Chapter Eleven Part Two

The next morning dawned bright and clear, the skies were a lovely, robin's egg blue, with a sprinkling of tiny white clouds here and there. A cool breeze blew over the island, wafted it's way across the ship, then blew back out to sea. The breeze unfurled the English flag that hung from the lines, the occasional gust causing it to snap in the wind.

The men welcomed the cooling effect of the breeze, as today was departure day. There was work to be finished under the warm heat of the sun, before the coolness of night descended.

The galley men were out on the island, gathering the last of the fruit, adding to the stores of perishables while they still could.

The crew still needed to heft the heavy barrels of water on deck. This was a task at which Samson and Pete excelled. Michaels worked on the beach, sealing the casks as they were filled.

Timothy still shadowed Pete, as the large man manned the ropes and pulley, the boy lending a hand where he could.

Paulie attended to the younger children in the galley. Betsy had given him scrolls of parchment and a small handful of charcoal pieces she found in Violet's desk, supplying the children with the means to draw pictures.

Brutus had taken the night watch last eve, he lay abed sleeping, as he would be manning the helm when they departed the island this night.

Betsy was helping the boys to finish separating and stowing the laundry to where the items were kept. The beds had been stripped, laundered and put back to rights days before.

Chauncey had been dipped in the sea, he was never one to volunteer for bathing, yet the aroma around the man was ripe unless someone tossed him in. That someone had been Samson, accompanied by a tub of lye soap. The other men had joined in, bathing themselves, making it a festive time of scrubbing and singing, while the old man squawked and complained.

Chauncey could be found on this day, napping on the ropes that were wound up on the bow deck.

Violet was in a melancholy mood, he had not been completely restored to his jovial self, though he tried not to be obvious about it. He was feeling emotionally hungover from his pouring out the eve before. He knew he was ready to return home. Last eve had made him think about his life in a way he had not had to before. He wanted time to make some decisions regarding how he would go forward from here. He also wanted the two women who mattered most in his life to meet one another.

He was sure his mother would be overjoyed that he had found the right woman to share his life with. He had no doubt she would love Elizabeth just as he did.

Vi smiled ruefully, remembering the long suffering looks Katherine would send his way every time he had brought around girls who had been silly and shallow, giggling and nodding at everything he said, while making calf eyes at him, as they had really only been interested in him for his looks. He, at the time, had wanted to practice his skills at charming the maidens. He had been young and inexperienced, yet very interested in the courting rituals.

He was glad he had waited for the right woman, as he had no doubt, he had found her at last. He had revealed his soul to his wife last night, and while he still felt drained, he also felt fulfilled. It was a strange feeling, one he was not used to, so he tried to take things a bit easy on himself today.

As the men brought the barrels aboard, he rolled them to their rightful place, then waited for the next.

Timothy came and helped him after the first, each of them taking an end, sharing the labor along with some conversation, as they tied each one off securely and separately.

"Once we arrive in England, we will send a missive to your grandfather, to see if he is able to travel south, to come for you and Jonah." Violet assured the boy his family would be contacted upon their arrival.

Timothy had told Violet, that all he knew was his grandfather's name, and that he lived in London.

"I only fear if we do not make it in time." Timothy looked askance at this Captain, who was too friendly to be intimidating, yet was still formidable, after Timothy had seen his fencing skills the night before. The fact that the Captain had let himself be pushed into the sea, the butt of a joke, had brought him down to a human level that Timothy was somewhat comfortable with. "We were making the trip, as my grandfather was very ill, my father was afraid he would not get the chance to see him again......if he became so ill that he passed away."

Violet and Timothy shared a pained look, as they both realized the irony of that statement.

"We shall hope your grandfather still dwells among the living. We will do our best to get you both to him if he is still ill and cannot travel himself. I am sure he would appreciate meeting you and Jonah, as you said he has not had the opportunity to do so before. We could also have Pete go along, he grew up in London, and is familiar with the area, as I am not."

Timothy nodded, relieved the big man would be there to support him. He knew they would have to inform his grandfather of how their father had died at the hands of pirates.

Timothy did not think of these men as pirates though, they were the miracle that had saved them all from the evil ones, and that made them seem good men in his eyes.

The next barrel came up over the side, Vi and Timothy were ready for it.

"Captain? I was wondering...." Timothy began asking a bit hesitantly, as they started rolling the barrel to it's place.

They rolled it over to the rail with the others, Vi stopped it when they got there, and they both pushed it up on end, scooting it back securely against the rail to be tied off.

