by Lucia, Julie
“Sometimes we have to make hard decisions. Only God knows what is best for us. Anyway, I have a telegram for you,” Captain Reilly handed it to her.
“For me?” asked Johanna surprised.
She took the envelope and watched Reilly walk away. Johanna noticed a deckhand near her who seemed to look familiar, but she couldn’t place him. Her fingers trembled as she opened it the parcel. She held her breath;
You’re in great danger.
All shall reveal itself in dew time.
Johanna looked around, slightly confused and slightly scared. Dew time? Whoever sent this could not spell. She looked back at the sunset it had changed to a menacing blood red. She went back into her cabin and locked the door behind her.
Johanna did not sleep well. She continued to have disturbing dreams filled with telegrams written in blood and an evil man chasing her into dark alleys all which ended before his hands were upon her, each time waking in sweat only to close her eyes again to began down another dark dead end alley. The last dream she realized her pursuer had no hands and a hooded cloak that shaded his face, she had awakened only by a disturbance outside her cabin. With sweat already on her brow and a heart that beat madly in her chest she quietly got out of her bed and tiptoed toward the door. She listened intently. All seemed quiet except a shuffling down the hall that seemed to be getting further from her. She held her breath a little longer and than relaxed.
“Must have been my imagination,” she headed for the bed and quickly decided against trying to enter into another bad dream. She didn’t need to be scared any more than she was. The sun had not awakened yet but she was ready for the day. She grabbed her locket and hid it again around her neck under her dress. She decided to explore the ship while everyone was asleep and when her hand grabbed the door handle she noticed it seemed wet.
She quickly lifted her hand a bit disturbed by it, “dew?” The note ran through her mind, ‘all will reveal itself in dew time.’ Johanna brushed it off and continued out her door. It was still dark, “maybe this is a bad idea,” she said to herself under her breath.
Johanna heard the shuffling again to her right and began to follow the noise down the ship’s deck. The noise careened around the bow and then halted. She was about to question her sanity, when she stumbled over something in the dark and grabbed the railing for support. It was wet again, but this time it felt sticky. She could barely see her feet or her hands in the thick darkness.
She tried to look at her hand and held it up in the fading moonlight. Johanna jumped from the fear of her realization that blood was on her hand and she fell over coming face to face with one of the young deckhand’s dead staring eyes. Johanna tried to scream, but nothing came out. She headed toward her cabin not knowing where to go. She opened it and found it was ransacked, her trunk was emptied and its contents spilled on the floor.
She was glad she was still wearing her mother’s locket. Johanna exited her cabin without thinking and headed to Captain Reilly’s room. A light shown below his door and it stood slightly ajar. Johanna pushed the door open and stepped in. She was horrified to see Captain Reilly gagged and bound in the corner of his room. The Captain was dead. Johanna whipped around to exit as quickly as possible not knowing if she should hide or try to escape the steamer.
The sun refused to rise and the sea air was cold, dark and unforgiving. She stood still it felt to her like an eternity. She couldn’t make her mind up what to do, she couldn’t swim and David wasn’t around to save her if she tried. She felt like fainting, but Rene was also nowhere to be found. She had no hope in surviving the morning. Fear had taken a hold of her and she was melted to the floor.
“Make a decision,” she said to herself, “or you are going to die.” So she pushed out of her mind the thought of a killer being aboard and probably searching for her and she continued down the dark hallway. She thought if she made it to a dinghy maybe she could row herself back to shore, it wasn’t that far away. Just then two beefy hands grabbed her from behind. She struggled but she was no match for him. He picked her up as if she was a child and he dragged her to the bridge.
“I knew we would meet again Miss Lee,” Captain Myers smiled at her.
“You…you killed the captain,” was the only thing Johanna could blurt out.
“I commandeered the ship, I am its captain now,” Myers explained. “I now own everything aboard including you.”
Johanna couldn’t believe this was happening again. She was being kidnapped except this time her captors were vile murderers. This was not turning out to be her year. Johanna searched the room for a way out or a weapon, but it was all in vain. She realized now why she recognized the deckhand. He was one of Myers’ men. Johanna felt defeated. No one was going to save her now. They were going to kill her and maybe ravage her first.
“Sit,’ said Myers. Johanna obeyed. “Give me your locket.” Johanna reluctantly handed it to him.
“I should have known you would hide it on you. Maybe I should have let my men search your body.” He smirked while he opened it in triumph.
He unfolded the letter carefully. His eyebrows rose with his confusion. “It seems I was not the only one deceived,” said Captain Myers and then handed her the note.
Johanna read it carefully. It took her a few times to understand its meaning. When it did become clear, she knew exactly who it was from.
“Like a thief in the night;
It wasn’t just your heart in plight.”
Johanna dropped the paper out of her hands and as it fell so did a tear down her soft cheek.
“Ah, you trusted someone you should not have.” Myers motioned his men to leave.
“It was stolen from me,” Johanna whispered. She looked up at Myers sadly. She was surprised to see that he actually seemed to have felt sorry for her.
