The Seahorse

by Michael Aye

  Montique had befriended that fool, Commodore Gardner. Gardner awarded him contracts that allowed him to be privy to information regarding convoy sailing times, when they were expected and their strengths. He’d then have privateers ready and waiting. He’d done the same with a Colonial agent.

  Montique had amassed a fortune. Now it was gone, all gone because of Faith. I should have sold her with the other young girls we captured, he thought. She wouldn’t be so uppity in some Dey’s harem.

  “We’re here, sir, at the landing,” the boat’s cox’n said, breaking Montique’s reverie.

  “Yes, thank you,” Montique said, the perfect gentleman, placing a few coins in the sailor’s hand.

  Climbing out he didn’t even acknowledge his handymen. They would meet up the hill out of sight of the brig’s crew. He didn’t want anybody to be able to tie him to the rogues. Once up the hill he gave each man a few coins with specific instructions in regards to seeking directions. The story was they had sailed with Captain Anthony in the past and desired to sign on again. Nothing was to be mentioned about the women at all.

  ***

  Lady Deborah got in the carriage and took Macayla Rose. Nanny then climbed in. Her abundant weight caused the carriage to lean and its springs to groan as she struggled aboard. Nanny had spent more and more time helping with Macayla.

  When Deborah protested about Nanny doing so much the old black woman replied, “Shucks, honey, it ain’t no bother. I’s jus practicing up foh when Missy Faith’s little one comes along. Now she was a handful sho nuff…Missy Faith was. So I don’t ’spect dis little girl gonna be much trouble.”

  Deborah had stopped protesting and was actually grateful for Nanny’s help. Lum watched as the carriage headed off to English Harbour. He was glad to see them go for a while. They were adding on a small room to accommodate the little one when it came. However, Lum was limited as to when he could work.

  Just that morning, Nanny had rushed out the door all flustered. “Hush up wid dat hammering, you old coot. You going to wake dat child and when she’s fussy cause she didn’t get her nap you gonna be rocking her.”

  Humph! Lum thought. At the rate this room is going Missy Faith’s baby will done be here and it still won’t be built. Fetching his carpenter’s box, Lum started up the ladder to work on the rafters for the new room when suddenly the ladder started to slide backwards. Looking down Lum could see Samson had the bottom step in his mouth and was tugging on it.

  “Get, get, you ole hound.”

  But still Samson tugged and growled. As he did so, slobber drooled from his mouth.

  “Get, I say,” Lum shouted but to no avail. He climbed down the ladder only to have Samson run off. No sooner had Lum turned and got halfway back up than Samson was back.

  He barked a time or two then started tugging at the ladder again. This time, however, he pulled so hard it slipped away from the boards it was leaning against. After bouncing a couple of times, it hit the ground hard. Lum was not injured but the fall had scattered his tools and nails all over the ground.

  “You blasted hound,” Lum bellowed. “I ought to bust you with this hammer.”

  This set Samson to barking loudly as he danced back and forth with his tail wagging.

  Faith ran out and cried, “What’s happening?”

  “This heah beast is what happened,” Lum said, telling Faith about Samson’s actions.

  “He’s just trying to play,” she said as she scratched his head. “Poor baby. I bet you scared him with that old hammer, Lum.”

  “Scared him!” Lum exclaimed. “It was me falling off that there ladder. I was the one what was scared.”

  Faith knelt beside the dog, her pregnant belly protruding, and Samson licked her face.

  “Come on baby,” Faith whispered as she took a piece of twine and tied Samson to a nearby palm tree.

  Baby, Lum thought. We could hitch him up to the carriage if the horse ever went lame.

  Back inside the house, Faith looked in the mirror. Her breasts were getting heavy and her dress top felt very tight. Nanny had said to rub them with the coconut butter she had made.

  “You don’t want no purple stretch marks, child. You keep ’em rubbed now like Nanny says.”

  Lum had been working on the roof a good thirty minutes when he saw riders coming. There was something familiar about the way one man sat his saddle. It suddenly dawned on him. Mastuh Montique.

  Lum leapt off the house. “Missy Faith! Missy Faith, get yoh gun, hurry now.” He raced on back to his quarters to get his pistol.

