Ali's Journey Home

by Beverly Kovatch

  “I have heard sir that the pirate Masked Raven is quite a nasty fellow. He cares for no one, and he leaves no one alive, or so it is said. I have been told that he takes the ship and leaves the crew and passengers in the shark filled waters.”

  “Is that so?” Masterson asked.

  “Then I must find this Masked Raven. I have been at sea for a long time and I have met quite a few so called pirates, but this is the first that I have heard that about this Masked Raven fellow.

  It might be true of Black Jack, or even Captain Vesuvius, but there is a code they live by, and throwing people to the sharks without some defense to my knowledge have not been their way.”

  “Well Captain Ravenswood, this is what I have heard them they say about the crew of the Black Lady. I have yet to encounter any such pirates, but the information I speak of, well we got that information from old man Wentworth. He told us that the Black Lady was seen not far from the shipwrecked Carolina.”

  There it was the truth at last, yet he had not heard that the Carolina was shipwrecked. The rumors of the Black Raven were from Robert Wentworth, his father in law. Here he was accusing him of treachery. He had yet to see the wrath of Masterson Beauregard Ravenswood.

  Someone was masquerading as him, and leaving a trail of death behind as a way of getting back. Who was really behind this treachery? He needed another ship as soon as possible.

  He needed to find out who was pretending to be him. Who was it that killed his parents? He felt that he had lost everything because of this man, and he was angrier than he had ever been.

  Ali was nervous as she walked across the ship. She had never seen the Captain as agitated as he was with the Major in charge of this vessel. The more the Major spoke of Robert Wentworth the angrier Masterson looked. Ali moved closer to him, and then placed her hand on his chest.

  He shivered as he felt her touch. It was a supernatural feeling that he could not get out of his head. He needed to be angry, and he wanted to be angry, and yet this presence surrounding him calmed his spirit. He felt it on the ship with Captain Moreland, and on the island, and now here it was again.

  “Feel me Captain Ravenswood. Calm yourself, you will figure this out without the anger you are showing.”

  The Captain took a deep breath as her hand touched his heart. She felt her calmness entering his body. It was a strange feeling even for her. Then suddenly the feeling changed. It was as if his anger was now moving from his body into hers. For that fraction of time she could feel what he was feeling. It was as if she were somehow a part of him, connected. She also realized that her anger about her own father seemed to match what she was feeling from him at that moment.

  The Major returned to steering the vessel. “As long as we have no issues and no storms to delay us we should reach your home in a few days.”

  “Good,” I will retrieve another vessel when I return home. I will not stop until I have my answers. I will find the scoundrel that did this thing, and whoever it is will pay dearly for it.”

  He nodded to the Major, turned and then headed toward the cabin below.

  After several days at sea land was finally seen.

  “Land ho Major” the man yelled from the crow’s nest.

  “Captain” the Major spoke as the crew was preparing to dock.

  “Yes.” He replied.

  “Some things have changed while you have been gone.”

  “What things?” he asked.

  “There are some things regarding your family. I at first did not wish to say these things to you, but before we dock I felt that maybe you should be aware.”

  All the Captain cared about was that home was just ahead, and Lizzie would surely be waiting with Matthew at the dock when she saw the ship come in. What the Major said had to be wrong, it didn’t matter that he had been gone for months. Lizzie would not be gone. She would be waiting for him.

  Chapter 7

  Suddenly Ali found herself aboard the Black Lady with Captain Moreland.

  “Is this it?” she said “Is this all there is to the Captain? He became bitter, old, and then died at sea? Is that what you feel I needed to know?”

  Captain Moreland laughed. “You are quite the character Alexandria Elizabeth Watson. Your quest however is far from over.”

  “You leave me with all these things, but you never guide me to the answers. So what is the big mystery Captain Moreland? Why it that what happens here is so important.”

  “Just maybe the lesson is not for you Ali? Maybe all of this is for someone that you love.”

  “Who is it for then, if not for me?” she yelled at him.

  It was cold on the ship and Ali shivered. The winds off the ocean were strong as she held on to the railing and watched the sun set in the sky.

  What had she discovered so far she thought? Angelina had been in love with the pirate Captain Moreland. A night of passionate love with him produced a son Masterson Ravenswood. She then married Jonathan Ravenswood to hide the pregnancy, and became lady of the manor. This seemed to be something she desired more than being with her true love. Then you have Masterson, her resident ghost, who was madly in love with Lizzie. Sadly he was forced into marriage with Mary Wentworth Ravenswood to save his family from destruction.

  Then there was Matthew. He was a product of Mary and some stranger that she spent a night with, yet she claimed that Masterson was his father. Lizzie learned to care deeply for Matthew all because she believed he belonged to Masterson.

  This was a lot of information she thought, but other than the similarity in her name and Lizzie’s name, and the fact that she somewhat resembled the mysterious Lizzie she could find no other connection.

