CHAPTER 17

  Early the next morning, Mason was on deck, tending to the mainsail, when Low bolted from his cabin’s hatch. His face was a ruddy red, his eyes bulged, and the veins in his neck and temples pulsated.

  “Who took it?” he yelled.

  Mason and the ten other crew members stopped what they were doing and stared at Low.

  “Who took it?” he yelled again, as he scanned the faces of everyone on deck.

  “Took what?” McGregor replied, as he fastened his breeches after having been urinating over the port bow. He began walking toward Low.

  “The silver,” Low said. “Someone has pilfered coins from the chest.”

  “How many coins?” McGregor asked, as he came to a stop next to Mason. They both stood about ten feet from Low.

  “What’s all the noise about?” Thomas asked, as he stepped up on the gun deck from below.

  “One of these scoundrels has been in the silver,” Low huffed. He pulled his cutlass from its scabbard. “And I intend to find out which one.” He began walking from person to person, staring at each one’s face for several moments.

  “You haven’t been out of your cabin for a full day,” Thomas said, “how could anyone get to the silver chest?”

  “Must’ve been before. Maybe during the battle.” He stopped in front of Mason and peered into his eyes longer than any of the rest. He finally pursed his lips, shook his head, and moved to the next, which happened to be the man everyone called Knob, maybe because he was bald. And he was also the ship’s quartermaster; the one who initially counted the silver soon after it was brought aboard from the brig.

  “How do you know any of it is missing?” Thomas asked. “Did you count it?”

  “No, I didn’t count it, you wag,” Low yelled. “But I know some of it’s missing.” He turned back to Knob. Low’s face gradually turned beet red. Suddenly, he grabbed Knob by the scruff of the neck and pressed him down to his knees.

  “I ain’t taken no silver, Ned,” Knob pleaded. “It weren’t me.”

  Low put the tip of his cutlass to Knob’s throat. “You took that silver. Admit it, or I’ll run you through.”

  Thomas ran over and grabbed Low by the bicep of his sword arm. “We need to think about this, Ned. Need to be sure. If silver was taken, it’s still on board.”

  With the entire crew now on deck, each man stared, mesmerized.

  Even Mason, the newest member of the crew, knew Low could be totally irrational at times, and capable of unprovoked hostility. The man was insane. That was the only thing that could explain his extreme blood thirst.

  With the tip of the sword still pressed against Knob’s throat, Low continued to stare into Knob’s eyes, seemingly oblivious to Thomas at his side.

  “We search the ship, Ned,” Thomas said. “We’ll account for all the silver.”

  “Nah,” Low gurgled. “It’ll go over the side before it’s found. And besides, Knob here sorted the coins. Probably took ‘em then.”

  “I’m tellin’ you, Ned,” Knob pleaded, “I ain’t got none of that silver.”

  McGregor stepped closer to Low and put a hand on his shoulder. “We can search the ship. There’s no rush.”

  Mason saw Low’s grip on Knob’s neck relax just a bit as he continued to stare at the man.

  A crewman stepped from the crew gathered around and thrust a mug toward Low’s chest. “You need some rum, Ned. If someone took some of that silver, he’ll pay. But we need to be sure.” When Low ignored the mug, the man withdrew the offer.

  McGregor let his fingers wrap over the front side of Low’s shoulder and then gently pulled Low back.

  Low released Knob’s neck as he stood up straight. The deep lines in his face began to fade.

  Knob fell back to the deck on his butt. With his hands on the deck to each side, he raised his torso a few inches. “I ain’t got your silver, Ned. Like I been tellin’ ya.”

  Thomas relaxed his grasp on Low’s bicep. “We’re all on edge about Ranger.”

  Suddenly, the lines returned to Low’s face and his eyes narrow to slits. His jaws flexed. His shoulder’s hardened. A millisecond later, Low thrust the sword’s blade deep into Knob’s chest.

  The expression on Knob’s face turned to disbelief as he looked down at the metal blade penetrating his chest. Blood began to ooze and run down his chest, bare where his stained shirt was open. He lowered his torso until he was flat on his back.

  Low jerked the blade from Knob’s chest and pointed it as he turned to the rest of the crew and pivoted in a slow arc. “This is what happens when you steal from Edward Low.”

  McGregor dropped to his knees and used Knob’s shirt to try and stem the bleeding.

  It was to no avail. Soon, the deck on both sides of Knob’s chest was covered in his blood. Steam rose as its warmth mixed with the surrounding cooler air.

  “I didn’t take no silver,” Knob mumbled, as his chin fell to one side and his eyes closed.

  McGregor looked up at Low but said nothing.

  Low returned the cutlass to its scabbard without wiping the blood, pivoted, and marched off toward the captain’s cabin hatch. “Find my silver,” he barked over his shoulder.

  ◆◆◆

  Karen sat alone. Eyes closed. Dressed for the day in her usual petticoats, short gown, and shawl, she appeared calm and relaxed, as though meditating. Her arms rested to either side of a mug sitting on the rough-planked table before her. Steam wafted from the dark liquid, still filled almost to the brim. She licked her lips and opened her eyes at the sound of someone entering the common dining area.

