The Crockett Chronicles- The Complete Collection

by Jennifer Lynn Cary

  “I want to see everything! Go everywhere!” Willie spread his arms as if to embrace the whole city. “Let’s go this way.” He loped toward a walkway in front of several shops.

  “I’ve not seen so many merchants!” Maybe scanned sign after handmade sign depicting designs and symbols informing the shopper what goods the store carried. No words or numbers graced the storefronts. “Willie, we haven’t enough money to spend.”

  “True. Pay will come once we’re in England. But I want to experience it all.”

  Maybe scanned her surroundings. Her ears took in vocal noises that sounded like conversation, but none of the words made sense. The people talked fast and rushed about. “It’s so busy!”

  “Aye!” Willie fed on the haste that flowed through the streets, increasing his normal exuberance. His eyes were wide and round, taking in every sight while his talk was clipped and quick. Maybe’s gut twinged with danger.

  “We might find the commons and view the trees.” That would be free. And peaceful.

  “Oh, Maybe, there’s excitement in the air. Can’t you feel it?” His smile faded; she’d let him down.

  “Aye, Willie. I’m glad to be off the ship for a bit. But wouldn’t it be fine to go someplace where we may be ourselves? Where we might talk and not worry that someone might overhear? Someplace where we... where I dinna have to pretend to be what I’m not?”

  His exuberance mellowed. Perhaps it was a disappointment, she didn’t know for sure. But he slowed and smiled at her. “I understand. Aye. Let’s go to the commons.” He walked beside her now, seeming more aware of her presence.

  Part of her was relieved, but now part felt guilty. He’d been so happy. Now he did this for her.

  Willie stopped a man who didn’t rush as fast and asked directions.

  “It’s the triangle between Chambers, Broadway, and Park Row. Keep going in this direction, you will find it.” For a moment Maybe thought he might tip his hat. Instead, he tipped his head to the side, gave her a funny look, and then moved on.

  “Guess we’re headed in the right direction.” Willie shrugged before starting again.

  It took half an hour, but they found the place. Giant elms sprouted inviting Maybe to climb their branches. She couldn’t resist and swung up into the closest one. “Come on up, Willie!”

  “You climb all day aboard ship. This is what you want to do?”

  “No one can see me here, Willie. I can be meself.”

  A moment later he joined her amidst the leaves and laughed. “Aye, I understand. You want a place to be a girl.”

  “I am a girl.”

  His voice grew soft. “Aye, that you are.”

  She imagined for a moment he might kiss her, and to her surprise, she hoped he would.

  But he didn’t.

  “Willie, what will happen to us?” The question was out before she considered it.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean... we’re friends?”

  “Aye, we’re friends.”

  “When I return to Ireland, where will you go?”

  “With the ship, of course.”

  Of course. “Then will I ever see you again?”

  She could feel him distance himself. He ran his hand through his hair. “Aye, we will see each other, I mean... I can sail back to you, ah, come visit you.”

  And once more, she was alone. On her own. The tear dropped before she could stop it, but she wouldn’t let another fall.

  “Ho, what’s this? Maybe, I won’t let anything happen to you. I will get you to Ireland and you will be safe. You can even be a girl again.” He smiled at that, attempting to tease her from her aloneness. Did he even understand aloneness?

  “I am a woman, Willie. Ye canna ken. Do not try.”

  He became quiet and his silence enveloped them. There was a comfort in it, yet the desire to break free was strong. She wanted everything in the open, a rebellion against the secrecy she must keep aboard ship.

  His hand found its way over hers. “Maybe, I know. Believe me, I know. But, for your safety, that can’t cross my mind.”

  She turned to study his face. His eyes were heavy-lidded but soft and gentle making her heart thud against her ribs. It revealed more than she imagined about them both. Nodding, she slipped her hand away.

  “I mustn’t ever forget that the world believes you are a boy. That’s what keeps you hidden in plain sight.”

