A tall, broad figure sat in a chair, slumped over and tied with ropes. His back was to the window, so we couldn’t see his face, but I didn’t need to. I’d know the shape of Henry even if I were blind. His every feature marked into my brain like a roadmap. I stared in awe, frozen, unable to tear my eyes away as I watched his shoulders slowly heave with every breath.
“That’s him,” I choked out and touched my hand to the glass pane. “He’s right there.”
Finn peered in next to my head. “I’ll be damned, so he is.”
“There’s no one around,” I whispered. “Maybe they’re gone off to get supplies or something?”
“Or it could be a trap,” Gus muttered.
I shrugged. “How would they even know to set one? No one knew we were coming.”
“The Cobhams have their ways,” the grumpy pirate replied, and Finn nodded in agreement. “They have eyes and ears everywhere.”
I blew out an impatient huff of air and peeked in the window again, worried that he would just disappear. I was desperate. I needed to get to him. My eyes scanned the edges of the old-fashioned window and realized it could be raised from the outside. I applied a little pressure and pushed upwards, stopping when the ancient frame made a loud creaking sound.
“What are ye doin’?” Finn whispered frantically.
“This is a closed room. No one’s inside. I can slip in, untie him, and we’d slip back out before anyone even noticed he was missing.”
The two looked hesitant but didn’t argue. I took that as a yes and continued to shimmy the window open enough for my body to fit. Finally, I poked one leg in and carefully slipped my body through the opening.
When both my feet quietly hit the floor of the dark room, I turned and gave them a thumb’s up. I slowly tip-toed over to the figure in the chair and, in the dim light of a single candle, realized there was a fabric bag over his hanging head. Hesitantly, fingers trembling, I grabbed hold and yanked it off.
My heart pounded from the inside of my chest, nearly knocking the breath from my body at the startling sight of him. My beautiful Henry, beaten and bloody, his face swollen, mouth cracked and dried. He was slumped over, a lifeless body straining against the ropes that bound his torso to the chair. I didn’t want to think it, but he looked… dead. My lips juddered as I fought back tears and reached a hand out to caress his bloodied face. He suddenly came to life and began to resist my touch, the chair bouncing and making a racket as he struggled against my presence.
“Don’t touch me–”
I slipped my hand over his mouth and shushed him, praying that no one heard us. “Henry, it’s me,” I spoke softly, and his convulsing body came to a halt. His eyes were both swollen shut, but his face twisted into a mixture of pain and disbelief.
“D-Dianna?”
The sound of my broken name across his trembling lips was enough to shatter me. I threw my arms around his limp body and held him so tight he winced from the pain. But I felt his frame strain against the ropes, reaching out to me in desperation.
“Yes, it’s me, baby, it’s me,” I assured him and held his face in my hands before placing a warm kiss on his coarse lips. Our hot tears mixed together, and Henry’s mouth held on to mine like a starved vampire tasting blood once again.
“Untie me,” he demanded, “before I lose my damn mind.”
I stood and walked behind the chair to loosen the ties but found a massive heap of knots that I could never undo in time. So, I unsheathed my trusty dagger from my side and sliced through the ropes, letting them fall and pool around the legs of the chair. I then did the same for the bloodstained twine that bound my beloved’s wrists. His hands immediately reached out for me and I kneeled down to ease myself into his embrace, weary of the fact he couldn’t see through the giant, swollen lumps around his eyes. It didn’t stop his tears from pouring down, though.
“My God,” he whispered shakily, mauling my curls as he did. A delusional laugh erupting from his throat. “This must be a dream. I never thought I’d taste your lips again.” His unsteady hand caressed my cheek, trailing down my neck and he sobbed. “Or touch your precious skin.” The man held me close and kissed my mouth before pulling back. “I only wish I could see your face.”
I carefully touched my fingers to his puffy eyes. “Jesus… what did she do to you?”
His hands ran through my thick hair and pulled me in again, his mouth moving against mine as he spoke. Dry and trembling. “Nothing as painful as my crying heart. God, Dianna, I thought I’d never see you again.”