  “What are you doing?” Lisa asked, as she took a seat on the bench across from Karen.

  “Thinking.”

  “About?”

  Karen dipped her chin and pinched the bridge of her nose. She rubbed her forehead with a single swipe before raising her head in acknowledgement of Lisa’s question. “Mason, Jeremy, Forrest, and Charlie.”

  “What about them?”

  “It’s entirely possible they won’t return.”

  Lisa stared into Karen’s eyes for several moments before she finally blinked. “We always knew that was possibility.”

  “In this world, in this time, it’s more than a possibility,” Karen said. “It’s a likelihood.”

  “You underestimate our boys.”

  “Maybe, but I think we have to start thinking as though they won’t be back. I’ve lost track of the days they’ve been gone. Is it days or weeks now?”

  Lisa stared off at the plank floor, fixated on a smear of dirt. She closed her eyes in an attempt to hold back tears. But soon the water began to flow in a single stream down each cheek. She wiped both cheeks with the back of a hand. “I refuse to believe it,” she said, as she looked up at Karen. “I’ll never believe it.”

  Without her usual sympathy, she stared back at Lisa. “I’ve been thinking about Edwards.”

  “What about him?” Lisa asked, as she wiped at her cheeks again.

  “He’ll be back. I’ve run into that type before.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Twice. Stalked by men who wanted more than just a drink service.”

  “They followed you from the airport?”

  “To my home,” Karen said. “One of them did. He got in at night through a window.”

  “What happened?”

  “I broke my favorite vase over his head and called the police. The other one just harassed me, mostly with phone calls.”

  “What happened to that one?”

  “I was dating a first officer at the time. He paid the man a visit.”

  “And here we are,” Lisa said, “no extra men around, and no police. We don’t even have a vase.”

  “We have a Glock.”

  “To be used in dire emergencies,” Lisa said. “Anyhow, what about Edwards?”

  “I think we should take a more proactive stance.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Karen twisted her lips as she stared off into space. “Something Mason always says. ‘Don’t let the battle come to you’.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “Best defense is a strong offense sort of thing,” Karen said.

  “And how does that apply to the situation with Edwards? And besides, who says he’ll be back?”

  “He’ll be back. I could see it in his eyes.” Karen swept her hand in a wide arc. “Large plantation, no men except the workers, two young, attractive women alone. This is not the future. Societal forces are not in control of the day-to-day in this time and place.”

  “We have the means to defend ourselves.”

  Karen nodded. “If we know they’re coming. We don’t walk around with a pistol strapped to our hips.” She paused several moments while she stared at Lisa. “I’d just feel better if we took the initiative. Take the fight to him, rather than waiting and worrying.”

  “You’re starting to scare me, Karen. What exactly do you have in mind?”

  “Go into town at night, wait for the right moment, and kill the son-of-a-bitch.”

  Lisa stared in disbelief for several long moments. She swallowed hard as she placed both hands on the table and leaned forward. “You can’t be serious.”

  The somber expression on Karen’s face didn’t change.

  “You are serious.” Lisa looked around to make sure they were still alone. “You want us to go into town and kill Edwards?”

  “Not us, just me. I need you to be here for Michael. Just in case.”

  “Just in case?”

  “In case I end up on the losing end—”

  “Or hanged,” Lisa said. “One or the other is a likely outcome.” She shook her head and glanced around the room again. “For one thing, how do you plan to get into town?”

  “Mato and his canoe.”

  “So, you expect Mato to help you?”

  “No. He’ll wait for me at the landing. If I’m not back by a certain time, he’ll return here and let you know.”

  “And what do I do?”

  “Look, I know this sounds stupid. But I’ve given it a lot of thought. I’m not going to wait around for Edwards to show up when it’s convenient for him. He made the first move. He put his hands on me. I’m not going to give him the chance to do worse.” She paused, staring at Lisa. “You remember what happened when Nathan showed up with Spriggs and his men. We had no warning and no chance. They took you and there was nothing I could do to stop it. It’s not going to happen again.”

  “Why don’t we wait a few days? The boys will show up. They will.”

  “The only way I’m calling this off is if they show up today. I’ve already talked to Mato. He understands. And he’s agreed to take me into town tonight.”

  “Tonight,” Lisa exclaimed. “When did you talk to him?”

  “Yesterday.”

  “Your serious about this? Tonight?”

  “Tonight,” Karen said with determination.

  ◆◆◆

  Forrest covered a yawn with the back of his hand as he glanced back from the bow at Jeremy’s approach. “They just put the lanterns out,” Forrest said, as Jeremy stopped beside him. “You sleep alright?”

  “Yeah, well, no. Couldn’t really sleep at all.”

  “It is starting to wear on a fellow. Worried about Mason or the girls?”

  “Both. We don’t even know if Mason is on that ship. And Karen, Lisa, and Michael have been alone all this time. They’re bound to be wondering if we’re ever coming back.”

  “Are we?”

  Jeremy let out a long exhale. He shook his head. “What would you do?”

  “Something I’ve come to realize,” Forrest said, “not every problem has a good solution. Sometimes you’re screwed, no matter what you do.”

