by Haley Travis
“I’ve heard of guards in many towns being bribed,” O’Doule said, tapping his fingers on the table. “But it would take a great amount. Only the Captain would have that much coin, and he’d have it well hidden.”
“How much?” I asked, trying hard to make my voice sound steady.
“Perhaps fifteen to twenty gold coins or so,” he said.
“I’ll be right back,” I said, dashing to the Captain’s quarters.
I’d been keeping the profits from the necklace and jewelry sales in a little cloth bag, hidden under my old dress on a shelf. I had tried to give it to the Captain, but he refused. So I just let it build up. I hadn’t bothered counting it for some time.
Dashing back to the galley, I emptied the bag onto the table. O’Doule shot me a look, then began counting. I found it amusing that he didn’t ask where the money came from. The rest of the men simply stared at the money.
“This is from the jewelry sales,” I said quickly. “I haven’t spent a cent.”
Larry immediately patted my shoulder. “We’d never think of you as a thief, Miss.”
“Ladies spend a lot on their trinkets, don’t they?” Davy muttered, wide-eyed as he stared at the coins.
“They do,” I agreed. “Especially the women who aren’t quite high class, but want to be seen as such. They’ll drop a fortune to appear fancier.”
“Well, Lass,” O’Doule said, “Although some is in silver, it’s the value of twenty gold pieces.”
“Wow,” McGee breathed. “There’s more money in ladies' fancywork than rum-running. Who knew?”
I shook my head. “I hadn’t added it up in some time. This is crazy.”
Teeth, Davy and Larry all hurried to the bunk room to their private stashes. With O’Doule keeping count and making change, they traded in a few gold coins for the silver, until we had twenty gold pieces gleaming in the lamplight.
Slipping them back into the makeshift purse, I asked, “How does one go about bribing a guard?”
Everyone grew very serious. “In calm little towns like this, they usually put their worst guard on the late-night shift,” Davy said. “It’s often the man who’s a bit…” He tapped his forehead with a grubby finger. “Slow. They only hired him because he’s someone’s cousin or the like.”
“True,” O’Doule said. “These small towns are always family first. Let’s use that.” His eyes darted around to the other men. “I’d rather use cunning than the pistols, lads. That’s what the Captain would want.”
They nodded in agreement.
“If he’s been on the night shift a while, he might be jumpy all alone,” Teeth said thoughtfully. “Maybe we give him some sort of scare?”
“Aye,” McGee said. “What are slightly slow small town men afraid of?”
“Ghosts.”
“Pirates.”
“McGee’s rotten attempt at meatloaf.”
“Their own shadow.”
“Women!” Davy laughed.
The men all howled with laughter, then Larry stared down at his hands, thinking. “He’s right. Many of these young men haven’t dealt with many women beyond family. A gorgeous lass strutting in and availing herself to his mercy would shake him to the core.”
They all turned to me with questioning glances.
“They would never arrest a woman, would they?” I whispered.
“No, lass, never,” O’Doule said quickly. “Not unless you’d murdered someone right in front of them. For a minor inconvenience, they’d turn you away and threaten to tell your father on you, at worst.”
My hands were in fists, squeezing my skirt as I tried to think. “What sort of woman goes down to the jail to ask for a man to be released?” I asked.
McGee snapped his fingers. “His wife! You say that you’re his poor little wife, and the Captain is a drunken lout, and you need to drag him home.”
“Before his mother finds out what he’s done this time,” Teeth added. “Every man is a bit scared of his mother. We’re also scared of other men’s mothers.”
The men all nodded. McGee looked at me very carefully. “Do you think you can act a bit hysterical, lass? Crying and yelling? No man could stand it if a sweet lass was pitching a fit.”
“He’d do anything to comfort you,” Larry agreed. “Miss Flora, this is a lot to ask. But if you were the one to go in, there would be no threat of violence. I’d be right outside.”
“Me too,” said Davy. “You say the word ‘pumpkin’ and we’ll rush in and start breaking bones.”
I shuddered, then felt Larry’s heavy hand on my shoulder. “It won’t come to that,” he said gently. “Even the sharpest guard’s defenses will fall apart at the sight of you being flustered. It’s truly playing dirty, in a way, but it is pretty much guaranteed to work.”
“Have you been working on your yelling, lass?” O’Doule asked. “Would be best to yell at the start, then cry. Shock him.”
“Aye, put him off kilter,” Teeth agreed.
Larry patted my shoulder again before pulling his hand away. “You just finished that lovely blue dress, didn’t you? You’ll look delicate as a fresh flower in it. Any man would be desperate to help you.”
Looking around the table at five eager faces, I began to nod. They had all been so helpful to me. And the Captain himself had given me this new life full of more beautiful things than I ever could have imagined.
Standing up slowly, I tried to find my voice. “Davy, go watch the jail so that you can tell us when the night guard starts. I’ll get dressed.”
