by Jewel Adams
Appalled at how filthy she looked, she smeared more on her hands and arms, completing the disgusting effect. “I hope this washes off.”
Before she left, she gathered up everything questionably modern in sight. After several trips to her cubby in the bow, she stowed the items there, feeling better having the items hidden away.
She couldn’t hide the stainless steel equipment in the riggings or the modern wheel cranks for the sails and anchor. The built-in compass with the knots and depth readings in the wheel casing were sure to be a problem. Corin sighed and gave up, she couldn’t hide it all. If she were successful in securing a crew, she’d just have to think of some logical excuse.
At least the galley was easy enough to convert back to its original wood burner, once she’d disconnected the portable propane tanks and removed the burners. The store of wood for the passengers’ benefit stayed in the box.
The radio proved too heavy for her to move any distance, so she stashed it in the bottom of the wardrobe. She’d be certain no one came in here. The charts wouldn’t be seen by anyone but her. Their detail would be unexplainable to any sailor of this time.
Corin could only groan over the addition of the shower and bathroom closet. Some things would just have to be accepted by whoever came on board. Corin tried to put her worries aside and concentrate on how she would find some men. “Somewhere in that godforsaken place, there has to be a few decent sorts wanting passage to America.”
Chapter Five
Between the Devil and Deep!
Charlotte Amalie by dusk cast the town in a beautiful light. Corin moved freely down the boardwalk. She constantly reminded herself to walk like a man would, as if he owned the turf, so to speak. It wasn’t all that easy when she appeared to be the smallest one amongst them. On the whole, no one really paid her much attention.
A few times a couple rough looking men did take a longer study of her than she felt comfortable over, but she would find a door to slip into or a larger crowd to blend with until they gave up searching for her.
Corin never let her guard down. She kept a lookout for Rogan and the giant… getting close to them could be her undoing.
At least two hours passed and she saw all there was of the town. She failed to find anyone that came close to being approachable. Most scared the hell out of her, and the few that didn’t looked like they ate kids for breakfast. The only places left to look were the bars. She decided the men that frequented them weren’t suitable anyway so she avoided them altogether.
The venture proved a complete failure. Getting a crew would be harder than she expected. She decided she might have better luck in the daylight. It would be riskier, but there weren’t many other choices.
Heading back out of town, she decided not to tempt fate by staying on the main road. She took a few quiet streets until she reached the beach by the docks. It was only half a mile or so to the woods. She picked out a few landmarks she’d taken note of earlier and started down the beach when a creepy feeling came over her. She ducked behind a large rock, fearing she was being followed, and then move back into a group of Sea Grapes for cover.
At first, she didn’t hear anything and almost dismissed the whole thing as a case of overactive nerves, and then the voices reached her.
Angry curses followed and what sounded like fists hitting flesh. Swallowing the bile the thoughts brought, Corin crawled on her stomach back to the dock area to see what caused the ruckus. She moved a branch to get a clearer view. “The giant, oh no!” she silenced her frightened whisper.
There before her were five men dragging toward the water the man who helped her last night. She could see him struggle against them and covered her mouth to halt her scream when one man brought a wooden belaying pin down over his head.
Corin fought with her need to help him and knowing to take all five would be asking more of herself than she could expect. Fearful, she watched, hoping there would be some way for her to help. Her hand went to the skinning knife she’d slipped into her waist before leaving the Raven; it was too small to lend much help.
They dragged the giant to a waiting longboat. Two more men jumped out to assist the others in lifting him in. “No…not him, too.” She saw him then. “Rogan.” There was no mistaking his broad build and, from the angry movements that cost him a fist in his stomach, it could be no one but Rogan. The limp form beside him wasn’t moving, and neither was her large friend.
Corin crawled out onto the sand, keeping in the shadows as she followed their progress and watched them row out into the harbor. Once they pulled alongside a massive ship, Corin entered the water and began swimming soundlessly out to the ship. All the while she stayed aware of them pulling the bond men aboard.
What she expected to accomplish she didn’t know, but not helping them went beyond her. That she could end up in the same or worse situation wasn’t a consideration.
Hand over hand, Corin made her way up the Jacob’s ladder. She stopped just below the rail; her heart beat so loud she feared the man walking past where she clung to the rope could hear it. Scared to move, when she heard more footsteps she tried to become as small as possible.
“They’re in the hold. Cap’s really pulled a coup this time. That’s one furious man down there.”
“The sharks will cool him off.”
“Captain Billings will be on board shortly, and we’ll set sail. Keep a sharp eye.”
The talk of sharks started a shaking in her body that she fought to control. Get a hold of yourself, Corin. They’re going to kill these men!
Once the men moved off, she quietly pulled herself over the rail. She spotted the open door and ran across the deck. Corin quickly enter the companionway just as she heard someone approaching. She edged along the wall when they followed her, and then she ran down the hall until she reached another door. She breathed a sigh of relief when it opened and she slipped into the room.
