Ali's Journey Home

by Beverly Kovatch

  “I assume you did not find your parents on this long journey you took?”

  “No I am afraid not, but I do not wish to talk about that right now. I think I would like a nice stiff drink. Something I have not had in a very long time.”

  “Well, Masterson a lot of things have changed since you left. We did think you were dead you know.”

  “Yes Mary, so I have heard from the Major who rescued me.”

  “So you do know that I did the best I could for the circumstances that faced me.” She said nervously.

  Masterson was still carrying his son whose arms were tightly wrapped around his father’s neck.

  “Don’t strangle me Matthew. I am not leaving you do you understand?” He said trying to reassure him.

  “Yes father.” He replied obediently loosening his grip.

  They walked to the manor.

  “Why is the house in such disarray, Mary?” he asked.

  “Well Masterson with you gone and my father murdered by that pirate the Masked Raven I had to let a lot of the help go and just stick with the basic minimums.”

  “What are you talking about Mary? What do you mean your father was murdered, and by the Masked Raven? How do you know this?”

  “Well, if you had been here instead of roaming around at sea you would know.” She said angrily.

  “He was murdered several months ago, and I had to do my best alone.”

  Masterson took a deep breath. As much as Masterson wanted all the details he was quite tired and looking forward to a drink. He hoped that in all of her cuts to minimum that it did not include having no alcohol in the house.

  They walked up the stairs to the manor where he was suddenly greeted by several of the servants, a bare minimum of servants at that. George walked up to him first.

  “Sir, it is so good to see that you are here, and not dead as everyone was saying.”

  “Thank you George” he replied. “This dead man would love to have a brandy if there is any left in this house though.”

  “Absolutely sir, I will get one right away sir.”

  “Yes sir.” He said once more hurrying off to the kitchen to spread the word that the Master of the house was not dead but had returned.

  Martha walked into the drawing room where Masterson was sitting in his chair.

  “Oh sir, we are so glad to see you home. I have just made some fresh warm rolls with butter. I know that it is one of your favorites. Can I make you anything to eat, you are so thin, and I think you have not eaten well for a while.”

  Masterson laughed. “Anything is just fine Martha, thank you”

  As she turned Masterson asked. “Martha, where is Lizzie?”

  Martha hesitated. “I am afraid she is one of the people that Mary let go. She is no longer here.” She rushed off to the kitchen before he could ask her anything more.

  “Yes, Masterson” Mary replied to his question.

  “Lizzie left with her husband.” She said it point blank pulling no punches. He took a big swig of his brandy almost choking at her declaration.

  “Husband?” he stammered. It was not possible. She was lying to him for sure.

  “Yes, Charlie McPherson married her, and he should have after all he did get her pregnant. It was the proper thing to do.

  Masterson took another large swig of brandy.

  “George.” He yelled out.

  “Yes sir,” he replied.

  “What else do we have in this house to drink?”

  “I believe we have some Irish whiskey sir.”

  “Great, bring me a glass of that, and this time leave the bottle.”

  “Yes sir.” He replied.

  “So you’re telling me that Charlie McPherson and Lizzie left together?”

  “Yes dear, they were married, and then they just disappeared. The servants told us that they left secretly in the night not telling anyone where they were going. It has been almost two years since they left my dear. You have been gone quite some time.”

  “What about the debt they owed my father. Surely they could not have payed that debt.”

  “Oh Masterson” she said loving the fact that she was making him squirm.

  “I gave them their freedom as a wedding gift.”

  “Of course, you would do that for them how sweet of you Mary.”

  “It was the least I could do. After all Lizzie did such a great job with Matthew. However, he was growing up so fast, and I felt that it was time for me to be his mother. It was best that she leave before he became too attached to her. Of course I was a little upset that they left during the night and they never said goodbye. I thought was quite ungrateful after everything I did for them.”

  Masterson put his hand up to hush her. He did not wish to discuss this subject any longer and for sure not with Mary. Each word she said shoved the knife deeper into his heart.

  “Once Matthew is in bed you can fill me in about what happened to your father.”

  “Absolutely my dear, I need to run an errand, and the servants will make sure that Matthew is in bed at the proper time. I will be back in a little while.”

  “Fine,” he replied wanting to be alone anyway.

  All he had going through his head right now were the chilling words of Mary. Charlie had gotten Lizzie pregnant, and then married her and ran off.

  He took another swig of whiskey almost wishing that he had never returned home but had died at sea. If he ever found them, and he would, well Charlie was a dead man. Several hours went by. Masterson was sitting in his chair staring at the second empty bottle of whiskey.

  “Sir can I help you get ready for bed? You look quite tired, and I know that you have heard a lot of things that are quite disturbing.”

  “Yes George, I think I need some sleep.” He stood and stumbled at trying to take his first step.

  “Let me help you sir.” George helped Masterson up the stairs to his room. He undressed him and settled him into the bed. “It will be alright sir, you will see.”

  “Nothing will ever be right George” he replied as he quickly drifted off to sleep.

