Savage Autumn Read Online Free Page A

with delight. “Howard tells me that accidents happen all the time at sea. One could be lost at sea, never to be heard of again. Didn’t that very thing happen to your pa?”
    Joanna looked from one to the other, wondering what kind of monsters they were. “Do you think that I would just sit idly by while you threaten my brother?” Joanna asked, as her eyes blazed dangerously. “I will go to the authorities and tell them what you are planning to do.”
    Her uncle threw his head back and laughed. “I don’t think you will, missy. You see, you and Taggart will be locked in your rooms until such time as he sails next week. Should you try anything so foolhardy, you will never see your brother again.”
    Joanna felt as though an icy hand had touched her heart. She was trapped, and her uncle knew it.
    Tag ran to Joanna and she placed a protective arm about him, but her uncle grabbed him by the shoulders and lifted him up as if he weighed nothing.
    “Put him down!” Joanna demanded through clenched teeth. “If you harm Tag, I will see that you pay.”
    “My, my, she does have a temper,” her aunt said through fits of laughter.
    “You will see how I can fight when my brother’s life is at stake. I will see you both damned to hell!” she cried.
    Her uncle released his hold on Tag, then turned to strike Joanna a stunning blow that knocked her back against the settee.
    Tag went flying at Howard, pounding him with his fists. His uncle picked him up once more and carried him toward the stairs. “From now until the day he takes ship, your brother will be locked in his room, Joanna, as will you.”
    Joanna wiped the blood from her cut lip and watched helplessly as Howard Landon took Tag away. For now she could do nothing. But her uncle and aunt had made one fatal mistake. They had threatened her with the life of her brother. She would fight like a tigress defending her young. If she was to save Tag and herself she must pretend to be beaten, but she wasn’t; she would find a way to save them both, she vowed.

Chapter Two
    Joanna felt as if she were living in a nightmare. Three days had passed since she and Tag had been locked in their bedrooms. There was no one she could turn to for help. Franny came to her room three times a day to bring food, but she was always accompanied by Joanna’s uncle, who was watchful, giving her no chance to speak with Franny alone. If Joanna was going to save Tag she would have to come up with something soon, because time was running out. She paced the room trying to think of a plan.
    Suddenly there was the sound of a key grating in the lock, and Franny came in, flanked by Uncle Howard. Franny’s eyes were bright as she placed the tray of food on the bedside table.
    “Miss Joanna, if you will just set the tray by the door when you are finished eating,” Franny said, winking at Joanna.
    “Of course,” Joanna agreed, wondering why Franny was acting nervous and fidgety.
    “You can go now, Franny,” Joanna’s uncle said, dismissing her with a curt nod.
    Franny sniffed haughtily and raised her head, sailing out of the room.
    “Look at me, Joanna!” her uncle commanded.
    She raised her violet-colored eyes and he could read the defiance in their bright depths.
    “You haven’t fooled me. I know you aren’t one to sit idly by doing nothing. If I know you, you are at this moment hatching up some scheme, thinking you can thwart me. You are probably thinking that something will happen at the last minute to save you. Let me assure you, that will not happen. I can handle you, little girl.”
    Joanna’s red-gold hair swirled about her as she raised her chin proudly. “You have a very high opinion of yourself.”
    He smiled and took her hand while he arched his eyebrow, daring her to pull away from him.
    “I would do anything to possess you, Joanna,” he said in a silky-smooth voice.
    “I would rather die than have you touch me,” she said, jerking her hand free.
    He seemed unconcerned by her