The Pirate Queen

by Candace Osmond

  Before long, I had drifted off, and awoke to a dark room, Charlie sleeping soundly. I noticed that his breathing had become less labored and took a sigh of relief as I listened to the soft, relaxed inhale and exhale of air from his body. I reached up and felt his forehead, too. It was warm, but not burning hot like earlier. The antibiotics were working hard and fast.

  I roamed The Slippery Cod in search of my tiny crew and found Lottie in the kitchen, cleaning up from the supper rush. I noted a huge pile of linens on the floor in the corner and more dishes piled on the counters than usual. She was bent over the washtub, scrubbing pots so I walked over.

  “Here, let me do that,” I told her.

  She shook the suds from her hands and stepped back. “Thanks, my hands were starting to turn to prunes.”

  “Is this all stuff from the ship?”

  “Most of it,” she replied. “I’m still cleaning up from the supper rush.”

  “Lottie, who’s going to watch over the tavern when you come with us?”

  “I’ve already talked to my cousin. She and her husband are more than happy to run it in my absence,” she told me as she began sorting through the pile of linens.

  “And your uncle won’t care?”

  I caught her rolling her eyes. “My uncle has been in England for four years. No one expects him to come back anytime soon. The tavern has been in the family for years, and he’s got his own business to tend to over there. He runs a farm that supplies most of the food for the Queen of England.”

  I didn’t even bother to hide my look of surprise. “Wow, yeah, why would someone ever leave that?”

  “Exactly,” she agreed. “The Slippery Cod is a town staple, everyone relies on it, travellers love it. As long as someone is here to cook the food, serve the rum, and make the beds, no one will bat an eye.”

  I focused my attention on the dishes as my friend worked the linens on a scrub board. We spent the better part of an hour like that, silently performing duties, enjoying one another’s easy company.

  Finally, after a while, I had to ask, “Lottie, I really am thankful for the ship.”

  “It’s no problem,” she replied. “It needs a captain. It should be out there on the sea.”

  “I can’t help but wonder, though,” I said as I added the last of the dishes to the soapy water, “why you wouldn’t captain it yourself.”

  Lottie stopped and stared at me, confusion with a hint of offense on her face. “I told you, no one would sail with me.”

  “But we would. I don’t have to captain it. The boys and I would be just as happy catching a ride.”

  I watched as she returned her attention to the scrub board, crushing the fabric against it with a bit too much force. “I don’t want to captain The Queen.”

  “But, really, it’s yours–”

  “I said I don’t want to captain it, Dianna!” Frustration exploded from her in a quick burst, but she soon cooled and tucked a few stray blonde curls behind her ears. “It’s too much responsibility. I thought… I thought I could trust you to do it.”

  I held my hands up in defeat. “You can. I will.”

  Lottie sighed and seemed to relax, but then appeared to retreat deeper in thought.

  “Is there something else on your mind?” I dared asked her as I dipped the final dirty pan into the water. “Did Gus give you any trouble today?”

  Her cheeks flushed, much like Gus’s had earlier, and she hid her face from me. “No, no, Gus was a perfect gentleman,” she assured me and began wringing out a wet sheet through an ancient contraption with a turn crank.

  I played devil’s advocate. “You know, I think he likes you.”

  “Oh?” she replied and mindlessly continued her task.

  She scooped up a pile of wrung out sheets and headed out the back door, I assumed to hang them on the line to dry in the cool night air. I laughed and followed her out there to help.

  For a woman with a hard exterior, a part of Lottie was soft and accepting of our friendship. For that, I would be forever grateful.

  ***

  The next day, Finn and Gus were gone when I awoke, probably eager to have a purpose and a goal of getting our ship sea ready. I found Lottie outside, tending to the never-ending clothesline. I tipped my head up to the warm morning sun and inhaled deeply the scent of fresh linens blowing in the breeze. It was odd, that three hundred years in the past, the scent was so familiar to me. There was nothing better than crawling into bed after Mom had dried the sheets on the line.

