by Lisa Grace
Having seen both sides of him now, and what his job entailed, she sat on the edge of her bed contemplating how this had changed her feelings for him. Her love hadn’t lessened any, but it was now tinged with the truth he had burdens well beyond her understanding. She refused to believe he could feel good about killing those men, whether they deserved it or not. The horror of what he must live with—now she understood why he kept his feelings in check. He must be a steady rock for his men. He must take on the burden of his decisions. This gave birth in her a want to please him, to comfort him, to be a safe harbor in which he could renew his strength. She was more determined than ever to find a way to him, and his heart. He shouldn’t have to bear such responsibility without the hope of someone to care for him. King and country were a noble duty, but hardly a comfort when out at sea. He and his men were the sole law watching over a vast ocean of crimes.
She got up and brushed her hair. Mary just knew he would come to her cabin once this ordeal was over, and when he did, she wanted to be ready for whatever he required or wanted from her. She prayed her heart was right with God. It didn’t feel wrong, just unknown. Her uncertain future seemed just like the winds, forever changing at a moment’s notice. She sat down and waited for her future to come to her.
***
Captain Graham along with his crew watched the drowning of the pirates. To take a man’s life was a solemn business. Some went in fighting and clawing. Some were desperate to work loose the cannonball while being pushed in. Others went quietly, and willingly stepped off. Some called to God for help. He could only guess they’d made peace with their maker. Yet others went down cursing.
He hated the part of his command where he must mete out punishment or death. Maintaining a strong will in front of his men gave them the strength to face their fear of death in battle, or circumstances such as this. It had to be done. Not all had the fortitude to carry the authority of life and death in their speech, and have others follow through with those orders. He could only imagine the burden of the King. His charge here was to give courage to three hundred, the King’s duty was to him and an entire nation.
Movement at the back of the ship caught his eye, the swish of her silk cut through the other sounds of the ship and the sea he was accustomed to. She had made her way onto the deck. He kept his eyes on the men. He had hoped she would stay below until the whole of the pirate situation had been resolved. Would she be repelled by him, knowing what he was capable of?
The next pirate on the plank wobbled before one of the sailors helped him off. When he hit the water, Bennett thought he heard a gasp from Mary. He did not turn to look. There was nothing he could do now but what his duty commanded.
The name the pirates called him, when he’d had them tortured for the information he so desperately needed, where the pirates coves were, how many, methods of attack, and how they’d come to possess the treasure, felt fitting. Bloody Graham. He needed this information to keep his men, and Mary, safe.
In naval training, it was taught safety was an illusion which could be maintained by order. Order could be maintained by respect. Respect could be maintained by just punishment. Just punishment could be endured when the consequence for failure, was death. Disorganization led to death sooner.
When the last of the traitors had been dispatched, he made his way to his stateroom to pray. For mercy on the souls of the men lost in battle, mercy for the men he’d had to have put to death, and lastly, mercy for his own soul.
An hour later, he called for Randall. “How is the transporting of the treasure coming?”
“We’ll have to leave some ballast behind, the weight of the gold is sufficient to balance the ship. She’ll sit a good three hands lower, and be slower. It will take all the skiffs a hundred trips each. I have forty-two crew men working. One to inventory leaving and receiving, two to row each skiff, twelve to pack, twelve to unload, four to secure once on deck. We'll be here a day or two at this rate.”
He stood at the table with the newest surveys of the coast laid over the existing maps of the coastline. He motioned for Randall to stand by him and pointed at the map, “According to the pirates their coves are here, here, and here. Best for attacking the slow incoming merchant ships by the most common routes. They have make shift towns on the Isla del Cocos and this unnamed island here. This island, along the back, is too close to the mainland shore. The pirates worry they will be caught. They cannot outrun an empty ship coming from port. It is also known to be surrounded by reefs which are dangerous to boats and infested by man-eating sharks, so the pirates fear it. This then, I believe, is the best location to impound the gold until we can get a message to the King. After we have secured the gold, we can stop a merchant ship on its way back to England, to take a message to the King. We will then finish our survey of the coast. Thoughts?”
“The men will talk when we get back to port. With sailors, women and spirits lead to loose tongues.”
Graham sighed and nodded, thinking.
“Pardon me, but perhaps if we give them a story—”
Graham raised his eyebrows, so Randall continued, “The pirate, ‘Sangrie Graham, Bloody Graham’ took the treasure, and buried it on the other side of the Isla del Cocos. We fought the pirates, and killed them, but alas they took the secret location of the treasure to their grave.”
“Bloody brilliant, Randall, every sailor needs a yarn, even one in the King’s employ.” He clapped his hand on the back of Randall’s shoulder shaking it.
***
Mary waited. But Bennett didn’t come. Shortly before night fall, she heard the strange calls of the men over the sides of the ship, followed by a scraping noise along the deck, then clinking and clanging. Curiosity got the better of her so she headed to the deck to see what was going on. She saw Charles coming up the backside stairs and motioned to him. “Charles, what is going on?”
