by Kitty Margo
Lynna had no doubt that he would, as he hurried from the cabin, leaving the door open in his haste. Now was her chance! She clutched her dress to her bosom and was midway to the deck when Rob grabbed her arm and jerked her roughly around.
“Dis way, ma’am,” he shouted over the cries of injured men and noise of shots being fired. The sharp smell of gunpowder and the frightening sound of wood splintering filled the air around them. The smoke from cannons being fired choked her as she jerked her arm free and headed for the deck. “I must see who is attacking us! It could be my rescuers!” Please! Let it be the Windjammer.
“Naw, Ma’am, I done seed dem an it jus’ another pi’ate ship. Our onliest chance is to jump over de side and swim fo it!” Without giving her a chance to refuse, Rob lifted her easily to the rail and tossed her over the side just before another cannon blast rocked the ship.
The deep, murky water came rushing forcefully to meet her, filling her skirts and dragging her under. Within seconds, her lungs were aching, demanding that she breathe, and her chest was on fire. For what seemed like an eternity, she struggled toward the surface against the heavy skirts that pulled her down, dragging her under until she could fight no longer. She longed for death to release her from this insufferable agony. Suddenly, Joshua’s face appeared in the black water and she swam toward him.
Chapter Twenty
Shivers of stabbing pain behind her eyelids caused Lynna to open her eyes. Then she was immediately forced to lift a trembling hand to cover them from the blinding rays of the blazing morning sun. She quickly squeezed her eyes shut and painfully rolled onto her stomach, groaning as she dropped her parched and swollen face into the scorching sand. Dear God! Every muscle in her body screamed with agony.
Where was she? How did she get here? How long had she been here? But most important, why couldn’t she remember the answers to these questions? Her mind was blank. She remembered nothing before opening her eyes to the too brilliant sun that was now searing her skin. The roar of crashing waves sounded extremely loud in her pounding ears and answered one of her questions. She was on a beach. With tremendous effort, she lifted her head.
Ahead of her was the vast ocean, and on both sides, nothing but sand as far as the eye could see. Wet sand clung to her face, stinging her eyes, and she could feel it gritting against her teeth. She brushed at the sand, but her gentle touch brought fiery pain to her sunburned skin and scalding tears to her red rimmed, bloodshot eyes. Her hands reflexively went to her hair to smooth the knotty mass of tangles there, but with the combination of salt, seaweed and God only knows what else, she found it to be an impossible task. Rolling back over, she buried her face in the sand, heedless of the pain, as heartfelt sobs shook her body.
Feeling somewhat better after a good cry, she took a deep breath and pulled herself up. Her arms jerked violently as she rose on quivering hands and knees and she cried out at the pain that small effort caused her, especially her upper arms and shoulders. After several attempts, she stood slowly, wondering if her knees would buckle, as they threatened at any moment to do. As she turned from the beach, she saw the cool shade of the forest beckoning her. If she could only dig deep into her soul and find the strength to make it there, she would never ask for anything else as long as she lived. “Please, God,” she prayed, “just let me make it to the shade.”
Each step she was sure would be her last, but after what seemed like hours of lifting the dead weight of her legs and dropping her feet into the hot sand, she finally reached the edge of the forest and sank down into its shady haven. Closing her burning eyelids, exhaustion overwhelmed her and she welcomed the cool, soothing darkness that once again enveloped her.
“Wake up! Is you alive? Wake up!” The voice seemed to come from far, far away, pulling her back from the welcomed darkness. “Dis heah’s Rob. Can you heah me?”
Lynna opened her eyes slowly, terrified of the enormous black giant of a man kneeling before her, who seemed determined to shake her bones loose. The whites of his eyes were angry red and bloodshot, causing her to back against the trunk of a coconut tree in fear for her life, with a look of stark terror marring her features.
“Why is you actin’ like you is sceared of me?” Rob asked, puzzled by her reaction and reaching out to gently brush the sand from her face. “I ain’t gwine hurt you.”
She saw the look of genuine hurt in his eyes and for reasons unknown to her, her fear for the bear of a man gradually began to dissolve. From somewhere deep within her soul she knew this man would cause her no harm.