  “Morning, sleepyhead,” Lottie called over to me.

  I squinted from the bright sun and smiled at her from under the cover of my hand across my brow. I walked over to my friend and helped her straighten out a wet blanket she’d thrown over the line. “Sleepyhead?”

  Lottie began pinching wooden clothespins on the quilted blanket and peered at me from the other side. “Yeah, it’s nearly time to get ready for the lunch rush.”

  My eyes widened. “How did I sleep for so long?”

  She kept peering at me, glancing from the corners of her vision as she continued her laundry task. “I’m not sure,” she replied jokingly, “you’ve been sleeping like a pregnant woman if you ask me.” When I didn’t answer she stopped fussing with the pins and threw her hands to her hips. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  I shrugged. “I dunno. You didn’t want any trouble, and I wasn’t sure if I could trust you yet.”

  She appeared offended at the last part, but quickly brushed it off. “A baby is no trouble, Dianna. It’s a blessing.”

  “I know, I know,” I told her. “I just–”

  “And I know we’ve only known each other for a few days, but you can trust me. I wouldn’t hand over my life and my ship to you if you couldn’t. If I didn’t trust you.”

  I hadn’t thought of it that way and I hung my head. Silence filled the space between us, the only sound that of the sheets flapping in the wind and the seagulls down by the docks. I picked up a sheet and threw it over the line.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s fine,” she replied. “But you need to start trusting me if this is going to work.”

  “I know. I will. I do,” I rambled and then sucked in a deep breath. “I really do.”

  Lottie didn’t falter from her task, but she cast a grinning look over the line. “When are you due?”

  “I’m pretty early,” I told her, surprisingly happy to talk about my little miracle with someone. “But we should expect the little one in about eight months.”

  “Are you scared?”

  I swallowed hard. “Yes.”

  “If it helps ease your mind, I’ve aided in the delivery of four healthy children,” she told me. “for women in town.”

  I brightened. “Actually, that does put some of my worries to rest.” I pinched the last clothespin on the line. “I’m going to go check on Charlie,” I added. “Did you need me to help out with the lunch crowd?”

  “No, it’s fine. My cousin is coming to help.”

  “Okay,” I replied, “I’ll talk to you later, then.”

  I walked back inside with a sense of guilt. Lottie was a hard person to crack, but she obviously considered us friends and I’d hurt her feelings. An idea came to life in my mind and I headed upstairs to her room. I pulled my diamond studs from my satchel, the ones I caught her admiring when I’d first arrived, and placed them in a tiny dish on her dresser with a note that said, for my friend.

  I then made my way over to the room where Charlie was and gently opened the door, peeking my head inside. I saw the slightest hint of movement on the pillow of the bed and fully entered the room to find the boy conscious.

  “Charlie! You’re awake!”

  I took a wide stride to his side and sat down.

  He looked tired, pale, and in desperate need of a bath. But still, he appeared to be miles better than he did just barely two days ago. His mouth gaped but no words came out, only a strained and muffled sound.

  “Shh,�
� I told him and scooped his hand into mine. “Don’t. You’re still healing. It’s best if you refrain from speaking for a while.”

  He nodded and then seemed to relax back into his pillow, a smile spread wide on his face, eyes sparkling as they locked onto mine.

  “What?” I asked. “Are you happy to see me?”

  He nodded again.

  “I’m so sorry. I’m sorry for what Maria did to you, for leaving when I did, for… everything.” Thin tears rained down my face, but I let them.

  I could tell Charlie wanted to speak so badly, his hands moved in the air as if they could talk for him, working with his eyes to convey what he thought. I reached into my satchel and pulled out a notepad and pencil, then offered it to the boy.

  He quickly scribbled some words at the top and turned the pad back to me to reveal the words, where did you go?

  “I went back to where I came from,” I told him as honestly as I could. “But I didn’t mean to. I didn’t want to leave you guys.”

