The Pirate Daughter's Promise (Pirates & Faith)

by Molly Evangeline

  “You are his daughter.”

  “I was only seven years old when he died,” Skye reminded him.

  “And I’ve heard stories that you were almost as good a navigator as he was. Now are those stories true or were you a worthless little girl who knew nothing?”

  Skye didn’t know how to answer, but her silence told Kelley everything he wanted to know.

  Kelley leered over his table and spoke slowly, taking time with every word. “Where is the treasure?”

  A determined fire lit inside Skye and she answered simply, but boldly, “I will never tell you.”

  Kelley glared at her. “Under the circumstances, I hardly see that as a wise choice.”

  “I promised my father the day he died that I would tell no one.”

  “No one?” Kelley asked slowly.

  “Unless it is someone I love and trust completely.”

  “Have you told anyone yet?”

  “No,” Skye admitted.

  “Is there anyone you’ve thought of telling?” Kelley coaxed with a smirk.

  Skye did not answer.

  “Who is it?”

  “I don’t see it as a wise decision to tell you,” Skye answered, thinking only of Will and his safety.

  “You may think you’re wise, but the wise thing to do now would be to tell me where that treasure is,” Kelley’s voice lowered threateningly, “and save yourself a whole lot of discomfort.”

  “I will not tell you anything,” Skye declared, unmoved by the threat.

  Kelley’s eyes narrowed cruelly. “Well, I’m sure that after you get a taste of my means of persuasion, you’ll see that I’m serious.”

  “And you’ll see that I’m serious,” Skye shot back.

  “Brave comment, girl, but still not a wise one,” Kelley warned.

  Short on patience, he called the other two pirates back into the cabin. Kelley nodded and they took Skye by the arms.

  “Take ‘er back to ‘er cell,” Kelley commanded them irritably.

  Chapter Five

  Will rushed down the street as the rising sun crept over the city. The cannon blasts had sounded nearly an hour ago, but until the sun had risen, Mr. Cunnings had refused to let him leave the shop. People crowded his way as they talked noisily amongst themselves about what had happened, but he did not pause. He had only one goal on his mind.

  Finally, Will broke from the crowd and arrived in front of the orphanage. He skid to a halt and his heart nearly stopped. The orphanage door lay in pieces and several red-coated soldiers patrolled the area. Two stood guard at the entrance. Will hurried up to them, desperate to find Skye.

  “No one is allowed inside,” one of the soldiers said, hastily blocking him from entering.

  Fear tinged Will’s voice. “What happened?”

  Thinking Will was just another one of the many people who had already asked the same question, the second soldier told him, “We are not giving any information.”

  “But I—”

  “I’m sorry, sir,” the guard interrupted, "but information will be given to citizens of the city by Lieutenant Avery as soon as possible

  Will stared at the guard for a moment and then looked past him into the orphanage, hoping to catch some glimpse of Skye, to assure himself that she was safe. Finally, knowing he wouldn’t learn what he wanted from the soldiers and might wait all day watching for Skye, he headed to the fort.

  He had to find Lieutenant Avery. It was Will’s hope that the man would take time to answer his questions. Will believed he would. They had met on several occasions in the past, and Avery had always been very friendly toward him.

  When Will reached the badly-damaged fort, he spotted Avery amongst the soldiers and worked his way over to him.

  “Lieutenant Avery,” Will called.

  Avery turned to him, his face grave. Will only briefly took in the sheer damage done to the fort before asking, “What happened?”

  “I have been asked that question numerous times already today, and like I’ve told everyone, the people will be addressed as soon as possible,” Avery answered.

  “I understand that,” Will said respectfully, knowing the lieutenant must be weary. “But please, I must know what happened.”

  Avery sighed and then gave in. “As you can see, pirates attacked this morning not long before dawn and blew up most of the fort and homes around it. They didn’t loot any part of the city, but they took a girl from the orphanage.”

  “Who?” Will asked. Dread churned his stomach.

