The Pyrate

by Michael Aye

  They continued their conversation for a while longer and then Beau brought up Antigua. “Do you think it wise to sail into English Harbor?”

  “We did it once,” Cooper replied.

  “Different circumstances,” Beau said.

  “You are right, of course. I think we will sail into Falmouth Harbor and take a wagon to English Harbor.”

  “It would make the crew less nervous,” Beau responded.

  “I have reminded them of the letters from Admiral Anthony and Sir Robert granting us safe passage.”

  “The letter has expired,” Beau pointed out.

  “Let’s hope that they don’t read that far,” Cooper replied.

  “You’ve had the luck of the Irish, so far,” Beau said and then added, “I hope it lasts, Cooper. You’ve become a good friend.”

  ***

  It was late afternoon when the Raven dropped anchor in Falmouth Harbor. A boat was put ashore with Cooper, Quang, and Beau Cannington as passengers. Once ashore, Cooper asked for a carriage but settled for a wagon.

  The wagon driver was a freed slave, who had lost more teeth than he’d kept. He had a stubble of gray, almost white, whiskers that stood out on his black face. He was a good-natured, old man and took the shillings pressed into his hands but swore there was no charge as he was headed to English Harbor anyway. Once they were off the wagon, the men dusted the road dust off their clothes as best they could.

  “It’s more-than-likely that both the admiral and Sir Robert will be at home at this time of day. We’ll inquire as to where the two live and go see them.”

  At the nearest tavern, an officer was spied and so Cooper greeted him. “Good evening, Lieutenant. I am an American and friends with Admiral Anthony and Sir Robert Basnight. They encouraged Doctor Cannington and me to visit. Would you be so kind as to give us directions?”

  “I could,” the lieutenant replied. “However, if you walk down this street, you will come to the Saint George Inn. It’s Bart’s birthday, and they are there celebrating.”

  “Thank you, sir. I will mention you to the admiral.”

  “It’s Fair, sir. Lieutenant Charles Fair.”

  The Saint George was a big inn, especially for an island. It was easy to see most of the clientele were the upper crust of the island’s society. Not one jacktar could be seen. A dozen carriages waited on either side. The drivers were all decked out in whatever uniform their masters fancied, from black and white coats and tails to maroon or emerald green coats.

  Cooper had worn a clean suit, but the least of the drivers looked better than he. “Quang, you’d better wait,” Cooper told his big crewman. He would scare half the customers just by his Oriental looks.

  It was much warmer here on Antigua than it had been in Georgia. Stepping into the inn with its candle chandelier’s glowing made the heat intense. Cooper considered taking off his coat as he felt the sweat build and run down his spine.

  “May I help you, sir?” the inn’s maître d’ asked.

  “Yes,” Cooper replied. “I’m friends with Admiral Anthony and I was told he was here.”

  “Do you mean Sir Gabe or Lord Anthony, sir?”

  “Sir Gabe,” Cooper snapped, not liking the man’s attitude. “Now, lead me to him.” The last let the man know he had no choice.

  In a back room, a party was going on. You could hear loud voices and laughter before you even got to the room. When Cooper stepped into the room, the first to sight him was Maddy, who shouted, “Sir Pirate, you came back.” The ensuing silence was eerie.

  Heads turned and seeing Cooper, Sir Gabe whispered to his cox’n, “Damme, just damme.” But being a proper host, Sir Gabe rose to greet his visitor, only to be brushed aside as Maddy rushed by him.

  She hugged Cooper and gave him a kiss on his cheek. Faith followed Maddy, but her embrace and kiss was more reserved and ladylike. Sir Gabe was next. Shaking Cooper’s hand, he said, “This is a surprise.”

  “Hopefully, not too inconvenient,” Cooper said.

  “We’ll see, Cooper.”

  Introductions were made to Lord Anthony, Lady Deborah, Bart and Captain Davy, who smiled. “We’ve met,” Davy said, shaking Cooper’s hand. It was neither friendly nor unfriendly. At least he didn’t call for the marines to arrest Cooper. Doctor Cannington was introduced. He too was sweating. Was it from the heat?

  “A glass for our new guests,” Bart ordered the waiter. “Would it be rum punch or rum?” he asked the guests.

