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All at once it was upon them. There was no time to react. Suddenly, without warning, the world erupted. The winds turned bitter cold and relentlessly fierce. Rain exploded from the sky, pouring down in icy sheets on the gleaming decks. The seas, taking their cue from the heavens, surged wildly upward from the blasting winds, rolling the helpless ship from side to side and flooding its decks with wave after turbulent wave.
The crew worked frantically to better secure the rigging, the lines biting into their flesh from the strain. No amount of forethought could prepare a ship for a storm of this magnitude, and the men had no choice but to bend to its command.
“Bloody ’ell, Cochran, restrain the mainsail!” Jamison demanded urgently, his voice muffled by the roar of the ocean.
“I can’t,” Cochran gasped back, tightening his grip. “The wind be too severe!” He shook his head, blinded by the rain, drenched from the downpour.
Thomas Greer clung to the lines beside the top platform of the mainmast. “The main topsail is set!” he called above the roar of the wind. He had reefed as much of the sail as he could to the boom, praying that it would catch the wind well above the waves, which were already breaking over the stern deck. The close-reefed main topsail might be their only chance to catch the wind and carry them out of the storm. He tried not to look down into the surging waves and imagine himself catapulting to his death. He had never weathered a storm of this severity. Terror gripped him.
Another huge wave swept over the stern, flooding the quarterdeck. Drake caught his breath, holding the wheel more tightly. The storm had a mind of its own and battled him for control of the helm. Thus far he was in command. But neither his strength nor his ship could hold out forever.
A huge crash resounded from the ship’s hold.
“Damn it, Smitty, the cargo!” Drake yelled above the uproar. “Wasn’t it secured?”
“It was, Captain!” Smitty called back from the main deck, having just assisted with the forward rigging. “But the ship is pitching too badly to keep it steady!”
“Well, send someone down to secure it again!” Drake shot back, bracing his feet wide apart in preparation for the sea’s next onslaught.
“No one is free to go, Captain. Every man is working to keep La Belle from capsizing!”
Drake shook his drenched hair back from his face. “Then you do it.”
Smitty looked stunned. “Captain, you can’t manage the helm alone!”
“Smitty, I must deliver the cargo intact! Don’t argue with me. Go!”
Smitty hesitated for a second longer, then hurried to obey. He descended to the berth deck and moved toward the steps leading to the hold.
“Smitty?” Alex called to him.
He turned. “Yes, my lady?” For the first time he actually sounded impatient with her.
Alex could see his worry. “Can I do anything to help?”
Smitty shook his head. “Just remain in your cabin, my lady. I must check the hold. The cargo might be in jeopardy.”
“But who is with Captain Barrett at the helm?” she asked in amazement.
“No one. Now excuse me, my lady. I must go.” He disappeared down the steps.
Alex did not hesitate for an instant. In three seconds she had propelled herself up to the rolling main deck.
Drake was struggling; she could see it. His strong muscles were taut and straining, outlined through his drenched shirt. The cords in his neck stood out, his hands were white from wrestling the wheel against the violently raging sea.
Alex gripped the wooden railing and made her way to the quarterdeck. “Let me help,” she gasped when she was beside him.
“What the hell are you doing up here?” Drake roared. “I told you to remain in the cabin. Damn it, Alexandria, go below!”
“No!” She was unmoved and unmoving. “You need help.” She began to choke as a wave slapped against her, forcing her to swallow a mouthful of water. But valiantly she moved to stand beside Drake, determined to stay by his side.
Her loyalty staggered him. At the same time he wanted to beat her senseless. She was so slight that one overpowering wave could drag her to her death.
Fear gripped him.
“You stubborn chit, go to your cabin!”
Alex didn’t answer. She couldn’t speak. Beyond Drake had risen the most towering, fearsome wave she had ever seen. And it was bearing down on the stern of the ship at an alarming pace, rearing its angry head. She wanted to scream, but the sound was trapped in her throat. All she could do was stare, horror registering in her eyes. And then it was too late.
