by Ruth Kaufman
She stoked the fire high and then dragged the boat atop it. Immediately, a large cloud of smoke encompassed her, as the semi-wet wood tried to burn. The smoke billowed up high above the trees, and Garrett noticed and came running to her. She coughed and choked as he pulled her out of the smoke and into the fresh air.
He looked at the fire and then at her. “Why would you do that to help me?”
He probably thought it was her guilt for Edgar that made her do it, but she knew after the kiss they shared yesterday that it was so much more.
“Get out on the beach and see if ye can flag them down,” she said. “I’ll stay here and tend te the fire’s signal.”
He looked at her one last time, grabbed a burning branch from the fire and ran to the beach waving it, trying to get the attention of his men. It didn’t take long before the ship noticed, and she knew they were probably out on patrol searching for him.
The Cinque Ports ship turned and headed toward the island. She felt a sudden knot in her stomach. He wouldn’t want her now. She’d ruined everything. Besides, she was a pirate, and if she got aboard that ship, she’d be sealing her own fate at the end of a noose.
She watched the ship coming closer, and decided she’d stay here by herself. But now she’d just burned her only means of escape from the island. And she couldn’t even hope for the Seahawk to find her. If her father discovered her, there was no guessing what he’d do to her for helping Garrett escape. The captain had never really gotten over the whole incident with Edgar after all these years – and now this. She turned to go lose herself on the island, but Garrett ran up and grabbed her arm, stopping her.
“Oh, no you don’t, you traitor.”
“Traitor?” She didn’t know if he meant she’d betrayed her father, Edgar or him. It didn’t matter. She was guilty of all three.
“You’re coming with me.”
She struggled to get out of his grip, but he held tight.
“Ye know if I set foot on the Cinque Ports ship I’ll be hanged fer sure. That’s what ye want, don’t ye? Ye are so mad at me for what happened to yer brother that ye want to make sure I’ll swing from the end of a rope.”
He kicked sand at the fire and pulled the remains of the boat off the flames. The ship knew they were there, so she knew he didn’t want to alert the pirates of their presence.
“Believe me, I know what it feels like to swing from the end of a rope, and I don’t wish that on anyone.”
“Then why do ye want me te go with ye? Why don’t ye just leave me for my father to find cuz ye know he’ll punish me as well.”
“Can’t do that either,” he said, pulling her behind him to the beach. She saw the ship sending out a small boat to collect them. Garrett waved his arm to acknowledge them.
“Then what do ye plan on doing with me? Why don’t ye just leave me here to die?”
“You are coming with me, and I want you to take me to Edgar’s child.”
“Ye mean my child, don’t ye?”
“I mean my brother’s child. I owe it to him to raise his son. It is a boy isn’t it? I imagine that is the son of which Sebastian spoke. Or perhaps you have a few more stashed away that you haven’t told me about.”
“I only have one child,” she retorted. “And aye, ’tis a boy named after his father.”
“You named him Edgar?” Garrett mumbled. “It figures. You felt so guilty you had to name the boy after him. I can’t call him that. It hurts too bad, knowing what happened to my brother.”
They stopped at the edge of the water and waited for the boat to come closer. Two men rowed to shore.
“That is his name, and I felt proud, not guilty. I named him after the father he would never know. And I think ye can’t call him that because ye are the one with too much guilt. Ye don’t want to be reminded of yer brother every time ye say the boy’s name. Edgar,” she said, seeing him wince, and liking the way it felt. So she said it a few more times just to see him squirm. “Edgar, Edgar, Edgar –”
“Stop it!” he shouted, and his angry eyes met hers. There was silence for a moment and as the boat came closer he spoke to her in a low voice. “They don’t need to know you’re a pirate.”
“Oh really?” she asked. “And how are ye goin’ te explain me? Goin’ te tell them ye just happen te find a girl on the beach and now ye’re taking her home to meet yer mother?”
“My mother is dead,” he grumbled. “Besides, she wouldn’t have liked you anyway, so you should be pleased.”
