The Sea Maiden (23 page)

Wreathing with contempt toward his
half-brother he regretted not having him killed years ago while Eric was still a lad and before his father changed the will. Now that Eric was at last removed off the title to Harmon Hall, was it possible he conveniently walked away with his prize bride and an expensive diamond engagement ring? ‘Bastard’ he thought, he should have never invited him over for dinner.

He was so deep in thought he missed Deidra and Henry’s comments to him. They were wasting his time he thought, he needed to get rid of them, however she had been instrumental in providing him with her valuable observations, and for that he was grateful. He thanked the couple for their visit and politely excused himself stating he had an urgent matter to attend to in town, but would be back in time for dinner and would love to have them join him. To his dismay, Deidra and Henry promptly accepted.

Lord Harmon called for Clifton to get his carriage. Once outside, Lord Harmon remembered that on the night of the party, Lynnette disappeared a while, when asked where she had been, Lynnette claimed she was outside talking to Clifton and some of the guest informed him they had seen the young woman carry out a plate of food. He turned to Clifton.

“Clifton on the night of the dinner party, what time did you arrive back from your sister’s?”

“Sir I didn’t return that night I spent the night at her home.”

This confirmed that Lynnette was lying, but she had been speaking to someone. Then he asked,

“Lynnette’s suitor, did you meet him?”

“Yes sir.”

“I assume he also knows Karina.”

“Yes sir.”

“Was he here visiting Lynnette on the night of the dinner party?”

“I don’t know sir.” Clifton lied. “Where shall I drive you sir?”

Eric must have hired a man to bring her back to his ship, he thought. After a long pause Gunther answered,

“The harbor.”

Clifton wondered if he had given too much information, but several people had seen Peter with the girls that Friday.

Lord Harmon was about to pay one of his associates a visit, an old acquaintance whose ship had recently arrived into the harbor and was due to depart for the Caribbean soon. He wanted to discuss a proposition with him.

Lord Harmon boarded the Raven in search of Captain Harold Tate. Harold Tate was a short, stocky man with a dark beard in his mid fifties. He had dwindled in piracy on more than one occasion, but had never been convicted of it. Lord Harmon asked him if he was familiar with the Sea Maiden and her captain. He said he was familiar with the Sea Maiden but not her captain but had recently hired a new crew member who was briefly employed aboard the Sea Maiden. He had been dismissed on account of a woman. Lord Harmon asked to speak to the man. Harold Tate had Remus Wilkes summoned. Remus was a bearded man with bad hygiene, matted black hair and an unfriendly nature.

“Remus this is Lord Harmon he would like to ask you some questions about
 the Sea Maiden and her captain.”

Not knowing what it was about Remus was suspicious.

“What about it?”

“Do you know Captain Eric Drake?”

“Aye”

“And you were on his ship?”

“That be right.”

“You were dismissed over a woman I hear?”

“What business be that of yours if I was?”

“Well friend, no need to be so defensive, they are simply matters of the heart important only to me but I’m willing to compensate you well for what I seek.”

“How much?”

“That depends on how cooperative you are.”

Remus paused for a thoughtful moment than nodded.

“There was a lass at
 The Red Dawn, a mighty pretty one, thinking she be a harlot I approached her unawares she was wi the cap’n. When e saw me reach for her he took offense and fired his pistol at me, then dismissed me.”

“Was she a blond?”

“I was drunk I can’t recall, she had a dark hood on.”

“I take it you’re not in the best of terms with Captain Drake then?”

“He could burn in front of me for all I care.”

Lord Harmon smiled.

“Then I have a rewarding proposition for you my friend and for Captain Tate.”

Karina went to see Peter who was lying on his bunk with his back to her. He wore a bandage that wrapped around his back and chest. Peter mentally summarized the damage. He aided a stowaway, fought the Captain, was whipped for it and now more than likely would be dismissed from his position on the ship, his dreams of being Captain of his own ship someday where fading, all because he was persuaded by two beautiful girls, he was such an idiot.

“Peter, can I talk to you?”

“I’m not in a talking mood Karina but I’m happy that you and the Captain are becoming great pals, this may work out in your favor now you might not even need your brother after all.” 

Suddenly Peter’s words struck Karina as a possible solution to her dilemma but it was too early to make assumptions.

“You sound mad, are you mad at me?”

“Yes and no.”

“Can you explain?”

Peter sighed in frustration.

“Yes because the whole thing was preposterous from the start. It’s true what they say that a woman aboard a ship is bad luck. I never should have let you talk me into it.”

His words were stinging but she allowed him to vent.

“And ‘no’?-”

“No
 because…. It’s not your fault for being who you are or how you affect men, Captain Drake in particular. And if I had to do it all over again….I probably would.”

Karina looked at him appreciatively and smiled warmly.

“Peter I just want to let you know that I regret what you went through and that I am truly sorry. I will make it up to you and take care of you if the Captain dismisses you. I’m prepared to pay you well for your services. Once we are in New England I will still need you. With, my brother, Jonathan’s business experience and your knowledge of ships and sailing we could get my father’s business running again.”

Peter suddenly remembered she was rich. He smiled and sat up, then his humorous side took over and he shared something that made her smile.

“Look now you’re not the only one with a bandage around the back and chest.”

She laughed, than stopped momentarily at a loss, she never told him about that.

“How do you know about the wrap around my chest?”

“I saw it when I was fighting with the Captain and you came out of the guest quarters and the wind blew your shirt open. Don’t worry I didn’t get a good view from the floor.” They laughed Karina shoved him playfully.

“Ow!”

“Sorry Peter, I forgot.”

