As the sheriff helped Perry back into the carriage he assured her he would round up ten men and be at Molly's side within the hour.

Turning her brightest smile toward him, she asked one last favor. "I would greatly appreciate it if you would keep a close eye on Molly. Should she need anything, please contact Hunter Kirkland's house."

Surprise showed on the sheriff's face. "She's a friend of Mr. Kirkland?"

Perry didn't miss the respect in his tone when he said Hunter's name. She decided a lie might provide added protection for Molly. "Yes, she's very dear to him, and he would be very upset should something happen to her. I'll tell him you will see to it nothing does."

"Thank you, miss." The sheriff beamed. "You tell Mr. Kirkland I'll watch after her as if she were my own mother.''

The sheriff hurried to do his job as Perry waved the driver on. They moved through the streets toward the dock. A tear slowly drifted down her cheek as she thought of Molly. She would miss the dear old woman. Quietly she mumbled the last words the sheriff had said. "… as if she were my own mother.''

A few minutes later Perry stepped from the carriage. After paying the driver she moved along the docks in search of the West Wind. Even in the moonlight she recognized the familiar lines and walked the plank to board. She hadn't known' Hunter owned this ship when she'd last sailed.

A guard moved in her path as she stepped onto the ship. "May I be of some service, miss?" he asked politely.

"Yes, you sail in the morning, right?" Perry asked, keeping her hood low. It would be better if no one knew who she was, though she doubted any of the crew would remember her from months ago. On that first voyage she'd stayed to herself and had never even spoken to the captain except for a few words the last day.

"Yes, miss," the guard stated without moving from his post.

"I wish to come aboard early. I hate getting up at dawn. I'm-I'm," Perry said, about to lie for the second time in an hour, "I'm Mr. Kirkland's cousin, and he invited me to sail with him." Seeing the guard's confusion, she added. "Please show me to my room. I'm catching a chill."

The guard shuffled his feet as if forgetting his manners. "Yes, miss, please come this way. I'm sorry, miss. We weren't expecting any passengers 'cept Mr. Kirkland this trip."

Within a few minutes Perry was settled into one of the tiny staterooms. She undressed and crawled into bed. The room was the same one she had had so many months ago, when she had sailed home and away from Hunter for what she thought would be forever. The room had been drab and sad, as was her heart. Now the room seemed cozy and welcoming. With covers tucked tightly around her, she drifted between worrying about Molly and thinking of her future. In a few days she would be back at Three Oaks with Andrew. When this business with Wade ended, she would return to Molly.

"If it ever ends," she whispered into the darkness. For she knew the only way would be when either she or Wade was dead. She touched her gun beneath her pillow and fell asleep.

Chapter 29

The thunder of a fierce pounding echoed across the tiny cabin, awakening Perry. For a moment confusion clouded her mind as she focused on her unfamiliar surroundings. Slowly the cabin took form with a rhythmic rocking, telling her the ship must already be sailing.

Jumping from the bed, Perry pulled her cape on. She hadn't had space to pack a wrapper; however, the cape served her needs well. She closed her fingers around the small gun in her pocket and moved cautiously to the door. The fear that Wade had somehow found her suffocated all other thought.

Throwing the latch, she stepped back and lifted the gun in greeting.

An instant later the door flew wide open as two men burst into the room. Both froze in mid-stride as they saw the little lady standing before them with a derringer pointed at their heads.

Perry breathed a sigh of relief as she recognized Hunter and the ship's captain.

Hunter straightened as his eyes registered the beauty before him. She stood, draped in dark blue, her wonderful hair flowing to her waist. Her eyes were huge with fire and fear. For a moment he could think of nothing to say. There was nothing in the world that mattered but her standing before him.

The captain raised his hand as though his fingers might ward off a bullet. "I'm sorry, miss. I'm not meaning to do you harm. You can put the weapon down." For years he'd thought there was no more deadly animal than a woman with a gun.

Perry held the weapon steady. "Is this your usual way of awakening a guest who sails with you?" A smile touched the corner of her mouth.

"No, miss." The old captain shuffled in embarrassment. "We heard you were Hunter's cousin. We thought you were his Cousin Wade. The guard who saw you come aboard is asleep. He left only a message saying that Hunter's cousin boarded last night." The captain fumbled with his hands as though they had suddenly doubled in size and would no longer fit in his pockets.