  Right now Ali was upset that she hadn’t delved into her mother or father’s family histories. Maybe there was an answer there. They were both from Ireland, and that was pretty much all she knew. She never met her grandmother; however she did have one slight memory of her great grandmother. She remembered calling her Gigi, and walking on a beach with her, but she was just a child at the time. She had forgotten about it until now. It was almost like a dream that was locked in her memory. Her mother was secretive and never told her anything. It was like she had no family, but what about her father? Well, he had left while she was still a child, so who thinks to ask questions like that when you’re just a child.

  “Ok Ali back to the facts.” She told herself thinking about her dad always made her mad so she needed to concentrate on what was ahead.

  Captain Moreland came up behind her with a blanket to wrap around her shoulders.

  “Do you see that Ali?” he asked.

  “What? What is it I am to see” she asked?

  “The edge of the earth sweet child, see the flat line of the horizon? It is right there where the sun is setting?

  “Are you trying to tell me the earth is flat and we will fall off?” she laughed.

  “No my dear, I am showing you that line, and letting you know that it goes on until your life ends, and for some of us long beyond. Every day the sailors follow that line. It is a guide; it is always out there day or night waiting for you to follow it. It helps you keep on point, and it helps you to discover what is ahead.

  As long as you keep it in view, you have the opportunity to live, to forget what is in the past, and move on to your future.”

  She felt strange with this man. It was as if he knew her inside and out. He couldn’t of course. He had no way of knowing what her life had been like. How her father had left her, no he had abandoned her and she was angry. Captain Moreland put his arms around her wrapping the blanket tighter around her shoulders. Then he leaned in and whispered in her ear.

  “Remember, everything in life is an adventure Ali. The old pirates lived their lives on the sea because of those words, those hopes, it calls to them you see? The secret is to live your life to the fullest, you have no idea what tomorrow will bring you, and the past well, no one wants to dwell in the past. Don’t let the ghosts in your past keep you from moving to yo
ur next adventure. Just in case you haven’t figured it out. You sweet child have a pirates heart inside of you. You may not see it, but it lives there. Don’t be like my Angelina.

  Don’t let the things of this world deprive you from your true destiny, or your true love.”

  He kissed on her gently on the cheek and went below deck. He was right. She looked at the line and it seemed to go on for eternity. When the sun finally set there was still a definitive line between the sky and the dark water. She took a deep breath of the night air and pulled the blanket closer around her. She felt alive for the first time in a long time. This old pirate was right. She needed to forget the past and move on, but to move on she had to get home, and to do that she was going to have to find the answers. The first one being why was she here?

  “Ok, what have I learned so far?” She asked herself again.

  Someone had pretended to be the Masked Raven, and ravaged the ship Captain Ravenswood parents were on sending them to their death. Lizzie was in love with the Captain, but she ran off with Charlie.

  Mary took Matthew and then left Ravenswood Manor. The Captain was crushed by the betrayal of his best friend and he was all alone. Mary was arrogant and proud, well at least that that hadn’t changed. Even as a ghost roaming the manor she hadn’t changed much.

  The next morning Captain Moreland was gone and she found herself sitting on the steps of Ravenswood Manor. She smiled.

  “He was wrong it is all over. I am home at last.”

  “Jeremiah, I am back, where are you?” she said as she entered the front entry way, but he wasn’t there.

  “No,” she yelled. “I am supposed to be home.”

  Instead she stood in the entry watching servants rushing around whispering all kinds of things.

  “I can’t believe he is back.”

  “I think he is crazy.”

  “Crazy drunk you mean.”

  “Abigail” he yelled down the stairs. “Abigail”

  “Yes sir,” she answered frightened by his demeanor.

  “I need some fresh clothes.”

  “Yes sir, I will be right up with them.” She said as she rushed to gather the laundry together.

  “Be sure and make up the bed too.” Her mother whispered to her. “He is not in a good mood this morning, and it is best you do everything right.”

  “Yes Ma’am” she replied as she rushed up the stairs to the Captains bedroom.

  For that moment Ali wished she could speak and say just what she thought of his attitude, but she knew the real reason behind it. It was the fact that he found out that Lizzie was gone, and he had no idea of where she might be. She felt the depth of his pain as if it were her own.

  “How do you expect me to help him if I can’t even talk to him?” she yelled into the air as if Captain Moreland could hear her.

  Suddenly Ali was no longer with the Captain. She was no longer at the manor, but standing by a saloon in a small town. She looked around, but nothing was familiar. There were old wagons drawn by horses going up and down the street.

  She could smell the ocean breeze so it couldn’t be far from the water. She walked down toward the docks. She thought maybe there was a ship she would recognize. Maybe the Black Lady was docked there.

  Chapter 8

  Charlie pulled the wagon up in front of the cabin. An older woman in a plaid cotton dress came out on the porch with a rifle in her hand. He wasn’t sure that he wouldn’t soon have some buckshot in is backside

  “Ma’am I am seeking some shelter for my wife. She is due to have our baby soon, and we have been on the road for two months now. She has not been feeling well the past few days. I am pleading for some assistance. Can you at least a warm place for her to rest before we head on. I will do whatever work you need done if you can just help us now.”

