Kill The President's Women (Joe The Magic Man Series Book 2) (44 page)

The convoy took off, and from the corner of her eye, Jean saw Steve-e-Joe smile very briefly at her. It didn’t last long but Jean didn’t doubt its existence or its meaning: he had missed her sorely. Captain Morgan shouted out orders to his men: they were not to look or speak to Jean until the guards left her at the docks. At the docks, they were also to put on their best behavior so that Captain Gomez would help them. He told them that Captain Gomez would surely give them a safe ride back to the English shore, as long as they didn’t try any funny stuff. Jean felt a little better knowing all this and braced herself for the journey to the docks. She was sure she would be fine; two more nights without Steve-e-Joe wouldn’t kill her.

Jean had never ridden a camel before and the two days were long and uncomfortable. The guards seemed not to care and none of the archers could comfort her or at least speak kind words to her. When they got to Captain Gomez’s ship, half the crew were on deck watching their arrival; the other half were on leave. Jean dismounted and the guards bowed to her, spoke their farewells in their native tongue, gathered the camels and left.

She couldn’t wait any longer and at this chance, she took off her head scarf, ran into Steve-e-Joes arms and burst out crying with happiness. She was very grateful that they had been reunited. When Jean looked into his face, she discovered he was also in danger of crying.

“Oh Jean girl, I thought I lost you forever.” He gave her a big kiss. “I’ve got so much to tell you. Our little war was fought expertly. I was nearly taken but the archers were too good and the Arabs ran off.”

“I’m so glad! I thought I was going to live the rest of my life out in the desert, and never see you again.” It was difficult for Jean to speak through her sobs but she managed to add, “If you didn’t save the Sheikh’s son, I think he would have given me out to his men. But you did save him and now we are free again.” They kissed and hugged and even Tom Thomas had a tear in his eye.

When she was done, she also hugged Captain Morgan; she was mighty glad he hadn’t been killed. He patted her head affectionately but politely and said, “Nice to see you, gull.”

Jean looked up at the Spanish ship’s crew; they looked mean and angry, and as Captain Morgan made to board the ship, they all pointed their muskets down at Captain Morgan and his men.

“What is the idea of all this?” Captain Morgan asked, holding up a letter. “I have a signed letter from Captain Gomez giving us safe passage home.”

“I know what he promised you, and he sent me from Spain to fetch you.” The man in place of the captain spoke in good English.

“So why are you pointing at us with muskets?” Captain Morgan demanded.

“Because Captain Gomez doesn’t trust you lot, that’s why.” He tapped his chest. “I’m Captain Fernando and I have orders to take you back and see you safe on an English beach. But it will be on my terms or you can stay here and find your own way home.”

Captain Morgan’s men, by now had gathered round to listen. “What are your terms?” he asked suspiciously.

“You are to be tied up and kept in the hull until we reach England.”

Captain Morgan’s men shouted their protest but the ship captain continued, “You will be well-fed and the young girl and her husband will be given a cabin of their own but the husband will also have to be chained up.”

More protests from the men, and then they turned to Captain Morgan. “It looks like they got us over a barrel,” one of them said. “I can’t see the terms being steered any other way. The Spanish pig, Captain Gomez is afraid we’ll take the ship off him, so he’s taking no chances with us.”

“Well, I suppose another month below deck wouldn’t be so bad if we’ve got food and drink.” Sergeant Evans said dryly. “We’ve spent the last six weeks in this sandy shit hole, so it would be worth it to get back to Wales.”

The men, short of options, agreed and so, one by one, they went on board to be taken below. Steve and Jean were taken to the cabin and they put a steel bracelet on Steve-e-Joe’s wrist. The bracelet was fitted with a long chain, giving him enough slack to reach the bucket.

Jean felt sorry for the men, but she now had her Steve-e-Joe back and she was sure everything would be alright when they got home. She realized how much she loved him, and how she didn’t want to let him go. That night they made love until late and they both fell asleep exhausted, with Jean shedding tears of joy. They set sail early the next morning and Jean believed that it was part of the start of her new life. She no longer missed her lover Steve; it was Steve-e-Joe that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. Jean told him she didn’t want to be a soldier’s wife anymore. She had had enough of an adventure to last her a lifetime, and she’d rather now be a farmer’s wife.

