Sea Change Read Online Free

stranger.
    "Get out," she said, turning back to her patient.
    Mrs. Denham screamed, and the man raised his voice to be heard.
    "If you are the surgeon, you're coming with me."
    "Not before this baby's born."
    She heard him walk across the cabin, and felt something cold placed against her neck. She angled her head to look at the cutlass resting just below her ear. Charley knew she should be terrified, but all she felt was aggravation that this pirate was upsetting her patient.
    "I need a surgeon aboard my ship. You are coming with me."
    Mrs. Denham panted in short gasps, her eyes darting between the man over Charley's shoulder and the doctor. Charley turned around and looked up at him. The pirate's mask covered his upper face, but she caught a glint of amber through the eyeholes, and saw a firm mouth set in a grim line.
    "A dead surgeon is no good to you either, pirate. You are upsetting my patient. Get out. And take your sword with you."
    "That's 'Captain Pirate' to you, leech," but the sword was taken away.
    Elizabeth Denham took that moment to lean over and vomit, missing the bowl next to the bunk. A rush of blood-tinged fluid came out from between her legs.
    Charley glanced back again and saw the pirate's jaw pale before he turned and fumbled for the latch.
    "I'll be back, Doctor!"
    She ignored him and turned to Elizabeth.
    "Good work, Mrs. Denham. The baby's crowning!"
    After that, things happened quickly. The baby's head emerged into Charley's hands and the body rotated for the shoulders to slip through on the next contraction, and in moments Charley had hold of a slippery, squirming son for Captain and Mrs. Denham.
    The baby's lusty cries brought a sound of joy from his crying mother.
    "My baby!" she cried, and laughed through cracked lips, and cried some more. "Give me my baby!"
    "In a moment, Mama. We are not quite finished here yet."
    Charley cut the cord and cradled the child, holding him up in the lamplight to give him a quick examination. All the necessary parts seemed to be there, so she offered up a silent prayer of relief and thanks, wiped him with a soft cloth and wrapped him in an even softer blanket, then laid him on his mother's belly to stay warm.
    "Now for the afterbirth, and then you can rest."
    Charley was washing her hands and smiling at Mrs. Denham as she held her new son to her breast, cooing down at him, when the cabin door slammed open and Captain Denham was shoved into the cabin, followed by the pirate.
    "Elizabeth!"
    "We have a son, Ronald," his sweet wife beamed at him, "Oh look, is he not beautiful?"
    Like most newborns he was red and wrinkled and squished looking, but to Charley's eyes he also appeared beautiful, for she had helped bring him safely into the world.
    "This is all very touching," the pirate said, "but I have waited long enough. Captain, your strongbox, quickly now, before harm comes to these innocents."
    He motioned a pair of his crewmen into the cabin. They took Captain Denham's money and papers while the captain and Charley stood guard in front of the bunk, keeping Mrs. Denham and the baby safe. It was a gallant gesture, even though they each knew they could not stand against armed pirates.
    "And now for our final business. Come with me, Doctor!"
    Charley took a step back from the pirate, who was standing holding a pistol loosely at his side, but he stood between her and the door.
    "You cannot take Dr. Alcott prisoner, I will not stand for it!" Captain Denham said.
    "Really?" the pirate drawled, and cocking his head to the side, looked down at the baby Mrs. Denham clutched to her chest.
    "You would not harm a baby!" Charley said in outrage.
    "You are correct, Dr. Alcott, I would not harm a baby." The pirate looked at her, his eyes intent behind his mask. He was tall and loomed over her as he smiled coldly and said, "That child can, however, grow up without a father. You choose, Doctor. Now. Either you come with me, or I will shoot the good captain here."
    "Ronald!" Elizabeth