A man dressed all in black stepped up on to the scaffold and held up his hands for silence. Gradually the shouts and hollers of the crowd gave way to quiet murmurs.
‘Today is a great day for justice,’ the man shouted from his position above the assembled hoard. ‘We are here to witness the executions of twenty pirates from the notorious Flaming Dragon as well as the hanging of Del Torres’s devilish sister.’
The crowd jeered and surged forward a little. Mia felt herself cowering back, pulling at the rope that secured her to the pole of the cart. Death by hanging would be bad enough, but having the life beaten out of her would be so much worse.
‘So many of you have been affected by the criminal activities of these pirates. Together we shall watch as they are condemned to an eternity of fiery hell.’
The man stepped from the scaffold and Mia watched the executioner take his place. The hangman was huge, with meaty arms and a thick chest. He went through the motions of checking the lever for the trapdoor was working and pulling on the beam that would support the noose. Then he motioned for the first pirate to be brought up to him.
Two soldiers grabbed the selected man under each arm and dragged him forward. He didn’t put up much of a fight, his body hanging limply between them as if he were already dead. Expertly the executioner looped the noose around his neck. There was no black sack over his head to spare him the jeering faces of the crowd. The last thing this condemned man would see was the bloodthirsty mob braying for his blood. Mia could see his lips moving and she wondered if he was offering up a last prayer to the God he had forsaken for all the years he had chosen a life of piracy.
Within seconds the trapdoor was opened and the man fell. The drop wasn’t far enough to break his neck so for a long thirty seconds he jerked on the end of the rope. No one in the crowd dared to push through the line of guards in front of the scaffold to pull on his legs and shorten his suffering. Mia doubted there was anyone there who cared enough to do so.
After a full minute he was cut down, his body tossed unceremoniously to one side. The next man up was screaming by the time the two guards had hold of him. Mia saw the unmistakable stain of urine down the front of his trousers and tried not to hear the pure terror in his shouts. He begged the guards to let him go, begged the executioner to have mercy and begged the crowds to save him. No one obliged.
Mia closed her eyes as the noose was tightened around his neck; she didn’t want to see any more, but she couldn’t block out the sound of the man being strangled to death.
Three more executions followed in much the same way. Mia felt numb. She knew this was going to be her in a few more minutes and she tried to steel herself for it. She wasn’t going to let her last moments on earth be filled with screams or humiliation. She would stand tall and be brave.
She summoned a picture of Will in her mind, kissing her and looking at her as though she was the only woman that existed. She remembered his smile and the way his hair fell across his forehead. She remembered how his skin felt to her touch and she remembered the moment of pure happiness when he’d told her that he loved her. Mia smiled at the memory and knew at least she would be going to her death having been well and truly loved.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
She was smiling. Will nearly rubbed his eyes to check he was seeing things straight. Yes, she was definitely smiling. He couldn’t imagine the strain she was under, watching man after man step on to the scaffold and have his life whipped away as if it were worth nothing, all the time knowing it would be her turn all too soon.
He waited. There was no point in acting prematurely, that would ruin everything. In the past twelve hours he had gone over the plan time and time again in his head until he would be able to carry it out with his eyes shut and one hand tied behind his back. Well, maybe not the hand-behind-the-back bit—he rather thought he might need both hands to fight half of Barbados’s garrison.
The young man he’d approached the day before was nearly at the front of the line now. Will saw his family standing off to one side. They’d appreciated the chance to say goodbye the evening before and the pirate had been satisfied his mum and sisters were to be well provided for. Now Will hoped the pirate would fulfil his side of the bargain.
Will tapped his foot impatiently, well aware he was full of nervous energy. Another pirate dropped to his death and suddenly the moment was here. The young man stumbled forward, dragging the two prisoners he was shackled to with him. He thrashed out to the right and the left, making a good show of escaping.
The soldiers were on him immediately, the three who were guarding the prisoners surging forward to subdue the dissident. The young pirate fought valiantly. He lashed out with his shackled wrists, his feet, even his teeth if anyone got close enough. Will was pleased to see the other men he was chained to joining in. They fought viciously, all three having more to fight for than the assembled soldiers. Will waited as the fight developed.
Two more soldiers joined in, stepping away from the second line of prisoners. That only left the one standing next to Mia’s cart. Will hesitated, knowing he could take the man out, but also that any struggle would draw attention to him and possibly put an end to his mission. Instead he waited, watching as the final soldier glanced from Mia to the fighting men and decided they were more of a threat than the docile young woman standing next to him.
Will strode forward, confident he wouldn’t be noticed as all eyes were on the fracas he’d engineered. The pirates were still going strong despite the soldiers battering them with their rifle butts.
He slipped round the back of the fight and sidled up to Mia’s cart. Swiftly he took a knife to the rope binding her to the pole and sliced through it. Mia’s eyes flew open and Will could see she was speechless with shock. He wanted to take her into his arms and kiss her, but he knew any such romantic delay would cost them both their lives.
Instead he grabbed her by the waist and swung her over the side of the cart. Will clutched her hand and pulled her towards the alleyway behind the scaffold.
