Chapter Eleven

Violet found Betsy standing in the hall outside the children's cabin.

She put a finger to her mouth to ensure Vi's silence as he padded barefoot towards her. She smiled and winked at him, as he realized she still had the nightshirts in her hand, she was listening to Paulie's story.

Vi crept up beside her and leaned against the wall next to where she did the same. He reached out and smoothed her hair under his hand, then hooked his arm around her shoulders, so she could lean into his side.

"The prince, he tried the shoe on Cinderelly and it fit her foot jus' perfect! Then he knew he ha' foun his princess, an he took her away from that house an he tol er, ye never has ta see them evil wemen ever agin!" Paulie finished his story as Betsy looked up at Vi, he looking down upon her, smiles wreathing both their faces.

Betsy hid her amusement as she swept into the cabin, "Time to dress for bed, my sweets." She started with Sarah, undressing her and then pulling the nightshirt over her head, as Lila caught her up on what their story had been about.

After dressing the wee ones, she gave Johnny his nightshirt and tucked the babes in, followed by Vi and lastly Paulie, as hugs and kisses were shared by all.

"Would you like me to stay and listen to your prayers?" Betsy did not know if the children had said prayers previously, but she hoped so.

"Me, me!" Jonah cried out.

Lila, Sarah and Johnny seemed a bit at a loss, but also seemed willing to learn anything that Betsy thought was good.

Betsy and Jonah folded their hands together, the other children watching and following suit, also bowing their heads when they caught on, yet peeking up to make sure they were supposed to continue doing so.

"God, tank you for my food, tank you for Timmy an my new fwends, Johnny, Wiwa, Sawah, Miss and the Capin, tank you for Pauwlie and our good stowy. Pweese watch ober us as we sweep, amen." Jonah looked up at Betsy and smiled, she smiled back at him, a trace of happy tears in her eyes as joy filled her heart with his sweet, precious, little prayer.

She turned her head and smiled at Violet, after catching Paulie saying an amen along with them, before raising his head.

Paulie winked at Betsy, and addressed the children, before returning to the galley to help the men clean up. "Sleep well lil ones, we shall ha' us some more fun on ta morrow, g'night an sweet dreamings." Paulie shared a smile, encompassing all of the babes before leaving.

Betsy and Vi heard him start whistling as he retreated down the hallway, they both found this reason to laugh a bit and share a loving look between them.

Sarah piped up of a sudden, "I need to use the privy, please." She wiggled a little, in emphasis of her plight.

Lila and Jonah looked pleased that Sarah had spoken, so Betsy assisted them, one by one, behind a curtained off corner. Johnny changed into his nightshirt while Betsy was hidden, then crawled into the top half of the bed to sleep beside his sisters, leaving a spot for Timothy at the bottom, next to Jonah.

When all were settled back under the covers, Betsy rubbed her hand up and down on their ankles, which were all found in the middle of the bed, wishing them sweet dreams and a good night. She rose and blew out the lantern, as they wished her the same.

Violet smiled as she joined him at the door, taking her hand in his, they walked up the hallway and gained his cabin door.

"I'm afraid, I also need use of the privy." Betsy giggled, as she put her hand on the latch and turned to smile up at him.

"Go, I will wait for you here." Vi walked over to the window and watched the men and boys around the campfire while he waited for her.

Betsy rejoined him a few moments later and he entered the interior cabin to pick up their pillows. Tucking them under his arm he took Betsy's hand again, leading her up to the furry nest he had created on the upper deck.

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Alfred sat at a table in the gaming hell, surrounded by his friends, he listened to their boastful chatter.

Only a few of them played, and Alfred was not one of them. The Pharo cards turned as quickly as the gears in Alfred's head.

He tuned out the conversations around him and focused inward, as he realized no one was paying him any attention, he had come up with a plan earlier, and it needed more thought.

He had to find a way to do away with his uncle Damien.

