“Very well, cast off and send the boats over,” I instructed. I didn’t want to take any chances now; the prize was listing and smoking, I didn’t want Freedom made fast to her or even be close in case she blew.
I made my way aft to check on the crew. “Did we lose anybody?” I asked Blackman.
“No. One of theirs dead, but all of Freedom’s fighters are still with us. Phillippe and Smith have nasty cuts, Jack’s lost a finger, and Alonso’s in danger of losing his eye, but everyone else is well. Ease yourself, enjoy your victory.”
I nodded, and allowed myself a smile; I had no one else to add to my conscience, no matter what the captain had said. The man that had died was the responsibility of my opposite number, and my injured would be well compensated. However, my crew wouldn’t be safe until we were off this foundering ship.
“How many to join us, Blackman?”
“Three. Butler, Thompson and Greenwoode.”
“Make them welcome in the usual manner and put the rest in the smallest of the ship’s boats, we’ll be needing the other ones. Captain, lead the way please.”
He glared at me as he held his bloodied arm where my blade had sliced through his flesh, but there was nothing he could do now, and we both knew it. He led his men to the waiting boat.
I looked around the decks whilst Blackman got rid of their remaining crew. I had to get everyone off, but I wasn’t about to leave anything behind after the battle we’d fought to win it.
“Jean-Claude, get those weapons ready to ferry across to Freedom. And Carlos—take Rafael and Lopez and scour the holds. Gold and silver first, then sailcloth and gunpowder, we’re running a bit short. Get on with it, all of you, I want us off this sinking tub and away.”
I headed back to the captain’s cabin; I was sure there’d be gold hidden away in there. I noticed there was less smoke than before and realized the incoming water had put the fires out—good. I knew that meant the gunpowder would most likely be wet, but I’d rather go through the laborious process of drying and remixing it than have it explode with any of my men still aboard. I rifled the cabin quickly and found the logbook. The smell hadn’t lied: the Adelheid was a slaver and sailed under van Ecken’s colors. She’d put out of Sayba three months ago with a full load of a hundred slaves, and island-hopped, visiting a string of slave-marts. We’d attacked her on her way back north with the profits. I took the logbook and charts, as well as the small seachest I found, and headed topside again.
Back atop, the decks were clearing. The boarding nets had been bundled up against the windward bulwark and there were small piles of bloody sand on the deck, but the men who had bled there were gone. Evidently the injured had elected to stay with their captain—he must have quite a hold on them, very few merchantmen gave berths to anyone not fully able. If their wounds didn’t heal, I knew they’d be reduced to begging in one of the many sailortowns about the Caribbees. The other boats started back for another load, and I reminded Thomas not to forget the grapnel hooks tangled in the rigging. We were heavy in the water now—too heavy. I jumped down the after-hatch again to hurry everyone up.
“Just what you can carry, men—and fast. Vamos! Come on, get a move on! Up, up, up!”
Men rushed past, arms full; there was enough water swirling at their ankles now that they didn’t need the encouragement. I checked to make sure I was alone, then headed back up to safety myself.
We were nearly there; I could see fully laden boats rowing back to Freedom, and only three of us were left behind. I looked at the men, then back at the boats. They’d given preference to the safe carriage of plunder over themselves. I smiled, amused, despite my frustration that they prized gold over their lives.
My smile didn’t last long though, sending Freedom off had proved a mistake. The Dutch prize hadn’t blown, and Freedom was too far away; the boats wouldn’t make it back for us until we were up to our necks in brine. At least Thomas and Gibson could swim, although neither enjoyed it and both would rather avoid it. Truth be told, I didn’t fancy being turned into flotsam myself.
“Captain! The pinnace!”
I turned from my study of Freedom at Thomas’s shout. I’d almost forgotten about Gabriella. I’d pushed her out of mind during the fight, not wanting her involved in any way, but now she was involving herself, and I watched in amazement as she beat toward us. After only one lesson her tacks were clumsy, but they were effective and I was impressed, as were the two experienced sailors with me. I felt a grin spread over my face as I watched her sail to my rescue.