"That'll be all, Cap," Hunter said. "Thanks for standing by me, but this is one cousin I can handle."

The captain turned toward the door. "I'll tell the cook there will be one more for breakfast." He vanished.

It took Hunter another moment to recover fully from the shock of Perry's presence. He casually folded his arms across his broad chest. From the smile on his face she never would have guessed how much sleep he'd lost because of her. Twice during the night he'd decided not to sail, but to stay close to her. But at dawn, duty prevailed. Though he was needed in North Carolina, he'd dreaded the few weeks away from Perry as a man dreads a jail term. Now she stood before him, even more beautiful than he'd remembered. Her hair, tousled from sleep, stirred his desire to hold her.

"Perry." He wondered once more how she had the power to make him tongue-tied. "I didn't mean to frighten you. I never expected to see you here. I'm glad you changed your mind and decided to sail with me."

"I didn't really change my mind. I was forced to leave, thanks to Wade," she answered sharply, seeing the hint of fire in his gray eyes. "I hope I can rely upon your word as a gentleman."

"I don't give my word lightly and I will not break it lightly. You may put your gun away." He purposefully stepped toward her as he spoke. "Have you seen Wade?" he questioned. "I was told he left town."

"You were misinformed." Perry's voice broke into soft sobs, tearing at Hunter's heart. He moved closer but dared not touch the angel before him."

In a low caring tone he whispered, "I've a shoulder to cry on, but you'll have to come to me."

She glanced up with wide, tear-filled eyes and saw only sympathy in his face. She closed the space between them as he lifted his arms in welcome.

Cradling her face into his chest, she let her tears flow unchecked. She cried for her lost home at Ravenwood, and Three Oaks, and now Molly. She felt afloat in a raging stream, with no direction to her life. She wished she'd returned with the sheriff to Molly's to help him catch Wade so she would know that this was over. Sick of being afraid, she allowed all her pain to flow out with her tears.

Hunter held her close, drinking in the fragrance of her hair as she pressed against him like a frightened child. Never in his life had a woman so captured his very soul. He longed to take all the hurt from her, yet all he could do was vow to add no more pain to her life. Lightly he stroked her hair, mumbling inaudible words of comfort.

Finally the tears ceased and her breathing grew regular. "Thank you," she whispered. "I've never cried like this before. I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry," he answered, almost drowning in a single tear that clung to her dark lashes. "I'm here whenever you need me. I'll see that no one ever hurts or frightens you again."

He clenched his teeth. Here he was swearing his allegiances to her like all the others. He didn't want to be her guardian. He wanted to be her lover, but her only touch was to push him away from her softly. He could see it in her eyes; she was not a child looking for protection. She was a woman with her own mind. He'd said the wrong thing again.

For an instant he resisted her leaving his arms. But he'd given his word and he wouldn't break it. Once he chose his course, Hunter stepped away quickly, trying to hide his disappointment. "I'll wait for you down the hall," he said.

With one swift movement Hunter vanished, leaving Perry brooding. She was sorry for having let him see her cry. Though he held her gently, he'd escaped at his first chance. "He probably thinks I'm a weak-kneed female," she mumbled as she dressed, deciding his obvious hurry to leave was a clear indication of his dislike for a whimpering women. "I'll not let him see such a display again," she swore as she opened her door and stepped into the small passageway.

The morning was spent in pleasant conversation as they watched the banks of the Delaware River drift by. Perry and Hunter were the only passengers aboard the small craft, manned by a crew of four. Hunter and the cook added a hand when needed.

He made no apology for his casual dress, and in truth Perry enjoyed watching him. Without a coat she could see his wide shoulders and the outline of his muscles as he moved. He was a far cry from the thin soldier she'd nursed months ago. His attire was much like the other men's aboard, white open-collared shirt and dark trousers, except his boots were highly polished black knee boots. He took to the rock of the ship like a seasoned sailor. Perry soon realized he was in command, with the captain gladly serving as first mate. As she watched the wind blowing his blond hair and pulling at his shirt, she thought he'd make a dashing picture of a pirate.