Steve-e-Joe told her she’d have to be a soldier’s wife for a short while more, until they got back to London and saw what King Henry would do with them, for Captain Morgan was put in charge of Lady Josephine’s safety and she had ended up being kidnapped. Steve-e-Joe was also still a soldier for the King until they discharged him or hanged him, along with the others, for failing to protect her Ladyship.

Jean believed in her heart that he wouldn’t be hanged, none of them would. That first night, after lovemaking, the cabin was filled with Steve-e-Joe’s voice as he told her the story of how they had rescued the young Prince.

“First, the archers took out the guards with no light guiding them, just the faint glow of moonlight. The guards were like sitting ducks; they didn’t stand a chance. Then the Sheikh’s men sneaked into the village, to the tent they knew the prince was being held in and attacked it in silence. They were nearly clear before they were spotted.” Steve-e-Joe’s eyes lit up as he recalled the scene. “The poor tribesmen came running after the Sheikh’s men and I had to stand up shouting commands in English to make them think they were being attacked by the British. Then the archers let loose and the Arabs fell like flies. Captain Morgan and his men also started shouting in English while still firing. The arrows were leaving the bows with such speed, I could hear the strings on the bows sing with deadly delight. Somehow, I was spotted and the tribesmen headed for me, shouting, ‘Kill the infidels.’ I was waving a sword at them, wondering how I was going to fight them all for they were almost twenty who were coming for me. Before they reached me, almost half of them fell. Some of the archers had seen my predicament and had come to my rescue. The remaining soldiers of the tribe seemed to see sense and they gave up and ran back to safety.”

“I’m glad you’re still alive, I would have died if you didn’t come back.” Jean was very shocked at how close he had come to being killed.

“I was lucky, love. I’m no swordsman, and if it wasn’t for the captain’s men I would have been cut to pieces. I owe them my life.”

“And I owe them for protecting you. Steve-e-Joe, you are no soldier.”

“I know, but what about you?” Steve-e-Joe kissed her ear and played with her nipple. “Anything happen?”

“Oh, hmm… I don’t know where to start.” Jean wasn’t sure if she should tell him about the two big slaves. “Well, the Sheikh wasn’t that good a lover, but he liked me and shagged me most nights.”

“I bet he did.” He kissed her ear and whispered in to it. “If he wasn’t that good a lover, then his cock just wasn’t big enough for my Jean.”

Jean knew Steve-e-Joe wasn’t a jealous man, so she told him. “After the first few nights, the Sheikh fetched two of his wives’ slaves into our tent, and he asked me to undress them.”

“Oh I know what you are going to say; they had cocks like horses?”

“Yes! They had cocks as big as Uncle Johnny’s, only darker skinned.”

“Did the Sheikh have them shag you?”

Between Steve-e-Joe’s kisses tickling her ear and him playing with her bust, she was getting in the mood again, so she hurried on. “Yes the Sheikh had me play with their cocks until they were hard, and then he had them carry to the bed and they both made love to me while he watched.”

“Oh I bet he loved that. I wish I was there.”

Jean was used to someone telling her a story to get her in the mood, but now she had a story to tell. “They took me in lots of different ways. They did whatever the Sheikh told them to do. His favorite was to lie down and have me kneel over his head, so he could have a worm’s view of them taking me doggy style.” Jean hesitated about telling Steve-e-Joe that she had to suck his cock. “If I didn’t do want he wanted, I was afraid he’d sell me, so I had to put his cock in my mouth.”
Steve-e-Joe didn
’t say anything to that; he just started kissing his way down her body, so Jean went on with her story. She was getting a little breathless from the kisses and she gasped.

“Sometimes he would have one of the slaves lie down and have the other one get me nice and wet and then lift me on top of his friend. And the Sheikh would stand in front of me so I could kiss his cock and play with it for him while I rode the slave under me.”

That was enough storytelling for Jean. “I’ll tell you the rest tomorrow.” His kisses had reached her magic button, and Jean gave herself up to him.

The next week went by with Jean feeling more affection than she thought possible for Steve-e-Joe. Jean heard a lot of shouting on deck on one of those days and went to find out what it was all about. Captain Fernando told her they were stopping off in Spain for a day to get fresh supplies. The next day Jean was lying in the arms of Steve-e-Joe with the ship at dock loading up and the seagulls flapping about when she heard the sound of hurrying feet.