My chest erupted with heaving sobs at the broken man I held within my arms. “I’m so sorry.”
“Shhh, don’t be,” he whispered in my ear. “It’s not your fault, none of it is.”
“Uh, I hate to break up the heartfelt reunion,” Finn whispered loudly through the window, “But we best be on our way.”
“Finnigan?” Henry perked up and turned toward the sound of his friend’s voice.
“Aye, captain, and Gus, too.”
“Can you walk?” I asked him.
“Of course,” he replied with a raspy growl and then stubbornly attempted to stand on two feet.
When I felt him waver, I slipped my shoulder under his arm and led him to the window where Gus and Finn helped him out.
Immediately, Finn grabbed Henry. “Aye, Christ, it’s good to see ye, captain.”
Henry returned a gruff pat on the back with a weak attempt. “You, as well, old friend. You as well.” He turned then, searching. “Augustus?”
“Right here, captain,” Gus chimed in and stepped toward Henry. He appeared solemn. “Henry, I–”
“Don’t,” Henry waved a hand, “not now. Let’s get out of here. I haven’t heard a sound in the house for hours. They’re bound to be back any moment.”
“How many of them are there?” Finn asked.
“Just Eric and Maria,” he replied and fought through a sudden fit of coughing, spitting blood on the ground at his feet. “She’s gone… mad. Refuses to trust anyone. They haven’t a crew, even.”
“That’s good,” Gus said. “Come on, I’ll lead the way across the beach. We have to hurry.”
I let Henry’s arm fall heavy over my shoulders while Finn grabbed the other and we slipped out from the shadows of the house. With a quick look around, we took off in a line across the front yard and around the fire pit. Suddenly, the blaze burst into a massive flame and the sound of wet glass breaking rang in my ears. We stopped to look back and I saw the shape of two figures standing on the front porch.
“Look what you made me do. Wasted a perfectly good bottle of rum.” She paused to cluck her tongue. “Where the Hell do you think you’re taking my pet?”
The sound of her voice awoke something deep inside, something dark and angry, but also a memory. A reminder of the wound, still not fully healed, that she’d left on my body. Gus and Finn drew their swords and I slipped my dagger out with my free hand, shifting my body to somewhat shield Henry.
“He’s not your pet, Maria,” I called out. “I told you before. Henry is mine. I’m just here to take him back.”
Maria Cobham stepped down onto the sand, her clunky leather boot buckles jingling with every brazen step she took toward us. Soon, she was close enough for the light of the fire to catch her face, highlighting the stark contrast of black curls against her pallor skin. Big, brown eyes glared into mine, like an evil doppelganger staring at me from a mirror’s reflection. I hadn’t paid enough attention last time, to really see how our resemblance was far too uncanny. Sure, there were slight differences; her hair was wilder, her face worn from years of piracy. But Maria Cobham was like a sick and twisted version of myself. No wonder everyone thought I was her.
“Oh, is that so?” she quipped and jutted her jaw back and forth like a crack addict would. “Tell her, pet. Tell her how you wanted to come with me. Tell her how you begged me to take you.”
My eyes shot to Henry and, even though he couldn’t see the hint betrayal
on my face, I could see the torment on his. “No, Dianna, I swear, it wasn’t as she says.”
“You evil, bitch!” Gus held his sword out and lunged toward the villainess, but she stepped back and pulled out a pistol, aiming straight for him.
“Tell her, pet,” Maria insisted and, when Henry didn’t obey, she clicked the hammer and held it in place.
“Alright!” he yelled at her.
“Henry?” I spoke with sadness and disbelief. “It’s not true, is it? Why would you give yourself back to her like that?”
“He did it to save me, Dianna,” Gus called over from a few feet away. “He offered himself willingly if she let me live that night in the forest. She tied me up, so I wouldn’t follow.”
I looked at Maria, eyes narrowed. But it all made sense now. The Cobhams were notorious throughout history for never leaving a soul behind. And I know Henry would never have gone down without a fight. Without dying first.
“You’re scum,” I spat at her.