  Seeing the old seadog holding a bottle of each, Cooper said, “I’ll take a man’s drink if you don’t mind.”

  “Aye,” Bart said, pouring a full glass which Cooper gulped down and held out for Bart to refill. Cooper smacked his lips a bit and said, “Taste like real Cruzan rum.” Bart smiled and set the bottle down.

  Cooper really didn’t know who made the rum, but for an inn of this caliber, they’d likely only carry the best. Eli Taylor had sworn that Cruzan was the best. It certainly wasn’t Admiral Pusser’s brand.

  A seat was made by Maddy for Cooper, and Cannington was given a seat next to Lord Anthony. Lord Anthony had the doctor laughing in no time, telling him a story about one of Sir Gabe’s friends, a surgeon, who had a monkey.

  “Ape, it was an ape,” Bart corrected him.

  “At any rate, the animal had been allowed to get drunk and it ran amuck through the ship’s rigging. The worst part was they’d been anchored next to HMS Eagle, which at the time was Lord Howe’s flagship. I look back and wonder how I was ever able to raise my flag with all of Sir Gabe’s and his friends exploits.”

  “Father, you never told me you had a friend with a monkey.”

  “Ape,” Bart corrected again. “Come on down here, Maddy. I’ll tell you some of your father’s derring-dos.” Smiling, Maddy made to rise.

  “Keep your seat, young lady. I’d hate to shoot Bart on his birthday,” Sir Gabe said.

  “See, Maddy, see what old Bart tells ya. It’s a wild side he has. Humph! Him threatening old Bart on his birthday. No respect, no respect I tell you. It’s a good thing I’m retiring.”

  “Retiring!” Lord Anthony said with a laugh. “You’ve been retired these past ten years.”

  “Not so’s you’d notice,” Bart returned.

  “What do you mean not so’s you’d noticed?”

  “Being keeper for the governor is a full time job.”

  “Humph,” Lord Anthony snorted. “I ought to have you flogged.”

  “There you go. See Maddy, this is where Gabe gets it. It runs in the family, it does. No matter how hard I’ve tried over the years.”

  “Hush, Bart.”

  “I did.”

  Hearing the banter, Cooper couldn’t help but chuckle.

  Lord Anthony rose and held up his glass, “A toast. To the best cox’n and best friend a man could have. To Bart!” Everyone stood and toasted and the evening was soon over.

  “Do you have a place to stay tonight?” Sir Gabe asked.

  “No, we’d just arrived as Bart’s party started.”

  “You shall then be our guests, you and Doctor Cannington.”

  “I have a man with me,” Cooper said. “I will need to find lodging for him.”

  “Jake will see to that. We have space for him as well.” Sir Gabe insisted that Cooper ride home in the carriage with him and Faith. As they pulled away, Sir Gabe came to the point, “Why are you here?”

  “To buy back my father’s property,” Cooper said. He explained that the property was heavily in debt and he wanted to buy it before it was foreclosed on.

  “Sir Robert can help with that,” Jacob Hex volunteered. “Sir Gabe is in debt to you for saving his family but its best he is not involved in financial matters with…”

  “You mean a pirate, don’t you?” Cooper asked.

  “I didn’t say it, but yes. The admiral can’t be seen having such dealings due to his position.”

  Cooper’s temper was getting up when Faith laid her hand on Cooper’s. “Tell Coope
r about your family if you don’t mind, Jake.”

  “My father was a front man for the Deal boatmen. You’ve heard of them, I’m sure.”

  “Indeed I have.”

  “Then you know there’s not much difference in a smuggler and a pirate. I meant no ill feelings toward you, Cooper, but the fact is, our admiral cannot be involved. Tomorrow we will call on Sir Robert. He has the influence to back you without worry of recourse. He is soon to take over as Antigua’s governor. Lord Anthony has asked to be relieved. I think he and Lady Deborah are ready to live out the rest of their life in peace, away from the navy and politics.”

  “Is Sir Jonathan Williams still the lieutenant governor?”

  “Aye,” Jake said, for the time being. “Do you know him as well?”

  “Just his wife and daughters,” Cooper said.

  “He’s not the gentleman Lord Anthony is. I’d steer clear of him, were I you. He’s still angry for having to pay the ransom for his daughters. Had it not been for his wife, he might not have.”

