet. With a grunt and an effort not to stare at the red ooze seeping around the wood, she grabbed both legs and struggled to carry the wounded man toward the steps. A couple of times, she had to readjust her grasp, and the sailor groaned in pain.
Going first down the ladder, Amanda bore the brunt of the man’s weight. Her legs burned and her back ached. His blood, hot and sticky, trickled down his leg and seeped into her sleeve. When she somehow managed to descend the few steps and gain a solid footing on the planks below, she offered a quick but silent prayer of thanks.
“First patient, Doctor!” Bates called.
They carried the man into the erstwhile dining hall.
“Set him there,” the doctor said, looking up from a tray of instruments.
The sailor grunted when they laid him on the nearest table. His lips paled when Bates and the doctor adjusted his position, and Amanda winced along with him.
“You’re going to be just fine,” she whispered in his ear, setting her hand on his shoulder to calm him.
The man looked at her with some surprise before saying, “Thank ye, kindly.” He sighed and his shoulder relaxed beneath her fingers.
Bates gave her a nod of thanks and retreated to the main deck. Amanda watched him go, her hand still resting on the wounded man. Perhaps she would stay just a few minutes to comfort him while the doctor saw to his wounds. Then she would return to her station no matter how much she dreaded it.
She searched for something
Although Will trusted Bull’s counsel, he trusted his own instincts more. He watched Adam go about his duties. The boy juggled three of the nine-pound balls while his brother yelled at him to keep up.
Had he been wrong this time?
After more than two weeks of hard work, Adam still looked like he might snap in a stiff wind. Struggling with his load, fear showed in the boy’s wide eyes and colorless lips.
As if sensing Will’s gaze on him, the boy looked up. He gave Will a look that was clearly apologetic, then tightened his grip on his load.
Sighing, Will focused his attention on the rest of the preparations. With the Amanda bearing down on a much larger vessel with vastly superior armament, he couldn’t allow himself to be absorbed in concern for one ship’s boy.
“I don’t think we’ve woken her up yet, men,” he bellowed. “Prepare to give her another round.”
“Fire!” The boom of his voice was echoed a moment later by a chorus of cannons.
A momentary chaos descended on the Amanda when shot from one of the merchantman’s guns struck a railing. Wood splinters rained down on the crew, a man screamed, and Buck and Bull shouted orders above it all.
Once the smoke cleared, Will assessed the damage. Minimal, he thought with relief. A railing could be replaced. Masts and men and guns were not so easy.
One man lay on the deck, his face chalky. A large piece of wood pierced his thigh. He struggled to get up while another sailor held him down.
Another good sign, Will concluded. He had seen men have an arm blown off and still want to fight. This man had heart. Will hoped the sailor’s wounds weren’t serious, and he would be able to rejoin them in the next fight. However, for now, he was in the way.
“Take him below!” he ordered.
****
Amanda stared at the jagged wood protruding from the sailor’s thigh. A red stain seeped through his canvas trousers.
With the captain’s order given, Bates, the sailor who had been holding the man down, grabbed him under the arms and motioned with a sharp nod for Amanda to take his feet. With a grunt and an effort not to stare at the red ooze seeping around the wood, she grabbed both legs and struggled to carry the wounded man toward the steps. A couple of times, she had to readjust her grasp, and the sailor groaned in pain.
Going first down the ladder, Amanda bore the brunt of the man’s weight. Her legs burned and her back ached. His blood, hot and sticky, trickled down his leg and seeped into her sleeve. When she somehow managed to descend the few steps and gain a solid footing on the planks below, she offered a quick but silent prayer of thanks.
“First patient, Doctor!” Bates called.
They carried the man into the erstwhile dining hall.
“Set him there,” the doctor said, looking up from a tray of instruments.
The sailor grunted when they laid him on the nearest table. His lips paled when Bates and the doctor adjusted his position, and Amanda winced along with him.
“You’re going to be just fine,” she whispered in his ear, setting her hand on his shoulder to calm him.
The man looked at her with some surprise before saying, “Thank ye, kindly.” He sighed and his shoulder relaxed beneath her fingers.
Bates gave her a nod of thanks and retreated to the main deck. Amanda watched him go, her hand still resting on the wounded man. Perhaps she would stay just a few minutes to comfort him while the doctor saw to his wounds. Then she would return to her station no matter how much she dreaded it.
She searched for something
Similar Books