  “That girl who works there—Daniel McHenry’s daughter.”

  Heart sinking, Will cast his eyes out to sea. “Skye,” he murmured in dismay. Looking back at Avery, he said, “What is being done to rescue her?”

  Avery hesitated. “I remember now you were friends with the girl so that makes it difficult to say this, but I don’t think trying to rescue her is necessary. We don’t believe that the pirates kidnapped her, but, in fact, helped her get out of the orphanage.”

  “No, I know that is not true,” Will said with absolute certainty. “The only ones she knew before she was put in the orphanage were the men from her father’s crew and they would never have done all this damage. Not to mention, she would never do anything like this or leave without telling me first.”

  “I’m sorry, but without specific evidence of that, we cannot take the time to go after her right now,” Avery told him. "The damage to the fort must be repaired in case of another attack."

  Will shook his head. “Or maybe it is because she’s an orphan and not important enough to rescue?”

  “That’s not what I’m saying,” Avery insisted.

  But Will did not believe it. “If she were the daughter of one of the wealthy families in this city, you would be out searching for her this very minute.”

  Avery opened his mouth to speak, but said nothing for a long moment. “I truly am sorry I can’t help you,” he told Will flatly. “I would like to, but that is not my call. Right now, we must do what’s best for the city.”

  He was about to walk away, but Will stopped him.

  “Can you at least tell me anything about the pirates or the ship?” Will pled.

  Avery sighed. “From various reports, we believe that the ship is the Finder, which is captained by a pirate named Francis Kelley. That’s all I can tell you.”

  He turned to leave but Will stopped him once more.

  “You said his name is Kelley?”

  “Yes.”

  “I have heard that name before,” Will murmured to himself.

  “Not surprising. He is said to have been one of the most feared pirates around, though it has been some years since he’s done anything like this,” Avery said as he walked away.

  Will watched him go. What could he do now? No question, Skye had to be rescued. The question was, how? He turned and hurried back into the city. Only one other person he knew could help him.

  As Will pushed his way through the crowded streets once more, he suddenly came to a stop. He remembered where he had heard the name Kelley before. Skye had mentioned it. Captain Kelley was the one Skye’s father had sailed for when he was a pirate. And he was the one who had kidnapped Skye’s mother.

  But that wasn’t the worst of it. Skye had told him about her father’s hidden treasure and her promise to him. Kelley is after the treasure, Will realized. Skye would never tell him where the treasure was even if her life depended on it. Will knew this for sure, and a man like Kelley would stop at nothing to find it.

  * * *

  Skye was sitting against the wall in prayer when footsteps approached her cell again. This time it sounded like only one person and the footsteps weren’t as loud and heavy as the ones before. Skye looked up as lantern light flickered into the cabin, surprised to find the pirate was actually a woman. She had long, black hair and dark skin, an ex-slave most likely, or perhaps still one. She wore a stained white shirt, a pair of dark breeches, and a dark blue sash.

  “Captain says to en
joy this. It’ll be all ya eat ‘til ya tell ‘im where that treasure is,” the woman informed her.

  Until then, Skye had not realized the woman held a plate of food in her hands. She unlocked the cell and opened it just wide enough to hand Skye the cold, metal plate. Skye stood up and took it slowly. She walked closer to the cell bars as the woman relocked the door.

  “Tell the captain that if he starves me to death, the location of the treasure will go with me,” Skye said, wanting Kelley to know that one threat wasn’t enough to intimidate her.

  The woman seemed surprised by her bold words, and then turned to walk away. However, Skye, still curious about seeing a woman pirate, spoke before she could leave.

  “What is your name?”

  The woman paused as if debating whether or not to answer. She glanced over her shoulder. “Kate.”

  When she was gone, Skye turned her eyes to the plate of food. It couldn’t really be called a meal. A small tin cup of water balanced on the place next to a piece of hardtack and a piece of dried meat which Skye decided against eating. That was all. She nibbled on the hardtack and sipped the water. It tasted as though it had been sitting in a barrel for far too long. After that, she ate no more having no appetite.