The lit lantern nearly caused her to scream, but no one was about. She moved further back behind the chart table. Looking down at the maps, she realized she must be in the captain’s quarters. A surge of curiosity made her open the log book on the desk. Flipping through the pages, she quickly found the answers she sought. The dates staring back at her were real enough. The last entry June 17, 1725, said it all. Her fingers shook terribly as she closed the book and started to move way, but her pant leg caught on something.
She tugged but couldn’t get free… one more pull released her and something clicked, a hidden drawer fell open beneath the desktop. She slowly pulled it out to find a flat leather pouch and a drawstring bag. Unable to resist, she opened the bag, staring open-mouthed at the sparkling collection of jewels.
Sucking in her breath, Corin knew what she found. The sight told her something she hadn’t thought of until now. She blamed the rush of insight on the log book…she possessed no money, none that would work in 1725. But gems would work in any century.
The sound of voices snapped her out of her shock. She didn’t have time to argue with herself and stuffed the bag and the sealed case into her shirt. Very carefully, she shut the drawer until she heard the click. “Serves you right to get robbed of your loot.”
Going back to the door, she listened until it grew silent. She moved back out into the hall. At the entrance, she slipped out, hugging the shadows. No one seemed to be near, and she made a mad dash across the deck and into the black abyss below the hatch. There was a dim light from under the door at the end of the short companionway… she hoped it didn’t have a man attached to it.
As she’d feared, luck wasn’t one of her strong points.
The man leaned back on a three-legged stool and was the guard they’d obviously left for the prisoners. If he stayed seated, she could easily deliver an effective blow beneath his neck and collar bone. It grew into a big if, one she couldn’t think past. The thought of going back wasn’t part of the decision. God, I’m crazy. Janice, I bet you never expected me to be using all I learned so quickly in those defens
e classes! Her humor didn’t help much.
Steeling herself for what lay ahead, she moved out in view.
“Got yourself some mean blokes?”
“Yeah, hey, who are you?”
She told herself to keep walking. “The new cabin boy. Cap’n sent me down to see if’n you need anything?”
She could tell the man wasn’t buying her story; when the stool eased forward, she moved before he could stand. She delivered what the last year of weekly defense classes taught her.
The man fell in a heap at her feet. Refusing to look at him, she tried to open the cell door. When it wouldn’t budge, she moaned over what she needed to do.
With a lot of caution, she rolled the man over, waiting a moment to see if he would jump at her. When he didn’t she searched his pockets.
“Success.” The cold skeleton key shook so badly in her hand, she needed both hands to get it in the lock.
The door opened in a rush and she almost fell into the room. The candlelight outlined three shadowy lumps. She moved without any noise to the largest shape. Corin slipped her knife under the ropes at his back and sawed through the ties.
Once free, the giant came to life and pulled the gag from his mouth. Raising her finger to his lips, she passed him the knife and motioned to the others. Corin stood guard at the door and over the unconscious man, while she waited for them to get free.
Once she felt their presence, she warned, “The captain is boarding any minute, come on.” Not waiting to see if they followed her whispered warning, she moved down the hall and, she hoped, to freedom.
~ * ~
Rogan’s eyes tightened over the wimp of a lad that released them. Worry over another trap made him check the man they stepped over to assure he wouldn’t follow. Rogan looked from the unconscious man to the boy. He didn’t like it, but he had no time to question how the lad had done the deed. Furious with himself for getting caught off guard, Rogan wasn’t in the mood to let it happen again.
For the boy’s sake, Rogan hoped his intentions were honest.
Corin waved her hand for them to stay back; she peaked out at the deck and waited until the guard moved up toward the bow.
When it was clear, she motioned for the first one to go, the smaller of the three went to the rail and slipped silently over the side. The giant came next. When his hand took hold of her arm to make her go she pushed it away. Smiling up at him, she jerked her head and sent him on.
Only Rogan remained, but Corin couldn’t let herself think of who stood at her back, not now. Yet, heavens, he did send her senses reeling!
Hearing voices that indicated the crew’s arrival, Corin fell back against the wall. “The captain is boarding.”
Rogan didn’t say anything. His thick shoulder pressed against her. Corin stepped away and used the ruse of checking the deck to avoid touching him.
The man she saw come over the rail caused a tiny squeal of shock to escape from her. Oh God, it was the man that grabbed her on the street! He was Captain Billings! She felt sick and wanted to run, but held her position as the others came over the rail.
“How many?”
Rogan’s barely audible question made her jump. “Ten and Billings.”
The tensing in him became hers… they were trapped.
The pirate’s voice bellowed over the deck, “Where are they?”
“Locked up below. Greer is guarding them.”
“Good, once everyone is on board, we sail. Diamond is going to be disappointed the Dragon wasn’t as good as his reputation. But that ship of his will ease the blow.”
The man’s cold laughter echoed over the ship. Corin felt the stiffening rage coming over the man at her side. The deck finally cleared; it wouldn’t last long. She pulled on his shirt sleeve. “Go on now, get over.”
Rogan didn’t need any sniffling brat telling him what to do. Damn that Billings for taking his Tempest!
Not understanding why Rogan didn’t move out, Corin nearly panicked over the arrival of another boat. “Would you get out of here!” Stubborn man, she couldn’t say why, but she sensed he wouldn’t leave if she left him here.
