Barracuda: The Fighting Anthonys, Book 3

by Michael Aye

  “Deck there,” the lookout called down, “Convoy! To the suth’erd, ten…no…twelve sail she be.”

  At this time, Jackson, the first lieutenant, made his way aft. “The convoy from Antigua?”

  “Those are my thoughts,” Gabe responded.

  Dagan glanced at Gabe and instantly knew his thoughts were also on that convoy they had escorted through this area last year. The traitorous renegade captain on board one of the ships almost cost Gabe his life.

  “Deck there,” the lookout called again, “Signal close with convoy!”

  Damme, Gabe thought, it won’t hurt to be sociable for a spell. As SeaWolf and Swan closed with the convoy Dagan nudged Gabe and pointed out a ship.

  “She’s the Wild Goose. Wonder if Estes still commands her.”

  “I haven’t been told otherwise,” Gabe said, “Do you see the Lancaster brig?”

  “No, she’s probably sunk by now,” Dagan answered with a smile. The brig had been so “wormy” Gabe had been surprised she’d made the voyage the previous year.

  “There’s the charge ship,” Jackson volunteered, pointing to a thirty-two gun frigate.

  “She be the Lowestoffe,” Gunnells interjected. “Captain William Locker, no less, knew ’em when ’e was a middy.”

  Lieutenant Horatio Nelson greeted Gabe and Markham at Lowestoffe’s entry port. “My apologies for your being detained,” Nelson said after his greeting. “We have been attacked by privateers and lost one of our escort ships. Captain Locker is fit to be tied. He’s hoping for help escorting this convoy as we are now down to two escort ships.”

  After the brief greeting Nelson escorted the two down to Captain Locker’s cabin. After a glass of claret and much bending over a chart of the Georgia and South Carolina coasts, Captain Locker thanked Gabe and Markham and voiced his appreciation of their willingness to sail along and help protect the convoy till they were off the North Carolina coast.

  SeaWolf and Swan were sailing under private orders so he couldn’t order them to help but it never hurt to lend a helping hand when it could be done within the discretion allowed by their orders. “You never know when you might need a hand,” Gabe’s father, Admiral James Anthony, had always stated.

  Several days later SeaWolf and Swan were on a tack to put them off the Savannah coast at nightfall. Gabe, Gunnells, Jackson and the Ranger Finch were bending over the master charts in the captain’s cabin.

  “I ain’t no sailor,” Finch was saying. “But I’ve fished these waters enough to know we need to get off the ship here at Warsaw Island,” he said, pointing at the island on the chart, “then we can row up through this here inlet.”

  “That’s Warsaw alright,” Gunnells volunteered.

  “Yeah, well,” Finch continued, “I know the deep water channels through the marsh so we can get right up to here by daybreak.”

  “That’s Thunderbolt!” Gunnells injected, causing Finch to give the master an irritated glare.

  Finch gave Gunnells a sarcastic look for his interruption. After a moment of silence Finch continued, “This is Wilmington Island. Once we get to this area we have to be very cautious.”

  “Sometimes they’s ships anchored there. Privateers frequently unload their plunder here so it wouldn’t surprise me to find the area crowded. Best you let me and yo man do the talking if we meet up with anyone,” Finch said to Gabe.

  A knock at the door and the marine announced, “Second lieutenant, zur!”

  Lavery entered and reported, “We’re off the coast of Savannah now, sir. You can already see lights from the town.”

  “Very well,” Gabe replied, “I’ll be on deck directly.”

  Then turning to the group of men before him he said, “Well, men, you know your duties so I’ll not detain you from making your final preparations.”

  As the last man had filed out of the cabin Dawkins came out of the pantry with two glasses. He handed one to Gabe and the other one to Dagan then made his way out leaving the two alone.

  “I should be going with you,” Dagan spoke first. “It’s my place.”

  “I wish you could,” Gabe replied, “but I need you here and it would be more difficult if we get stopped. There’s no way you’d pass for a Georgian.”

  “And you would,” Dagan bounced back but smiled as he did so.

  “I know I wouldn’t,” Gabe acknowledged, “but unless I see Faith, I intend to let Lum and Finch do my talking.”

  “A toast then,” Dagan said, “to the lady that holds your heart…and your ruby.”

  Finch’s pipe bowl glowed red as he sat in the bow of the small boat they had brought with them from Saint Augustine. It was about fourteen feet long and about four feet wide. There was a pole lying inside the boat that was almost as long as the boat.

  The boat had a flat bottom that Gabe had initially been skeptical of, but once inside the channel Finch had them put down the oars and took up the pole. Surprisingly to Gabe, Lum was also quite adept at poling the boat along.