  Skye sat again and found her thoughts turning to Will. What was going on back in Kingston? Did Will know yet that she had been kidnapped? If he did, what was he doing? She knew he would be worried sick and wondered if anyone would do anything to rescue her. The more she thought about it, the more unlikely it seemed. No one in Kingston would waste time going after an orphaned pirate’s daughter. No one but Will. Yet how could he rescue her without help? It was impossible.

  * * *

  Will took a quick glance at the familiar, worn sign hanging above the door. It read, Cabinetry and Blacksmith and brought back memories. This had been his first job before going to work for Mr. Cunnings a couple of months ago. How he longed to have this job back.

  Dismissing his memories, Will knocked earnestly on the door, which was still closed because of the early hour. He shifted anxiously, waiting for it to open. In a moment, a tall man appeared, his years measuring late thirties and a leather blacksmith apron covered the front of his plain, tradesman clothes. His dark brown hair hung level with his shoulders and ocean blue eyes sparkled with happiness as a smile spread across his face. However, when he noticed Will’s worried expression, the smile quickly vanished.

  “What’s wrong, Will?” he asked.

  “Have you heard about the pirates?”

  “Yes, I offered help to Lieutenant Avery, but he didn’t have anything for me to do so I came back here.”

  “Matthew, they’ve kidnapped Skye.”

  Matthew’s face paled. “Are you certain?”

  “Avery told me himself.”

  “Is he doing anything to rescue her?”

  “No, and she is in terrible trouble if someone doesn’t help her. It’s Captain Kelley who’s taken her, the one Skye’s father sailed with. He’s after Skye’s treasure, I’m sure of it.” Filled with distress, Will stated further, “I know Skye will never tell him the location of it and who knows what Kelley will do to her when she doesn’t.”

  Matthew nodded as he took in the information. “Go quickly and tell Mr. Cunnings you’re leaving. Get whatever you need. Meet me at the docks in ten minutes. We need to find a ship and a crew to go after Kelley.”

  Matthew closed the door as soon as Will was gone and went to his weapon cabinet. Wiping his soot-covered hands hastily on his apron, he opened the cabinet doors. A row of swords, all made by him, lined the inside.

  But he wasn’t just a blacksmith. He was a carpenter as well, his furniture some of the best in Kingston, yet despite that fact, he barely made enough money to keep the business going. That was the reason he had wanted Will to find a better job. There had not been enough money for both of them to live on. It was also one reason he had never been able to adopt Skye as he had long wanted to do. And now she was in the hands of bloodthirsty pirates. Fear for her life settled in his heart.

  Matthew had known Skye and Will for about six years now. Ever since they’d met in church. They were like the daughter and son he’d never had.

  Taking a sword out of the cabinet, Matthew laid it on a bench and pulled off his apron. Going into the bedroom of his small house, he packed some extra clothes and his Bible into a duffel. After making sure his furnace had burned down, he walked out of the shop, locked the door, and headed for the docks.

  * * *

  Will came in the door so fast he obviously startled Mr. Cunnings who stood at the counter.

  “What is it?” Mr. Cunnings wanted to know, worried by Will’s obvious haste.

  “I’ll tell you when I get back down,” Will replied, going straight to the stairs that led to his small bedroom.

  Inside, Will changed from the more refined clothes Mr. Cunnings insisted he wear into a plain white shirt and dark breeches. Over his shirt, he buttoned a gray waistcoat. He exchanged the nice shoes he was wearing for a pair of old leather boots. Reaching under his bed, he pulled out a sword that Matthew had taught him how to construct and use. He fastened the scabbard belt over his shoulder and across his chest so the sword hung within easy reach of his right hand. Packing his Bible and extra clothes, he finally hurried back down to the shop and Mr. Cunnings.

  “I must have permission to leave,” Will said with great urgency. “Skye has been kidnapped by the pirates who attacked the city.”