  It looked as though she was relieved that it was a man and a pregnant woman and not some wild Indian tribe. He was determined in his plea. Lizzie needed warmth and he hoped that this woman would put her rifle down and take compassion on them.

  “Young man let me help you get her in the house.” The woman said as she rested the rifle against the cabin wall. She walked to the wagon and reached up to assist Lizzie down from the wagon. Charlie was soon at Lizzie’s other side as they both half walked, half carried her into the house. It was warm inside, the fire was blazing and Lizzie was chilled to the bone.

  “We need to get her warm first. Help your wife get undressed and get her settled in the bed while I warm some rocks to help her warm up. Then you can help yourself to some coffee I have brewing on the fire.”

  Charlie was nervous now. He had never seen Lizzie undressed and to help her in getting undressed, well she might just take offense to that.

  “I will help you” he said to Lizzie as she struggled to get out of her dress. Her body had changed so much over the few last weeks. She wanted to cry, her figure was gone, but yet her child, Masterson's child was growing inside. This baby was the most important thing for her now.

  Charlie seeing her this way made her embarrassed but she couldn’t do this alone. He helped her remove her clothes and got her settled into the bed. He covered her with the quilt and sat by her side.

  “It will all be fine Lizzie. I will not leave you or this child ever.”

  Just then the woman walked into the room. “I see your husband has taken care of you. I have some warm rocks to place by your side. This will get you and that baby warmed up real quick.”

  “Thank you so much ma’am.” Charlie said. “Please let me know what I can do to help you. I will pay you back for all your kindness. I promise.”

  “Phooey, what kind of Christian would I be if I let you and this woman stay out in the cold, and by the way my name is Mona Montgomery not ma’am?”

  “I am sorry Ms. Montgomery, I am Charlie Donahue, and my wife is Alexandria.” he said hesitantly. It felt weird to him, calling her Alexandria, but they had to hide their true identity. He couldn’t take any chances.

  “Come have some coffee with me and let Alexandria rest. She will need it when the child decides to make its entrance, and from the looks of it, well I would say it should be fairly soon. ”

  Charlie cringed at the thought that soon he would have a child to care for too.

  “How long have the two of you been running Mr. Donahue, if I might ask?”

  “What do you mean running? We are not running.” He said far too nervously.

  “Mr. Donahue, I am an old woman, and I think I know when someone is running from something, or someone.

  No one in their right mind would take a pregnant wife out on the road, this late in the season, without a destination in mind. My cabin is at least a hard day’s ride from the nearest town. There is some rough terrain between here and there. With your wife in her current condition; well I am not sure she would make it that far. There is a snow storm brewing, and I am afraid you would have been caught right in the middle of it. It is a good thing that you happened upon my cabin. You will both stay here, but I need to know what it is you are running from, so that we can be prepared for any inconveniences that may happen along the way.”

  “You are right.” He paused. “You deserve the truth. We had to leave where we were, but it is a long story.”

  “Then let me take care of her first, and then you can fill me in on the story while she sleeps.”

  The old woman walked to the stove and took a towel and wrapped more warm rocks in them.

  She then pulled back the curtain that separated the kitchen from her bedroom, and tucked the heated rocks into the blankets to keep Lizzie warm. Lizzie was sleeping soundly. Mona pulled the curtain back and returned to the fireplace. She stirred up the fire and then poured herself a cup of steaming coffee and sat down in the chair to listen to Charlie’s tale.

  Mona rocked back and forth in the old rocking chair. It made a creaking noise that reminded Charlie of his mother. In Ireland she had one just like that. She would sit and rock his sister until she fell
asleep. It gave him a sense of well-being as he listened to the sound. He decided to start from the very beginning of how their families traveled from Ireland. How this trip ended up putting the people from the ship into slavery working for one Jonathan Ravenswood.

  “I have heard stories of how that man brought people over, but I never knew that he kept them like slaves.”

  Charlie wasn’t quite sure he could trust her with the rest of the story so he told her that they had just left in the middle of the night to escape, and have been traveling and hiding since then.

  He surely couldn’t tell her that Lizzie was carrying a Ravenswood heir, and that if they found that out they would hunt them down. Who knows what they would do to Lizzie. She would be branded a whore, and the illegitimate baby would be taken from her, or worse killed.

  Mona patted him on the shoulder. “You’re safe here Charlie.

  I can use some help around the farm if you are willing, and I will help deliver your baby. You really should not go anywhere until she and the baby are healthy enough to travel. If you leave now there is a good chance she will lose this child and possibly her own life too. I am sure you do not want to be burying your wife and child on the way to your destination.”

  Charlie knew that what the old woman said was true. Lizzie had taken on a lot by traveling these rough roads during the end of her pregnancy. It wasn’t safe, but he still wasn’t sure he could trust Mona either. He wondered why an old woman would live so far away from town all by herself at this age of her life. She must have a story of her own that she was keeping secret.

  Charlie went to check on Lizzie, she was looking much better now that she had rested. The color had returned to her face, and she looked so peaceful lying there.