  Faith had just got her pistol loaded as Gabe had taught her when the front door of the cottage was flung open. Holding the pistol at her side, tucked into the folds of her dress, she tried to remain calm.

  “Uncle Adam,” she said, trembling with fear, not believing that he’d dare to appear so boldly. “And what do I owe this visit?”

  Montique took off his cocked hat and threw it across the room toward a side table. “’Tis no concern why I’m here, only that I’m here.”

  The two cutthroats with Montique eye’d Faith hungrily. “She’s carrying ’is kid,” one of the men said. “Yew ever laid open a gut what was with child?” he asked his cohort.

  “Nay, but that’ll come later…after I’s tasted this mutton’s ware.”

  “Uncle Adam!” Faith exclaimed. “You can’t mean you’d let them…have me.”

  “You had your choice once, lass. But you chose that admiral’s bastard.”

  “But you’re my uncle!” she cried.

  “We could have moved away. But it’s of no consequence. You made your bed. Now it’s time to lie in it.”

  “You should leave,” Faith said, suddenly resolved that if she must die she’d take one of the sods with her.

  “You tire of our company already?” Montique asked. “You haven’t even offered us refreshments. Has she men?”

  “I’ll get my refreshment in a minute,” one of the men said, smiling. His teeth were almost black.

  “Go to hell,” Faith spat, wondering where Lum was.

  “Soon as we’ve finished with you we’ll go, whether that means to hell…who knows. But you’ll be beyond caring.”

  “Are you gentlemen ready for this little piece of dessert?” Montique asked.

  Without answering the two stepped forward. Faith cried out. Samson hearing his mistress’s cries lunged several times before snapping the twine that had him tethered. He bounded for the house.

  Lum had been standing just behind the door listening and praying the group would leave. When Faith cried out he knew there was no reason to wait any longer. With a pistol in his hand and a tomahawk in his belt he snatched opened the door. Without taking time to aim he just pointed his pistol and fired. A hole appeared dead center of the closest man’s chest.

  Lum dropped his smoking pistol and snatched up the tomahawk. Just as he went to throw it the second rogue acted very quickly and shot at Lum. The ball hit Lum just as he threw the tomahawk. Instead of hitting Montique in the head as Lum hoped, the razor sharp axe cut into his enemy’s shoulder. A red spot showed where the tomahawk cut through the coat and shirt but didn’t cause any significant injury.

  Faith, acting quickly, raised her pistol and shot the man who had shot Lum. Doing as Gabe had instructed her she jammed the barrel into the man’s stomach and pulled the trigger.

  “Who you going to gut now?” she spat.

  Montique, seeing Lum leaning against the wall bleeding from a shoulder wound, said, “Well, it’s the white man’s killing nigger. You’ve breathed your last, you uppity bastard.”

  Montique made a point of taking aim. Just as he pulled the trigger Faith hit him with her fist, screaming, “No!”

  The ball grazed Lum’s scalp, rendering him unconscious. Furious at Faith, Montique grabbed her arm and slung her against a chair toppling it over. He jerked her up by her hair and slammed his fist into her stomach then backhanded her.

  CRASH!!! The front door splinte
red.

  CRASH!!! This time the busted door flew open. Montique never knew what happened. Samson’s one hundred twenty-five pounds crashed against the man at full speed. All Montique saw was the red eyes and black face of hell as the mastiff’s jaws closed around his throat and ripped it open. Shaking the downed man from side to side the dog held on to his prey until the body went limp. Dropping the dead man, Samson went over and whimpering licked at Faith’s battered face but she remained unconscious.

  Lum, still dazed and hurting, but conscious, raised himself up. He took a picture of water and poured some over his face and head. This helped clear some of the cobwebs. As soon as he was able to focus, he saw Samson standing over Faith bathing her with his tongue.

  As he moved toward the injured woman, the dog growled. It was then that Lum realized the black around the dog’s mouth was blood. He then saw a foot and following the direction he saw Montique with his neck ripped open. His head was lying on the floor at an odd angle. Samson had come to Faith’s rescue. Turning back to Faith, he took a step and the dog growled…a menacing growl.

  “Easy boy…easy now. You know ole Lum. Easy now.”