She listened intently. Nothing.

It was quiet for a while until Fernando’s voice tore through the silence.

“Captain Morgan, I want you up on deck. I’ve got armed men here so if anyone else tries to come up with you, they will be killed.” He waited then added. “You’ve got a visitor.”

Jean rushed on deck, and watched Captain Morgan come out of the hatch, to be greeted by the smiling face of Captain Gomez.

“Captain Morgan, what a pleasure to see you again,” Captain Gomez said with a superior grin on his face, “I thought you sign your own death papers when you agreed to rescue that boy. But you surprised me. Well done.”

“Yes, and I hope I can surprise you again sometime.” Captain Morgan had to restrain himself from knocking that stupid smirk off his face. “What are you going to tell me now, that you’ve recaptured me and my men and are going to sell us somewhere else?”

“No, but the idea did cross my mind,” he looked over at Jean, “and I could get a good price for the girl. But no worries, I might now be a pirate but I’m still a man of my word. You are only locked up down there for safety of my men.” That sick smirk was back on his face. “I have new job for you, this I’m sure you gladly do as it make King Henry happy with you. He has paid the ransom, so you can take Lady Josephine back with you.”

“Well that’s good news, and of course I’ll escort her ladyship home for you.” Captain Morgan said. “But how about you leave my men up on deck, if we give you our word that we won’t cause any trouble?”

Captain Gomez smiled back and then said in a matter-of-fact tone. “Most certainly not.” He bowed. “Until next time Captain, I wish you safe voyage home.” He turned and left.

“Okay get back down the hatch,” Captain Fernando ordered, pointing with his gun. “If I had my way I’d take you back to Egypt and sell the lot of you! Her Ladyship too, but my Captain has given his word so aren’t you the lucky ones?”

Captain Fernando called two of his men over to Jean. “I’m sorry but your husband has got to go back down the hatch with Captain Morgan. I hope he satisfied you enough. You won’t see him again until you get home.”

“Why?” Jean asked but she knew the reason. She had heard them say her Ladyship was coming on board.

“Because,” Captain Fernando snapped at Jean, “Lady Josephine doesn’t want the likes of him in her cabin, so if I was you I would say a quick goodbye, for you won’t see him for quite a few weeks.”

Steve-e-Joe went without any trouble, knowing they’d be together for always. He was overjoyed because Jean had told him she didn’t want to be with Steve, assuming they ever got to see him again.

Lady Josephine was glad to see Jean again. It was an unexpected surprise for her, and for the next few weeks they talked a lot and her Ladyship freely spoke to Jean now that Pedro wasn’t with them.

The captain complained to Jean that the wind was against them and he had a slight feeling things weren’t right. It took them some days longer than it should but they eventually got to the English Channel, and had to keep an eye out for British ships.

Early the next morning, the captain came to fetch Jean and her Ladyship from their beds with some urgency. “There’s a small trading boat in front of us, and I want you” – he pointed at Lady Josephine – “when we get close enough to shout to them, and tell them who you are. Ask for passage on their ship to the nearest port.”

Lady Josephine did so, declaring proudly who she was and Captain Fernando threw grappling hooks over the side of the ship to pull the smaller boat to their side. They handed Lady Josephine over the side first, and then Jean. She didn’t faint this time; she had gotten used to the open seas. One by one, the Welsh archers went over the side to the trading boat; the Spanish ship was supposed to take them all the way but they didn’t particularly care at this moment. Once they were all off, Captain Fernando reeled in the grappling hooks and set sail in a hurry. Within minutes, his sails caught the wind and the ship was dragged away from them, to the safer waters of France and home. He didn’t even bother to wave goodbye.

The captain of the trading boat had heard about the kidnapping and was only too glad to help, hoping to be paid well for his troubles. He sailed right up the River Thames. Jean was mighty surprised at the sight of the huge buildings. The boat’s captain named the buildings as they passed. They included the House of Parliament and Westminster Abbey. Jean had never seen a building so tall and wide; it would probably fill up the whole of Jean’s village.

When they docked, Captain Morgan sent a messenger to run ahead and tell the King that the Welsh archers had brought back Lady Josephine from Spain. He hoped the King wouldn’t be too mad that they had lost her in the first place, although knowing King Henry, he probably would.