“I may live with a bunch of men who are pleased by the deaths of others, but I assure ye, I am not that way. I would never be pleased to see someone die, no matter what ye think.”
He waded out towards the boat with her in tow, as the men rowed over to join him.
“What are ye going to tell them?” she whispered.
“I don’t know,” he said in a low tone. “Just let me do the talking and go along with whatever I say. And for heaven’s sake, don’t do anything unladylike or even speak for that matter, til I figure this whole thing out.”
“Garrett!” shouted a man from the boat. “Thank God, we found you.”
Garrett pulled her out deeper into the water behind him, and she felt a fluttering in her stomach. She was going to be in his world now, and she hated not being in charge. And stepping foot aboard the Cinque Ports vessel was the stupidest thing a pirate could ever think of doing.
Garrett helped Echo into the boat, wanting to make sure she got in first and didn’t run off on him instead. She shoved his hand away and climbed aboard by herself, glaring at him from the corner of her eyes. He hopped in and only hoped his men hadn’t noticed her actions.
“Captain Garrett, we thought we’d lost you to the pirates.” Silas, his fist mate clasped arms with him and slapped him on the back.
“I am so glad you came back to find me.”
“Aye, Captain,” said the young crewman, Blaise, who accompanied the man. “How awful was it aboard the pirate ship? Those filthy bloodthirsty murderers deserve to be hanged, drawn and quartered. I hope every one of them gets what they deserve.”
His eyes quickly flashed toward Echo who was sitting next to the boy. Her arms were folded across her chest, and he knew she was just biting her tongue in order not to reply to that.
“Who’s the young lady?” asked Silas, turning the boat and heading back to the ship.
“Aye,” said Blaise, “did those cutthroats capture you too?”
She opened her mouth to speak and Garrett interrupted before she gave herself away.
“Aye,” he agreed. “She was a prisoner also. I helped her escape.”
She cleared her throat and her eyes opened wide at that comment. He knew she didn’t like the fact he was turning the truth around, but he didn’t have a choice.
“What’s your name?” Silas asked her.
“My name is Echo,” she ground out.
“Why are you dressed like a man and why are you carrying weapons?” Blaise studied her up and down, and Garrett knew he had to come up with something fast because they were suspicious.
“She is Lady Echo of . . .”
“Shrewsbury,” Echo broke in.
Garrett looked at her and shook his head, willing her mouth to shut, but to his dismay she just kept right on talking.
“I am Garrett’s cousin from Shrewsbury,” she said, giving him a slight smile. “I saved him from swingin’ from the end of a rope and now he is takin’ me with him to live at his castle in Hythe.”
“’Tis a manor house, not a castle,” said Garrett. “I thought I told you that, honey.”
“Oh aye, I guess I forgot,” she said. “Manor house, castle,” she mumbled, “they’re all the same.”
Silas looked at Garrett in question. “I didn’t know you had a cousin in Shrewsbury,” he said. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Well I . . . I . .”
“He probably was jest a bit embarrassed,” Echo rambled on. “After all he tried te kill my husband
. . . cuz he wanted me for himself.”
“What?” asked Silas.
Garrett could have crawled under the seat at that comment. If only he could get a rag and stuff it in her mouth right now.
“Well, that’s not exactly the way it went . . . dear cousin,” he forced the words from his mouth. “I came to kill your husband because he stole my son, Edgar.”
Now it was her turn to sit there with her mouth open. And before she could come up with another lie, he continued with one of his own.
“You see, my dear . . . sweet . . . cousin, Echo, had been forced into a loveless marriage. And when they found she was barren,” he looked to her and smiled, “her husband stole my boy. But now the man is dead, and we’re going to collect Edgar and head home.”
“Aye,” said Blaise. “But Lady Echo, why are you dressed like that, and why are you carrying a man’s weapons?” he asked again. “You might get hurt.”