  “I know.” She sighed. “It’s not that I can’t pretend to be a boy, I’m doing that. But inside, I’m not male. I am me. I am a woman. Physically and emotionally. Each day I walk a cliff. Will I slip and fall today? What about tomorrow? It is hard to find the joy you have in this adventure when I am a mere gesture or slip of the tongue away from discovery.”

  “You won’t be discovered. I’ll make sure of that.”

  “How? How will you make sure?” How could he make such a guarantee?

  He shrugged. “I just will, that’s all. Maybe, trust me. Please?”

  Trust him and let him go. He had nothing to lose. He’d get her to Ireland and then it would be all done. His duty complete. But he thought of it as a duty, didn’t he? He’d made a bargain and would keep his end. She nodded. “I trust you, Willie.”

  And she would. Until he walked out of her life.

  * * *

  This was much too hard. Willie had counted on this day and all its wonders. He hadn’t counted on just sitting up in a tree. And he certainly hadn’t counted on all the feelings flooding through him. Why was life so hard?

  Under other circumstances, he would have taken her in his arms. He had little experience with women, girls, other than his sisters and mother. One couldn’t take them into one’s arms to do what he wanted to do with Maybe.

  These were new, exciting, dangerous, and just plain stupid thoughts. And feelings.

  He must put his mind, and Maybe’s, on another subject. He stood on a thick branch. “Ho, Maybe, over yonder. You can see the ship from here! There’s your perch, you can see it from this perch. Ha!”

  She turned and stood on a different branch, scanning where he pointed. “Oh, tis so high up there! Tis halfway to the top of the mast.”

  “Aye, it is! I couldn’t climb up there like you, Maybe. Yet you do it every day.”

  “You climbed this tree. You could do it. It really isn’t that hard. You’ve been able to learn all the other jobs on board. I am amazed at how you accomplish everything that is expected of you.”

  Her eyes held such an open, kind gaze. If she only knew the things he couldn’t do, no matter how hard he tried. He turned away. “I wonder what else we can see from here.”

  They took turns pointing out sights. The brick homes, the busy streets, the people in various modes of race and dress. It wasn’t as if they had never seen or even interacted with people of another color in their southern colony, but the busyness seemed to stir up a mix different from anything they’d seen.

  Maybe’s stomach growled loud enough for him to hear, reminding Willie that they had not eaten since they broke their fast that morning. “Ready to be a boy again? I think I have enough to buy us a couple pasties down by the docks.”

  She didn’t answer right away. Instead he noticed she stared out to sea, out towards Ireland. Did she wonder what she’d find there? Did she still have family there? He realized there was much of her story he had yet to learn.

  “What will you do in Ireland? Where will you go?”

  She turned to face him. “I left me sister there. I dinna know if she still lives or not. At least there I will know people. Me mother and I left because me stepfather insisted. Me sister became ill and could not go with us, so she stayed behind. Then me mother died soon after we landed.”

  “What about your father? What happened to him?”

  “He died. Pirates attacked his ship on the way back to Bantry Bay. Me stepfather was the only survivor. He said me father died begging him to take care of me mother and we girls.” She hung her head. “That must be
the only reason me mother would marry the ogre. He didn’t behave as an ogre before they married, but it dinna take him long to show his true self.” She shuddered.

  “Then I will help you find your sister. I can catch another ship. We’ll find her together.” The promise eased his guilt. He wouldn’t be leaving her all alone. She’d have her family or what was left of it. That would make things much easier.

  The eyes she turned on him gave the same expression his mother used to give when he’d promise never to do that again, for the hundredth time. She wanted to believe but would not pin her hopes on his word.

  Well, he wasn’t just saying things. He would find her sister. He would make sure she was settled. He would.

  Before he left her and returned to the sea.

  * * *

  “Aphra, my tea.” Eleazar Ferguson leaned back into his chair and closed his eyes. This tedium of locating his property was becoming a nuisance. It was also stirring his wrath as nothing before had.

  In the past, if there was something disagreeable, he had it removed with a mere wave. But this disagreeable feeling seemed to corner him, making him the caged animal. It was not a position he had experience, nor was it one he enjoyed.