He had come upon a plan in relation to Marcus earlier, an accident on his way back from visiting his mistress would suffice there. No one should look to him, as his mother would vouch for his presence at the estate when it occurred. If Alfred rode a steed, while Marcus traveled in the coach, he could make time up easily, returning home and pretending to rise at a late hour. The servants would think nothing amiss and vouch for his being abed half the night, well into the morn. He kept those hours as it was, but instead of going to the club, he would tell his friends that his mistress was making demands of his time, and stop in at a brothel instead. He could have a drink, slip out as quickly as he could, without any the wiser, making his way out the southern road. It was lucky for him his father kept the same schedule every time.

He needed to be seen in semi public surroundings, others would assume he had gone upstairs with one of the doxies.

He thought that that would take care of one, but his uncle would be more difficult. How to go about that......

Damien did not have a set schedule, nor did he frequent the clubs anymore, if he had, Alfred could have simply made it look like a robbery gone bad as he made his way home late one eve.

Alfred's main problem was that he did not want to hire anyone, as that would be one person too many who would know, and Alfred trusted no one. No one save his own mother.He may have to wait, hoping his uncle visited his country estate in the near future. A poacher could always seem to accidentally pick him off while he was out riding, but here in town, it would be more difficult.

Mayhap he should begin visiting his uncle, something of his future plans may come up in conversation that could be used to his advantage.It was a beginning to a plan. He would talk to his father, arrange a visit and go from there after he saw what kind of reception he got.

He still had a few weeks to cozy up to the man before his father took the trip south.

With somewhat of a plan in place, he took out some notes, joining the game in progress.

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Betsy cuddled up against Violet, her head lay on his upper arm, as they reclined side by side in their nest of furs.

The stars actually twinkled this eve and the moon was just rising from the east. The only thing hampering the view were the lines that ran down diagonally from the mast. The sky appeared so vast, the stars so bright, it seemed as if she could reach out and touch them.

Betsy actually raised her hand in the air to try, as Violet chuckled beside her. She could hear the muted conversation of the men on the beach as the sound carried easily across the water. She listened to the timbers creaking, as the ship swayed softly from the water's movement.

"He does good work, does He not?" Violet turned his head and met her eyes, as her's shone back at him in the starlight.

"Yes, He certainly does." She turned back to the stars, still amazed by how close they seemed.

"Do you want to be a pirate always, Violet?" Her voice was soft, and he could tell from her tone, she was not judging, she just was curious.

"Nay love, I have not wanted to continue on this road for a long time now. Not only is it dangerous for me, but for these men I am entrusted with, also." Violet spoke as softly as she had. His arm under her head reached down and he lightly trailed his fingers back and forth on her wrist.

"What would you do, if you did not continue doing this?" She turned to look at him, as he gazed skyward.

"Honestly, I thought I wanted to carry cargo or privateer for the King, if he would have me." Violet sighed wistfully, "Yet I am coming to believe there is something I may want to do more." He turned to her and kissed her brow, before he looked up to the heavens again.

"What is that? That you may want to do more then sail the seas?" She turned on the furs to cuddle up to his side more fully, her arm coming around him and her hand resting on his chest. Her fingers splayed across his ribs as she lightly stroked him and listened to the water washing softly against the sides of the ship.

"I want to be married to a precocious imp, and have lots of babes, I believe."

Violet chuckled again, kissing her brow once more.

"How many babes?" She ran her fingers up his side which brought a smile and a twitch from him. Her husband was ticklish, she discovered, as her lips twitched in a small smile.

"Many, many babes." He laughed as he turned and started repaying her with his hands, slightly digging them into her sides, and wriggling them.

"Alright, alright." She laughed as quietly as she could. "It seems you have already acquired a houseful of children, what will we do with them when we land on shore?" She was curious as to how he moved forward once he rescued the youngsters.