  “You cannot leave when I need help here,” Mr. Cunnings replied indignantly, shocking Will. “This is your job.”

  “If you will not allow me to go rescue someone who means a great deal to me, then you leave me no other choice. I quit,” Will said with little regret and walked out the door.

  He could hear Mr. Cunnings shouting behind him, warning that if he quit he would not be likely to find work anywhere else. But in light of Skye’s situation, that was of little concern to Will.

  Chapter Six

  Will arrived at the docks just after Matthew did.

  “What are we going to do?” he asked, hoping his friend had a plan.

  “We need to find a ship going to the island of Tortuga,” Matthew said.

  Will looked at him in surprise. “Why there? The island was a pirate stronghold, wasn’t it?”

  “Yes, and that’s exactly why we’re going there,” Matthew answered. “We need to find a particular pirate by the name of John Morgan. Tortuga was always one of his favorite ports, and he may just be there.”

  Will repeated the name. “I’ve never heard of him.”

  “He’s not a well-known pirate,” Matthew said with a shrug. “And if he’s anything like he was when we last met, he’s probably gotten himself killed by now, but I’m hoping that isn’t the case.”

  “How do you know him?”

  Matthew lowered his voice with caution. “I helped him escape from being hanged.”

  Will’s eyes widened a little. “You did? Why?”

  Matthew shrugged again. “We were both young and got to be friends. I guess I didn’t think he deserved hanging.”

  “It doesn’t seem very likely that we’ll find him,” Will commented after a brief moment of silence.

  “No it doesn’t, but he’s the only one I know with the means and knowledge of pirates to help us. I’ve got to believe that if it’s God’s plan for us to find him, we will and if we don’t, He’ll show us another way.”

  Will nodded, believing so as well.

  Matthew glanced up and down the harbor before his gaze fell on an old trading vessel that was just being loaded up by a rough-looking crew.

  “We’ll try them,” Matthew told Will. “They look like the most likely to take us where we need to go.”

  He and Will walked toward the ship, which appeared as rough and filthy as its crew. Matthew stopped just behind the man who gave the orders.

  “Excuse me, sir.”

  The man turned to look at them with squin
ty eyes. He was a large man with two big tattoos on each of his broad shoulders.

  “You wouldn’t happen to know of any ships heading to Tortuga, would you?” Matthew asked.

  The man eyed him. “Well now, that depends on why ya wanna get there and if what yer doin’ is legal. Ain’t no one gonna wanna get caught aidin’ pirates.”

  “We are not pirates. We’re just searching for someone,” Matthew explained.

  “Well, that bein’ the case, we’re headin’ up that way. I s’pose we might consider lettin’ ya off there.”

  “It is urgent that we find this person and if you have room on board, we’ll be glad to work for our passage,” Matthew offered.

  The man reached up to scratch his scraggly beard. “Well, we did ‘appen to lose a coupla crewmen on our last voyage, so I guess ya could ‘ave the job.”

  “When do we sail?” Matthew asked.

  “We’re ‘bout ready to sail now.”

  * * *

  The thick darkness inside the ship made it difficult to tell how much time passed, but Skye could tell a new day had dawned by the sparkle of light through the crack. She hugged her knees up to her chest and laid her head on them, losing herself in her thoughts.

  Some amount of time later, approaching footsteps brought her head up. When Kelley appeared with a lantern, Skye pushed to her feet. Kelley stopped at the door and stared in at her with an unnerving look of self-satisfaction that grew into a smirk.

  “I received your message and instead of lettin’ you slowly starve or die of thirst down here where I cannot enjoy it, I’ll speed up the process and make it so the whole crew can enjoy it as well.”

  A chill slithered through Skye, but she made no outward reaction as Kelley unlocked the cell door. Pirates walked in and grabbed Skye by the arms. She put up a little struggle though it was hopeless. They pushed her out of the cell and led her along behind their captain. When they reached the top deck and her eyes adjusted to the light, she saw the crew busy at work.