‘Hey,’ someone shouted, ‘stop.’
Suddenly all eyes were on them. Will knew they only had a few seconds before the soldiers positioned on the walls readjusted their aim and fired at them. He shoved his free hand into his pocket and grabbed a handful of gold coins, coins he’d claimed from the Governor earlier that morning as his reward for catching The Flaming Dragon.
Will flung the coins into the crowd, allowing some to scatter across the scaffold. He grabbed a second handful and threw them by the entrance to the alley.
‘Gold,’ he shouted, just in case anyone in the crowd had missed it. As he’d hoped the assembled throng surged forward, their sheer numbers overpowering the soldiers. People were everywhere, grappling for coins on the ground, climbing on to the scaffold and, most importantly, surging forward to the entrance of the alley Will had just pulled Mia into. The soldiers would have a hard time getting through the crowd and beginning their pursuit.
‘Run,’ he urged.
Together they ran, sprinting through the streets, every few seconds looking over their shoulders for the chasing soldiers. Will whipped Mia around corners and down narrow alleyways on a pre-mapped route he’d walked dozens of times the evening before.
Just holding her hand was exhilarating. For a few brief moments when he’d been with Governor Hall the day before Will had thought everything was lost. He’d thought he’d found the woman he loved only to lose her again for ever. Now they were dashing through the streets of Bridgetown, with a fair chance of escape.
Mia stumbled, her foot tripping over a bump in the road. Will felt her lose her balance and quickly swept her up into his arms, not missing a step. With Mia pressed against his chest Will felt his pace quicken despite the extra weight. Holding her was enough to spur him on; he felt her heart thumping against his chest and knew he would do anything to succeed.
They rounded the corner and burst out on to the docks. Will could hear the shouts of their pursuers behind them and felt his lungs burn as they reached the final stretch.
‘Go,’ he shouted at the top of his voice, unsure whether he was too far away to be heard.
The dock seemed to stretch out in front of him, their destination never getting any closer. He dodged surprised sailors and the few people out and about who had decided not to watch the executions up in the square. He barely heard the shouted curses as he barged past two soldiers standing guard in front of Commodore Wilkins’s ship. With a quick glance back over his shoulder he saw them staring after him, but not pursuing. So far they hadn’t grasped the significance of Will fleeing with Mia in his arms.
With a final push Will sprinted to the very end of the dock and up the gangplank of the waiting ship. Captain Little shouted an order and immediately the ship’s crew sprang to life. The gangplank was pulled on to the deck and the ropes holding them steady hurriedly thrown clear. Will watched as slowly the ship started pulling away from the dock and he hoped it would be just fast enough. He could see half the garrison of soldiers in pursuit, now making their way down the dock towards them. The two soldiers he had pushed past were staring at the approaching force with mouths wide open and perplexed expressions.
‘Everyone stay low,’ Will shouted, pushing Mia to the deck and throwing himself on top of her.
Five seconds later the first of the bullets whizzed across the deck and embedded itself in one of the masts. A volley followed, then a brief gap whilst the soldiers reloaded. A second round of bullets flew through the air and thudded into the wood of the ship, followed by another pause. Cautiously Will poked his head over the rail and with relief saw they were finally pulling away from Bridgetown.
Out of range of the soldiers Will picked Mia up from the floor and held her tightly against him. They were both panting with exertion and Will gratefully sucked the salty sea air into his lungs. Captain Little came up beside him and handed him a telescope.
‘Have a look,’ he prompted, a big grin on his face.
Will looked through the eyepiece, not knowing what he would see.
The sight on the dock made him want to punch the air with elation. Governor Hall had arrived, with Thatcher in tow. The Governor was gesticulating angrily towards Captain Little’s ship and then pointing to the large Naval vessel still docked. Will watched as Thatcher shook his head and shrugged his shoulders.
‘The Navy don’t have enough men still aboard to pursue us,’ Ed Redding said, coming to stand beside them. ‘I had a chat with the Commodore earlier today and he said he’d had to release many of his men to supervise the execution in the square.’ The First Mate chuckled. ‘It’ll take them at least an hour to get the ship fully manned and ready to depart.’
Bridgetown was getting further and further away and for the first time Will allowed himself to relax. An hour’s head start wasn’t bad. The Navy’s ship might be bigger and faster than theirs, but with some clever navigation and a little bit of luck they might have a chance. After all, Del Torres and his crew on The Flaming Dragon had managed to evade the Navy in the waters of the Caribbean for nearly two years. Will wasn’t asking for that long, just long enough to get clear of the Caribbean islands and head for new shores.
‘You did it,’ Mia said, her eyes wide with shock. ‘You saved me.’
‘I promised, didn’t I?’
‘But I never thought you would be able to pull it off.’
‘I will never break a promise to you, Mia.’
‘I thought I was going to die.’
Will caught her as her knees buckled and lowered her back to the deck. He knelt down and cradled her in his arms. Mia looked up at him with wonder in her eyes.
‘I thought I would never see you again.’