  When the shoe was on the other foot, that was enjoyment. To see the fear, the terror, to hear the groveling and bargaining from those who didn’t jump to obey his command was an elixir. It all proved he was lord and master of everything his hand touched. His finger stroked the silk armrest on his chair. But he had yet to touch the O’Malley girl. That was both displeasing and disagreeable. She must be taught a severe lesson once he had her in hand.

  At first, he’d had hopes that the Crockett man might help if he thought it a good cause. But time showed him to be a nose-in-the-Holy Book type, not living in the real world where only the wiliest survived.

  Perhaps he could be bought?

  No, Eleazar Ferguson had seen it before. His scruples came at too high a price.

  “Aphra!” Where was the slut?

  The clumsy thing entered carrying a tray that clattered so hard he was sure she would tip it on him. “Set it down, before you burn someone!”

  And then the idea dawned. “Aphra, dear, what do you know of laundry?”

  Her eyes darted about the room and her fingers danced together in front of her. “Ah, sir, I learnt a bit from me ma. She were a washer woman before the fever took her.”

  “Good. Then that is what you will do.” He rubbed his hands together as the glee of his plan formed.

  “Yer turning me out, sir?”

  He should slap the stupid thing, but that would not help his cause. He needed her to be on his side. “No, child. I wish you to do something for me. There is a family here. I understand it is large and the mistress might use some help. I would like for you to offer your services to her. And then you return home, keep me apprised of what goes on in the house.”

  “Yer wantin’ me to spy?”

  “Oh, heavens, no, child. I want to be of service to them. They’re so helpful in the community but never ask for anything. They are very self-sufficient. If you were to help there, you might help me learn how to be of service to them.”

  He watched her consider it. That she even thought about it made him realize she was more stupid than he imagined.

  “Aye, sir. What do ye need me to do?”

  “You must go to the Crockett home. Let them know you are starting a laundry service. Tell them you are alone and must start a business. Ask if they would allow you to do their laundry for a small fee. I will even let you keep half of what you earn. How is that? So simple and you will receive a profit. You know where the home is?”

  She nodded. “When shall I go?”

  “As soon as you have cleaned up from tea.”

  The sooner the better. He could almost touch his goal. There must be something in that house to give him information, something to extract information from Crockett. He would find that O’Malley girl, and she would be his.

  * * *

  They walked back to the dock. Maybe could feel Willie’s hand so close. She wanted to reach over and grasp it, letting his confidence flow from his fingers to hers. But they were back where someone might see, so she made do with him walking beside her.

  They were among the first to return, coming aboard and greeting the guard. He waved them through, and they retired to their bunks.

  A few hours later, loud voices and thuds woke Maybe.

  Willie leaned up on his elbow. “What’s that all about?”

  She shrugged.

  They both went topside where Boatswain Johnson and an inebriated Mr. Cox stood nose to nose.

  “You know the rule, Mr. Cox. No returning to the ship inebriated.”

  “I’m a growd man, I am, s-sir, an’ iffen I imbibe, then that’s wha’ I d-do.”

  Boatswain Johnson let out a breath. “Mr. Hawkins, put him to bed. We will deal with this in the morning when he is sober.”

  “Aye, sir. C’mon, matey, let’s put ye to bed.”

  Mr. Cox tripped over his own feet and had to be helped. Once, righted, Mr. Hawkins took him below and put him on his cot. The man was asleep before his feet were lifted on to his bed.

  “Wonder what he faces in the morning?” Maybe was afraid to imagine.

  “I’m not sure, and I don’t think he’ll want to find out.”

  She and Willie returned to their cots.

  This time, the terrors didn’t come. They couldn’t. Maybe couldn’t sleep all night.

  At first light, she was on deck. Not that she was eager to see what would happen, rather she needed to get to the open air, away from her thoughts. Willie still slept.