“You knows I ain’t gwine hurt you after whut you done fo me.” He hung his head in shame, recalling how she had bravely given herself to the pirate captain to save him from the lash.
“What I done for you? I don’t even know who you are.” Her words came out as a scratchy croak. “Where am I?”
“I cain answer dat, ma’am.” He shook his head sorrowfully. “I come to down on de beach dis mawning’. I figured I was de onliest one whut made it to sho alive. So, I struck out through dem trees looking fo food and water.” He pointed to the thriving jungle behind them.
“Water!” she croaked, nodding her head rapidly. Tenderly touching her dry, swollen lips she whispered, “Did you find water?”
“I sho nuff did.” His huge calloused hands pulled her gently to her feet. “Can you walk?” he questioned worriedly. “Cause ifn you cain, I kin carry you.”
“Thank you…yes…” She looked at him oddly. “Who...who are you?”
“Rob, ma’am. My name is Rob.” For the first time he noticed the distant look in her eyes. “You ‘members me, from de ship, don’t you?”
“What ship?” Lynna scarcely got the words out, but Rob did not mistake the sincerity in her tone. It was then he realized that she had not survived the ordeal unscathed, as he had first hoped. He tried to make light of the situation and conceal his concern for her. “We’ll talk bout dat later. Fo’ now les git you some water.”
With his strong arms helping to support her, he led her through the jungle to a small clearing and a sparkling blue pond. Rob heard her soft gasp and then she was gone, plunging headfirst into the cool water. She drank deeply and when she had her fill, began rubbing the thick layer of salt, sand, and grime from her hair and skin. Her eyes closed blissfully as the water seemed to drain away some of her pain.
Rob watched silently from the bank, thanking God for sparing her life also. He had searched for her under the black, murky water until his lungs threatened to burst. Exhausted, he had surfaced, calling her over and over until he finally gave up hope, realizing that no one could stay under water that long and survive. Rob knew that only God’s hand had brought her safely to land.
“You stays rite her til I gits back, ma’am. I’se gwine find you sumphin’ to eat.”
“I will. And thank you. Rob? Do you know my name?”
“I sho don’t. But since you got all dat yeller hair, and ‘minds me of one, I’s gwine call you Buttercup.”
She floated dreamily in the water that was so cool on her sunburned skin. Looking around, she was left awestruck by the lush splendor of the tropical paradise. She relaxed, feeling the tension leave her tight muscles, then tensed when something large bumped against her back. Her gasp echoed through the still forest as she froze, too terrified to turn and see what manner of man or beast was behind her. God only knew what hideous creatures lurked beneath the depths of the clear, inviting water, waiting to devour her. Her heart seemed to form a lump in her throat as she waited, galvanized for the attack. Holding her breath, she realized no harm had befallen her, so gathering her courage, she turned slowly. As she did, the breath she held left her in a burst of merriment.
It was a water lily. Or at least she assumed it was. Having never seen one with such huge dimensions, she could not be sure. At least six feet in diameter, the lily pad was strong and buoyant, its brilliant color somewhere between lavender and pink. The flowers in the center were closed and she would later learn they
opened only after the sun went down. Feeling strangely adventurous, she climbed into the lily pad to see if it would support her weight. It did, and she settled into the cushiony softness. She relaxed, dangling her feet over the side and into the water as exhaustion from her trying ordeal once again settled over her and she slept.
Rob returned to find her asleep and floating on the giant pad. “Buttercup!” he called several times, but to no avail. Her sleep was one of physical exhaustion. He debated whether or not to let her rest. Deciding she needed food in her stomach more, he called to her again, receiving the same response. Picking up a large rock, he threw it in the water beside her, grinning when she sat up sputtering and wiping water from her face.
“What did you do that for?” she cried, sounding put upon.
“I called and called, but you ain’t wake up.” He smiled mischievously. “Come and eat dese nuts an berries I done found fo you.”
“Oh.” Forcing herself to leave the comfort of her lily pad, Lynna left the water and went to sit beside him on the damp moss. Hungrily, she grabbed a berry and stuffed the sweet, plump, juiciness into her mouth. She found the berries much to her liking, the same with the nuts. The tasty fare stopped the growling in her stomach, but left her far from satisfied.