  “I didn’t take them,” Cooper said. “In truth, I protected them.”

  “Don’t test the waters, Cooper. He’s mad that Sir Robert was made governor and not him. I’m sure he’ll go back to England soon. Sir Robert has already informed him that he is being replaced.”

  ***

  Maddy sat at the vanity brushing her hair and humming when her mother knocked and came in. Standing behind her daughter, Faith took the brush and brushed the back of her daughter’s hair. “Your hair is getting long,” she said.

  “Do you like him, Mother?” Maddy asked.

  “Like who?”

  “Don’t be coy, Mother, you know who I mean.”

  “Of course, I like Cooper, Maddy. He’s saved our lives twice. Why wouldn’t I like him?”

  “Father said he was a rogue.”

  “That he is, dear, but a good rogue,” Faith said.

  “Uncle Jake was a rogue.”

  “Was, Maddy, there’s a difference. He changed his ways. I will not hold his youth against him.”

  “Cooper is young, he could change his ways.”

  “I hope he does, Maddy. Think what would happen if he was raiding a ship and your father or brother happened along.”

  Maddy was silent for a moment, and then looking at her mother in the mirror, she confessed, “I love him, Mother.”

  “You love his derring do, sweetheart. He saved you from a fate worse than death. You are infatuated with a romantic, dashing, young rogue. I doubt its true love.”

  “It is, Mother, the kind that Nanny told me about. From the first time I saw him with his blonde hair blowing in the breeze and that ugly scar on his face, I knew he was the man for me.” Maddy turned to face her mother and took her hand. “When he killed the pirate in that tent he turned and looked at me standing there with no clothes on and I felt no shame. In truth, Mother, I wanted him. He could have taken me then and there and I would have loved it. But he didn’t. He handed me a coat and when I asked if I was so hard to look upon, he looked into my eyes, Mother, and said, ‘Were I not a married man, my beautiful lady, I’d fight a hundred such as he if it would gain me favor in your eyes.’”

  Faith pulled her daughter to her. “Our rogue is also a gentleman and an honorable one. Don’t put him in an awkward position, Maddy. He’s got two things going against a successful relationship.” Maddy gave her mother a quizzical look. “Married and a pirate,” Faith said, answering her daughter’s look.

  Maddy took a deep breath and sighed, “I can always hope and dream, Mother.”

  “Yes, my dear, that you can do.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT

  Sir Robert Basnight was sitting down to a plate of corned beef, eggs, and toast with coffee when he heard a carriage drive up. That was not unusual, but it was early. His doorman soon came to where he sat.

  “The admiral’s cox’n is here with a gentleman to see you on what the gentleman describes as a private matter.”

  “Jake Hex and a gentleman, you say. Did you get the gentleman’s name, Charles?”

  “I believe he said it was Cain, Sir Robert.”

  “Cooper Cain? Show them in at once and have the cook bring more cups.”

  “Yes sir.”

  Sir Robert stood and greeted his guest warmly. Coffee was poured and after a few pleasantries, Cooper came to the point.

  “My uncle, Sir Lawrence is dead. His son, who is the reason for…my current status, has found himself heavily in debt. He’s lost at the tables, he lived very high with his sodomite friends and he’s had significant business losses.”

  “How do you know this?” Sir Robert asked.

  Tempted to say he’d created much of the business loss, Cooper refrained and said, “From my mother and others I’ve known for years.”

  “I take it you don’t want the land here on Antigua to be lost.”

  “The land here belonged to my father and mother. I would like to see it returned to its rightful owner,” Cooper said.

  “Did you not tell me your father was dead?” Sir Robert asked.

  “My mother is not. I want to pay off the loans and put the plantation back in good order and restore it to her.”

  “You have the money to do this?”

  When Cooper didn’t speak, Sir Robert said, “Of course, you do, otherwise you wouldn’t be here. It will take a few days to arrange things but I will get things started today. Do you know which bank holds the mortgage?”

  “No sir.”

  “There are only two on the island. Do you have the money with you?”

  “It’s aboard my ship. I anchored in Falmouth Harbor.”

  “Humm…probably for the best,” Sir Robert said.