  It surprised her that she told him about her sister and how Daniel O’Malley had come into their lives. She still recalled that knock. If it had not been an issue of survival, she dinna believe her mother would have married the man, no matter how pretty his manners. But he was all flowers and songs and sweetness, saying he’d made this promise to a dying man and he needed to fulfill it. Every day he appeared, doing things, caring for things. A totally different man than the one who stepped off the ship in Beaufort, North Carolina.

  Her father, her true father, had been a good man. A God-fearing man. But God hadn’t helped him or heard any of her prayers. And she’d prayed many. Prayers for her father’s safe return. Prayers for her sister’s health. Urgent prayers for her mother. That‘s when she stopped praying. When God took her mother and left her with Daniel O’Malley. That was awful enough, but he sold her. She trembled at the thought.

  A shadow fell over her, and a scream clenched in her throat. It was only Willie, coming up to join her at the rail.

  “You enjoy watching the water. I see you at the rail so often.”

  “Aye, I do. There’s something about the water, like it washes the confusion of me thoughts and leaves me a bit of peace.”

  Willie turned his back to the water to focus on her. “It’s the opposite for me. The water stirs up adventure and mystery. It excites me to my toes.”

  Maybe chuckled. That made sense, for sure.

  A noise behind her made her turn. Willie followed her gaze. Two men brought Mr. Cox up from below. He appeared to still be groggy, though he walked under his own power. The crew formed a circle about him and the boatswain.

  “Mr. Cox. You have been accused of breaking the inebriation rule. You were aware of such a rule?”

  Mr. Cox nodded slowly.

  “Speak up, man.”

  “Aye, sir.”

  “And you understand the penalty for the infraction?”

  “Aye, sir.”

  “Have you any defense?”

  Mr. Cox opened his mouth and then closed it. His head hung forward, his focus on the deck at his feet. “No, sir.”

  “Mr. Hawkins, help Mr. Cox to remove his shirt.”

  Mr. Hawkins pulled the shirt from over Mr. Cox’s head. Then, without a fight, Mr. Cox walked to the mast and grabbed hold of the iron ring attach
ed to the pole about a foot above his head. He widened his stance and put his forehead against the mast.

  Boatswain Johnson unrolled a length of line while the crew widened the circle.

  Maybe had seen nothing like this. She was confused. But, with the first crack of the line, she understood. She turned her head.

  Boatswain Johnson let out only five lashes before having Mr. Hawkins help Mr. Cox back to his cot. He also summoned the surgeon to follow before returning to the wheelhouse.

  Cookie sidled up beside them. “Don’t look so shocked, boy. Mr. Cox knew what he was doin’. On any other ship, his shirt would’ve been torn away, his hands tied to the ring, and he’d have gotten forty lashes with a cat-o’-nine-tails. And they wouldn’t have waited until morning or given him a chance to say anything. The boatswain is a fair man. Some people must learn the hard way.”

  Still, Maybe had seen drunks. She’d even tended to her stepfather more than once. Mr. Cox was never mean like Daniel O’Malley. Why not let him sleep it off?

  “Ye still dinna ken? That wasn’t just for Mr. Cox. That was for the crew. Now they believe the boatswain is a man of his word and, God-willin’, he won’t need to do that again.”

  Maybe nodded. She understood. But once was enough.

  Chapter Eight

  Sarah sent Janie to answer the door while she finished going over Jason’s essay.

  “Mama, someone needs to talk with you.”

  Sarah put down her pencil with a sigh and rose to see. The girl was a wee lass. When was the last time she ate? “Might I help ye?”

  “Aye, Missus.” She curtsied. “I’m lookin’ to begin a laundry service an’ hoped ye might be in the market for some help.”

  Sarah was about to dismiss her when the look in her eyes, a silent plea that said she was frightened and desperate, changed Sarah’s mind. “Come in. We can talk. Perhaps you can help.” Guiding her to the big room, Sarah motioned for the girl to take a seat, then dismissed Jason and the younger girls to take a break from studies. “Might ye take some tea with us? I have oat cakes too.”