When he moved to push her out, Corin ducked and avoided his hold, using her body to push him out into the open deck.
The voices ended whatever fight he faced with himself, and she watched as he went over the side.
The fear seemed to overtake her the moment he disappeared. Nervous, she scanned the darkness behind her and the crowded deck. The possibility of being caught by that man or his men made her knees go weak. Her chances of avoiding it seemed slim.
Treading water only twenty feet out from the hull, Rogan waited for the boy to appear. “Damn you!” Being beholding to a kid was bad enough. He probably would have done something foolish because of what he learned if the boy hadn’t forced him to leave. Rogan didn’t know if he wanted to thank him or thrash him for his bravado. Who the hell was he, anyway?
He could see Dan and Terry waving him into shore, but he couldn’t leave until he knew the boy was safe. Ready to start back, he stopped when he saw the lad standing on the rail. The clean soundless dive as the lad hit the water eased Rogan’s temper a bit. He waited until he surfaced and was up beside him before starting into shore.
The alarm sounded from behind them. Billings’ anger carried across the harbor, giving Rogan some pleasure. When the first shot sounded, Rogan reached over and grabbed the boy’s arm. “Dive deep!”
She barely managed to draw a breath before he pulled her down with him. Muffled whizzing struck the water all around them. Her lungs felt as if they would explode, and she kicked up against his hold.
Breaking the surface, Corin filled her lungs and dove again. She’d lost Rogan and wanted to stop and be sure he was all right. No longer hearing the bullets, she guessed she was out of range. When she surfaced, she found him directly in front of her.
“Come on before they start after us!”
She put all her strength into the strokes to follow him. His arm reach alone outdistanced her, and he gained the beach well ahead of her.
The strong hold lifting her to her feet felt wonderful and safe. All Corin wanted to do was lean into that powerful chest.
“You did good, boy!”
The slap on her shoulder knocked her out of her tranquility and back to who she pretended to be. Straight away she gathered her courage to keep the ruse going a little longer.
The shouts coming across the water jerked her into motion. “Come on!”
Rogan watched Terry and Dan take off, running after the boy.
“Damn! Who does he think he is?” Feeling foolish standing on the beach and making an easy target, Rogan joined the racing group. The fast pace cleared his thinking and put his attention fully on their little rescuer. Something wasn’t right, but he couldn’t put his finger on it.
The lad led them down the beach and into the woods. The farther they went, the stronger Rogan’s suspicions became. He didn’t stop them until they came out of the woods behind a rock outcrop. The boy motioned them to get down, while he watched for any signs of pursuers.
Rogan’s scrutiny couldn’t stop trailing up the slender form. The wet clothes clung in tight wrinkles to the figure beneath. Taking a steadying breath, what he saw had been furiously imprinted on his mind since he’d first laid eyes on her.
Corin heard the furious curse behind her and the noise in front. Deciding which held more danger proved difficult. “They’re coming… follow me.”
If he didn’t follow, she refused to worry about him. Corin knew exactly where she was leading them, there seemed to be little choice. A frightening thought came over her that this Billings might be after more than the prisoners he’d lost. If she were right, they wouldn’t be giving up the chase any time soon. Her hand closed over the bag inside her shirt.
Corin shook off the worry and led them easily over the trail she’d memorized. The men behind them weren’t having it as easy. She gained a good distance between them but didn’t s
low the pace.
It would be dawn by the time they reached the Raven. From the cliff, she could be seen if someone was looking and Corin knew Captain Billings would be searching. It was still dark enough that if she took them around the cliff base, Rogan and his men wouldn’t see the Raven. Corin decided it was time for a decision.
She stopped abruptly, avoiding Rogan’s running form. She gave them all a minute to catch their breaths. Afraid to wait any longer, she spoke. “Look, those men are still coming. I’ve got a proposition for you all.”
His hands clenched in order not to grab the little minx and give her his own. Being duped by her once too often, Rogan eased back, deciding maybe the lady needed a sampling of her own fare.
Dan and Terry were fidgeting because of the delay and what drew closer.
“We’re listening, lad, spit it out.”
Corin took a deep breath and tried not to let the glow in Rogan’s eyes take away her courage. But the storm brewing in that man would be fierce when it cut loose. “I have a way to escape, but I need your oaths you will follow my orders without arguments.”
“Ye ask a lot, boy. A strange request.”
“Maybe, but necessary. Do I have it?”
He would have liked to make her squirm, but the distance they were losing didn’t allow for games. “For now, you have it.”
The others nodded. When Rogan folded his arms, she knew it would be all she would get from him.
“All right. I have a schooner. This way.”
All three men looked at each other before shaking themselves and following.
Even Rogan took a second look at what they were led to.
“The masts, Rogan, I told you I saw them!”
“Please, we don’t have much time.” Not knowing their names, Corin touched the giant’s arm. “What is your name?”
“Dan.”
Nodding, “Dan, I need you to handle the line. When I say pull, please do and not too very much. I only want the Raven eased out enough to clear the inlet.”
The man smiled and went to stand ready, never questioning her.