by Michael Aye
“Fly Hunter,” he said to himself. “Fly.”
***
Sir Robert had sent for Cooper Cain. “I have both good and bad news for you,” he said when Cooper presented himself. “First the bank will sell you the mortgage. But it has to be under the terms of the original mortgage. What I mean by that is Phillip has until December to pay off the loan before it is considered in default. If the mortgage is not paid on the first of December, the land becomes the property of the bank or individual holding the mortgage. Should he present himself to the bank to pay off the note he will be referred to your agent. I am now your agent. Should he not present, my lawyer has already started the paperwork to assume ownership. Once that is done, the title will be placed in your mother’s name and you will receive notification via your lawyer in Savannah. If this is acceptable, tomorrow morning we will go to the bank, and after paying sixteen thousand pounds the land will be in your hands.”
“I thought it was fifteen thousand,” Cooper said.
“It was, but there are certain administrative fees that have to be added to such a transaction.”
He means bribes, Cooper thought to himself.
“What about funds to see the plantation up and running?” Cooper asked.
“Those should be entrusted to your agent to use when the property legally becomes your mother’s,” Sir Robert replied.
Nodding, Cooper asked, “Could I see the property?”
“I see no reason you shouldn’t,” Sir Robert said. “I think it will be a good outing but I was told, Cooper, that only a skeleton staff has been kept. Therefore, I’d not expect much.”
“It was my father’s,” Cooper responded. “That’s all that matters.”
Two carriages made the trip inland to Cooper’s birthplace. The property was located in the Parish of Saint Paul. The road was rutted, bouncing the carriage and the occupants inside. Maddy held onto Cooper longer than necessary, something neither Cooper nor Faith missed. Lady Deborah and Sir Robert smiled knowing smiles. They’d not missed Maddy’s action either. The fields were overgrown, there was a hole in the stable roof and the fence around the main house was down. The slave quarters were ramshackle as well. However, the yard in front of the main house was swept clean and the house looked to be in a good state of repair, aside from needing painting.
Hearing the carriages pull up, a woman walked out of the house holding her hands over her eyes to see thru the sun’s glare. Two children, a boy and a girl also came out. “That’s your staff, Nettie and her two children,” Robert said.
“Where’s her man?” Cooper asked.
“Dead, some years now,” Robert replied.
Nettie greeted everyone and introductions were made all around. “I’m sorry that I don’t have anything for refreshments,” she apologized.
“No need to be concerned, Nettie,” Cooper said. “Until yesterday, we didn’t know we were coming either.”
This brought a smile from the black woman. She spoke to the boy to get water for the horses and the girl brought a gourd of water for the visitors.
After a look around, Lady Deborah approached Cooper, “The land needs a lot of clearing but the soil still looks rich and fertile.”
Cooper had been astonished to see the women reach down and pick up a hand full of dirt as they walked over to a nearby field.
Lady Deborah continued, “Irrigation ditches will have to be dug again, and houses for the workers will have to be built. Better to tear down what you have and start over. A barn and blacksmith shop will come later. Water drainage from Table Hill and Green Hill will help keep the soil moist. Your father picked a good place, Cooper, some hillside but mostly flat growing fields. Should you decide to sell it, I will buy it.”
Cooper found Lady Deborah’s words very encouraging. As they departed the property, he left Nettie with ten pounds to spend on her family. “I have also set up funds with Sir Robert. Should you need anything, just let him know.”
As they drove away, Nettie held her children to her and said, “Things are looking up, thank the Lord.”
***
HMS Hunter sailed into English Harbor an hour before the sun went down. No sooner had the anchor dropped than a signal from the flagship was hoisted, “captain repair on board.” The return signal sent from Hunter’s halyard simply said, “require assistance.” The flagship responded immediately.