  The growling stopped but the bristles on Samson’s back were still up.

  “Easy boy. Let me see to Missy Faith, easy now.”

  Lum slowly moved toward Faith, letting the big dog smell his hand. Lum was finally beside Faith. “She’s hurt bad,” he said to Samson, who took a step back. Samson’s big old droopy eyes looked like he was crying.

  Moving a chair out of the way, Lum reached under Faith to pick her up and quickly withdrew his wet hand…blood.

  He slowly lifted her dress and cried out, “Oh my God, oh God.” His fear was realized. “How’s my missy going to stand this? Oh God, please be with my Missy.”

  Glad that she was unconscious, Lum quickly undressed and cleaned up Faith, disposing of the bloody garments. Hearing a noise outside, Lum ran outside and flagged down the passerby.

  “Please sir, go fetch the doctor and Lady Deborah. Hurry, sir, please hurry.”

  The rider, hearing the anguish in Lum’s voice, took off at a gallop. Back inside Lum changed the cloth he’d placed on Faith’s forehead, replacing it with a fresh cool one. When Faith spoke Lum jumped, not expecting it.

  “Yes, Missy?”

  “The baby, Lum…” tears coming from her eyes. “The baby is gone.”

  Lum’s voice quivered, “Yes, Missy…this one’s gone.”

  “Where’s Montique?”

  “Samson took care of him.”

  Hearing his name, Samson, who was lying at the foot of the bed, whined.

  “Good boy,” Faith whispered as she again fell unconscious.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Faith had been seen by the doctor and given an anodyne. The doctor was tending to Lum’s wounds when Commodore Gardner arrived. He had rushed to the scene, not only as a concerned friend but also in his capacity as Chief Magistrate, a position he had been appointed to when the new governor had arrived.

  Gardner took notes as Lum told his story. “A clear cut case,” he said when Lum finished his story. “But tell me, what do we do with that dog? He’s a man killer now.”

  Stupefied by Gardner’s comments, Lum spoke boldly. “Unless you wants another killin I ’spect that dog better be left alone.”

  “Ahem…” Gardner sputtered. “Well I guess it won’t hurt to see how he behaves.”

  Men hired by Gardner hauled off the dead bodies while Nanny supervised cleaning the front room. As Lum’s shoulder was bandaged and he couldn’t finish his carpenter work, a man was fetched from the dockyard to lend a hand. A new door was hung to replace the one Samson busted.

  The anodyne made up of extractum thebaicum and laudanum was given to Faith every eight hours for two full days. When the sun rose on the third day she refused the mixture. Nanny was sitting by Faith’s bed when she awoke.

  “My baby’s gone, Nanny,” Faith said with a tremor in her voice.

  Taking a washcloth from a pan of water, Nanny squeezed the excess water out and wiped Faith’s face. “Yes, child, I know. The Lawd done called that baby home. I dreamed just last night that baby was up in heaven. It was in yoh mama’s arms and she had the prettiest smile on her face as she rocked her grandbaby.”

  “Oh Nanny, do you think so?”

  “I sho do child. You know Nanny don’t lie nary a bit. Now you lay back and rest a bit moh whilst I go fix you a little something to eat.”

  As Nanny went to walk away, Faith grabbed her arm. “What is it, child?” Nanny asked, seeing a frightened look on the girl’s face.

  “Uncle Adam…did…did they get him?”

  Not wanting to go through the gory details, Nanny just nodded and said, “Yes, child, they got that heathen and I ’spect his soul is roasting in torment bout now.”

  “Good,” Faith said. “That’s where he needs to be.”

  Nanny turned to go when Faith called again. “Nanny, what about Gabe?”

  “I don’t know about that, child. He’ll be home befoh long though. Don’t you fret.”

  “He’ll be mad,” Faith cried, tears streaming down her face. “I lost his baby.”

  “Nonsense, child. Gabe will be mad sho nuff but it’ll be at that evil man, Montique. If he wasn’t already dead I ’spect Gabe would hunt him down and poke that old long sword he carries clean through him. Now you hush while I go to the kitchen.”

  Nanny eased the bedroom door to as she stepped out of the room and found Lady Deborah standing there.