  “It would be helpful if I had a note from you vouching for my ship, Sir Robert.”

  “I will have my secretary see to it. I don’t expect you to keep your crew on board ship, Cooper, but they need to be on good behavior while ashore. A man in his cups might, well say things, that would be embarrassing or worse.”

  “My crew are used to going ashore in Savannah where our…er…occupation is not known.”

  “Good, I will depend on their discretion,” Sir Robert said.

  “I will need the loan of a carriage or wagon to go get the money, Sir Robert.”

  “I will have a carriage and driver at your disposal while you are here, my friend.”

  “Thank you, sir. I, we, will take our leave now,” Cooper said, looking at Jake, who nodded.

  Then as an afterthought, Cooper pulled the letters from his inside coat pocket. “These are letters from our bankers and lawyer, Sir Robert.”

  “Very thoughtful, Cooper, they may come in handy. Are you staying at Sir Gabe’s?”

  “For now,” Cooper replied.

  “I will send a carriage there with a note for the authorities at Falmouth.”

  ***

  “Can I go, Mother, please? It’s such a nice day.” Cooper could see the indecision on Faith’s face.

  “It would not be proper to allow Maddy to go unchaperoned,” Faith said.

  “You could both go,” he volunteered. “There will be plenty of room. There will only be Beau and I in the carriage, Quang would prefer to set topside, I’m sure.”

  “Of course, we’ll go,” Faith smiled.

  The trip was much more comfortable in Sir Robert’s carriage than it had been in the wagon. Cooper brought up seeing James at Debbie’s birthday party and wedding. He even hinted his childhood friend, who was presently staying with the Taylors, seemed to have fallen for James while he seemed very infatuated with her in return.

  After a few moments of discussing James, Faith asked, “How is your wife, Sophia, wasn’t that her name, Cooper?”

  Cooper flushed and clinched his fist. His lips trembled as he tried to keep his emotions in check. Faith and Maddy quickly realized this was not a subject that should have been broached. As Cooper kept his silence, unable to speak, Beau cleared his throat and spoke soft
ly, “Captain Cain’s wife is no longer with us.”

  “Oh, I’m so sorry,” Faith and Maddy said. “Please accept our condolences.”

  Later, while waiting on a boat to take them to the ship, Beau had the opportunity to explain Sophia’s untimely death. Later that night, Maddy thought to herself that one problem has been solved, though she wouldn’t have wished it.

  ***

  HMS Hunter, of sixteen guns, sailed along under easy sail. It was make and mend and the crew was occupied writing letters, and sewing up clothes that needed repair. Two men sat together doing scrimshaw and a little group was gathered forward, smoking and listening to the ship’s fiddler.

  Captain Wellington had just gone below and the deck belonged to Lieutenant Jacob Anthony. He could remember his father talking about his first command, HMS SeaWolf. Of course, there had been a war going on then. There was now too, with the French, but that was in Europe. Napoleon didn’t send many ships to the Caribbean. Therefore, the chance for promotion and command was not what it had been in his father’s younger days.

  “Deck thar!” the lookout called down. “Two ships at battle, sir.”

  “Where away!”

  “Fine off the larboard bow,” the lookout responded.

  “Mr. Woods!”

  “Aye sir.”

  “Please inform our captain of the sighting.”

  “No need, Mr. Anthony. I was already on my way up when the lookout called down.”

  “Beat to quarters, Captain?”

  “I think so, Mr. Anthony. It will take the better part of an hour to get within range but hopefully we can be of some assistance.”

  “To whom is the question,” Anthony quipped.

  “Right, Jacob.”

  Smiling, Lieutenant Anthony responded, “Aye, Captain.”

  The beat of feet drummed across the deck as personal items were quickly put aside and hands went to their battle stations. The sound of gunfire was soon audible as it vibrated across the water. Lieutenant Anthony took a ship’s glass and climbed up the shrouds. Captain Wellington was a man who liked a professional view of the situation. Knowing this, Anthony went up without being told. Standing on the ratlines, he wrapped his arm through and around a shroud to hold the glass steady. Focusing in, he saw they’d never get there in time to provide much assistance. The smaller ship carried a British flag. The larger ship didn’t have a flag flying. A pirate, no doubt. Would they find anyone left alive?