Rob noticed. “After we finds us a place to sleep tonite, I see whut kind of meat I kin round up fo supper. I done seed plenty of rabbits and squirrels on dis heah island and dat big ole sea is full of fish, so we ain’t gwine starve.”
Lynna was immediately on her feet. “Where do we begin?” She was eager to help, having no desire to sleep on the open ground tonight with heaven knows what else for company.
Directly across from the pond Rob noticed for the first time what seemed to be an overgrown path. From the height of the grass in comparison with the surrounding vegetation, it was obvious that the path had once been well traveled. Tensing, then forcing his body to relax lest he alarm the girl, he realized they might not be alone on this island, as he had first suspected. He wondered if the natives were friendly and issued a silent prayer they were not the cannibals the pirate captain had often threatened him with. His insides tightened involuntarily at the thought of Lynna meeting with that horrendous fate. He would not let her see his fear as he vowed to protect her with his very life.
Taking her hand, they followed the path for several hundred feet through the dense jungle until they came to another shaded clearing of soft, inviting grass, surrounded on all sides by towering trees and scrubby plant life. Again Rob noticed that some of the undergrowth wasn’t as tall and thick as the rest. Moving to part the thick tangle of vines, he was amazed to find the entrance to a cave. Stepping inside, he squinted, trying to see through the eerie darkness, but his eyes could make out nothing except pitch black. The cave had been well used, for what he wasn’t sure, but he intended to find out. He walked around the clearing gathering dry leaves, twigs, and a flint rock as Lynna relaxed on the soft carpet of grass.
He rotated the flint rock into a pile of kindling until a spark ignited it. Fashioning a makeshift torch, he headed toward the cave entrance. “You waits heah while I takes a look inside.”
“Oh, no! I am going with you. I am not staying out here alone with...with…” She looked into the jungle, moving even closer to Rob when she heard what sounded like a woman’s piercing scream. “That!”
“It jus’ a bird, Buttercup. I spent time on a plan’ation in Jamaica, so I knows dat sound. Ain’t nothin’ to be sceared of.”
“Just the same. I am going with you.”
They shoved spider webs and other debris aside to enter the cave, gasping in unison as the light from the torch illuminated the interior. “I cannot believe it!” Lynna whispered. “This is unbelievable.”
“We ain’t de onliest ones on dis heah island,” Rob said, nervously surveying his surroundings. “Dat’s fo’ sho.” His huge hands clenched into tight fists as his sides, suddenly alert to hidden dangers.
While he stood motionless, Lynna took the torch and walked around the spacious cave, lighting torches that were attached to the wall. Light spilled across the room, illuminating a carved oak table with two sturdy chairs. A cabinet stood in one corner, filled with an assortment of carved wooden plates, bowls, cups, spoons and forks. What she found most pleasing was the bed. It was a four-poster with a canvas mattress and spread, presumably made from the sail of a ship.
“This is incredible!” Lynna breathed, astonishment in her voice. “Someone must have lived here for quite some time. And whoever carved this furniture was a master of the art.” She was quiet as she moved around the room, amazed at the craftsmanship. “But where is he now?”
Rob relaxed a little, realizing that neither natives nor cannibals were accustomed to the furnishings exhibited in the cave. “I reckon we be safe nuff heah, fo now.”
“I reckon we will.”
They both assumed from the vast amounts of cobwebs, dust and small furry creatures inhabiting the cave, that it had been vacated by its previous occupants long ago. Lynna immediately set about cleaning the place, hoping to make it livable by nightfall. On closer inspection of the much cherished bed, they found the moss filled mattress to be the home of a lively family of noisy squirrels. Rob chased the critters away and carried the mattress outside to refill with fresh moss. Lynna lugged the canvas spread to the beach to wash. Returning to the cave, they confronted the dirty interior together.
“Rob,” Lynna asked, unable to reach the ceiling. “Can you get those cobwebs down for me?”
“Yes, Ma’am,” he answered dutifully.
Lynna turned serious blue eyes on him. “Just yes, Rob. On this island we are equals. Here there is no color barrier between us. No master and no slave. Who knows, we may be on this island for the rest of our lives with only each other for companionship. I hope we can be friends.