"I will find out if they have family somewhere, and proceed from there, if not, I have connections to find them worthy homes. There are many couples out there who are not blessed with children, as Paulie and his wife were not, it is usually through the churches that we attempt to place them." He sighed as he thought of the little ones below, it was always hard to see them go, he always became a wee bit attached to them, even as he tried not to get too close. Reassurance after their ordeals usually provided a chance to see into their souls, and once he had done that, their sweet faces stayed fixed in his mind, and in his heart also.

"At first, my mother tried to keep them, but when she realized the number I kept bringing back with me, she came to the conclusion she was a healing place. She tends to keep them a few weeks as the pastor puts out word that they need a permanent home. It was hard on her at first, giving them up, but she knew a family was what they needed."

"Yes, I would think that would be hard. I am already attached to the ones we have, but if they have family out there somewhere, t'would be lovely to return them." She thought Katherine must be made of very strong convictions, if she could care for them, then watch them go. "And the boys? You kept them because......?"

"They had no other family, and they touched my heart. Phillip and Zack lost their parents in a fire. Their house burned down with their three siblings and parents inside. They were able to escape the flames, but stood watching, as their lives went up in smoke. You cannot tell, as they do not look alike, but they are twins. My mother took them in, and tried to put their demons to rest, but they still will wake up screaming for their family occasionally. It has happened less as time goes by, but there was just something about them that called to me. They have adjusted better since having the other boys to share their orphaned state. I listen to them as they attempt to heal each other, and I do what I can to give them security and permanence, as they grow attached to each other and the other men." Violet looked down at Betsy, as she lay next to him, her hand skimming back and forth over his heart.

"I know Davey's hardships, what about Elias?" She wondered about the beautiful, quiet child with his dark soulful eyes.

"He was found by Brutus, digging through refuse in an alleyway, in a foreign port. His mother was a harlot who was also addicted to opium. Brutus tried to save her too, but she slipped away that same night, and he could not find her again. Though he took his own life in his hands, searching every opium den he could find. After talking to Elias, he found she did that to the boy all the time. He could not leave the child behind to fend for himself any longer. We think the boy is so quiet because he has seen things he should never have seen." Violet took a deep breath and let it out slowly, "Jesse was huddled under a dock when we pulled into port to replenish our supplies. Pete found him, the boy was half starved. How many people just passed him by, doing nothing to help him, had convinced him he was worth nothing and he had given up. His father had stolen, to feed them both, he was convicted and sent away on a ship of deportation, leaving Jesse to fend for himself. Pete gets the credit for bringing life back into that child. For the first few months you could not separate the two. But then, I found Davey, and he attached himself to the other boys, they made a pact to stay brothers forever, now you could not separate them without doing much harm. 'Tis why I keep them together. They trust us and our families at home, but will quickly disappear if strangers come aboard to purchase cargo, or when we make port. Any port but our own, and you will not find them, any of them, until we leave. They hide below decks and feel safe there, until our departure. 'Tis why they do all together, Davey is the only one who is not fearful, he was quite older when I found him, he has an old soul, even though you see a boy before you. How I wish they had not had to endure the things they did, but now, I just try to give them a sense of family. To reassure them that we will never leave them alone to fend for themselves, ever again." Violet had explained the relationship the best he could, as tears fell occasionally onto his shirt. He now had a small puddle next to his heart, as she had lain her head there to hear his quiet confessions.

Knowing these boys as she now did, it broke her heart to think they had endured their previous trials for any amount of time. "How many have you taken from other ships, as you did yesterday?" Betsy whispered, she wiped her cheek and placed her hand on the damp spot, laying her cheek atop it.

"I would guess around thirty or so, adding five more yesterday, closer to forty now." He guessed at the number, it could be more, he had not kept track, he had just acted upon the opportunities presented to him whenever he could. "I have built a reputation. 'Tis easier to trade them to me than to transport them to the slave auction. Children do not do well under the conditions aboard most ships. They are usually traumatized and weakened by the time I get them, these we have now, I do not think Red had for very long as they are still healthy in spirit and mind. Children are surprisingly resilient if you can get them in time." He thought of Timothy, and the tear filled look he had received along with his thanks, it tore at his heart that that child had been abused and mocked by other men, to the point where he had felt the loss of hope. It was that look in their eyes that haunted him, as he lay, trying to sleep upon his bed at night.