It was well known the admiral’s son was the first lieutenant aboard Hunter. It was also noticable to the trained eye that HMS Hunter had been in a battle. The bulwark on the starboard side forward had a gap where a section was missing. The area where the forward gun should have been was scorched and ragged. No gun was visible. The huge mainsail had been patched. As a number of boats pushed off from the flagship, the captain’s barge was at the fore. One of its passengers was the admiral’s cox’n, Jake Hex. Everyone knew Jake Hex’s orders or recommendations were the same as those of his admiral. Therefore, the crew offered him the same respect they would have their captain or the admiral.
Once, alongside Hunter, Captain Davy grabbed the man-rope and quickly climbed the battens and through the entry port. Behind him were Hex and a surgeon. The bosun’s pipe sounded and the stamp of muskets on the deck let him know at least someone was trying to maintain formality.
Jacob Anthony stood erect, arm in a sling and with a look of fatigue. The significance of this was that the captain was either dead or severely wounded. Behind Anthony, several people stood. Passengers! Hunter had likely come to the aid of a ship being attacked by pirates. Arrangements were quickly made to get the passengers ashore with what little personal belongings they were able to rescue. Jacob Anthony was then transported to the flagship, escorted by Hex.
Once aboard, he went directly to the admiral’s stateroom. Since Hex was the only other person in the room, other than the admiral, Jacob said, “Father.”
“Are you hurt, son?”
“Nothing serious, the surgeon says.”
Admiral Anthony looked at his son’s swollen arm. He had met a lot of good surgeons in his naval career but he’d also met some he considered lacking. He would see to it that his son was evaluated by his ship’s surgeon or one at the hospital.
Hex went to the pantry and got three glasses and filled them with brandy. Once everyone was seated, Jacob made his report.
“We came upon a merchant vessel out of Bermuda headed for the Grand Cayman. They were being attacked by a pirate ship. Captain Wellington thought once they saw us, they’d bugger off. In fact, it seemed to me they delayed their departure. We fired at extreme range but still they lingered. Suddenly, their larboard gunports open and they fired every gun that came to bear. Captain Wellington was cut down by a ball right away. I had the forward guns fire. We hit the enemy ship with several balls but it did little damage. Our metal was nothing compared to theirs. As the ship set sail, two stern chasers fired, overturning the number one gun and killing its crew. As they sailed away a number of the blackhearts stood on the stern and jeered us. Had they decided to give more battle, I’m sure we wouldn’t be here today. I did notice the name across the stern, Cobra. I counted sixteen gunports on her larboard side, so she’s a thirty-two gun ship, probably an old frigate.”
Admiral Anthony had kept silent and not interrupted his son’s report. Now that he was finished, he asked, “The merchant ship?”
“The crew is all dead, slaughtered where they stood. A young woman was raped while her husband was made to watch. The granddaughter of the older couple was taken away, she was only fourteen. The ship was stripped of everything valuable and holed. I barely got the surviving passengers off before it sank.”
Admiral Anthony nodded, “Let’s go home to see your mother. We’ll then go get that arm checked out.”
As Hex called for his barge, Admiral Anthony couldn’t help but think of Faith and Maddy’s capture. Had it not been for Cooper Cain, Maddy would have been raped or worse. It was likely they’d both be dead right now. God bless him, if on
ly he’d give up being a sea robber. Damn him.
CHAPTER THIRTY NINE
Cooper, Maddy, Faith, Lady Deborah, and Beau Cannington had just returned from viewing the property when Admiral Anthony arrived with his son and cox’n. Seeing her son climb out of the carriage, Faith ran to him, hugging her son as only a mother can. Maddy was next, calling him little Jake instead of Jacob. Introductions were made by Admiral Anthony.
Beau Cannington greeted the admiral’s son, but with a professional eye. “I believe that arm needs to be looked at, young sir.”
“We were going to have that done after I saw mother and Maddy,” Jacob admitted.
“Let’s go inside,” Beau said, asking Cooper to get his bag. “Is this from a splinter?” he asked, once Jacob’s coat had been removed and his shirt was off.
“Aye,” Jacob replied.
“Did the surgeon open the wound or just extract the splinter?” Beau asked.
“He just pulled it out.”
