Two months had passed since the nights they had spent aboard the Blue Rose, and Lissa and Rafeal were out on a ride.

It was the perfect night for a moonlight ride, and Lissa was riding out one of her fathers fillies and Rafeal was on another young horse belonging to Jamie.

"This is probably the last time we will get to ride like this." Rafeal said shivering slightly it was getting cold.

"Why do you say that?" she asked looking at him.

"Because soon it will be too cold to ride out at night, aren't you cold?"

"A little," she said smiling, "Oh Rafeal I love you so much and no matter . . . "

"We will be together, I love you too Lissa," he said smiling. His father and he had such an arguement a week ago, he wanted to stay here in Amberly and let his father leave on high tide which would be any time from tonight to to next week.

He had asked her to marry him as they had watched the sunset, they planned to join Delilah in her ceremony as both Julius and Delilah wished. Even though Lissa had told him she wished they could be married on the ship where they had shared their love for the first time.

There were a lot of horses at the inn when they reached it.

"It's a Sunday night wonder what is going on?" Lissa said.

"I don't know, whould you mind putting up the horses, maybe David will help you," Rafeal said frowning, something about this wasn't right.

"Sure I need to saddle Satin and get home soon or father will be worried, if he is not in there," Lissa said as they dismounted outside the inn's stable.

Rafeal slipped up to the window and peered into the public room, there were six or seven redcoated soldiers, Captian Ferrin, General Harding, Jamie Warwick and Lewis were talking to them.

"Look there has to be some kind of mistake, I have known George Owens a long time he is no pirate," Jamie said angrily.

Rafeal went up the back way and found a note in his room, his saddle bags were packed, he grabbed them, and hurried to where Lissa was saddling Satin.

Do you want to go with me Lissa," Rafeal asked, "I have to leave on the Rose now,"

"Rafeal what has happened." Lissa said.

"No time," Rafeal said, "You have to make a decision."

David waited a moment after they rode off and then ran to where Mr. Warwick was looking for something on the back bar.

"Mr. Warwick come with me quickly," David cried softly.

Jamie glanced at Ferrin and Lewis who where standing numbly as the General was yelling about Spanish Ice. Seth had came in.

He went to the kitchen with David.

"What is it," Jamie asked the boy knowing David was a really well behaved boy.

"Miss Lissa and Mr. Rafie left on horses to go to the ship," David said wide eyed.

Jamie ran out and jumped on his mare and tore after them he could still see their dust.

"They are getting away, mount up men!" General Harding laughed.

"Warwick stalled us," one of the men yelled.

"No," Seth said, but no one paid him any mind, except Lewis.

"Who was that?" Lewis asked.

"Some young people. They are always racing," Seth said, he had not recognized them.

"Rafeal and Lissa, Mr. Warwick went after them," David said, and Lewis looked at Seth.

"Let's go those stupid soldiers are apt to shoot Jamie or the kids," Seth said.

"They would have to catch them first, the fastest horses in the area," Lewis said but he followed Seth. He hoped that Ferrin would misguide them. Harding was a fool.

On through the night they ran the moon full in the sky, Jamie thought he would never catch them, even though his mare was fast, Satin was faster then his grandsire.

The boat was casting off as they reached the beach.

"The horses," Rafeal called, hearing the trumpet of the regiment.

"No time come aboard and hurry," George called.

"Lissa," Rafeal cried.

"We can't just . . . " Lissa said thinking for the first time since the race to the river's headway.

"Lissa do you love me, come with me, we will marry on the ship," Rafeal called.

She looked into his eyes, and said in a soft breathless voice, "Yes I do."

"Come on they are getting closer I can hear a horse coming," George called, as the last rope was cut.

Lissa took a deep breath and followed him, and said, "Go home Satin!"

She ran up the scaffolding and jumped on board moments before the wave carried the ship into deeper water.

"It will be alright I promise," Rafeal said.

She looked back at the horse she loved more then any she had ever had, and was shocked to see her father, he was grabbing one of the ropes.

"Lissa!" Jamie called, this was a night mare, a friend was a pirate and they were taking his daughter.

"Father," Lissa cried.

"What the Hell." Lewis said looking at Seth who had known a short cut that Jamie and the young people took that the General and his men would not find if Ferrin had his way.

Both their horses were done in, and Satin and the other horses took off hearing the bugal and the yells of the shipboard people.

"Jamie you are my friend but you can't stop me," George yelled.