“Look miss.” He pointed over the rail to a ship lurched sideways on the rocks. A flat bottomed collier, listing badly. She could see men and skiffs, all the skiffs, docked or out at sea heading slowly loaded with bags and chests, toward the Devonshire or empty ones on their way to the injured craft.
Charles’ eyes were sparkling, “Treasure, miss, the ship was full of treasure! Men had mutinied and killed the captain and half the crew to take it, then pirates caught them when they washed upon the breakers. Captain Graham took care of all the pirates, may God have mercy on their souls, and now we're securing the treasure! Come see!”
He pushed off from the rail and motioned for her to follow him down the back stairs to the cargo hold. He went down the stairs two levels. One sailor stopping him, “Get back you ragamuffin.”
“I’m just showin’ the miss. She needs to see the treasure so she can sketch it. Would you like me to get the captain?”
The sailor scowled and moved aside to let them pass. Charles winked at Mary. Down in the hold, Charles motioned for Mary to follow him into the room, “Look, miss!” Charles lifted the lid on an exposed trunk. He ran his fingers through the gold doubloons it contained. “It’s full of them! And there are bags of more, and silver, and fine pieces of lady things—like pins and brooches.”
Mary took it all in. She knew the pirate stories. But they had always been just—stories. She turned to Charles. “This all belongs to the King of Spain.”
“Not anymore, miss.” Charles laughed, “Now it belongs to King George!”
“What will Captain Graham do with all this treasure? Surely we cannot continue to survey with all this gold on the ship.”
“Don’t worry, miss. The Captain will have a plan. We will know soon enough what will happen.”
“Charles, will you escort me back to the deck, please?”
“Yes miss, let’s watch them unload the next boat.”
“Take me to my cabin to get my supplies. I would like to speak to the captain, but I may as well work until he is available.”
“He’s busy all right. I am sure he will be coming on the deck to
see the transfers.”
After they retrieved Mary’s supplies, she set up to sketch the skiffs as they unloaded the treasure on the deck. Mary said, “Charles, did you watch the—events this morning?”
“You mean the pirates walk the plank?”
Mary hesitated, then nodded.
“Yes. We all did, miss. When a man dies for his crimes, we all stand witness. A sailor has his duties. I hope to not see anymore.”
“May I ask a frank question? You do not have to answer.”
Charles nodded.
“What do you really think of Captain Graham, not what the officers tell you you must say, but what you feel in your heart.”
Charles looked as one of the men carrying a smaller bag, which was heavier than a barrel of whiskey, stumbled as the bag he was carrying hit the rail on his way to the stairs. The man cussed.
“Miss, I was beat as an indentured boy to a fish merchant. I’ve never had a mum or da I knew. When I ran away and signed on the Devonshire, I found a home. I have a duty now that serves my king. The captain is everything. He took me on. He keeps us all. There is hard work on a ship for all hands, yes, but with purpose. Those are his words. He’s a man of honor.” Charles paused trying to find the right words, “I’ll die for him, miss. Every man on the Devonshire would. He’s the Captain. He is the life and soul of the ship.”
“Thank you, Charles for your honesty.”
Mary finished her sketches and watched as the sun sank below the horizon and into the waves. There was a full moon and lanterns lit on both ships as the men kept working through the night. She sat and watched on the open deck. She could see the glow from the lamps lit below decks on the foundered ship.
Her adventure was turning out to be nothing like she had planned. Magdela gone forever, and now she was all alone unchaperoned, pirates were a real threat, a bloody battle had been fought, men wounded or dead, and now a treasure needed to be dealt with. What would happen when more pirates came looking for it? Were they watching from the island, hidden by the steep sides and the foliage? Would they attack?
A breeze took wisps of her hair and gently blew them in her face. She shivered. Mary looked up at the masts of the ship. She felt alone. Did Bennett have feelings for her? Or was she projecting feelings to his lust that simply were not there? Charles said he was honorable. But could a man who could kill so easily experience love?
There were sailors straddling the crossbars with spyglasses on alert for pirates. She counted eight all together. All assigned to watch for any sign of more pirates. The captain did run an alert ship. He kept the men busy and informed as to their duty. She realized his respect to the details was his way of showing the men he cared.
On deck Mary felt a part of a bigger purpose. She decided to stay on deck watching the orderly transport of their new unexpected cargo. She wasn’t ready to go back to her cabin, after spending so much time below decks, mourning the loss of Magdela, sleeping her pain away, she wasn’t tired at all. She could sketch the night away. She kept looking for Captain Graham, and every now and then she thought she heard his voice carried on the wind. His mind was no doubt occupied by the business at hand. Was his promise to her one he still intended to keep or was the matter of the treasure and what to do with it of such importance he couldn’t be bothered with the reputation of a colonial girl?
Charles laid some sacks of barley against some coiled ropes and sat next to her, a faithful escort. He soon fell asleep.
As the night wore on she leaned her head against the rail to rest her head. The breeze and the calls from the men at work were a comfort. Her pad slid off her lap onto the deck soon followed by her charcoal. She wished Bennett Graham would find the time to talk to her to reassure her she was still very much on his mind. She fell asleep thinking of him.