“She’ll not get here in time,” said Gibson. “But she’ll beat the longboat at least.”
I nodded, smiling. This was not a woman who wanted to be steered and cosseted through life; this was a woman who wanted to take the helm herself, to be in command of herself. A woman I could admire and who had already found a place in my heart, and I recognized that this was only the beginning. If I tried to rush her she’d run from me as she’d fled from her husband, and I resolved to give her the time she needed to throw off the shadows of her old life. She had to decide to come to me of her own accord, and I had to be patient—this was one prize that couldn’t be won by force.
“What’s she luffing up for?” Thomas exclaimed as she steered closer to the wind. “Can’t she see we’re sinking?” He waved his arms about over his head to try and signal the urgency of our situation.
I was puzzled too and went for my glass, it wasn’t there. Of course—I’d left it with Gabriella. I cursed and squinted to try and see—it looked like a fourth person was climbing aboard. Fear gripped my heart. I knew that none of my men were in the water. That meant we’d missed one of the Dutchman’s crew. What would he do with Gabriella, and why had Gaunt not shown more caution?
They sheeted the main in again and moved closer, but not as tidily as before. The sail was shivering slightly, and I didn’t need to see their wake to know it was far from straight. A light flashed, and I knew my fear was justified. Their passenger had drawn a blade.
“Make your blades handy, but keep them hidden,” I told my crewmen. “He probably wants to look for more survivors. Either that or he’s planning to take us hostage!” I managed to laugh, but as soon as the words were out of my mouth I realized it wasn’t a joke and Gabriella was already his captive. I knew I’d do whatever I needed to keep her safe.
“Does anybody have a loaded pistol or dry powder?”
They shook their heads. El infierno, I was out too.
“Do not let her get hurt.” I was serious again.
“There’s four of us, including Gaunt,” Gibson said. “He’s a fool to take us on, does he think we’ll surrender for a couple of women?”
He looked at me and saw the wisdom in shutting his mouth.
“They do not get hurt,” I repeated.
“What do you want us to do then?”
Chapter 38
GABRIELLA
I looked ahead at Leo and the others marooned on their sinking prize and smiled. I definitely preferred coming to the rescue to needing rescue, and I loved the fact I’d soon be out of debt to Leo. One good turn for another. Klara seemed more relaxed now that she saw Obi wasn’t aboard the stricken ship and was presumably safe.
“Watch your course, lass,” Mr. Gaunt warned, and my eyes snapped to the luffing sail. I pulled the tiller toward me a little and it filled properly again.
“That’s it,” he said, smiling. “You’ll make a sailor yet.”
“What’s that?” I exclaimed, sheltering my eyes from the bright sun reflected on the water. “There’s a man in the water!”
“Leave him, he’s not one of ours.”
“Leave him? No, I won’t leave a man to drown.” I was horrified and stared at Mr. Gaunt. “Pull the sail in, Mr. Gaunt, we’re going to pick him up.”
“Gabby, no, you don’t know who he is!”
I stared at them both in turn and adjusted course. Mr. Gaunt must have seen the disgust in my face, but said, “It’s too big a risk,
lass. The Cap won’t thank you, or me.” Klara just glared at me.
“I will not leave that man to drown,” I repeated. “I thought the color of Freedom’s flag was black not red. I will not become a devil.”
He looked at me, then nodded and hauled on the mainsheet despite his obvious doubts.
It didn’t take us long to reach the swimmer, and he grabbed hold of the gunwale and hauled himself in. I tried to help, but only succeeded in sprawling in the bottom of the boat with my legs trapped under the man’s bulk. I yelped, and he looked at me in surprise.
“Get off her,” Mr. Gaunt growled, his blade drawn. “Get in the bows and don’t give us any trouble. Klara, catch.” He threw a knife to her, handle first.
The man laughed. “Women and an old man,” he said. “Perfect. Drop your blade, old man, unless you want your lady friends as scarred as you are.”
I looked down. He had a dagger in his hand, an inch from my belly. I looked at Mr. Gaunt, and he threw his blade into the bilge in disgust, then looked at me the same way. I held his gaze and heard Klara’s knife clatter against wood.