"I don't want to just stop this ship and land Lissa," Jamie shouted.

"I can't do that," George said, now the ship was under full sail and heading out to sea.

"Seth what do we do," Lewis said.

"Quick pull down that scaffolding and burn it and lets get out of here," Seth said.

Lewis helped him, then they rode off as fast as their exhausted horses would take them, but Seth realized they couldn't get far and the horses needed to rest, so they hid in some bushes to watch..

Meanwhile on the Blue Rose George and Jamie were fighting with their fists.

"Stop it," Lissa and Rafeal shouted at their fathers.

The soldiers arrived in time to see the fire, and no sign of the ship. Or any horses.

"I don't see any pirates," someone grumbled.

Seth and Lewis talked about what had to be done with the General, he was insane, he was planning on attacking the natives. After they had stopped harrassing the farmers. Because of some small skuffle between them and a squatter.

The soldiers were making so much noice Lewis and Seth could have talked outloud and not have been heard but they fell silent and waited.

Lewis could not believe this, first he has a close brush with the brother of his former lover from England, General Harding, George was a pirate named Spanish Ice. Now Ferrin told him and Seth the man was about to cause a war. Jamie Warwick was gone on a ship to parts unknown with dangerous pirates who had taken his daughter. He was too old for this, and he had stained his favourite trousers on making a fire. Not to mention Seth Martin Amberly's law was covering up for pirates. What else could happen?

With Ferrin and Neils helping them it was sure to work but it would take time, Lewis wished Jamie was here.

"I tried to tell you it was just young people, the horse racers, we scared them off," Ferrin told his commander. The man looked back at the fire and sighed there were a lot of horse prints in then where did the horse go. Ferrin was right again and he had been made a fool before his men.

"Mount up," Harding bawled.

Seth went to tell Octavia what happened, while Lewis went home to bed and to mull over the plan Seth had to get the General out of their hair.

"Octavia, I am sorry to bother you but with Jamie gone, and George gone, I need help I am going to hire Todd and another young man, I think they could both benefit from the work experience."

"Of course do what ever you wish, I have all I can do to keep the ranch going with Annabelle and Monique's help, Delilah is not much help at all," Octavia sighed, she was so grateful to Lewis and Jack, not to mention Roscoe and his family for keeping the inn clean and caring for the horses.

"Well maybe I could send a couple of my men over, they know more about ranching then I will ever know, I will let Justin pick them out," Lewis said.

Octavia wondered what was going on with Lewis when Jamie was gone for those three years he had not lifted a finger to help her.

"I will send Delilah into town with the supply list from now on, it's not fair leaving her sisters with two toddlers and an infant. Deliah can ride in with this," Octavia said rolling her eyes. She had about had it with her dear daughter.

Lewis smiled and said, "You need to take her in hand, everyone thinks Lissa is the wild one she is a good girl though, it is Delilah who needs taken in a bit."

"I know every since her father is gone, she is almost living in Rivers Edge, and spends more time with her fiance' then her family, if Lissa or Jamie were here she would not do so. I am about to lock up all the bridles to keep her home." Octavia said.

"Perhaps she needs more chores," Lewis said smiling, "I think Justin turned out so well because of Jamie, and I am just trying to think of all the tips he gave me with him."

Octavia smiled, he had not once given her a look or flirted, maybe he was changing.

It was about two weeks later when Delilah came to town with her mothers order, she was so upset, her mother had not allowed her out of the house since she came home from the last dance.

She almost got ran over by Captian Ferrin, then by Lewis.

"William it is not what you think," Lewis said running after the captain.

"I have to go home to my wife," William said angrily, "She wonders why we spend so much time together I wonder too!"

"Calm down and lower your voice," Lewis said calmly.

"You had your arm around that boy," William said frowning.

"He is upset he lost his mother last month," Lewis said glancing around, "It is not what you think, Philip is my son with Angelique Devereaux, I am responsable for him."

William looked at him and sighed. Not sure if he wished to believe Lewis or not.

"Well, I guess I better go home, my wife," Ferrin sighed.

Lewis smiled, and turned looking at his sons talking to Delilah Warwick, "All right see you later William, my son wants that girl so bad he can taste it . . . but she is so out of his class."

"Just so his father doesn't get any ideas," Ferrin snorted.

"Oh no, she even outclasses me," Lewis laughed.