  “What a wonderful woman you are,” Deborah said. “That was such a perfect answer you gave Faith about her mama rocking her grandchild.”

  “That wasn’t no story,” Nanny replied. “That was the truth. I could see it just as plain as day. It were the Lawd’s way of letting old Nanny know that child was being taken care of.” Nanny made a couple steps toward the kitchen then stopped and spoke once more. “You know, Lady Deborah, the closest thing to heaven is a child.”

  Deborah found herself standing staring at the black woman who was finally making her way to the kitchen. Awed by Nanny’s words, she thought, how lucky Faith was to have such a servant…no Nanny was much more than a servant or even a friend. She was more like a mother.

  ***

  Peregrine’s sails began to take shape through the midday sun as people on the island of Antigua watched her approach. She was not a stranger but not so familiar that she was instantly recognized. Ships of war were common to English Harbour, so the trick was not to sight the ship but to identify it first. Old salts gathered under the thatched awning of a small tavern and spent their time trying to be the first to correctly identify each ship. The results usually meant a free wet and bragging rights till the next ship approached.

  Antigua being a small island, word had quickly spread about the assault and shootings that took place at Lady Deborah’s cottage. Therefore, when Peregrine was sighted, haste was made to spread the word. Because of this Commodore Gardner was waiting when Gabe’s gig reached land.

  Sitting in his coach, Gardner quickly explained the events. Faith was safe and gaining strength. Lum was recovering well and Samson had left Faith’s side only to answer nature’s call. After Gardner had finished his narrative, Gabe looked at Dagan.

  “You knew didn’t you…about the dog, I mean? You knew he’d protect Faith.”

  “I had the feeling,” Dagan answered. “I didn’t know to what extreme but I had the feeling.”

  “Gabe,” Gardner spoke once more to the boy who had turned into a man before his eyes. “Faith is worried about you blaming her for the loss of the child.”

  Gabe went to protest but Gardner held up his hand to halt him. “I…we know different. However, you have to reassure Faith.”

  Gabe nodded his understanding and the rest of the carriage ride was in silence until they pulled up to the cottage.

  “One more thing, Gabe,” Gardner said. “Viper was in port a few days back. I sent a message
to Lord Anthony about the situation when she sailed. I hope you didn’t mind.”

  “No sir,” Gabe replied.

  He was now anxious about facing Faith. If only I’d been here, he thought feeling guilty.

  Dagan seemed to read his thoughts. “You couldn’t have known, Gabe. Now clear your mind and let’s go see your wife.”

  ***

  A faint cool breeze rustled through the palms overhead. Gabe reached for the bottle of wine in the wicker basket. The cork made a tiny pop as it came out. Faith giggled at the sound. After filling the glasses, Gabe replaced the bottle and lay by Faith at the edge of a small fresh water pool located at the back of Lady Deborah’s plantation. They had driven the carriage down in the late afternoon and now the faint light of a new moon shone down into the glade and reflected off the pool’s surface. A bird called from somewhere deeper in the trees.

  Faith had kicked off her shoes and dangled her legs into the water. Gabe sat on the blanket at the edge of the pool his arm around his wife. It had been a week since he’d returned to Antigua and his wife.

  There had been a tearful period but Faith seemed to be putting it behind her. Samson…that dog was forever at her side and now lay with his eyes on the picnic basket. Faith had given the beast every scrap that was left. Yet he lay watching to see if another morsel magically appeared. The big brute had made Gabe step lightly a time or two the first day until Faith soothed him. Now Samson seemed to accept Gabe. And to show his appreciation he gave Gabe a sloppy lick when they’d sat down to eat. Either that or he was seeing how Gabe tasted if there wasn’t enough food.

  Gabe wasn’t quite sure but Faith had clapped her hands, and exclaimed, “Oh look, Gabe, he likes you.”

  Gabe smiled, wiped his face, and said, “But how…as friend or food?”

  This caused Faith to laugh and Samson to jump about and bark. This was the first time she had laughed since he arrived in Antigua. He was glad he’d taken Lady Deborah’s advice about the two of them getting away together.

  “Gabe, can you swim?” Faith asked.

  “Of course,” he replied.