Chapter Twelve

After taking over the ship from Chauncey, Violet had fallen into a lifestyle he was becoming more and more uncomfortable with. He knew his crew risked hanging, if they continued on in this way and he did not want to push their luck any longer. These men were his family, and they were all risking their futures, not to mention their lives, if they were caught or killed while carrying out their present way of going about things. Bailey was dead, Violet now owed no man anything, he could mayhap break free of the chains that had previously bound him.

He knew that Betsy had been praying diligently that he could find a way to still help the orphans without the need to pirate. Timothy had brought a few things to the table, that Violet had spent a lot of time trying not to think about. The fact that his luck had ran well for so long, did not mean he had to push it to it's limits. He had not lost a man yet, and he sure as hell did not want to.

Betsy had naturally turned to prayer. She prayed that God would show Violet a way he could still help the unfortunate, without stealing or lying.

She knew her commandments, the laws handed down to Moses, and those were two that were written in stone.

She also knew that God saw Violet's heart, that He would forgive, yet Violet carried a growing burden in his heart due to the way he accomplished his goals. She prayed her husband could find another way, one that did not include risking his, or his men's lives, or her morals.

She was content to pray, trusting that something would happen to show them that way.

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They had been out to sea for a fortnight now, a routine had been established with the children, including the boys, that made the days run smoothly.

Violet rose in the early morning, checking in with Brutus at the helm, he then picked up the girl's breakfast from the galley, delivering it to his cabin. He would fetch Lila and Sarah from the children's cabin, tossing them into the furs with Betsy, where they usually shared their last night's dreams with her.

Their dreams were most often childish, happy ones, yet once in a while, they were not. Betsy would listen to their subconcious thoughts and laugh at the silliness, or soothe their fears. Sometimes they dreamed of their deceased parents, or of being back in that filthy cabin with the rats, aboard Redbeard's ship.

Betsy imagined it would take a while for the nightmares to dissipate, until the experience was but a distant memory. Like Zack and Phillip, she could only hope that time, and a sense of ongoing security, would help them to a full rocovery. They were also so young, she hoped they would eventually, not remember it at all. She knew she did not remember the voyage to her grandfather at three years of age, her earliest memories she did retain were at around five or six years.

Of course, she prayed about that also, it seemed that there were so many things on her list these days, she often fell asleep in Violet's embrace while still about her supplications.

The girls would rise after the dreams were shared, breaking their fast together, then readying themselves for the day ahead.

Once the mess tables had been cleared of the men's breakfast, Betsy and the children took over the room until dinner was served.

Using the dough, or drawing, Betsy would incorporate learning into their play. Counting, shapes, and basic letters were being learned by the wee ones, while the cabin boys went about their morning duties.

When their chores were done, Paulie took over the younger ones, while Betsy tutored the boys for a couple of hours. They worked on their grammar, and the basic subjects, reading, writing and numbers, once Betsy had assessed what they already knew.

All the children were bright, and they soaked up the knowledge they were given like little sea sponges. Even Paulie was learning, Betsy could hear him muttering under his breath, improving his own grammar at the same time as the boys.

Betsy was rewarded for her efforts in the strides the children achieved. She followed their schooling with a bible verse for the day. The children could be heard at different times throughout the journey, trying to help, or outdo each other in remembering the previous verses they had tried to memorise.

She tried to find short, easy ones to learn, as the younger children enjoyed this very much also.

After dinner, the younger children napped, the boys went back about their duties, or if they had none, they practiced with the slingshots Violet had taught them to use. Michaels had fashioned targets, attached to the stern rail, and Davey had proven very good after getting the hang of slinging the stones.

This was the time of day when Betsy usually joined Violet at the helm.

He had let her steer the ship one afternoon, when she asked to try, and he taught her navigations as they went along.

Today had gone very well. The boys had moved on in their numbers, now learning to multiply. Betsy had used dried beans to give them the concept of two, times three, being six, and they had taken off from there. She was hardly needed after that, as it became a competition between them to figure higher and higher numbers.

Betsy had just finished putting the wee ones down for their nap, she was making her way to the helm, when Violet heard her laughter. He looked down to the main deck, to see her weaving this way, then that way, as the swells were a bit larger today out in the middle of the ocean.

Betsy was glad she had gotten over her seasickness, and had acquired her sea legs on the Seahawk, quite some months ago. Today was a day that proved she no longer suffered the ill effects from being out on the waves.

She looked up to Violet and spoke loudly, "I will be along as soon as I am able to navigate this deck." As she swerved the other direction again.

Even though Betsy did not drink spirits, she could well imagine the effects would be somewhat the same. She continued to laugh at herself, as she tried to walk a straight line and just could not. She tried to time her weaving so she would end up at the bottom of the steps on her next pass, while Violet chuckled at the sudden look of concentration in her eyes.