“Now you know why I became a pirate. I too was deceived by someone I loved,” said Myers. “Here this will make you feel better,” he handed her a mug.
She felt numb and yet felt an all too familiar sting that she had felt one time before. So she took the mug and drank it. The shock of the rum burnt her throat and she spit it out as quickly as she tried to chug it. As she continued to cough, Myers laughed.
“Here try this instead,” said Myers. It looked the same but in a different mug.
“No thanks.” Johanna gasped.
“Ah, it’s only apple cider,” he insisted. Johanna looked at him with disbelief. “I have to keep it hidden. There is no way I am drinking with my men. They would slit my throat in a heartbeat. I have to stay sober and alert at all times or I am dead.”
“Well, that’s an awful way to live, even if you deserve it,” said Johanna as she drank the apple cider washing out the rum taste in her mouth.
“You mean sober and alert? I agree,” he laughed.
“No, I mean always feeling like your life is in danger even with your closest friends,” recently she knew about the always feeling like your life was in danger part.
“Ah you get used to it after awhile,” Myers answered. He stared her down. “Listen, I know it’s hard to believe, but they weren’t supposed to kill the captain, someone put his gag on too tight.”
“Is that supposed to make me feel better?” said Johanna. “What about the young deckhand? Why did you kill him too?”
“What young deckhand?” Myers asked confused. “Maybe he was a liability. I sometimes have no control over my men.” He brushed it off.
“So, what are you going to do with me?” she asked.
“I don’t know yet. We will be departing in a few hours. Maybe I will let you go before that,” he started to leave the room, “or maybe I will sell you to the highest bidder. I know I could be paid a lifetime of wages for a lady like you.”
Johanna heard the click of the lock on the door. She noticed the letter that fell to the floor. She knew it was from David. He knew all along that she loved him. She couldn’t believe how betrayed she felt. What did she think, they were going to run of
f together and live happily ever after? Maybe if she lives through this, she will marry Malcolm or maybe Rene? What did it matter, she was in danger again and this time no one was going to save her. She stared at the letter that lay on the floor. Getting angrier every minute, she began to plot revenge until the candle went out leaving her in the dark of night. She could hear Myers speaking on the deck to someone.
“Thanks brother, I will take it from here,” a voice laughed.
“Well, if you weren’t family I would fight you for her. She is definitely beautiful,’ said Myers. “You know we could get a pretty penny for her in the black market.”
“I know, but I believe it is time for her to get to know me a little bit better. There is no one around to save her this time,” the voice said.
“What about your comrades? Are you just going to desert them?” Captain Darren Myers asked his companion.
“Absolutely,” he said.
“Is it that easy for you to make this choice?” Myers asked.
“Well brother, you know how the old saying goes, ‘blood is thicker than water’,” both men laughed.
Chapter 19
A
s Johanna listened she couldn’t quite place the other voice, but it seemed quite familiar. She was on the verge of presumption when she noticed a light from the floor below her feet. She hadn’t seen before for it was overshadowed by the candle burning in the room. She leaned down and tried to peek through the cracks but the light extinguished abruptly and then she heard a voice from below.
“Are you going to open the trapdoor or do you want Myers to have his way with you?” She felt the wood with her fingers and pulled the trap open. Hands grabbed her from below and brought her down with a quick hand over her mouth. The trap shut as soon as the door opened to the bridge.
Johanna was scared for she couldn’t see who had just saved her since the voice was muffled by the trapdoor. She didn’t know if she had put herself in a far worse predicament than she had just barely escaped from. If she knew anything about herself, she probably had.
They listened intently to Myers yelling out orders to find her while he paced the floor above them. Her rescuer’s body leaned close to hers while they stood together at the top of the ladder.
He finally let go of his hold on her mouth and brought his fiery lips on hers in the darkness. She knew that kiss. It was hot and steamy and it was all she ever longed for.
“Are you okay?” the voice in the dark whispered softly in her ear.
“David,” she whispered as her heart skipped a beat. She felt relieved, excited and confused simultaneously.
David had never heard her say his name before. It made his body quiver and he quietly exhaled overwhelmed by the feeling. He kissed her again.
“Follow me,” he whispered again as he took her hand and led her to a small opening in the wood. She loved his hand. It was warm and strong. She felt safe even if she was mad at him for stealing the map. She would save her anger for later.
“They were going to use this for cannons but decided they would rather use the ship for commerce. More money in it,” David explained while they crawled through a small space.
To her surprise a boat awaited them with Jacob holding the oars. A makeshift ladder attached itself to the ship and they climbed down into the boat. The sun was about to peek over the horizon. Despite the situation, she was overjoyed to see Jacob. She gave him a big hug in silence. He in turn was just as excited and relieved to see her once again especially in one piece.
David used his strong arms to row and they disappeared out of the ship’s sight before they were noticed. Johanna still in shock from the whole experience sat quietly.
“Are you okay Miss Lee?” Jacob asked. “You seem a little out of sorts.”
“I am just a little overwhelmed that is all.” She tried to smile and not look at David. Her hand still feeling his in hers, although, he had already let go.