“Well then.” The sailor had pulled himself up and sat next to me, his blade ensuring none of us would give him any trouble. “Take me to your captain. He took my ship. I think I’ll have his. Tell me, how far would he go to keep you safe, mistress? Are you worth his ship?”
I glared at him. I had no idea, although part of me wanted to find out. Or maybe not. I settled myself back at the helm, took hold of the tiller and got us going again. I couldn’t look at Klara. So much for coming to Leo’s rescue.
“Where are you going? I want your ship, mine’s nearly sunk!”
“You asked for my captain, he’s still aboard your ship.”
“Is he now? Well, that might just work in my favor. The mothership won’t fire on a boat carrying both their captain and women will they? Very well, mistress, carry on.”
I glared at him again. I should have left him to drown. He didn’t seem to care that he owed me his life.
“And you stay just where you are, Jack—one move and I’ll give this pretty lady another smile,” he continued as Mr. Gaunt shifted on the thwart. He seemed to have discounted Klara.
I glanced up at my new friend in confusion, and he wiped his forefinger across his throat. I shuddered, and concentrated on the tiller.
“Just keep her steady, lass, thee’s doing fine,” Mr. Gaunt encouraged me, but I didn’t acknowledge him. The man I’d saved ignored me as he kept an eye on what he seemed to think was the only threat aboard the small boat, and I felt rage knot my stomach. How dare he dismiss me and Klara? Assume we were of no consequence and that a threat was enough to subdue us? I’d lived enough of my life like that and I determined I wasn’t going to let it happen again, but what could I do?
I sat in the sternsheets and seethed, my fury growing until it matched my fear, but I didn’t know how to save us, and I was running out of time.
*
We approached the sinking ship and I refused to look at Leo. I had to fix my mistake and quickly.
“Don’t try anything,” the man warned Mr. Gaunt. He stood, legs braced amongst the casks in the bottom of the boat. “My blade’ll get to her before you can do anything.” He looked up. “Ahoy there!” he called to Leo and the others.
I caught Mr. Gaunt’s eye and noticed his hand resting on the boom. He nodded at the tiller, tapped the wooden spar and winked. My heart leapt as I understood, and I knew at once what to do. I pushed the tiller hard over, and Mr. Gaunt pulled on the sail. The heavy boom swung across the boat and crashed into the man. I launched myself at him, arms outstretched to help him overboard, and Mr. Gaunt dived into the bottom of the boat to avoid being knocked into the sea himself.
“Get the tiller, lass!” he shouted. “Get us moving again!” He straightened up, holding one of the oars that had been stored under the thwarts. He held it like a spear and jabbed at the cursing man in the water.
“Aim for the Cap, lass—get them aboard, I’ll take care of this rat.”
“Watch your head, Mr. Gaunt,” I called and pulled the tiller toward me. He grabbed hold of the boom and hauled on it to help us turn, then ducked as it swung over and the sail filled with wind.
“Harden up, lass, quick!”
He was too late, and the boat collided with the rail of the ship with a solid thunk. Mr. Gaunt staggered with the impact and Klara screamed, but suddenly Leo was there, pulling the tiller out of my hands, and we soon left both man and ship behind.
Chapter 39
LEO
I followed Gabriella’s climb up Freedom’s hull and wondered at such a change in such a short period of time. The first time she’d come aboard, she’d been timid and frightened—lashing out at an innocent touch. Now she behaved as a sailor and a pirate. Freedom was working her magic on her; whether she sat on the bowsprit or just stood at the windward rail, it had become her habit to raise her face to the wind rather than shelter from it. With eyes closed and a gentle smile, her cares were brushed away from her—for a moment at least. In time, maybe they too would be left in our wake for good, along with the man who’d tried to commandeer her pinnace, and I wondered whether she realized she’d taken her first life when she threw that man back to the sea.
I wanted to hug her and hold her. I wanted to scold her recklessness and praise her courage. I wanted to put her somewhere safe and keep her there, and I wanted her by my side, even sailing into battle. I had no idea what to say to her.
