AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Just tell me.”
"Mad Drake is the one who killed Wade's family, Julianne. He killed them in cold blood just to be cruel. Then the sea killed the old bastard before Docherty ever had a chance for his revenge. That’s why this is so important to him."
His family.
Madeleine.
Julianne had seen her name written on books, she had seen Wade scribble it in his journal. She knew he had a wife before, but she had been taken? And his children? His entire family?
No wonder the quest was so important.
"His family," she repeated, quietly, not quite accepting the words.
Nelson placed a hand on Julianne's shoulder.
"This is his quest, Julianne. This is his redemption. He needs to find Mad Drake's ship. He needs to with every ounce of his body. He needs to find the damn ship and take everything Mad Drake had because that's what Mad Drake took from Wade: everything."
So many things about Wade suddenly made sense. Though Julianne had spent most of her time aboard ship cuddling with Wade, talking with him, enjoying his company, she hadn’t learned the man’s deepest secret.
She hadn’t learned his deepest pain.
Now she suddenly had the chance to help the man she loved seek some sort of revenge on the man who had killed his darlings. Oh, it wouldn’t be the same as if Wade had been able to kill Mad Drake himself, but stealing the old dog’s treasure?
That was going to be its own reward.
"What are we waiting for?" She asked Nelson. "We have a treasure to find."
26
Julianne rushed to the deck with Nelson close behind and hurried to Wade. He glared at her, but she slipped her arm around his side and whispered, “You can do this. You’ve got this, love.”
Rain whipped at her face and soaked her hair even more, drenching her completely. Waves crashed against the side of the boat, roaring with every hit. Julianne nodded to Wade again and squeezed his hand, letting him know that she was with him, no matter where the storms brought them.
She would be by his side.
She would stand by him through thick and thin.
She would be with him on his journey.
Wade looked out over the sea, hollering orders to the crew as the ship bounced on the ocean’s surface. It was the nastiest storm Julianne had ever seen, but Wade seemed to have everything under control. At the helm, he looked fiercer than ever.
He was the Saucy Devil.
“Get below deck!” Julianne was right next to him, but he still had to yell the words. She saw his mouth moving, and then the words registered.
“Aye, aye,” she said, giving his hand one last squeeze before she turned to go down the narrow ladder. She made her way carefully down, doing her best not to slip. The deck was covered in water and the men were running around, yelling and shouting to one another.
She would go below deck and see how she could help Buck. There would inevitably be a leak or two she could help stop. At the very least, she could mop. She was good with a mop. The slick wood planks on the ship were an accident waiting to happen. No wonder so many good men got injured during storms.
Julianne had just reached the door to move below deck when she heard the song.
It was unlike anything she’d ever heard before.
It was beautiful, and sweet, and it seemed to speak directly to her heart. The song was one of happiness and pleasure. The song promised joy and loveliness, and somewhere beyond the lyrics, Julianne thought she heard Wade’s voice.
Cover your ears!
She didn’t cover her ears.