I’d never heard five boisterous men cheer for me before, and I was shocked at how much I enjoyed it. It felt good to have a team with me. They felt like brothers, of a sort.
***
Two hours later, I was shocked at how much I enjoyed this. Putting a plan together, working as a crew, and trying to be brave. It was more adventurous than I would have ever believed.
Davy had casually walked around the town until the jail’s shift change, strolling back near the ship to signal O’Doule. Then he meandered back to hide under the jailor’s window to listen in.
Larry left the ship first, casually strolling down the dock to the shore. Although I’d never seen him smoke before, he lit a cigar, walking around as if he were simply enjoying the night air.
I waited for several minutes before leaving the ship, glancing around as if I were simply admiring the boats in the light of the nearly full moon. I almost panicked when a dockhand from a much smaller ship jumped down onto the boards near me.
“Begging your pardon, Miss,” he said. Then he took a good look at me, and the ship I obviously came from.
He was a plain fellow, but he had kind eyes as he leaned in to say, “Miss, a proper lady such as yourself might not belong with those ruffians. If you need to get clear of them, there’s a ship leaving for Glenbert at noon tomorrow. I’ve heard there are nice, sensible people there.”
My smile couldn’t be contained. I knew in my heart of hearts that I would never return there again. Whether the Captain owned me, or some other strange circumstance befell me, there was no way that I’d ever go to my old home.
“I appreciate your concern,” I said as smoothly as possible, “But kindly mind your own.” I raised an eyebrow, practicing a haughty glare.
To my surprise, he jumped back as if he’d been slapped. “So sorry, Miss, 'twas not my place.” He disappeared into the shadows as I walked away with my head held high.
My home was on The Fortune’s Favor, and I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else. Still, it was rather nice knowing that my decision was completely final.
I followed the path down toward the jail, then as it grew more narrow, I slipped into the darkness beside a stable. Creeping in the shadows, tiptoeing down a smaller path so the townsfolk wouldn’t see me, I felt like a thief. Like a scoundrel. I felt, dare I even think it, like a pirate.
~ Chapter 20 ~ The Captain ~
* Son of a… *
“Where the hell is my
no-good drunk husband?”
The shriek from the front of the jail made me jump to my feet. Sitting in the near dark, I’d been thinking for hours of how to escape. The building was the sturdiest I’d ever seen, so it would take an act of great cunning.
Perhaps now that there was a hysterical woman for the guard to deal with, it might be my chance. I’d heard bits of conversation as the guards switched shifts. Clancy told Thomas that there was only one prisoner overnight, but that he should ignore me. He hadn’t bothered saying why I was there, as he seemed in a rush to leave.
Thomas hadn’t seen me yet. I wondered if there was any way I could finagle my way out.
“Where is he?” the woman yelled. Her loud, shrill voice echoed off the stone walls, creating an eerie vibration. She sounded like she was filled with rage.
“Hold up there, Ma’am,” the guard said. I stared up the hallway, wishing I could see what was going on around the corner.
“No, you hold up,” she snapped. This woman sounded angry enough to throw a punch. But then she made a sob that nearly broke my heart. “Please, sir,” she wailed. “His mother is going to kill us both if I don’t have him on time to church tomorrow morning. It’s his niece’s christening, and if he’s not there, she’ll think it’s my fault again.”
Son of a… Was that Flora?
My mind raced. I’d never heard the shy lass speak above a ladylike murmur. I must have been mistaken.
“Please,” she cried dramatically, “I know he’s a drunken lout, but he’s never done anything truly terrible.”
“You know I can’t do that, ma’am.”
“Just let me take him home to sleep it off,” she loudly begged. I heard a jangling noise. “Perhaps this will help you make up your mind?”
“Holy mother of…” The guard gasped. I couldn’t hear anything for a moment. “Er, I suppose accidents happen, Ma’am. I guess this will cover the trouble of me erasing his name from the record.”
“That’s so very kind of you. You’re a darling man. Now please, I need to get him home as quick as I can to start scrubbing him up for the morning.”
Hearing the guard coming down the hall, I quickly pulled my shirt collar askew, messed up my hair, and leaned clumsily against the wall. I had just enough time to yank at my bottom lashes so my eyes would appear glassy, an old trick my former Captain had taught me. Playing a drunkard was the easiest role for such a situation.
The guard dashed to the door, his hands shaking as he worked the key. Over his shoulder, I saw Flora looking positively radiant. She flashed me a brilliant grin and a wink, then her pretty little face clenched in a scowl.
“You rat bastard,” she hissed. “You know what your mother will do to you if you’re not in church tomorrow.”
“Darlin’,” I drawled drunkenly. “You asked the nice man to let me out?”
