She closed both chests and used a covering of straw and wood from the woodpile to conceal her secret from any intruding eyes of the law, as they assuredly would be searching for survivors and seeking goods from the wreck. Hopefully, when Sam was better, they would leave Eastham forever.
***
Within two days of the Whydah’s demise, the news of the ship’s fate spread across Cape Cod. Samuel Harding’s brother, Abiah Harding, along with Edward Knowles and Jonathan Cole, were the first to salvage barrels of nails and liquor along with rope, pulleys and wood. Many God-fearing Cape Codders, along with the notorious mooncussers, who tricked ships into sailing closer to the dangerous rocks and shoals with lanterns on moonless nights, salvaged everything. The mangled bodies that had washed ashore did not bother some of these grizzled hardy scavengers as they cut off fingers and ears to retrieve jewelry from the doomed pirates. It was a gruesome business, but Cape Cod was poor, and its inhabitants felt that it was their right to reap whatever floated ashore and looked upon it as a gift from God.
***
As Sam drifted in and out of a healing sleep, Maria tended to him and watched for any person coming to search or ask questions. At the same time she began to think of what she could carry with her when they finally were able to leave. Wasting no time, she prepared her mother’s travel bag and began to gather her prized things: the painted box that held vellum and inks; the looking glass from her mother; Minda’s herbs, salves and the few coins from Sam. The rest would be purchased new.
“Maria,” Sam murmured.
“Yes, my darling.” Maria sat next to him on the bed.
“What day is it?”
“It is the fifth day since I found you.”
“Where are my men?”
“They’ve gone.”
“Did they take anything with them?”
“I’m afraid so.” Maria lowered her head.
Sam struggled to sit up. Feeling lightheaded, he pleaded with Maria. “I need to see.”
Steadying himself, he walked to the shack to see no sign of the chests. He leaned back against the wall, hung his head in despair and beat his fists against the wood.
Maria hurried to pull back the straw. “Wait, Sam. Look!” She revealed the two remaining chests.
He fell to his knees. The first one he opened proved empty save a small layer at the bottom. “Those bastards, they took more than their fair share.”
“What about yours?” He looked up at Maria.
“They took none of mine.”
Relieved, he slumped down against the rough wall to the dirt floor. With his elbows on his knees, he held his head. “Maria, I’m sorry for not having more for you.”
She knelt in front of him. “Stop, Sam. We have enough, more than enough for us to leave. Do you not understand that we could start again? Go some place far away from here, far away from the hatred of this god–forsaken land.”
He looked at his beloved Maria. “You’re right, but we must leave soon. But how?”
With confidence, Maria spoke, “I know someone who can help us, and he can be trusted.”
49
May 1, 1717
EASTHAM – CAPE COD
“IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE DOING BUSINESS WITH YOU, Mr. Ellis,” James Carter said as he shook hands with Matthew.
“The same.” Matthew shut the door to the house that he was born in.
He wanted to forget every minute of the last year. He sat at the table that had been the focal point for many family meals with his parents. He knew he should eat something but wasn’t hungry. His father’s place at the head of the table was empty; pneumonia had wreaked its havoc on the poor man’s aging body and taken him early. Poor Mother had followed him in a short time. Matthew wondered if his mother had just tired, or was her love for her husband so strong that she lost her will to live? It was hard for him to understand the sudden loss of his parents.
He despised himself for selling the family property to the Carters of Rhode Island. He banged his fist on the planks of the sideboard. The deal was done. There was nothing left for him in Eastham…except Maria. He stood to fill his cup with ale and realized that now might be his chance to speak of his feelings for her. She had always seemed so unattainable to him before. Maybe selling his homestead was a stroke of luck. With its profit, they would be able to go far away from any trouble.
Matthew remembered Peter Johnson, a printer and bookbinder in Barnstable, with whom he had struck a friendship during one of his journeys at sea. At that time Johnson told Matthew he was looking for an apprentice. Matthew reached for pen and paper from his father’s desk. He dipped his pen into the inkwell and began to write a letter, which would craft a new chapter in his life.
Dear Mr. Johnson,
My letter is in regard to your seeking an apprentice in the business of printing. I am eager to answer your request and will be happy to meet with you about our future together. I await your reply as to the date of our meet…
A knock on the door startled him, interrupting his written words. He grabbed his gun, ready to face whomever it was. The knock grew louder. With his ear close to the door, he asked, “Who goes there?”
“It’s Maria.” The voice was familiar. It repeated, “Maria Hallett.”
He opened the door a crack to see if it really was her.
“Matthew, may I come in?”
He stood the gun next to the doorframe and opened the door. “Maria, what brings you here? It’s not safe for you to be out.”
“I’ve come to ask a favor. I know I shouldn’t be here, but it’s important.”
Matthew looked out into the dark and side-to-side to see if anyone had seen Maria before he closed the door. She stood by the hearth and loosened the shawl that was wrapped around her shoulders. Matthew could not take his eyes off of her. She was more beautiful than the last time he had seen her. She wore no cap and her brown hair fell around her head and shoulders in large waves and ringlets. Her eyes were bright and her lips looked so soft. He wanted to hold her, to kiss her.