"You were wondering?" Violet smiled at the boy, hitching his brow in question, as Timothy debated whether to ask him his question or not.

"Are you real pirates? Do you attack ships, killing people, and stealing?" He was a bit frightened of the answer he may receive, but he wanted to know if they would be doing any of that after they left here.

"Well, my boy, for one, we do not attack ships. We lure them in, we fly out distress flags, and when they come close to assist us, we trick them into letting us come aboard. We only lure ships that look as if they are not heavily armed, so that we can take control for the small amount of time needed, to relieve them of a small share of their cargo. We have never killed anyone unnecessarily, only in the case that they try to harm us, and that has happened less times than I can count on one hand. Usually a well placed shot or the sight of Pete and Sam subdues them."

"You do not hurt people unless you have to?" Timothy furrowed his brow, that was not the way their ship had been handled by those other pirates. Those pirates had come alongside them, swung over on ropes, killing the captain and his quartermaster immediately, before making their demands. The pirates had made the men kneel before them, tied their ankles and their wrists behind their backs, then had robbed them of anything on their persons, before hefting them over the side of the ship. The victims had drowned, as they were bound, and could not swim. Timothy had not been able to do anything except watch in horror, as his father had gone over the rail.

"Will it anger you if I ask why you are a pirate? I know to steal is not a good thing, yet what you did for us, and what I have seen since being here, leads me to believe you are all good men."

Timothy's eyes shifted to behind Violet, Vi turned his head, seeing Betsy and the boys standing there. He smiled at them, and held his hand out to his wife.

Betsy and the boys joined them. Vi lifted the younger boys to sit atop the barrels, Davey and Timothy stood next to them, while Betsy stood beside Violet.

"I do steal, I do." His face was grave, and they could tell he did not like telling this part. "I only take a small part of whatever cargo they carry, as I do it more for the tales that will be shared, labelling me as a pirate." Vi looked Timothy straight in the eye. "I use the profits we gain to help support the people at home. We have widows who have lost their husbands, and most have children to feed. 'Tis a small town with not many ways to earn income. The men fish, sometimes getting caught at sea in storms, and they do not return." Violet took a deep breath, sighing, as if pained, "I do it also, as, if I were not known as a pirate myself, the others would not have traded you to me." He still looked at Timothy as he said this, the boy nodded in understanding, yet Vi could tell he still worried about something. "What is it, son?" Vi's face was an open book as he looked at the boy.

"You could get hurt or killed doing that though, pirating, I mean." His troubled eyes shifted to Pete, then back to Vi.

Vi smiled at him, "You are right, we could. We have always felt 'twas worth the risk, as you are not the only ones we have saved from that very same fate. We are careful in the ships we choose, and we take no unnecessary risks. And while I do not like that it is necessary to do, we are also," Vi looked at Pete with confidence, then back to Timothy, "Very good at what we do. Does not make it right, I know, but we only take a small share of their cargo, and we leave them with most their profits, and their lives, if they are agreeable."

Davey spoke up, "They are very good at it, Pete is one of the best, why you should see him..."

Violet interjected, "Harp, I need you to check the rigging for me, I believe I may have seen a frayed line near the main topsail." Violet gave Davey a look that had him skedaddling to inspect the rigging. Elias got his nod from Vi, following Davey to climb the mast to the crow's nest, to help him inspect the lines.

Betsy tried to hide a smile, as she could only imagine the tales Davey would have started telling. She knew Vi was sparing Timothy the details, and he had done it so quickly and smoothly, there was still a small trace of laughter in her voice, as she addressed the other boys. "Come along gentlemen, let us go see if it will be long until dinner is ready."

She kissed Violet on the cheek, as the boys hopped down, then she ruffled Zack's hair, putting her hands on Phillip and Jesse's shoulders to lead them away, as Zack tagged along beside them.

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Gwendolyn left the manse early in the morning for an all day affair of shopping and visiting acquaintances. At least, that is what she told Marcus. She had a previous arrangement to meet with Jude today.

An hour's coach ride dropped her at the milliner's shop. "I will be a few hours, then will be meeting a friend for tea, you may come back for me at the usual time."

Lynwood was no fool, they made this trip once a month and it was the same thing every time. He nodded and tipped his cap, "Aye, Madam, I shall return for ye then." He climbed back up to his seat, as Gwendolyn entered the shop. He clucked to the team, as he applied the reins, sending them on their way. He headed to the lower district, to visit his daughter and grandchildren for the day.

Gwendolyn wandered around the shop, purchasing a new hat and a matching pair of gloves, before exiting and walking up the street to Jude's townhouse.

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