The second the guard had the door open, she grabbed my ear, leading me roughly down the hall, cussing me out the entire time. She’d obviously heard every single word that Davy and Teeth had used last week when they were repairing the rigging.
The guard wasn’t able to get a word in as we passed the desk, where she stumbled for a second, then hauled me out the front door.
“You be quiet and not wake the neighbors,” she said angrily as she led me up the path.
She released my ear, but didn’t stop walking as quickly as possible. “Don’t look back,” she whispered. “Larry and Davy are right behind us, and the Fortune’s ready to sail the second we’re on deck.”
The farther we were from the jail, the faster Flora moved, until she was practically running down the path with her skirts hitched up to her knees. I heard two men behind us, one with a quick light step, and one with a heavy thump. “Lads,” I murmured, keeping pace with Flora as they came up right behind us.
“Cap’n,” they both said quietly.
Flora was glorious. Her delicate face was slightly flushed from nearly running. Her tidy hair was now messed up and rippling behind her. The skirts of her pretty new dress were clenched in her fists as she hoisted them out of the way.
I loved this woman. I knew it already, but now it was even more clear. We were meant to be, sure as the stars.
The second The Fortune’s Favor was in view, I saw the sails were already half raised, and only one rope held the ship steady. We raced along the dock and up the plank. As soon as the four of us were on deck, Teeth slipped the rope and we glided away. Once the sails were up and the ship was headed out of the channel, the crew all gathered on deck.
We stood in silence for a few minutes, waiting until we were safely away from the town.
Then O’Doule laughed. “By crikey, it worked!”
Tossing Flora into the air in joy, watching her flaxen hair float around her in the moonlight, I was dazzled by my sweet girl. Catching her in my arms, I gave her a swift kiss on the forehead. I knew it was inappropriate in front of the men, but I couldn’t help it.
“Flora, lass, you were magnificent,” I said, unabashedly filled with awe. I knew if I paused another heartbeat I wouldn’t be able to keep myself from kissing her, so I hugged her to my side. “Lads, I think after that we all need a drink.”
“Ale or rum, Captain?” McGee asked. I shot him a look. “Sorry. Rum it is.”
~ Chapter 21 ~ Flora ~
* Round Table with Rum *
We settled around the table in the galley, each of the men with a mug of rum in his hand. McGee had given me a mug as well, with a splash of rum and a few splashes of water. I noticed that the Captain had pulled his barrel right next to mine.
I took a tentative sip, trying not to flinch at the odd sensation. It really did warm me straight through, then seemed to calm me down. My heart was still racing from our adventure.
“How did you get that much money?” the Captain asked with a wide grin. “Did you boys all pool your savings?”
“It was Miss Flora,” O’Doule said warmly. “The clever girl had been saving every cent from her necklace sales. She didn’t even know how much she had, since she’d never thought of spending it.”
Looking over to the older man with pride sparkling in his eyes, I realized that this was how a father should speak about his daughter. Tears prickled as I blinked them away quickly.
O’Doule grinned. “Most of it was in gold, and we traded out the rest to make a tidy sum that no man could resist.”
I was shocked when the Captain wrapped his arms around me in front of the men. “Little lass, I’m sorry you had to spend all of your money on me. I swear, I’ll–”
He paused when he heard a sharp jangle. Reaching into the hidden pocket in my dress, I pulled out the tiny sack. “I might have, purely accidentally mind you, picked up my purse from the desk as we rushed out.”
Six rugged, tanned faces stared at me, utterly shocked. Then Davy and Teeth burst into laughter, and the rest joined in.
“Well, Miss Flora,” O’Doule said, “Not that there was ever any doubt that you were one of us, it’s clear now.”
The Captain kissed the top of my head, and I snuggled into his side. “I’m so proud of you, lass,” he said. Turning to the men, he grinned. “You should have heard her. She sounded half-crazed.”
Larry and Davy nodded. “Aye,” Davy said. “I heard a bit through the window. Our Flora could act in the theater, she could.”
“You were truly wild, Miss,” Larry agreed. “I almost felt sorry for the guard.”
“He’ll recover,” the Captain said. “His pride was hurt but not a scratch on him. Just a story to tell, to be sure.”
“So,” O’Doule said slowly, looking to the Captain, “This seems to be proof that smuggling and trading might be a tad safer for us lot that outright piratin’?”
The Captain didn’t answer, simply looking around as the rest of the men nodded. I respected that he listened to the whole crew, his decisions depending on the opinion of the group.
“Aye.” The Captain nodded thoughtfully. “We haven’t run
up the black in a long while, and I don’t think we ever will again. Perhaps we should create a new flag. Something more respectable.”
“With stars.”
“With a fish.”
“And a mug of rum.”
“Gold pieces.”
“Plaid.”
“Ye can’t have a plaid flag.”
“Well, ye can’t have a flag with a fish, ye daft–”
“ Boys! ”