‘Now you’re condemned to a lifetime of looking upon this face,’ Will said, brushing her hair from her forehead and tucking it behind her ear.
‘How awful for me,’ Mia murmured.
Chapter Thirty
Mia stared out into the distance, still not completely at ease. It had been a whole day and night since they’d escaped Barbados but every second she feared being captured. She had no doubt the entire British Navy in the Caribbean would have sprung into action and were now looking for them.
‘Spot anything, Miss Del Torres?’ Captain Little asked, coming up beside her.
She smiled at him and shook her head.
‘They won’t find us,’ he said, ‘I promise you that.’
‘How can you be so sure?’
‘I know how the Navy thinks—I used to be a Lieutenant before I decided the regimented lifestyle wasn’t for me. They won’t be expecting us to be heading this way. They’ll figure I’m a man of the Caribbean therefore I won’t want to leave the area, I’ll want to stick to the waters I know the best. Either that or we’re headed for England.’
‘You’ve given up a lot for us, haven’t you.’ It was a statement rather than a question.
The Captain shrugged.
‘Your crew have, too.’
They were sailing with a skeleton crew, heading straight across the Atlantic Ocean. Their destination was Cape Town in South Africa.
‘I gave the men a choice,’ the Captain said, ‘and any with families I left behind in Barbados. The rest are eager for the adventure.’
‘Thank you,’ Mia said. ‘Why did you do it? Why did you help us?’
‘It was the right thing to do and I was in love once, too,’ Captain Little said, ‘when I was a very young man.’
Mia waited for him to elaborate.
‘Suffice it to say I wish someone had given us a chance.’ With that Captain Little gave a quick bow and hurried off.
Mia smiled sadly and realised the older man was a true romantic, obviously still mourning for his lost love so many years later.
‘You still looking out for the Navy?’ Will asked, coming up behind her.
Mia nodded.
‘We won’t be looking over our shoulders all our lives,’ he promised.
Mia took his hand in hers and squeezed gently.
‘I don’t care if I have to sleep with one eye open as long as I’m with you.’
‘What were you talking to the Captain about?’ Will asked.
‘I was thanking him. He’s given up his whole life just for us.’
‘He’s a good man. All the crew are. I’m hoping we can set up a trading company when we reach South Africa, have the Captain at its helm.’
‘Or maybe we could patrol the waters off the Cape, hunting for pirates,’ Mia said with a wicked gleam in her eyes.
‘I’ve got enough pirate right here in front of me to keep me occupied for eternity.’
‘That sounds like a promise.’
Mia stretched up and found his lips with her own. Her kiss was languid and passionate. It was the kiss of a woman who knew she had all the time in the world to enjoy her lover.
‘I have a surprise for you,’ Will said.
Mia’s face lit up. ‘I do like surprises.’
‘I hope you like this one,’ he said, grinning, ‘otherwise I might have to throw you overboard.’
He grabbed her hand and pulled her away from the rail and up to the prow of the boat. Mia was amazed to see the entire ship’s crew assembled, with the Captain standing at the front facing them.
‘Friends,’ the Captain boomed, ‘thank you for assembling. We are gathered to celebrate the joining together of Will Greenacre and Mia Del Torres.’
Mia nearly swooned. And she’d never swooned before in her life.
‘We’re getting married?’ she whispered to Will.
He nodded, smiling like a naughty schoolboy.
‘Is it legal?’
He shrugged. ‘I’m not really too sure.’
Mia grabbed him round the neck and kissed him firmly on the lips. She didn’t really care if it was legal or not, either.
‘Not yet!’ the Captain boomed. ‘We haven’t got to the kissing part yet.’
Reluctantly Mia pulled away from Will.
Ed Redding came up beside her and offered her his arm, shooing Will off to the prow of the boat to stand with the Captain.
To the shouts and hollers of the crew Mia walked through the assembled crowd on Ed Redding’s arm. When they got to the front Redding took her hand, raised it to his lips, then passed her over to Will.
‘Marriage is a sacred bond between two people,’ the Captain said. ‘Marriage brings mutual comfort and companionship in times of prosperity and adversity.’
‘Hopefully not too much more adversity,’ Will whispered in her ear.
‘William Greenacre, do you take this woman to be your wife? To love and to comfort her, to honour her and keep her in sickness and in health? And forsaking all others to keep to only her as long as you both shall live?’
‘I do.’
Mia felt her heart soar and knew she couldn’t be any happier than in this moment. It might not be a legal wedding, but it was Will’s promise to her that they would be together always.
‘Mia Del Torres...’ The Captain paused as he glanced at his handwritten notes. ‘We’ll skip the bit about obeying and serving as we all know that’s not going to happen.’ This got a laugh from the crowd. ‘Will you love, honour and keep this man, in sickness and in health? And forsaking all others to keep to only him as long as you both shall live?’
‘I will.’
The Captain read the vows for them to recite after him. Line by line they repeated in unison, ‘To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish and to rescue from the gallows until death do us part.’
Harlequin Historical September 2014 - Bundle 2 of 2: Lord Havelock's ListSaved by the Viking WarriorThe Pirate Hunter Page 69