***
Captain Graham came up to the deck at the start of the sixth watch, the one which would take them to dawn. He went to the lieutenant stationed on the Captain’s deck, “Report.”
“At this rate we should finish late tomorrow.”
“Good.”
He looked down on the lower deck and saw her. Mary was asleep on a deck chair her head against the rail. The cabin boy, Charles, was curled next to her on a makeshift bed of coiled ropes and sacks. He smiled. He was not expecting her to take so well to life at sea. Granted, it had been only a week, but before he’d known her, he would have expected tears and pouting at her situation. Yet the only time she’d requested his presence, was the night she’d found Magdela ill.
He’d made it clear she was a temptation, and she had kept her distance. He was left to do his work, and keep his men’s respect. A lesser woman would have fawned, pouted, pursued, or bothered him, leaving his men to doubt his leadership.
She waited. She was willing to wait. Waiting would be a necessary trait for a captain’s wife. Today, a day of battle and death had not been a day to create a bond. Maybe tomorrow would if the weather held and the blasted pirates that were left kept their distance. He had not had the time to speak his intentions. Maybe after witnessing the fate he had bestowed upon the pirates she may have changed her mind. Being the wife of a captain may now be the last thing she wanted. It could be the reason she had not asked for an audience with him today. She may be horrified and repulsed. Somehow, he could not believe this was true. Would she be sitting on a chair about the deck now, where she would certainly run into him, if she had no desire to do so? Just watching her below from his place on the higher captain’s deck, made his pulse race faster. His first thought was to let her sleep. All though with just a skeleton crew working, the privacy of the night watch was as still as the ship would be.
***
Bennett went down the steps to stand near Mary by the rail. He spoke quietly. “Miss Welch, I trust you are comfortable enjoying the breeze. It is a nice break from the heat of earlier today.”
Mary roused herself and sat up taking a deep breath, then tried to suppress a yawn. She smiled. “Yes, you caught me. I quite fell asleep on deck.” She smiled at him, as she patted her stray wisps of hair into place. “My chaperone,” she gestured to Charles who was deeply sleeping and lightly snoring. “My chaperone has been taking great care to protect me from any unwanted attentions. Thank you for assigning him to me.”
Bennett nodded. “Yes, he is a fearless defender—when awake.”
Mary laughed softly, then quieted quickly. “I am sorry, you have had a trying day. I do not mean to be taking you away from your duties. Would you prefer I take my leave from the deck and go back to my room?”
“No, no. I myself have spent more than a night on deck when the weather permits. Sleeping under the stars while the ship is moving through the night has a way of clearing the mind.”
Bennett put both hands behind his back and faced Mary who arose from her chair and went to stand near the captain. Mary rested her hands on the rails looking out at the skiffs and the salvage operation going on out at sea just beyond the ship.
“The crew of the ship—they were dead when we arrived?”
The captain nodded. “The honest ones who fought defending their captain and the ship were killed. The justice of the seas found them next. The inexperienced crew ran aground, leaving their fate to those of the local pirates.” He paused and watched the operations of his men loading the far away skiff with more treasure.
Bennett spoke softly, “I am sorry you had to witness a distasteful part of life aboard a warship. I never would have let you stay to see such sights.”
“No, forgive me. You did have your heart set on returning me to my home, back to shore. The pirates attacked and the point to return me passed. It is my own fault for my jumping blindly into an adventure without thinking my actions may hurt others. It was not my intention to cause you any compromise in your duties. If I had not come, Magdela might still be alive, and I would still have my honor. You have been so very kind.”
Mary turned to leave now that she had said her piece. She had told him as bes
t she knew, his duty and the horrors that came with his position, while shocking, were understood.
As she went to walk past him he lightly said her name, “Mary.”
She turned to face him, her heart beating wildly. “Yes?”
He reached out and pulled her in for a kiss. She did not resist. He pulled back to speak softly, “There is no reason to return without honor. I would have you to be my wife. We can be married at sea. You will return wedded. Perhaps it is not the life you imagined or the future your parents would have chosen for you, but your honor, and theirs, would still be intact. I can promise you my love and respect. While my proposal is sudden, I have thought of nothing but you from the moment I saw you. If Magdela had lived and you were still properly chaperoned, I would not have the right to speak what is on my mind. I would not see you return to ruin when making you my wife would be an answered prayer and my greatest pleasure.”
Mary reached up to stroke his cheek, “Yes, I would have you as my husband. The thought of returning to shore to never see you again was unbearable.”
Mary smiled, and stepped back. Bennett held out his arm and spoke over her shoulder, “Charles!”
Charles startled awake. “Yes sir,” he said standing up and getting his balance.
“Please escort Miss Welch and me back to her stateroom. You are to sleep outside her room tonight. Miss Welch and I are engaged. We will post bans and within the fortnight we will have a proper shipboard wedding.”
“Yes sir!” said Charles as he followed at a respectful distance behind.
Mary smiled and squeezed Bennett lightly on the arm. Since she had set eyes on him her fondest wish had been to be bound to him.
“You understand my duties will take me away from you, possibly for a year or two.”
“We are together now. Is it possible I can stay on for the remainder of the survey?”