  George placed the quilt over him. “I understand sir. I really do.”

  George walked out quietly and closed the door.

  “I don’t understand Lizzie, how could this happen?” Masterson whispered grabbing the pillow next to him and pulled it to his chest. All this time he had begged God to save his life. Just so he could come home to Matthew and Lizzie and now she was gone. He would never feel her soft body next to his again. They both had professed their love for each other before he left. Pregnant by Charlie was just inconceivable. Why would she sleep with Charlie knowing how much he loved her?

  Mary walked into their room quietly. She had waited for a while hoping that he was asleep or passed out from drinking. Masterson returning had not been factored into her plan.

  He was supposed to be dead, however if she didn’t offer at least to do her wifely duties he might just think something was wrong. Maybe he would say no, however she had to be prepared.

  “Masterson, are you awake? She said quietly when suddenly he sat up grabbed her hand and pulled her to the bed.

  “You are still my wife right?” he asked.

  “Of course I am dear, I did not leave you.” She said sarcastically implying that she was there and Lizzie was gone.

  Tonight he was drunk, and he didn’t care who was sharing his bed all he needed was a body. He grabbed her roughly around the waist and pulled her onto the bed. She had been with many men while he was gone, and he knew it. Just as he knew that Matthew was not his real son, so after all this time one night of lovemaking with her husband should not upset her. After all Lizzie was gone and he had to face the fact that her body would never be next to his again.

  The next morning when he awoke Mary was gone, but the signs of his brutality to her were evident by the torn dress lying on the floor. He vaguely remembered ripping it from her body. In a way he regretted what he had done. It wasn’t fair that he took ou
t his grief and anger over Lizzie on her last night. He wasn’t sure what kind of reaction he would receive once he faced her.

  He got up bathed himself, got dressed, and headed downstairs. Mary was sitting at the table.

  “I am sorry.” He said to her

  “About what dear?” she acted as if last night had not happened at all, but he saw some of the bruises he had inflicted on her.

  “I am truly sorry Mary.”

  He seemed different to her. Never had he ever apologized for his brutality in the bedroom before.

  She had suffered much worse from him in the past, and most of the men she slept with were the same way. For her brutality and sex went together. It was strange that he was now apologizing for it.

  “Have some breakfast dear. You look as if you didn’t sleep much last night.”

  “I think I will” he answered not sure how to take Mary this morning.

  She was being the perfect wife. There had to be some kind of motive behind her actions. Mary was not and could not ever be the perfect wife so something was up.

  He walked to the liquor cabinet and poured himself a drink.

  “Masterson, don’t you feel it is quite early in the morning to start drinking?” she asked.

  “This is my new friend Mary, get used to it.”

  Mary shuddered watching him. As if his brutality was not bad enough last night there was no way she was going to succeed with her plan if he was always going to be in a drunken state.

  “We need to talk” she told him. Hoping to get out what she needed to say before he had too much to drink.

  Chapter 16

  In the weeks that followed Masterson watched Mary closely. She would put Matthew to bed and then when she thought he was drunk or asleep she would sneak out of the house for several hours hoping that he would not notice she was even gone. She walked in the door as she had done so many nights before, but this time he was sober, not drunk, or asleep, but standing in front of her. It was inevitable she thought.

  “So who is it that you go out to see each night?” He asked. “I know there is another man, I just want to know who it is.”

  “Your drunk, and your crazy and there is no other man.” She stated.

  “I am not drunk, and if you wish to be with someone else then you just need to say it Mary. It is not like we have had some beautiful loving marriage you know.”

  “You were gone for a long time. Everyone said you were dead.” She screamed. “I married another man. I never expected you to return.”

  Masterson laughed. “You married someone else? That is just amazing.” He laughed.

  “So now you feel you have to split yourself between us? Mary my dear if you want to be with him all you have to do is just say so. I have no hold on you. A writ of divorce can be done up in no time.”

  She wasn’t sure if she was angry or insulted at his remark.

  “Fine, I am going to take Matthew and leave with him tomorrow. You can file for divorce if you wish, but you were declared dead, so I did what I had to do to survive.”

  “Survival, yes I understand. Somehow I don’t believe that one Mary, but still you haven’t answered my question. Who is this man that you married to survive?”

  “If you must know its Wilson Bradley”

  “You married that fat bald man?” He was now laughing with tears running down his face. This joke was on her.” A short, fat, bald, boring man, well that is interesting. He is a buffoon.”

  “He is a respectable business man. He has been running the business since my father was murdered.”

  “Oh yes, sweet Mary, and just who really murdered your father? This story of the Masked Raven is quite ridiculous you do know that?”

  “It’s true” she screamed. “He murdered my father because he wouldn’t pay him.”

  “Pay him for what?” He laughed while he questioned her knowing eventually she would open up and spill the truth.

  “For murdering your parents of course, what do you think? My father always wanted them out of the picture. Just like he hired him to make sure you never came back.