“Uh huh,” Beau answered. The wound was very tender, a puncture wound that was red and hot to the touch already. “I think there’s still something in there,” Beau said. “The wound needs to be opened and explored.” Looking at the admiral, he was very frank, “This needs to be done quickly, sir, or your son could lose his arm or worse.”
“Where do you recommend?”
“We should go aboard your ship or possibly the hospital.”
“My ship is probably cleaner, according to our surgeon.”
“Let’s be on our way then,” Beau said.
As they made ready to depart, Admiral Anthony noted his wife had gathered her coat. The way she looked let him know there’d be no discussion on the subject. His only word was, “Maddy.”
“I will stay with her, sir,” Cooper volunteered. “I will be a gentleman. You have my word of honor.”
“I’ve never doubted that, Coop,” the admiral responded, realizing he meant it.
Aboard the flagship, they went directly to the sick bay. The surgeon was ashore but one of the mates was there. Seeing the admiral, he asked no questions, but got busy assisting Doctor Cannington.
Jacob was given something for the pain and laid back. A bite block was placed between his teeth and Faith took his hands. Beau poured brandy into the wound and was not surprised to see tiny bits of debris come out. It was dark material and looked like it was probably from Jacob’s uniform coat. More brandy was poured into the wound until no further debris came out.
Beau then probed the wound and said, “Much as I thought.” He then took a scalpel and opened the wound, making an incision to both sides of the puncture. With the help of the surgeon’s mate, the wound was held open and an inch-long, thin splinter was removed. More debris was removed and brandy was used to wash out the wound. The incisions were closed and a drain was placed in the puncture. Sweat stood in beads across Jacob’s forehead and his face was white. The bite block was removed and he gave a weak smile.
“I’d not move him tonight,” Doctor Cannington advised. Admiral Anthony nodded.
“I will stay with him,” Hex volunteered.
“We will all stay,” Admiral Anthony said.
“Maddy,” Faith said. “She’ll want to know, she’ll be worried.”
“I’ll send my flag lieutenant.”
“No, I’ll go,” Hex said.
It suddenly became clear to Admiral Anthony that his cox’n, who was his son’s namesake, needed to have something to do. He needed to be busy.
“Maybe that’s best. Do you wish to accompany him, dear?”
“No,” Faith said. “I will be fine until tomorrow.”
***
Cooper went aboard Raven. The crew were getting restless and Johnson had gotten into a fight in Falmouth and had to be bailed out after damages had been paid.
“How much longer are we going to be stay anchored, Captain?” asked Johannes.
“I’m not sure,” Cooper replied in earnest. He knew that they needed to depart but found it hard to leave Maddy. “Doctor Cannington is treating the admiral’s son. As soon as he feels he’s safe, we will go.”
“There are other doctors on the island, Captain.” Johannes said, speaking as the quartermaster, not as Cooper’s friend.
“Doctor Cannington is the one who operated on the boy.” Cooper looked up at the men who had gathered. “If the surgeon operated on one of you, would you want him to up and leave? Leaving you to just anybody, or would you want him to stay around until you were well?”
“We’d want him to stay,” Banty said.
“Aye,” McKemie seconded. The crew all agreed.
“Captain, you’ve bought yourself a few days,” Johannes whispered.
Cooper nodded but didn’t say anything. He walked over to the rail where Mac stood. “You are awful quiet,” Cooper said to his friend.
“I saw Lucy. She was with some bullock major.”
“Did she see you?”
“No, but it wasn’t easy to not call to her.”
Am I being selfish? Cooper wondered. We have been here nearly a month. My business has been handled, so why I am here? He knew the answer: Maddy. No matter how hard he tried to put her out of his mind, she wouldn’t go. Was he being disloyal to Sophia? No, she was gone. He’d given her his all. If she were alive, he wouldn’t be thinking about Maddy. But she was gone and Maddy was here…here and alive…very much alive.
Today was Friday. He made up his mind. “Mac, pass the word. We will sail with the tide on Monday.”