David stopped rowing and sat next her, he grabbed her cold hands that shivered in her lap. “They didn’t hurt you, did they?” he asked with concern.
“I am fine, thank you, Lieutenant McPherson,” she was grateful he seemed to care but her indignation toward him overshadowed that feeling. She felt betrayed by his letter in the locket and a bit foolish for letting him kiss her again.
David felt the coldness of her words. He let go of her hands and stood up to row once again. The tension on the boat was unnerving, and even Jacob kept silent until they reached shore.
“There is a coach waiting for us,” Jacob looked down at Johanna.
“Where am I going now?” she looked at both of them. They both didn’t know how to answer her. “Don’t tell me you still need information from me that you have not already stolen from me,” she looked at David with discernment.
Both men stared at her fury still not sure how to answer.
“We would like to discuss that with you,” David said beginning to be annoyed by her unrelenting temper.
“I am sure you do,” she said angrier with each passing minute. “I wish you would have left me on the ship at least I would know when I am being betrayed.”
“Ungrateful little wretch!” David blasted her.
“Ungrateful? Am I to be thankful that you have me a prisoner once again?” Johanna didn’t back down.
“I have saved your life!” he reminded her. “I could have left you there and you would have been taken to a black market auction. A slave to the highest bidder, is that what you wanted?” David scolded her.
“Okay you two. This isn’t the time,” Jacob interrupted their spat. “Let’s get ourselves to safety and then you can have it out.”
Reprimanded by Jacob, they turned their heads away from each other like small children both seething with anger.
In the early morning light they entered the coach still in silence until Jacob spoke. “Are you still heading for Virginia?”
“Yes, that is where people who love me are waiting,” she said while she glared at David. He was still angry with her and stared her down with contempt in his face.
“We will let you go. We won’t keep you prisoner any longer,” said Jacob.
“Why would you do that?” Johanna confused.
“On one condition,” David interrupted.
“Of course there would have to be a catch with you,” she said toward David.
David ignored her jab, “you must tell us where to get the military plans that go with the map we stol…,” he cleared his throat, “acquired.”
“That,” she smiled in triumph, “is because I never trusted anyone. It is in a dear friend’s possession until I say otherwise.”
“Who has it?” Jacob asked her.
“Safe, until my journey is complete,” she smiled.
“What does that mean?” Jacob asked her.
“It means it is waiting for her in Arlington,” David answered for her.
Johanna’s smile widened with a smug nod at both men.
“Then I guess we are heading to Virginia,” Jacob smiled at Johanna’s cunningness.
Chapter 20
“I
must make one stop before we go to the train station,” Johanna insisted. David raised his eyebrows wondering if she could be trusted.
“Here? Miss him already?” David asked.
“I left something here. I will just be a minute,” she hesitated than said, “He did ask me to marry him, maybe I am going to tell him yes,” she announced proudly and got out of the carriage.
Jacob laughed at David’s frown, “You have to love her tenacity.”
David looked up at Jacob with a half smile and then watched her disappear in the doorway.
“Johanna? You are still here in New Orleans?” Rene asked adjusting his shirt. Johanna noticed a woman exiting the room rather quickly.
Johanna had to laugh. “I see you weren't keeping a candle burning for me.”
Rene smiled sheepishly and shrugged his shoulders. “I believe you have caught me,”
he didn’t deny it. “If I told you it was to get over you, would you believe me?”
”Absolutely not, I have a feeling you were over me once you closed my carriage door.” She laughed. He laughed too. “I have a favor to ask you.”
“Anything,” he smiled at her.
“The cigar box that I asked you to save for me, do you still have it?” she asked.
“Yes. It is in a safe place. Are you taking up smoking cigars now? You devil you,” he smiled. “Do you want me to get it for you?”
“Yes please, I am kind of in a hurry.” Johanna looked back in the carriage’s direction.
“I will be right back,” Rene left the room.
Johanna felt like it had been a year ago that she was Rene’s guest. Everything had changed. Instead of going to Virginia with Malcolm, (where he was she did not know), she was leaving with David.
“Here it is,” Rene came back in the room and handed her the box. “Is the box what makes it valuable or what’s inside?”
“Oh definitely what is inside,” she smiled. “Oh, by the way, have you seen Malcolm?”
“I thought he was with you,” Rene confused.
“No, we got separated. If you see him, could you tell him that I am catching the next train to Virginia? I feel like I should let him know,” she said.
“He left you again?” he asked. “I told you he wasn’t a nice guy. Yet you left me for him anyway.”
“Rene, you know I didn’t leave you for him, just for Arlington,” she smiled.
“Are you traveling alone?” he asked.
“Oh no, I am not,” she left it at that.
“Would you like me to walk you to the carriage?” he asked with a hint of sadness in his voice.
“No, I think it’s best you stay here, for the last time you walked me out I could barely catch my breath,” she smiled and he laughed his infectious laugh.
# # #
On the train David and Johanna sat in silence while Jacob slept next to them, head against the rocking window pane.