She did well, coming very close to her goal, as she grabbed the rail to help assist herself up the steps.

Once at the top, she lunged her way to Violet, who caught her, placing her hands on the wheel under his own. He stood behind her, her body resting back against his, as she looked over her shoulder at him, her eyes filled with love.

Ever since that night when Violet had bared his soul, there was a new communion between them, a common goal.

She knew she had been right in saying that her Papa would have loved him.

Brutus had been joining them at the helm in the afternoon, the men discussing ways they may be able to do good, without having to do bad.

"I am thinking about enlisting the aid of Marcus. I want to see what he thinks would come of a petition to the King." Violet had been wondering if Marcus had many acquaintances, who may have the ear of the monarch.

There just had to be good men out there who would be willing to help his cause.

In Violet's discussions with Marcus over the last few years, Marcus had revealed that many of the orphans in the city were taken to the factories. They were made to work extremely long hours, around dangerous machinery, and most were treated deplorably.

Why could men, not just let children, be children? The fire burned inside Violet to help these children also. He wanted a place where they could be brought, cared for and educated, until they had a craft or skill that would carry them through life. But to also allow them to play, to be children, with no more hardships or worries, as he watched his boys do when their light chores were done.

"I feel as if this part of my life is not what I want to do anymore, Brutus." Violet kept his hands over Betsy's, giving them a small squeeze, as she knew she was the changing factor in his life.

"But who will save the unfortunates if we cease to?" Brutus knew the other pirates would not stop taking the youngsters to the slave auctions, if there was a profit to be made.

Violet ruminated upon an idea, "I wonder, if we sold this ship, putting the proceeds from that, together with what you have accumulated for your own sloop," Brutus' brows raised at that, "and you could then get the ship you have been wanting, putting the word out that you will take all human cargo at a fair trade, if they would do business with us anyway, now that we are established in their circles." Violet had been trying to think of a way for Brutus to cover the seas, as his friend still wanted to sail the oceans, becoming captain of a legitimate merchant ship.

Violet, himself, could try to do more for the plights of the orphans in the cities.

He had come to the conclusion he would need backers. In order to fund an orphanage, a safe place for these children, he would need to enlist the aid of people with ties to the rich in the community. The ladies societies often did fundraising for worthy causes. He would need Marcus' help to plead his case to people in the higher circles. But would Marcus be able, or willing, to help him?

Violet himself had the monies he had saved for a ship, they could be redirected towards a foundling home on land. Knowing that Brutus would still be willing to continue their work here, would free Violet, to do something there.

"I do not see why they would not, if there were still a profit to be made. We have spent many years getting ourselves in with them, as long as they receive fair trade, we should be able to convince them it is more advantageous to bring them to me." Brutus thought the plan may just have merit.

There were many lands and ports he could put the word out, that he would still buy these children from the pirates. Nassau would be a good start, Barbados would also be a good place to spread the word.

"Mayhap, we have enough connections now, that pirating would no longer be a necessary evil, to aiding our cause." Violet just hoped it could be so.

Betsy looked over her shoulder at Violet, before slipping her hands out from under his, turning and resting her back against the wheel, so she could face the two men. "I am not without friends in high places myself, you know. I could beseech the Duke and Duchess, and there is always the Lady Eleanor." She was sure this idea was a good one. A home and school on land for the many children, until they became of age, or were found families of their own. Violet had already told her what Marcus had shared with him about the factories.

That the children were worked twelve and fourteen hours, clothing, beds, and food being their only pay, the deplorable conditions and high death rates, the often cruel punishments that even very small children, as young as six years old, were forced to endure.

It was beyond her reasoning that boys as young as Phillip and Zack would be made to labor most their days, simply to try to sustain their existence. And that was not even guaranteed. The long hours at the factory machines, often led to accidents or deaths.

Violet's face lit up with hope, "I did not even consider the Duchess. My stars, t'was as if God had a hand in more than just bringing us together. Kathleen is an excellent start!" Violet was starting to see a way clear, mayhap, there really was hope for his plan.

Now he just had to approach the King for a pardon. His heart did a small flip, as fear tried to creep in. He would be offering his head for hanging, at the same time as he tried to exonerate his men. He could use the Duchess' help there also, if she be willing. Violet found himself praying that their plan could come to fruition.

"Go get yourself some coffee and vittles, Brutus, we have the start of a plan, at least. I shall just have to throw myself at the mercy of the monarch, and see what happens."

Betsy knew fear for a moment or two, that their futures rested on the whims of one man. Her Papa had always told her, to fear no man, only God, and she would try her hardest. Yet, looking at this wonderful man she had come to love gave her faith also, the hope and the vision in his eyes, how could the King deny him?

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Wishing a joyous day to all!