"Hi Todd, what is going on with your father and captain Ferrin?" Delilah asked, glancing at the young man behind the bar. He was very handsome.

"Who knows, sometimes father acts downright silly around Captain Ferrin, this is Philip Devereaux, he and I are learning how to run the pub," Todd said shrugging.

"Hello Phillip, I am Delilah Warwick, daughter of the owner," Delilah said, thinking if she was not engaged she wouldn't mind him on her arm at the dance coming up this weekend at Swensen Hall.

"Delighted to meet you," Phillip said.

"Very nice to meet you, say Todd, make sure Philip gets an invite to the Swensens ball." Delilah said.

"I will try my best," Todd said glancing at Philip.

"Is she seeing anyone," Philip said thinking she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

"She is engaged to Julius Orphington," Todd sighed.

"Are there any more around like her?" Philip asked.

"Not really, look she totally outclasses you and me too unfortunately, she is royal trouble so watch yourself around her," Todd adviced.

"But she is so beautiful . . ." Philip sighed.

"She is and I love her, but I guess I learned my lesson, I guess bugs think pitcher plants are pretty too," Todd said, "some day you will meet the right girl."

Besides being beaten up by Georges men, before George could stop it, Jamie was sick as he had been when he had first traveled on the ship to the new world, which was now called New England. Jamie thought he would never recover, he also felt like his ribs were shattered, it hurt to breath and worse it hurt to vomit after he ate. As a result he got weaker and weaker.

George felt so bad about his friend, but the ship had no surgeon, and Lissa refused to allow the man he had that knew a bit about medicine to touch her father with the leeches.

Lissa donned a pair of Rafeals breeches and an old shirt and worked on the ship, like her mother she was a natural at sailing, but she inherited the trait from her French grandfather who was a wonderful sailor.

Then she too fell sick after a month at sea, but by afternoon she would feel better and return to helping Rafeal.

Rafeal noticed she had put on weight and had quit wearing trousers. Neither of them thought that perhaps she was pregnant.

They had been at sea for what seemed like a long time, when they were attacked, George ordered Lissa below deck, it was another pirate ship, this one French. Even though George flew the Spanish flag which was supposed to give him nuetrality the French pirates didn't care.

Lissa huddled in the chamber with her father who was very weak from his sickness. She was really scared he would die, they might all die. Why had she came, she should have jumped off the ship, she and her father were good swimmers they could have reached shore.

Rafeal could see the battle was going bad, some of the men had been killed others were fleeing. He knew he had to set off the cannon, but it was dangerous, he did so, and then came to get Lissa and Jamie.

"We are off the coast of Spain, if we can get your father . . ." Rafeal started.

"What is that?" Jamie said weakly from his bed.

"I got to go fire the cannon, these moron my father hired don't know anything," Rafeal said.

As soon as he was gone Lissa tried to help her father to his feet.

A man came in saying something in French, Lissa looked at the swords on the wall.

The man lunged at Lissa and knocked Jamie down, probably understanding he was weak.

Lissa fought him off as he tried to rip her clothing. As she tried to get to the swords.

Rafeal ran into the room and the two started to fight, the man was powerful.

Rafeal tried his best to fend off the more experienced swordsman.

Lissa was never more terrified in her life.

The intruder stabbed him and he went down, Lissa screamed but she grabbed a sword and went for the man, and drove her sword into his body.

Rafeal grunted as the man fell on him.

Before she could see if Rafeal was alright one of Rafeal's friends arrived. She at first thought it was another attacker. But it was Miguel.

"British boarding the other ship, and the captain is dead," Migualsaid.

"Take Lissa with you . . ." Rafeal said.

"No I won't leave you and father," Lissa screamed, waving her sword.

"Just go then Miguel, take that dead guy out and lock the door from the outside," Rafeal said, after Miguel helped him and Jamie back into bed.

"Lissa please calm down." Rafeal said, thinking this all hinged on her, neither he or Jamie were in any shape to talk that much and he fought the black tide of unconscienceness.

"Oh Rafeal," Lissa sobbed, there was so much blood, and her father was moaning softly.

"Listen Lissa," Rafeal said, "Please listen and do as I say."

"What happened?" Jamie moaned.

"It's all right father, please listen to Rafeal," Lissa was so afraid she would loose them both, Rafeal had lost his father, and now they were locked in this cabin. All she could do was pray and listen to Rafeal's plan.

Jamie was rambling something about his father being a Duke, and Rafeal nodded, this would work.