Mac put his hand on his friend’s arm. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.” Cooper turned and went down the entry port to a ship’s boat.
***
Beau Cannington was at the Anthony’s home. Cooper went there to let him know their sailing date. He was surprised when he pulled up to find Lord Anthony’s carriage there at this time of day. He climbed down the steps of Sir Robert’s carriage and made a mental note to send him a thank you note for the loan of the carriage and driver.
Maddy saw him drive up and rushed out to him. Taking his arm in hers, she said, “Come in. Father has an announcement to make.”
Walking inside, Cooper was glad to see Jacob was up and had most of his color back. Bart nodded as he went past. Lord Anthony shook his hand and Lady Deborah gave him a peck on the cheek. Jake Hex passed him a glass of what looked like sherry. Maddy held out her hand for one but got a smile instead.
Admiral Anthony spoke, “I’m sure everyone is aware by now the mail packet arrived today. The captain of the packet has hand delivered a letter to me from James. It seems he has found the right woman after all these years.” Turning to Cooper, Anthony smiled. “It’s your childhood friend. James and Josie are to be wed.”
Oh shit, Cooper thought, the vixen. But thinking back, he thought, maybe she’s been bitten by the same bug.
“It seems, sir,” Lord Anthony said, speaking to Cooper, “that our lives continue to run a parallel course.”
“When is the wedding?” Deborah asked.
“In December,” Faith answered.
“Do you plan on going?”
“Of course, if we can get a ship,” Faith replied.
“Oh, Mother,” Maddy giggled. “Sir Pirate can take us.”
“Damme,” Lord Anthony snorted. “Maddy, will you ever learn to control your tongue?”
Maddy smiled and boastfully said, “Who knows, there might be a double wedding.”
This time, everybody laughed except Cooper and Maddy’s father. They both looked shocked. They were the only ones. Maddy had made no secret in regards to her feelings for Cooper.
***
Raven sailed with the morning tide on Monday morning as expected. What had not been expected was that she was carrying two passengers, Faith and Maddy. It was Jacob Anthony who had persuaded his father to approve the arrangements.
“I think it much preferable that Mother and Maddy sail in an armed ship with a trained crew, who know how to fight.”
The al
ternative would have been for them to sail in a packet or some merchant vessel. Both of which would be easy pickings if the Cobra happened along.
“You condone their accompanying a pirate?” Anthony asked his son.
“Do you have proof of that?” Jacob asked.
“Only his confession in my cabin.”
Jacob sighed. “Well, has there been any proof or charges placed against him?”
“No, none that I know of.”
“It’s up to you then, Father. A good pirate who’s come to your family’s aid more than once or send a ship to the colonies for some unspecified reason.”
“You know I can’t do that, Jacob.”
“Let them sail with Cooper, then.”
“Aye, I guess you are right.” Anthony called for his cox’n. When he got there, Anthony filled up three glasses. “I thought you might like to give the news to little Jake.”
Hex smiled, “Aye.” Holding up his glass, he said, “To Lieutenant Jacob Anthony, the new captain of HMS Hunter.”
Jacob smiled, he hadn’t been called little Jake by anyone other than Maddy since he became a lieutenant. But this time he enjoyed it, especially coming from big Jake. “Thank you, Jake. Thank you, Father. When is it official?”
“As soon as you read yourself in. As I understand it, the Hunter has completed all repairs and is ready for sea.”
“Yes sir, she is.”
“Good, your new first lieutenant has been sent over by Captain Davy. You will sail Monday morning and resume your patrol from here to Bermuda. Should something happen and you find need to replenish your water, I’m sure the Americans would not deny you that.”
“Father, you are the best.”
Admiral Anthony said, “Lieutenant, this is your commander and chief speaking.”
“Aye, sir. Is that how Uncle Gil used to do it?”
CHAPTER FORTY
Faith and Maddy were received by the crew as royalty. “There are women aboard,” Johannes had said to the crew, “so watch your manners and watch your language. None of the dirty words. None of the dirty words, Banty, you hear me?”