  But obviously that failed. My father was a stupid man and he deserved to die.”

  She put her hand over her mouth, what in the world had she just confessed to him.

  “So your father hired someone to make sure my parents and I never returned? Just want to make sure I have that straight.”

  She refused to let him intimidate her into some other confession, but she would not let him have the last word either.

  “I am taking Matthew and I am leaving in the morning with Wilson.” She stated fearing what he was going to do once she said those words.

  “You do that Mary, I can’t stop you since Matthew is not my real son so I will let you go, but you tell Matthew the truth. Don’t lie to the boy any longer he needs to know who his real father is. He at least deserves to know that. ”

  She wasn’t sure what to say. This was not the Masterson she knew. He was going to let her and Matthew go with no fight. Something was definitely wrong. He had to have some other motive.

  “What are you going to do?” she asked afraid that he somehow he would stop her.

  “I am going to find out the real truth Mary, and I will not rest until I do. I will avenge my parent’s deaths, if I can, and I will even find out the truth of who really murdered your father because I do not believe it was the Masked Raven.”

  “Well it was. My father told me that he would not pay the pirate until the job was done. That was what he told me just before he was murdered.”

  “I am going to find the Carolina. You see I know it didn’t sink, and when I do locate the ship I believe that I will find the man that killed my parents. I know that the Major lied about it being found shipwrecked.

  You see a true pirate would take the ship and not sink it. He might hide it for a while, maybe even change its name, but they are not going to destroy something that they can use later on. It shouldn’t be too hard to find. I do still have my connections you know, and I have even been told that there is a so called Ghost ship docked at an island off the coast of Charleston. The natives of the island say that there was that no one was aboard when it was found. It seems as if everyone just disappeared.”

  It sounds like a story that someone might say if they were trying to hide the real truth about a ship don’t you think? A tale told to keep people away from the ship.

  “And you know this how?”

  “I told you I have my connections. So maybe, since I believe it is one of my ships. I will just go and retrieve my property.”

  He could see that he hit a nerve with her. She turned and stormed out the door.

  She had to get a message out as fast as possible for them to hide the Carolina. She had to make sure that Masterson never found that ship. If they had sunk that ship as she asked them too she would not be in this position. It would ruin everything if Masterson found that ship.

  Chapter 17

  Ali was walking toward town when she saw Lizzie walking out of the post office. She followed behind her hoping that she might be able to connect. She wanted to give her the news that Masterson was looking for her.

  “Lizzie?” she spoke out wondering if she would even hear her voice after all no one else could see or hear her.

  Lizzie turned. At first she was frightened having someone calling out her name from behind her. Then slight panic hit her. The last time she saw her angel things were the very worst in her life. She had been sure that God had sent her angel to keep her alive while she withered locked in the shed expecting to die. Why was she here now? Was something terrible going to happen that she would need her? Was something going to happen to Faith?

  “I have been looking for you.” Ali said

  “Why are you looking for me?” Lizzie said frightened.

  “If I told you, would you believe me? Would you trust me?”

  “Oh I think I would believe you, but why are you here now? Everything is good.”

 
“Listen to me. Do not go to Ireland. It is not safe on that ship. It is run by pirates, and they will leave you deserted, or worse. You need to stay here where you are safe. Masterson is looking for you. He needs you.”

  “Masterson is dead.” She replied. “He went looking for his parents, and he never returned. I have to go now. You have to go too, before anyone finds me.”

  “I am telling you Lizzie, Masterson is not dead.”

  “To me he is dead, do you understand? He has to stay dead.” Lizzie said frantically.

  “You can’t possibly mean that. You love him and he loves you” Ali pleaded.

  She thought for sure if she told her that Masterson was alive and looking for her that she would be ready to go with her to find him.

  “What’s wrong with you Lizzie? Did you not hear me? Masterson needs you.”

  “He cannot find me. Do you understand? It would be dangerous for him and us. He needs to find Matthew. I have word that Mary is taking Matthew away from Ravensport. He needs to find his son. Matthew needs him. I do not need him. Make him stop searching. He needs to go home to his family. He needs to make a life with them. Promise me if he is here, that you will send him home. Tell him that you never saw me.”

  “No Lizzie, you don’t understand. He will not stop until he finds you. He loves you.”

  Lizzie turned and faced the ocean.

  “You see that?”

  “The ocean?” she asked.

  “Yes. That is Masterson’s true love. He will always love her more than anything in his life. She will take him where he needs to go, and eventually he will die in her arms, not mine.”

  “I am not sure I understand what you mean. All he talks about is you and Matthew. Never once have I heard him say any words of love unless you and Matthew are in the sentence. Can’t you give him another chance?”

  “Not this time. This time there is much more at stake than what Masterson desires.”

  All Ali could think about was if she can’t get them together then how will she ever get back to Jeremiah. She was sure that this was her quest to reunite the two lovers.

  “You can’t do this Lizzie. You have to talk to him; you have to see him at least. Tell him how you feel.”