“She is wearing a disguise,” Garrett blurted out, not liking the angry look in her eyes. “We grabbed the weapons during our escape.” He reached over and put his hand on the hilt of her sword. “I’d better take that, sweetheart. I know how heavy it is, plus I wouldn’t want you to hurt yourself. The boy is right.”
Her hand shot up and clasped over his. Her eyes narrowed to slits. He just smiled and nodded toward the sword, and when she reluctantly loosened her grip, he pulled it from the scabbard. “Better give me that dagger, too,” he said, nodding to her other weapon.
She looked first to Silas and then to the boy, both of them staring at her as they rowed, approaching the main ship.
“Sweetheart?” he said, holding out his hand.
She angrily ripped it from her side and slapped it into his palm so hard that the blade actually drew blood. He stifled a groan and placed it on the seat next to him, wiping his palm in his tunic.
“Well, Lady Echo, we are at your service. Just let us know if we can do anything for you at all,” said Silas.
She smiled at Garrett and then looked to the man. “Why thank ye,” she said. “And there is one thing ye can do for me, now that ye mention it.”
“Anything at all for you, my lady. ’Twould be my pleasure.”
Garrett knew by the gleam in her eyes he would not like whatever she had planned. He already regretted it before she answered.
“I am rather thirsty,” she said.
“Here’s some ale,” said Blaise, holding out a bladder to her.
“Oh nay, that will never do.” She looked at Garrett the whole time she spoke. “What I need right now is a bottle of rum!”
Chapter 8
Could this morning get any worse? Garrett sincerely doubted it, as he thankfully and finally exited the ship at Great Yarmouth, all but pulling Echo behind him.
The journey to shore seemed to never end, with Echo rambling on and on to his men one lie after another. The only good that came of it was when she’d spouted off about her son being in Great Yarmouth. Now, at least he knew where to find him. Unless that was a lie too, but ’twas a chance he had to take.
He just could not believe the way she was acting. But what did he expect from a pirate? His men had actually given her rum, and she’d consumed most the bottle on their short journey. And as if that wasn’t enough, she had the audacity to start up a game of cards with Blaise. Next, she took it upon herself to climb the rigging up the main mast to the lookout basket where her hawk was perched. At least it kept her mouth from spewing more embarrassing nonsense, so he’d left her up there and made up lame excuses to his men for her obnoxious, unladylike behavior.
“Slow down,” she grumbled, “and let go of m’ wrist!”
He didn’t stop til he’d cleared the dock, nodding to the portsmen but not starting up any conversations. Once they were out of the earshot of the others, he headed down a deserted alley and spun her around, pushing her back against the wall of a fisherman’s shack.
“You try any stunts like that again and I’ll see to it myself everyone knows you’re a pirate. And I won’t be to blame for whatever actions they take against you.
Echo matched Garrett’s angry stare, his face so close to hers, that if anyone saw them they’d think they were lovers hidden down the back alley for a secret rendezvous. She knew she’d angered him, and she was proud of it. This put her back in control of the whole scheme, and she’d done it to let him know she would never be subservient to anyone. Especially not a man.
“Yer crew seemed te like me. They couldn’t stop smiling and laughing. I think they enjoyed havin’ me around.”
“They were laughing at you, sweetheart, not laughing with you. I am sure they’d never seen a so calledlady climbing like a monkey to the top of the mast, or drinking and belching like a man. When word of this gets back to the king, I may just lose my title and lands because of your little stunt.”
“So that’s what ye’re worried about? If I had known that, I would have started a fight and shown them my skill with my weapons and took on the whole crew single - handedly.”
“Just lead me to the boy and let’s collect him and get going. I would have liked to stay for the herring festival, but now because of you, I can’t even do that.”
“Well, I am so sorry te have ruined all yer noble and mighty plans.”
“Where’s the boy?” he ground out. “You did say he was in Great Yarmouth, didn’t you?”
