Petals on the River by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss Page B

pounds.   He wants to know what
    you'll take for her."
     
    Brushing back his frock coat from his ponderous belly, Captain Fitch
    hooked his thumbs in the pockets of his waistcoat and rocked back on his
    heels as he smirked at the tall stranger.   "I fear you haven't nearly
    enough coins in your possession to buy the wench, sir.   She's already
    spoken for."
     
    Shemaine caught her breath in surprise and quickly closed the distance
    between them.   "By whom, sir?"
     
    Peering obliquely past the large prow of his nose, Everette Fitch lifted
    dark, wispy brows as he regarded the maiden.   His sly smile lit his gray
    eyes with a glowing ardor that was unmistakable, bringing an outraged
    blush to Shemaine's cheeks as the realization dawned.   Somehow the
    captain had contrived to have her for his own, even if he had to hide
    her beneath the very nose of his wife.
     
    "Sir, I beg you!" Shemaine came threateningly close to tears as she
    considered the repulsive prospect.   Becoming this man's plaything would
    be more horrible than anything she had yet imagined.   "Please, Captain
    Fitch, I don't wish to arouse your wife's ire more than it has been."
     
    Indeed, a flogging would scarcely appease the woman's desire for
    retribution if she ever learned of her husband's intentions.   "Let Mr.
    Thornton buy me.   He's a widower, sir, and has a youngling that needs
    tending."
     
    Recognizing the heavily weighted footfalls of his wife as she approached
    from behind, Everette stiffened and clasped his hands behind his back in
    perturbation.   Throughout the voyage Gertrude had made it her business
    to dispatch her broad shape swiftly to his side whenever she sensed some
    monetary matter was being discussed.   She was a needling, meddling,
    critical old jade, and he was anxious to experience a maid far more
    youthful, delectable and sweet.
     
    "Everette, you're needed on the bridge to sign papers of indenture,"
    Gertrude stated, snubbing her nose at James Harper.
     
    "I'll be along in a moment, dearest," Everette said, trying to urge her
    back to the area of the ship from whence she had come.   "Just as soon as
    I tend to the business here at hand."
     
    Gage grasped the situation immediately and, after purposefully doubling
    the amount of coins in his purse to draw the woman's attention, spoke to
    her discreetly.   "I was told the maid, Shemaine O'Hearn, cannot be
    purchased for any amount of coin that I have in my possession.   Perhaps,
    madam, you'd care to count them for yourself."
     
    Gertrude peered askance at the tall man as he pressed the purse into her
    hand.   Then she cast a suspicious glare toward her husband as she judged
    the weight of the moneybag.   She promptly made a more accurate
    accounting of the amount it contained.
     
    Shemaine quaked in fearful apprehension.   She was certain that if
    Gertrude Fitch suspected how desperately she wanted to be sold to Gage
    Thornton, the possibility would be promptly nullified.
     
    Gertrude came to her own conclusions and, upon returning the coins to
    the bag, jerked the rawhide strings closed with a finality that doomed
    her husband's scheme.   As much as she had yearned to see Shemaine dead
    and buried, she could not lightly dismiss a generous sum such as this.
    "Sign her papers, Everette," she instructed officiously.   "We'll not
    likely gain a sum greater than forty pounds from another buyer."
     
    Captain Fitch opened his mouth to protest but paused as he met the
    colonial's sardonic stare.   He suddenly realized that if he wanted to
    continue commanding a ship, he had no choice but to sign the girl's
    papers of indenture and give her to the man.   He handed the document
    over with a grumbling complaint.   "I don't know what I'll tell the other
    gentleman when he comes to fetch the wench."
     
    "I'm sure you'll think of something," Gage responded aridly. A1lowing a
    spartan smile to touch his lips, he rolled the parchment and tucked it
    into the