“Matthew, I need to talk with you.”
“Of course, Maria, please sit.”
He grabbed the letter, folded it in half and hid it in a drawer of the desk.
Maria paid no attention. She was only concerned about what she would say to her friend. She knew he would ask for an explanation as to why she needed help, so she was ready. Her words were difficult for her, but in the end, she told her friend of Sam’s return and confessed that he was the man who had left her when she was with child.
As Matthew listened, he clenched his fists under the table and struggled to hold his composure. “What is it that you want me to do?’ he asked her. “Now that you have your Sam, what do you need me for?”
“There is treasure!” she whispered.
Matthew looked unfazed by the revelation. “Treasure means nothing to me.” In his heart he wanted her and only her. He wanted her to stay with him. He held back his words of passion. “Tell me more,” he said.
“We need to travel but Sam is hurt. The salvaged treasure is too heavy to take by foot. We need you and your wagon.”
Matthew stayed silent and in these few awkward seconds, Maria noticed the absence of anyone else in the house. Looking around the empty kitchen she asked, “Where are your parents, Matthew?”
“Gone, this past winter.” He stood and turned away from her, leaning his arm on the hearth’s mantle. “Father took sick and died. Soon after, Mother followed him.”
“I’m sorry,” she moved next to him and reached for his hand. She held it against her cheek.
As he looked at her, her gentle touch moved him more deeply than ever before. He knew he would do anything for Maria. He loved her with his whole being.
“I’ll help you. What do you want me to do?”
50
May 1, 1717
EASTHAM – CAPE COD
MARIA RAN THROUGH THE NIGHT TO HER HOUSE, eager to tell Sam the good news of Matthew’s willingness
to help them. She was too happy to notice the cold chill of early spring that blew across her face. It was the beginning of a new life with Sam; nothing could stop them now.
She found Sam in the shack making sure the chests were secure for traveling. He had emptied most of her treasure into the larger one. She was pleased to see more color on his face and his bandages showed no new blood.
He sat on the floor making a small pile of coins. “Do you have a pouch for safekeeping?”
“Yes I do,” she answered and stepped closer to him.
“What news do you have for our transportation?”
“My friend Matthew Ellis said he would take us to Abigail’s, in North Harwich.”
“Who is Abigail?” Sam glanced up at her. “Can this woman and Matthew be trusted?”
“Yes, you have my word. We journey tomorrow night.”
Maria knelt down next to him and pulled his face to her lips. “My heart is bursting with joy because of you.”
Sam grabbed her around the waist and pulled her nearer to him. “I want you…now.”
He kissed her and cradled her across his lap. She looked up into his eyes, waiting and hoping that he would touch her. She could barely contain her desires for him. He held her tighter. His kisses escalated from soft and gentle to wild passion. Maria responded with the same intensity.
Suddenly he broke away from her, his heavy breathing pushing his words out in a staccato. “Maria, I have dreamt of this night …for so many days. Indulge me ….so I may enjoy every inch of you.”
She smiled in submission as he laid her down on the bed of straw. He loosened the laces of her corset and then followed the lines of her torso with hungry eyes. She was radiant. He could not believe that she was finally his. As he kissed her exposed breasts, he watched her chest rise and fall in deep breaths that increased their depth each time he touched her. His fingers moved slowly across and into her body.
She lay quiet in full sensual arousal as he enjoyed the pleasures of her delicate skin. She wanted more. She grabbed at him. Soon neither of them could control themselves as their sexual desires overpowered them. He entered her, and they became one in body, mind and heart. They both had waited for this moment for so long.
Exhausted, Maria finally spoke, “My darling Sam, it’s getting late. I should clean your wound once more before we sleep.” Refastening the binding on her corset she smiled, “You perform as if you had no wound.”
Sam sat up and took hold of her hand. “We’ll have many nights and even days like this, you’ll see. I’ll make you happy. This I promise,” he said, kissing her on the neck.
It tickled Maria and made her laugh. “Come, Sam, we must prepare for our journey.” She affectionately pushed his hand away and stood up.
Taking hold of her wrist, he stopped her. “Maria?”
He took a gold chain from his pocket with the ring attached to it. Maria remembered seeing it the night of the Whydah’s demise. As Sam slipped the ring off of the chain and onto her finger, he knelt before her. “Maria, will you be my wife? I promise to take care of you and love you with all my heart.”
With tears in her eyes, she knelt opposite him and whispered into his ear, “Yes!”
It was the only word he wanted to hear. They embraced once more, and she accepted Sam into her life again. Pledging their love to each other, they became husband and wife, blessed only by their will to be together.
That night before sleep came to them, Maria was relieved to discover that the last of the splinters had fallen away from Sam’s side. Wrapping his wound with clean linen, she bound it and placed a kiss on the bandage that lay over his heart.