“You is a fine lady, Buttercup, dats fo sho. Now, I’se gwine look fo supper, so it mite take a spell fo I gits back.”
“Here, you might need this.” In one corner of the cave stood a various array of spears of all shapes and sizes, a wooden bow and arrow, and a collection of hand carved knives. Picking a spear at random, she threw it at his feet.
A huge grin split Rob’s face. “A man cain axk fo a better place to be shipwrecked, can he?”
Later that evening, Rob was lost in thought as they sat at the table after a satisfying meal of baked fish and oysters, cacoon stew, and fresh fruit. Lynna was proud of the meal she had prepared. Cacoon stew was made from a vine called cacoon, with pods that grew up to three feet in length. Rob taught her how to boil the pods and make a stew that was surprisingly mouth-watering.
“I hope some of de others on dat ship was lucky as we was.”
“What ship?” she asked curiously. They had been so busy making the cave habitable that there had been little time for discussion. “You said we were shipwrecked. What ship were we on?”
“I keeps forgittin’.” Rob sighed wistfully. “You done forgot everthin’. Mite as well start at de beginnin’.”
As his unbelievable story unfolded, Lynna’s astonishment grew. She found it difficult, if not impossible, to believe she had actually given herself to a pirate captain to save this huge black man from being whipped. Nor could she believe she was married.
“What did you say my husband’s name was?”
“Michael Debero,” Rob answered patiently. “He was de brother of de pi’ate captain, Sean Debero.”
“Then part of my name is Devereux, at least we know that much.” She stood, roaming aimlessly around the cave, trying to make sense of what he was telling her. Why couldn’t she remember? “My husband Michael is the brother of this evil pirate. We were on our way to Tortuga when the ship was attacked and sank.” She stopped suddenly and said, “Then, I suppose my husband is dead?”
“I don’t know bout dat, Buttercup. He mite be alive, but I gots my doubts. De las time I turn around an look dat whole ship was in flames.” Lynna could only stare,
disbelief evident on her face as his words sunk in. “Whut I done tol’ you is de truth. De ship was on fire, we jumped over de side, and dat’s alls I member til I come to down on de beach.”
“I wonder if the rest of my life was this adventurous?”
“I cain tell you nothin’ ‘bout yo life befo’ you come to on dat beach. ‘Cept dat you lived on a fine sugar plantation wit’ Mist’ Michael.”
Lynna sat down on the clean canvas spread as sheer exhaustion seemed to seep from every pore in her body. ‘Rob, what happened to me? Why can’t I remember my life before the shipwreck?” Her eyes filled with tears and glistened in the waning light. “Will I ever remember my past?”
“I cain say. Sometimes it’s bes’ to forgit de pas’.” Rob looked down into his cup, seeing images he had hoped to forget. “Like mines. I was jus another slave on a fine cotton planation in Jawga. But, dis ain’t no awdnary plan’ation. You see, de Mastuh, Mastuh Hawkins, got his fun from seeing us slaves in pain. Cuttin’ off yo hand ifn you got so hongry dat you steal food fo yo chillens. I believe he spent most his time thankin’ up new ways to torture us. He even burned out one man’s eyes fo lookin’ too long at his ugly girl. Dat’s when I left. I cain take no mo. Even life on dat pi’ate ship, bad as it was, was better dan livin’ on dat planation wit dat crazy man.”
Rob glanced up after spilling his guts to find Lynna in peaceful repose. Pulling the spread over her, he went back to the table, thankful she had fallen asleep before he finished his story. She would fear him if she knew he was a murderer. For in the dead of night, he had killed old man Hawkins for burning out both of his brother’s eyes and making his mama watch. His mama had clutched her heart and died shortly after, and Rob no longer had a reason to remain on the plantation. He slipped away that night and made it to the harbor, and the notorious pirate ship.
With Lynna asleep, Rob left the cave to bury the skeleton he had found in the forest that morning. It was, presumably, the occupant of the cave. He had no way of knowing what had killed the man. Sickness, snakebite, or attack from beast or man. He would probably never know.