Captain Drake walked in.

“I thought I would find you down here.” Eric said.

Both Karina and Peter looked up.

“Peter I think I owe you an apology, Karina explained everything to me.”

Captain Drake extended his hand to him. Peter hesitated then said.

“I owe you one too Captain, for jumping to conclusions.”

Peter and the Captain shook hands in acceptance.

“I think I’m having De Ja’ Vu.” Peter said. “I feel like Clifton now.”

Karina and Peter exchanged smiles. Ignoring their comments, Captain Drake promptly took Karina’s hand and said,

“I have to get you back to the guest quarters.”

“Why?”

“There’s a ship approaching and we don’t know if it’s friend or foe yet, but I’m not taking any chances. Peter, how do you feel?”

“Like… I just got whipped.” Peter cringed

Karina was unable to conceal her mirth Peter always managed to find humor in everything.

“Well get ready we may be engaging in another fight tonight.” Eric warned.

Eric pulled Karina to her feet to take her back to the guest quarters. Hand in hand they moved through the ship. The crew didn’t fail to notice the Captain’s possessive hold of the young woman. At the door to the guest quarters Eric gave Karina specific instructions,

“Stay inside and lock it till I say you can come out.”

Drawing her close with his arm around her waist, he gently kissed her one more time, and ran a finger across her chin before leaving. Karina savored the sweet moment then Eric left and she did as instructed. She went under the bunk and retrieved the sword and holster Nate provided her with and put it on. Her nerves were rattled but tried to be calm, she didn’t want to be caught off guard if there was an attack.

On the bridge James Caleb the 1st mate, and the officers were on standby prepared for a possible attack. The ship was closing in and had not identified itself. The day had grown dark except for the moonlight. They noted that the ship didn’t seem to be getting any closer. As the Captain arrived on the bridge the officers started giving him reports.

“They might be waiting for better lighting.” Caleb said.

“They have not identified themselves.” Said another officer.

“Let’s move out of these waters, if they pursue they are not likely friendly.” Captain Drake ordered.

The Sea Maiden started moving away, the crew remained watchful as the other ship followed at a distance. At daybreak the ship could be seen approaching them again and this time it was coming fast. The imminent sign of an impending attack; adrenalin started flowing among the men as they prepared for battle. The Captain gave the order to open the sweeps and run out their guns.

As the pursuing ship came up along the side
 the Sea Maiden they dropped the trademark flag, Skull and Cross bones, identifying them as pirates and fired a warning shot across the Sea Maiden’s bow. They called out for them to submit and prepare to be boarded. The Sea Maiden responded by firing back their guns. The thundering sound of cannons was deafening then the Raven came up along side of the Sea Maiden, heavy with cargo, and bombarded it with smoke bombs and a rain of bullets, which quickly cleared the deck, followed by the loud shrieking and yelling of the pirates swinging on board. Fighting broke out throughout the ship, it was in complete chaos. The sound of metal hitting metal, shouting and the popping of pistols and muskets could be heard all around. The air became a thick cloud of smoke from the gunpowder and smoke bombs creating confusion.

Karina stood terrified within the guest quarters. She remained locked in the small room not only fearing her own safety but that of the men outside, particularly the Captain and Peter. Meanwhile running and fighting took place at every end of the ship, when suddenly the door to the guest quarters was forcefully broken into. Karina screamed. A burly pirate broke through the door, breaking it off the hinges. Upon seeing her he thought to grab her, he came towards her but at the sound of a pop the man fell forward dead. Karina screamed then felt a hand grab her, she turned and saw Captain Drake trying to take her to safety but another man attacked him from behind. He turned to fight him off with his sword, a second later Karina was assaulted from behind by another man, she screamed, he grabbed her by the hair which was still in a braid and dragged her with him she tried to run from him but he wrapped his arm around her middle, her back to his chest, using her feet she leveraged herself and kicked the back of the man fighting Captain Drake, creating an opportunity for the Captain to thrust his sword into him. Karina pried her self-loose from the man and frantically drew her sword as the man came toward her slashing his sword at hers, she heard the sound of their swords clashing, but the man’s stronger swing knocked Karina’s sword from her hand. She quickly retrieved it. Then she heard a pirate shout,

“KILL DA CAP’N WILKES! I’LL GET DA GIRL N’DA RING THEN WE BE RETREATIN!”

Karina saw the man about to strike the Captain from behind while he fought another man she lunged at the man but the man she was fighting knocked her down. As her attacker grabbed her arm to drag her away she heard gunfire and the man dropped dead next to her, out of the corner of her eye she saw Peter holding a smoking pistol. From the ground she grabbed the dead man’s pistol and fired it at the Captain’s attacker, who fell dead at his feet. Upon hearing the pop of the pistol Captain Drake turned and saw it was Karina who fired the pistol and killed the man. Then he recognized the dead man as
 Remus Wilkes, the man he dismissed at The Red Dawn. He continued fighting and moved further and further out of Karina’s sight. Just then Karina heard a man say to her,

“If you want to stop the bloodshed wench, get the ring an we be off. GET THE RING!”

She looked at him in confusion then it dawned on her, they where here for the ring, in shock she realized Lord Harmon had sent cutthroats after it, could he also be responsible for the men who attacked her and Peter back on the road from Harmon Hall?

“I SAID GET THE RING!” The man shouted Karina obeyed and went to the guest quarters, with the man close behind her, Karina walked over the broken door, got on her knees and reached under the bunk and lifted a small piece of wood.
  She retrieved the small cloth bag and took the ring out and handed it to the pirate. He smiled then with his pistol cocked at her head he threatened,