She and Klara had chattered the whole passage back to Freedom, and Gaunt, Thomas and Gibson had joined in their excitement. She’d either missed my silence entirely or just thought the tiller had my full attention. Every time our eyes met, she pulled hers away, and I was very aware of the other men in the boat.
When I joined her on Freedom’s deck, she was lost in a crowd of sailors—everyone wanted to hear what had happened. I caught hold of Gaunt’s arm when he tried to walk past.
“What were you thinking? You were supposed to keep her out of harm’s way, not sail into the thick of it!”
“My apologies, Cap, that had been me intention but—”
“But what? Why did you give her the helm?” I demanded.
“I was teaching her the helm, Cap, not giving it to her. When that lass gets a thought in her head, it ain’t easy to get it out again. She saw a man drowning and refused to leave him. How could I have stopped her?”
“I trusted you, Gaunt. I trusted you to keep her safe.”
“Look at her, Cap, she is safe. She’s probably safer now than she’s ever been.”
He had a point; Gabriella was enjoying telling our crewmates about her adventure. She was full of smiles and laughter, and her eyes sparkled to match the sea in her excitement. She looked up at me and smiled even wider.
Gaunt smiled too, although not quite so radiantly. “Thee should have seen her face when that man pulled his dagger. She were terrified, but there were a strength in her I don’t think she knew she had—that’s down to thee I reckon. She kept her head and knew exactly when her opportunity presented and what to do, despite it being her first time.” He fell silent, lost in thought.
“What is it, Robert?” I asked, concern replacing my anger.
“Ahh, nowt . . . nowt really, it’s just . . . out in that pinnace I kept thinking ’bout Lizzie—me daughter.”
I raised my eyebrows. I knew Gaunt had gone to sea as a young man to earn a living to support his wife and baby after his efforts ashore had failed. He’d been away a long time, and when he returned, his family were gone. He’d never found them. He didn’t talk about them often, but it was obvious when he was in his cups that he missed them desperately, and tortured himself with thoughts over his daughter, knowing he could have met her anytime over the years without recognizing her.
“I’d be a proud man if my Lizzie were as fine a lass as her.”
I followed his gaze to Gabriella.
“She’s a credit to thee, Cap,
and she’ll be good for the ship if the men accept her, but she won’t make thy life any easier—I’d swear on that. Now, can I get on with looking over Freedom, see what her damage is?
I nodded, a little stunned by his short speech and newly brusque manner. The Robert Gaunt I knew was dour, gloomy and kept himself to himself. Gabriella seemed to have wrought quite a change in the old Yorkshireman and found herself a champion. I walked toward the huddle on the maindeck.
“The ungrateful wretch, I was trying to save his life! I couldn’t believe it when he pulled that blade out! Well, the devil’s welcome to him, I’ll tell you that!”
“That’s enough, muchachos, we’ve work to do—the yarning’ll keep.
“Carlos, Obi, Gibson, get the courses and tops’ls set. Thomas, make a course south. I want to be well away from here in case that captain has any friends in these waters. Get us to La Isla Magdalena, I reckon it’s five leagues off, then we’ll sort the loot.
“Gabriella, I owe you my gratitude. If not for you, Thomas, Gibson and myself would have had a very long swim.” I offered her my arm and walked her aft, enjoying the sound of her laugh.
“I thought you were angry with me, you didn’t speak a word in the boat, except to take the tiller,” she said, her eyes serious.
“I was. I know you thought you were doing right, but you shouldn’t have taken that risk. You and Gaunt were told to stand off, out of the way of danger.”
“I’ve had enough of doing what I’m told by my husband—I won’t submit to anyone again.”
“I’m well aware of that. But at sea, I’m responsible for the life of every member of the crew, and they all do the bidding of their captain. To ignore my words is to mutiny, and I won’t have that on my ship. From anybody.”
The Valkyrie Series: The First Fleet - (Books 1-3) Look Sharpe!, Ill Wind & Dead Reckoning: Caribbean Pirate Adventure Page 34