The mouth of the pistol then turned and aimed at me and Maria’s face twisted into a sick grin. “If I’m scum then so are you, blood-kin.” My heart beat wildly as she took a step closer. “It’s too bad poor Henry can’t see it when I bleed the life from your body. Just one little flick of a finger and bang, you’re gone.” I could see the workings of a plan forming in her mind. “Maybe I should take you with us, wait until my pet’s eyes open. He shouldn’t miss it. I could even take back my jacket, you thief.”
Just then, her husband Eric jumped down from the front porch and sidled up next to her. He was a tall man, just a few inches more than she with a stern, expressionless face. She looked over her shoulder at him and smiled. “Looks like we’re going to have some company on our trip, after all.”
But, to everyone’s shock, when Maria Cobham returned her gaze to on us, her husband hauled back and laid a blow to her head with a chunk of driftwood. Her pistol went off and shot far in the distance. The sound deafening to my ears. I stared in disbelief as her body went limp and folded over, falling to the sand.
“What the bloody Christ?” Finn sputtered.
Eric dropped the piece of wood, his face deadpan as he glanced at us and heaved a deep sigh. “Get out of here while you can.”
We wavered, unsure.
“Go!” he screamed at us.
We turned and bolted across the beach, through the forest, heading back the way we came. Neither of us spoke, the rhythm of our labored breaths the only sound to be heard aside from the crisp cracking of the forest floor beneath our steady feet. We halted, briefly, a few times for a very weak Henry to catch his breath, but we soon found ourselves on the Northern beach of Kelly’s Island and piled into the little rowboat we came in.
Henry sat on the floor in the middle and I slipped in, propping his body up in my arms. I noticed that he’d gone limp, what little energy he’d had left behind in a mixture of adrenaline across the forest. He passed out and I held him tightly, looking up at the stars and thanking the heavens that I was able to do it. That I had the strength and persistence to save him. I began to cry as the adrenaline seeped from my body, uncontrollable ugly sobs of happiness as Gus and Finn frantically rowed us back to our new home aboard The Queen.
Chapter Thirteen
After we tiredly hauled Henry’s wilted body up the side of our ship and scrambled aboard, Lottie came scurrying out to meet us.
“You’re back!” she exclaimed. I tried to ignore the sense of utter surprise dipped in her voice. She glanced down at Henry’s massive body sprawled out on the deck’s floor and took in the state of his injuries. “My God, you did it.”
“Barely,” I told her. “But, yes, we did it. Can you get me some clean cloth and a pan of warm soapy water?”
“Of course,” Lottie replied but hesitated. “Are you guys alright?” I noticed her eyes flicker to Gus. “Are any of you hurt?”
“Nay,” Finn grunted and stuck out his chest proudly. “Our fearless leader here led us right to him, didn’t think twice about bargin’ right into Maria Cobham’s hideout.”
I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help the tiny smile that found its way to my lips as I turned and bent down next to Henry. “Help me get him in my quarters.”
We carried Henry inside, over to my bed, and he still didn’t wake. I began to worry that his injuries, as gruesome as they appeared, were far worse than we thought. What if he fell into a coma and never woke up? What if he suffered brain trauma from the beatings and was bleeding on the brain as we stood there and watched over him? I shook the morbid thoughts away and tried to keep it together. No, he would be fine. I didn’t make it that far only to lose him. Not when I finally had him in my grasp.
“Thank you, guys,” I told Gus and Finn.
“Of course, captain,” Finn happily replied. “It was my honor.”
“And you say that with actual sincerity,” I quipped. My eyes fell to Gus.
He was quiet, thoughtful. Then he inhaled deeply. “You’re going to make a fine captain, Dianna.” I brightened at the compliment, but he added, “you’ve got a bloody lot to learn. But I’m pleased to help ya along the way.”
“Thanks,” I sat down on the bed next to Henry, “but he’s the real captain, we’ll do it together.”
Lottie returned with washcloths and a pan of warm water in hand. “Here you go,” she said and laid it down on the floor by my feet.