  He scratched something else down. Henry?

  The tears warmed and flowed heavily then, but I kept a smile on my face. “He’s… gone. The Cobhams took him.”

  He underlined the word where and widened his eyes, almost in anger.

  I shrugged. “We don’t know for certain, but there’s a good chance he’s on Kelly’s Island. We’re sailing there tomorrow.”

  More scribbling. What can I do to help?

  I laughed when I read it and remembered something Henry once told me, that Charlie was unstoppable, eager to help, and loved the sea.

  “Don’t worry, we’re not going anywhere without you,” I assured him. “But you need to rest until we leave. Even then, you’ll be resting on the ship, too.”

  He didn’t seem too happy with that but must have been too tired to argue otherwise because he set the items down on the bed and closed his eyes, inhaling deeply.

  “I’m going to go get you some soup, okay?” I stood to leave, my sense of hope greater than it was earlier.

  I’d traveled back through time, found my friends, acquired my own ship, and saved Charlie’s life. I felt unstoppable. There was only one thing left to do and nothing would stand my way. Something warmed in my belly at the thought. This time tomorrow, I’d be well on my way to saving the man I loved.

  Chapter Twelve

  Istood at the bowsprit of The Queen, my ship. My ship. At first, I had found myself wandering its decks repeating the words to myself. My kitchen, my quarters, my ship. But we’d been at sea for a few hours and everyone was settling into the new roles aboard the vessel.

  Gus had managed to scoop up three young deckhands, not much older than Charlie. But if there were anything like him, we would be just fine. The cool sea breeze misted across my face and the warm sun beamed down. I tilted my head and closed my eyes, dreaming of a time not so long ago when I did the same aboard The Devil’s Heart.

  “Ye missed it,” Finn spoke from behind me.

  I turned to him. “Yeah, I did. I do.” I inhaled deeply. “I love the sea.”

  “Aye, not everyone’s built fer it.” He stepped closer and placed his hands on the railing. “I’d live and die on the sea, nothin’ would make me happier. She’s my lady.”

  I grinned. “I thought you didn’t fancy the curvy body of a woman?” I mocked him, repeating some of the first words he ever spoke to me.

  Finn coughed out a raspy laugh and adjusted his big leather belt. “Aye, that’s cause there’s only one woman for me. Her rollin’ waves are all the curves I need.”

  I laughed but then turned to business. “So, when do we make landfall to our destination?”

  The Scot’s eyes widened with his raised brows and he leaned back from me. “Well, well,” he quipped, “Aren’t we the little captain?”

  I rolled my eyes. “Please don’t make this any harder than it is. I’m trying to be an authority.”

  “Whatever that means.” Finn shook his head. “But I expect us to reach Kelly’s Island by nightfall, which is a good thing. The darkness will help shroud us. We’ll anchor some ways out and row ashore quietly. Let’s just hope there’s no one guarding the beach we roll up on.”

  ***

  The night sky fell upon us as we neared Kelly’s Island, the full moon glowing like a spotlight while we descended the rope ladder to the rowboat below. Lottie stayed behind with Charlie as Gus, Finn, and myself rowed ashore. We had one thing on our side; Peter Easton’s headquarters was located on the eastern shore and were coming in from the North.

  “Remember what I told ye,” Finn whispered. “Stay in the middle, always.”

  “I have no problem defending myself,” I assured him which elicited a grunt from Gus behind me. “Well, I can.”

  “Yes, I’m sure,” Gus spoke sarcastically as he rowed the ores. “The pretty cook from the future with no experience fightin’. Why don’t we just let you lead the way?”

  I kept my eyes on the beach in the distance and muttered under my breath, “shut up.”

  The boat rocked back as the bow hit bottom and we all jumped over to haul it onto the beach. A quick look around told us that no one was visibly watching the sandy stretch, but a thick wall of dense evergreens lined the island just a few meters in. The trees could be full of waiting attackers.