"If you quit sailing, who will save them?" Betsy raised her eyes and looked upon his face as he sighed.

"I know not. 'Tis why I still do it." He rubbed his hand up and down her arm, glad to have her next to him, glad to have honesty, and for her to come to an understanding of why he did what he did.

"I understand why you continue, and all I can think to do is pray." She thanked God at this moment, for this man's heart, and his resourcefulness in finding a way to help the innocents. "You allow those men to think the worst of you, while at the time you are doing your very best. Oh Violet, I do not know how you stand it."

"I do all I can as I am given the opportunities, you would not believe how many of them are out there, begging, hungry, cold, yet it is the defeated ones that haunt me. That others ignore them, or pass them by, how can they?" His voice trembled, as a tear slid down his temple. As he thought of all the eyes he had seen, empty of hope, those who had given up, such as Jesse had. "If I could save them all from that, I would! Damn this world and what these children suffer, as most turn a blind eye, not wanting to see what is right in front of them. The rich have their eyes on the money, and the poor cannot see beyond their own desperation. If every prosperous family would take just one, there would be no homeless children." Violet suddenly felt angry and frustrated at the unfairness of life. "I honestly believe that God allows us free will, and He would have us do for our fellow man. People blame God for the state of this world, as they do nothing to help. I believe we are supposed to help them. 'Tis why we are here." Violet stated his convictions in an angry whisper, tears falling from his eyes as his wife wrapped her arm around him as tight as she could.

"I acquired a treasure when I was given you, my love. My Papa would have loved you, I wonder that he did not whisper in God's ear when you sailed upon us. I never thought to ever find a man such as you, and I would not have, if God did not lead me to you, and you to me." She whispered these words as a fervent prayer, closing her eyes and holding him tightly, as he held her gently in his arms.

He cupped her head in his hand, and turned to kiss her sweet lips lightly, as she trembled under his touch with emotion, as his words echoed so profoundly in her heart. Yes, she had found her love. There was not a man on this earth she would desire over this one, this very special one that God had given her for her very own.

Violet had never been with a woman before who would care about these things as he did. He knew that he also, had found a treasure. Of a sudden, he longed for home, to return and never leave again, to hold her safe, and be with her always, never to risk life or limb, or her, to the fickleness of fate. But then he thought of the many children, begging, cold, hungry and terrified, looking up from a dreaded place, all hope gone out of their eyes. Like Timothy the other eve, and Jesse so long ago.

She lifted herself to hover over him, covering him, kissing him again, so very tenderly, he felt another tear slide down his face, he thought to himself, God must have rewarded him with this beautiful woman's soul, to make up for all the horrors he had seen since taking to the seas. He held her tightly, finding emotions welling up in himself. His breath hitched and he found himself shaking uncontrollably. He began sobbing from such a deep place in his soul, he wept out all the sorrows he had managed for so very long to stay strong over, to contain and hide them, as this world demanded of a man.

Betsy felt his silent sobs heaving underneath her, and her heart was breaking over his pain. She kissed his face, ever so softly, everywhere she could reach, "'Tis alright, my love," She whispered, as her own tears fell upon his lips, "It will be alright." She took his face in her hands and looked into his tortured, haunted eyes, before she held him as tight as she could, letting him vent his sorrow, murmuring her love for him, and how much God must love him too, so very, very much.

After a while, he was spent, slowly coming to breathe evenly, as the poisons had drained, leaving him feeling empty of the dismal feeling that had overtaken him. Leaving nothing but himself, the sky above, and this girl in his arms.

The crew had come and gone, making their way below decks to find their beds and rest for the morrow.

Violet stood and picked up his wife tenderly, cocooned in the furs and pillows, he took her to their bed, where they held each other, whispering words of love and healing, until God gave them rest.

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