She had half a mind not to show him, but decided she couldn’t waste any more time. She needed to get to Edgar before her father did. If what Sebastian said was true, then her father was going to sell her son to the highest bidder. She knew the man was evil, but she had no idea how evil until now.
“This way,” she told him, leading the way down the alley and to the disreputable part of town. She led him up the back stairs of the pub and into the back door of her home.
“God’s teeth, don’t tell me this is where you’re keeping my nephew?”
She stopped and turned to look at him. “What kind of home did ye think a pirate would have? After all, the ship is where we spend most our time. And ’tis not like we’re really welcome anywhere, so we change homes frequently while we’re in port.”
She opened the door to enter.
“I’d think you’d at least use all the coins you’d pilfered to rent a decent home for the son of a noble.”
“He’s the son of a pirate too,” she reminded him, heading inside. “This is fine for us, we are not choosey.”
Garrett followed her into the small, dark upper floor of the pub, the smell of alcohol and mildew assaulting his senses. There was no light except from one window, and he had to take a moment for his eyes to grow accustomed to the darkness. It was a very tight room up in the rafters, with a single wooden table and two chairs in the middle. There was a trunk on the side wall and what looked to be a pallet or two at the far end of the room.
Heavy breathing and moans came from the shadows. Moans of desire. Garrett was very familiar with those sounds – he’d heard them many a times while bedding a lusty woman. He knew he wasn’t mistaken that that same action was going on here right now.
“Winnie?” asked Echo. “Is that ye?”
“Who’s Winnie?” asked Garrett, walking further into the room.
“My father’s latest . . . the woman who has been watching my son.”
They walked up to the pallet at the far side of the room to find a naked man and woman in the midst of coupling. They didn’t even notice them at first.
“Bid the devil, the boy better not be in this room,” growled Garrett.
The woman’s head popped up and she finally noticed them.
“Echo! I didn’t hear ye come in.”
“Where’s Edgar?” Echo asked. “Ye were supposed te be watchin’ him.”
“Ahoy, sweetums.” The man atop Winnie turned his head, and to Garrett’s surprise, it was Filtch from the Seahawk.
Garrett drew his sword immediately, the scraping of metal as he unsheathed it resounding through
the small room.
“What are ye doin’ here, Filtch?” asked Echo. “Is my father here too?”
Filtch looked down the end of Garrett’s sword and rolled off the woman to expose himself to Echo. She didn’t seem to notice, or mayhap not to care, as she didn’t even react.
“Now ye wouldn’t strike down an unarmed man, would ye?” he asked.
Winnie wrapped the coverlet around her naked body, but Filtch didn’t seem to care that he sat there naked.
“I thought you said this was your father’s woman,” said Garrett.
“She was,” said Echo. “My father will kill ye, Filtch, when he finds out what ye did.”
“Well, why don’t ye run back to th’ ship and tell him?” asked Filtch, getting off the pallet and putting on his braies. “Ye won’t, cuz ye an’ the prisoner are doing naught different than this.”
Echo started to lunge forward, but Garrett grabbed her wrist and held her back.
“Why are you even here?” asked Garrett.
“He’s come for the boy,” said Winnie. “He said the Cap’n sent him.”
“That’s right,” said Filtch pulling on his boots. “We’re goin’ te sell ’im to te nobles and be rich.”
“Where is Edgar?” Echo asked urgently. “I warn you - no one is taking him away from me.”
“He’s down in the pub,” answered Winnie. “I brought the boy down there just before we –”
Echo didn’t wait to hear more. She turned quickly and bolted out the door. Garrett backed up slowly, covering their backs, and then exited the room as well.
Once downstairs, he followed Echo into the pub. He watched her scoop up a little boy that looked a lot like his brother, and rush past him. The place was full of rowdy, drunken sailors and whores. He couldn’t even believe anyone would bring a child here.
“We need to leave. Now!” she shouted, and Garrett didn’t waste a minute to follow.
“C’mon,” she said, holding the little dark-haired boy with big brown eyes protectively against her chest. “We need to get out of here before they take him from us.”