May 2, 1717
The next morning, Maria made flatbreads for their journey. While she gathered her belongings, Sam walked around and through the house, examining its contents. He wanted to see and touch everything connected to his Maria. He admired her weaving and spinning and ran his hands over her woven cloths. Maria was a capable woman: strong, kind, and well skilled in the way of herbs and healing. He asked himself, what more could a man want?
“Sam,” Maria called to him. “We must hurry. It’s almost dusk, and Matthew will be coming soon.”
Sam thought about Matthew, this so-called friend of Maria’s. He was very curious to meet him.
***
Matthew had just finished his dinner and was getting ready to hitch his horse to the wagon when he heard someone approaching on horseback. A shot of adrenalin raced through his body when he looked outside and saw Constable Ezra. He must not find out about his plans to help Maria.
“Matthew, Matthew Ellis! You in there?”
Matthew opened his door and answered, “Aye, Constable. What brings you out here?”
Dismounting his horse, Ezra said, “Looking for pirates. Have you seen any?”
“Pirates, you say?”
“Yeah, pirates, from the wreck on the coastline a few days back. We’re searching everywhere and everyone’s house.”
Matthew kept calm. “No, I haven’t seen any strangers, except Mr. Carter, the man who bought my land.”
“Oh yes, Mr. Carter. I heard you sold. I’m going to miss you around here.”
Eager to tell what news he had, the constable leaned close to Matthew. “I’ve heard that as many as fifty-four bodies and five Negroes washed ashore on the first morning after the wreck.” He waited for Matthew to react to his interesting news, then continued, “and twenty-two more on the second day. Mark my words: there’ll be more of them.”
He got no response from the brooding Matthew, who wished the man would leave. Ezra turned and grabbed the reins to his horse, ready to mount. “I’ll take my leave now. If you see any pirates, let me know. Boston is hungry for some hangin’s.”
As Ezra climbed back onto his horse he asked, “Matthew, would you favor me with a look-see by the Hallett girl?”
“Of course.”
“Thank you, son. That’ll help me; I’m on my way to look in on old Samuel Harding.”
As he turned his horse away from Matthew, he glanced back. “Mind you be careful. They found an Indian pirate who’d survived the wreck hiding behind the Widow Baker’s house. They say he had some gold coins on him. Thank the Lord that the widow is gone till next week. As we speak, that pirate is on his way to the Barnstable jail.”
“Safe ride home, Ezra,” Matthew waved him away and retreated into his house till the Constable was out of sight.
***
Maria had nestled her new china in the near empty smaller chest among the softest of the cloths, along with her painted trinket box and a pouch filled with the gold coins that Sam had set aside. Her mother’s bag contained her clothes and as many threads that she could fit.
Disappointed that she would have to leave many of her belongings behind, including her spinner, she was optimistic that she would be able to replace them with her new-found fortune. Sam, who still wore his clothes from the night of the wreck, had virtually nothing to take but the chest of gold. Maria was pleased that Matthew had offered to find a home for the goat.
The sound of a wagon made Maria and Sam stop what they were doing and listen. She looked out the tiny window. It was dark, but she recognized Matthew in the light of the half moon.
Turning around she whispered, “It’s Matthew!”
Sam retreated to where Maria’s old gun leaned in the corner.
There was a faint knock on the door. As Maria opened it, she smiled and put her arms around her friend. “Matthew, thank you for coming.”
Embarrassed at her show of affection, he took off his hat and greeted her simply with, “Maria.”
Sam remained in the shadows, taking a long look at the other man in Maria’s life. He saw that he was young and handsome, and Sam decided that there was a good possibility that Matthew was more than a friend to Maria–at least in Matthew’s mind.
“Matthew, this is Sam, Sam Bellamy.”
Coming forward, Sam released his hold on the gun and extended his hand.<
br />
Matthew held back and greeted Sam only with a question, “I hope you are well enough to travel?”
“That I am.”
“I have filled the back of the wagon with hay and straw. You’ll have to stay low as we travel through the villages.
Maria added, “I have a blanket to cover us. I think it’ll do.”
The three stood in awkward silence, each looking at the other.
Matthew spoke next, “We best be going. We have a long journey ahead of us.”
Sam asked, “If you could be of assistance to me, we have a few heavy chests to load.”
He followed Sam to the shack.
Removing the chest’s cover of straw and logs, Sam asked Matthew, “How long have you known Maria?”
“Since childhood.”
Matthew returned the same question to Sam. “How long have you known her?”
“Long enough to know she loves me.” He stared at Matthew as he threw a log over to the side.
Matthew threw his log crashing against the wall. He was angry. “Then how could you have left her when she needed you the most?”
Sam stood as straight as he could and grabbed Matthew by the arm. “Do you have a concern about Maria and me?”
Matthew pulled his arm away from Sam’s hold and grasped the top of Sam’s shirt, bringing him face to face. “No, I do not, sir, but if you ever hurt her, I will hunt you down and….”
Sam shot his hands up between Matthew’s forearms and pressed his arm across Mathew’s neck, pushing him against the old wall of the shack. “Do not threaten me. Maybe you haven’t heard of my reputation, or perhaps you’re just ignorant?”
The Old Cape House Page 23