  “This seems to be one of those situations,” Jeremy said.

  “Look, do you have any reason to believe the girls might be in trouble?”

  “No.”

  “Then it seems to me, the problem needing a solution is here.”

  Jeremy gazed at the horizon, at the tip of a mast and sail just barely visible.

  “For the short time I was around Karen and Lisa, they seemed like very capable women.”

  “They are.” Jeremy put his hand on Forrest’s shoulder. “Get some sleep. You have the tiller in about four hours.”

  “By the way,” Forrest said, as he started walking, “we’re nearly out of food and water.”

  CHAPTER 18

  The hatch to the captain’s cabin slammed open and Low emerged in a huff. He turned to Thomas at the tiller. “We still on course to Nassau?”

  “We are,” Thomas replied.

  Low scanned the water, noting the position of the rising sun. “Why are we on a west sa’ west heading?”

  “I thought we would hug La Florida.”

  “You thought? You don’t have the authority to think on this vessel. Only I have that authority.”

  Several crew members on deck made furtive glances in the direction of the conversation.

  “Whatever you say, Ned.”

  As the two men continued bantering back and forth, Mason back-stepped a few paces to where McGregor was standing. “Why is he acting this way?”

  “Harris,” McGregor said simply.

  Mason cocked his head.

  “They were close friends. But even closer friends were Harris and Spriggs.”

  “Where is Spriggs?”

  “Likely in Nassau this time of year, aboard Fancy.”

  “The schooner.”

  “That’s right, the schooner,” McGregor said with a hint of irritation.

  “So, Ned will have to explain to Spriggs why he abandoned Harris?”

  McGregor nodded. “And Spriggs won’t be happy. That’s why Ned is acting this way.”

  “How much more will the crew endure?”

  McGregor’s jaws tightened as he continued to stare at Low and Thomas, without further comment.

  Mason, sensing McGregor was through talking, walked to the bow where three men were talking quietly among themselves.

  They stopped talking when Mason arrived.

  “How much longer is this going to continue?” Mason asked.

  The three men looked at each other. Two of them moved off in different directions. The third man started off as well, but paused next to Mason. “Not much longer,” he whispered.

  ◆◆◆

  At dusk, Karen exited the back door and paused on the porch to scan the dock and river. She was dressed in a pair of Mason’s dark pants, cinched tight around the waist with his leather belt, and an equally dark pullover shirt. She had her black hair pushed up under one of his hats, a wide brim he usually wore when working around the plantation.

  Lisa stepped from the house behind her. “You sure you want to do this?”

  “Deal with him now or deal with him later,” Karen said. “I prefer to deal with him on my terms.”

  “That’s all you’re taking?” Lisa asked, as she motioned with her hand at the knife strapped to her hip.

  Karen raised the satchel she carried in her left hand. “And a pistol. I hopefully won’t need the pistol.”

  “Have you thought this through?” Lisa asked. “Do you know how you’re going to do it?”

  Karen wagged her head back and forth. “To a point. Play it by ear after that.” She put a hand on Lisa’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. If it looks too dangerous, I’ll abort.”

  “I suppose that should make me feel better, but it doesn’t.”

  “Mato’s braves will be here. And watch after Michael; he gets into everything these days.”

  “I know, and I will, but I really wish you would change your mind about this.”

  Karen smiled. “It’ll all work out,” she said, as she pivoted and stepped down from the porch. She began walking after a single glance over her shoulder.

  Ahead, in the dimming light, Mato stood at the dock with his braves. “They will look after Lisa and Michael,” Mato said when Karen was in earshot. He gave each of his men a glance.

  They nodded without comment and started off toward the house.

  “Thank you, Mato. We should get moving.”

  Mato held the canoe as Karen stepped in. She took a seat in front.

  He stepped into the rear and immediately pushed off from the dock with the end of the paddle.

  The water swirled around each paddle stroke as he pulled. Once the canoe was in the current, he used the paddle mainly to keep the canoe headed in the right direction.

  Two hours later, in the pitch dark, the canoe slid up on the sand at the Ansley River landing.

  Mato jumped out, getting his moccasins wet, and pulled the canoe completely up onto dry land. He did a three-sixty and scanned the area.

  “There shouldn’t be anyone here this time of night,” Karen said. “The attendant leaves at dark.”

  Mato said nothing as he helped Karen from the canoe.

  Carrying her satchel, she walked beside Mato in the direction of town.

  A flickering torch at the town’s west gate came into view first, a tiny speck of light in the distance. It grew in intensity as they neared until, finally, its glow bathed the entire entrance in a reddish gold dance of light and shadows. A single man stood guard at the entrance. A musket leaned against the wood frame of the gate.

  Karen and Mato had already decided that Mato would do the talking. It would seem odd for a white woman to be out this time of night with a native. Karen didn’t want to give anyone a reason to recognize or remember her. And they also agreed that neither Edwards, nor his tavern, would be mentioned.

  She lowered her head so the brim would cover most of her face as they stepped into the light.

  “Evening,” the guard said.

  “Just pass through to wharfs,” Mato said.

  The man stepped to the side to give them room.

 

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