“Thanks, Lottie,” I told her warmly. “How’s Charlie doing?”
She stood and smiled. “He’s great. Still can’t speak, but we’re gettin’ along just fine. I already told him you’re back. The poor boy, I could just see the relief push him down into his bed.”
I nodded. “Good.” Then looked to my sailing master. “Finn set a course to… anywhere. Just get us out of here and as far away as possible so we can hide away until Henry and Charlie are fully healed.”
“Aye, captain,” he replied and tipped his head before leaving. Gus and Lottie filed out after him with a wave.
The door closed behind them and I walked over to lock it. I pressed my back against it and let everything wash over me. All the fear and anxiety I’d been storing up inside flooded from my limbs and I tipped my head back in peace. It was over. All of it. Just days ago, I’d been sitting on my bed in Rocky Harbour, crying over the loss of the life I had left behind in the past. But I traveled back through time, found my friends, made new ones, secured a ship of my very own, and managed to rescue my beloved from the grips of an evil psychopath. All the while, carrying the life of a child inside me.
I was exhausted, but I felt indestructible.
I removed my boots and jacket, then hung them on the beautiful red chair before tending to Henry. With a knife, I cut away his tattered clothes and threw them on the floor, leaving a naked man laying there on my quilted blanket. It was then that I could truly see the extent of his injuries. His massive frame was peppered with a rainbow of bruises, his chest covered in burns and incisions. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Along with his beaten and swollen face, Henry looked like someone who’d been dragged off a battlefield.
I soaked a cloth in the warm, soapy water and wrung it out. Carefully, I washed the sweat, dirt, and blood from his body, mesmerized by the broken beauty that was this man. I would take him in any form. I worked until the pan of water turned a solid color of deep crimson and then covered his naked body with a fresh blanket, giving the wounds a chance to air out. I then slipped off my own clothes and slid under the blanket with Henry, our warm bodies melding together as I wrapped my tired arms around him. I soon drifted into a deep, comfortable sleep and I only prayed that’s where Henry was, too.
***
I knew I was dreaming. The vague sense of surroundings covered me in a blurry cloud, but one thing was certain. Henry was there. I lay on my back, the soft warm sand brushing up against my skin, and looked up at him in admiration. The sun shone from behind his head, creating a halo of light around his beautiful blonde hair and I reached up to touch hi
s flawless face. A face free of the bloody wounds I knew I’d just cleaned.
“I missed you,” I told him.
He leaned in and took my mouth in his, a passionate kiss so full of emotion I could feel it plunging deep into my gut. He pulled away and smiled. I could feel the tendons of the dream loosening and slipping away, alerting me to the fact that I was waking up and I scrambled after him, desperate.
I awoke with a gasp like I’d been thrown back into my body and immediately searched for Henry but succumbed to the heavy sense of relief at the sight of him sleeping soundly next to me. The sun was up, and it filled the room with a golden hue. I had to remind myself to relax, that it was all over. I sunk back down and nestled up next to the beautiful pirate, basking in the warmth of his massive body.
I felt him shift and open his dry mouth. He moaned, deep and hoarse as he returned my embrace, our nakedness colliding. “What a mighty pleasant way to wake up.” His scruffy chin scratched the top of my hair and I heard him inhale deeply. “I never thought I’d smell the sweet scent of you again.”
“Good morning,” I replied and kissed his chest. “We’ll never have to spend another morning apart. I swear it.”
“Nothing would make me happier,” he replied. “Except, perhaps, a glass of water.”
I laughed and carefully crawled over Henry to fetch him something to drink from the table. I helped him sit up and held the mouth of the glass to his lips as he drank. When he was finished, his hands reached out for me, blindly, as his eyes were still swollen shut. But I could see movement around the slits as his face shifted with expressions. A good sign.
“I would kill someone for the ability to feast my eyes on your naked body,” he told me with a raspy growl. Goosebumps scoured down across my skin at the sound, a sound I’d missed so much.
I grabbed his wrists and held the palms to my breasts. “You don’t need eyes to see me, Henry.”
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