  “Alright,” Finn whispered as we huddled together. “Hands on yer weapon at all times, ready to draw. Ears open. Eyes searchin’.” He took a few steps toward the forest and motioned over his shoulder for us to follow.

  Gus’s brow furrowed as he waited for me to move first so I stomped off after Finn. We entered the woods quietly, careful with every step. My heart raced with excitement, from the possibility of getting caught and also at the idea that I’d have Henry in my arms so soon. Oh, how they ached to hold him, touch him, and know that he was safe. Wicked thoughts of what Maria may be doing to him flickered across my mind and made my stomach toil. But I used it as fuel to keep going.

  My reason for everything.

  We climbed over foothills, sloshed across shallow creeks, all the while keeping the sound of the ocean waves crashing against the rocky shore of Kelly’s Island within listening range. As long as the water kept to our left, we were heading in the right direction. A few times Finn turned to shush us and made us drop to the ground or behind a jagged boulder. He must have heard things I couldn’t, but I trusted the Scot with my life and if he said get down, I got down. No questions asked.

  Finally, the hint of firelight sparkled through the trees and my heart skipped a beat. We moved closer but kept a safe holding behind a massive uprooted tree, peeking our heads out to catch a better look at the beachfront house nestled in a tiny cove. It was surprisingly large for a secret headquarters, but not well built. A slightly leaning structure made of unfinished wood that had been greyed from the ocean’s force stood near the beach. Three small outbuildings, sheds really, could be found off to the side. The main house glowed from the inside with candlelight and a raging bonfire burned just outside on the sand. Gus pulled out a small telescope from inside his coat and held it up to his eye.

  “I don’t see anyone at all,” he informed us. “No movement in the windows, either.”

  I took a step forward, but Finn’s arm shot out in front of me. “Where do ye think yer goin’?”

  “To rescue Henry, isn’t that why we came all this way?”

  “For a time traveler ye sure ain’t smart,” he replied.

  “We can’t just go storming in there,” Gus said, his voice low. “It looks quiet now, but we could be outnumbered once inside. And who knows what’s in those other buildings.”

  I shrugged in defeat. “Then what do we do?”

  “We stay right here and suss out the situation,” Gus told me. “Keep looking. We just need an idea of how many people Maria has with her.”

  I didn’t like that idea. The thought of Henry possibly being just a few yards away killed me. I kept it calm on the outside, but every fiber of my being was scream
ing from the inside, demanding that I obey and just go. I stood and waited patiently, but the second their attention wasn’t on me, I took off.

  “Dianna!” Finn called, and I heard Gus cover his mouth as the end of my name became muffled.

  I could hear their footsteps close behind me, but I never faltered, just kept scaling down the jagged hillside of the forest’s edge toward the beach. I stole a quick glance over my shoulder and saw the two of them trailing me. I pushed myself as hard as I could, forced my legs to move just a little faster, my arms to pump a little stronger.

  I just had to outrun them. I could slip inside, stay hidden, and search every room until I found Henry. Sure, there was a good chance I’d get caught. But it was a risk I was willing to make. I couldn’t stand the thought of Maria’s hands on Henry for a second longer. My lungs burned and threatened to betray me. I slipped into the shadows of the side of the building and bent over to catch my breath, but it only took a few seconds for Finn and Gus to get there.

  “What the Christ are ye doin’, ye crazy wench?” Finn whispered angrily as he grabbed my arm, his breaths huffing and strained from running.

  I yanked it away. “I’m here to save the man I love. Not stand around in the trees waiting to see if he’s even here.” The two still looked angry but said nothing. “Now are you with me or not?”

  I pointed to a low window just a few feet away and motioned for them to follow. We crept alongside the building and snuggled up to the opening. I slowly peeked around the frame to look inside and found the main floor when you first enter to be empty of people. I nodded to the two of my companions and we carefully made our way over to the next one. Again, I peered inside and gasped at the sight waiting there.