  The night, which at first had seemed very still and almost silent, soon gave over to a whole orchestra of sounds as the boat glided along in the dark waters; the flapping of fish jumping in the water after a bug; the sound of big bullfrogs croaking, the chirping of thousands of crickets and the buzz of the thrice damned mosquitoes.

  “Got a pipe?” Finch asked Gabe after he’d slapped at his face for the hundredth time or more trying to fend off the devilish pests.

  “Yes.”

  “Then light it up, it’ll at least keep the bugs from around your head.”

  “What about the glow, won’t somebody spot it?” Gabe asked the question that had been bothering him seeing the glow from Finch’s pipe.

  “Folks won’t pay near as much mind to a glowing pipe as they would some fool keeps slapping hisself.”

  Hearing this exchange caused Lum to take a deep breath. Finch was right, but British officers didn’t take it kindly when they were spoken to in such a way. To prevent any friction between the two Lum spoke up.

  “Ya see cap’n, folks be on des waters all time at night fishing, so it seem natural seeing a man wid ’is pipe stoked up to ward off dem skeeters an utter bugs an’ such. Seeing us wid our pipes agoing ain’t gonna rouse spicion in nobody. But a man dats slapping ’is face would be plum outta place.”

  Gabe realized the wisdom in Lum’s words and stoked up his pipe. He was surprised at the immediate relief from the skeeters.

  As the trio passed Wilmington Island there were three ships at anchor. One was larger and Gabe could sense she was a privateer. Well, maybe they had discovered one of the privateers’ lairs.

  After what seemed like an eternity Finch said, “This is it. That’s Thunderbolt and it’s only a few miles walk to Savannah. Now I know a man here who lives close to the water. We’ll turn the boat over and leave it upside down at his place. Ya’ll stay with the boat while I go up to his house. If it’s all clear I’ll hoot.”

  Not wanting to be thought the fool for anything else Gabe waited till Finch had gone up to the house before asking Lum, “What’s a hoot?”

  “Dat’s da sound what an owl makes,” Lum explained. “Some of dem fellers at Beaufort were right good at it. They’d wait till some girl’s daddy was asleep then they’d go stand under da girl’s bedroom window and hoot. Sometimes if he was lucky the girl would sneak outta the window and they’d go sashaying off for a spell.”

  Then a big smile crossed Lum’s face making his teeth shine in the dark. “Course one time I’s told this girl went to sleep waiting on a fellah and so he hooted and hooted to wake her up only he woke up her daddy, who poked de barrel of his gun outta da window and said, ‘If dats an owl ’e sick and needs killin and iffen it ain’t no owl it needs to be getting ’foh ’e ’as to go to picken lead outta ’is arse.’”

  Lum’s narration all but made Gabe forget where he was and when Finch’s hoot finally came it made him jump.

  Chapter Thirteen

  It was early in the af
ternoon when Gabe and Lum made their way to the Lacy home. He’d gotten directions from Finch’s friend who plainly was nervous at the thought of Gabe accompanying him and Finch on their mission, said, “Rest assured they’d be a threat to us if we was to meet up with any Colonials and they started to ask questions. I insist that we go alone and you,” the man said emphasizing the word “you” to Finch, “Can meet up with them later after we’ve done our business.” Therefore they set off in different directions.

  As they got close to Savannah Lum’s pace quickened, “I knows where we at now, suh, just you fallah me.”

  The lane was filled with crushed shells. Huge oak trees with hanging moss grew on either side of the lane that made a circle in front of the house. The house was a three-story affair flanked on each side with a two-story wing. There was a veranda that was adorned with four white fluted columns running the full length in front. The house was brick and the only oddity was it had blue shutters. On each end of the house a white wooden swing hung on chains.

  As Gabe and Lum approached an elderly black man clad in a well-tailored black suit with a white shirt and a gray sash about his middle stepped out the huge ornate door.

  It was obvious the servant recognized Lum, who called, “Howdy Henry, where is Nanny and Missy Faith?”

  Hearing her name, Faith stepped out on the porch and felt her heart pound at the sight of the approaching men, “Gabe, oh my God, Gabe, it’s you?”

  Gabe’s heart began to pound, his knees felt weak, he could barely breathe as he stood in awe at the sight of Faith. If anything she was more beautiful than he remembered. He raced up the steps to this woman who held his heart. Her blonde hair hung loose over her shoulder and he could feel its softness as their arms embraced one another.

  Her smell, her softness, the pent-up passion as their lips met, both hungry with longing and desire. When finally they broke their kiss Faith was gasping, here was her man. Still embracing Gabe, Faith felt his body stiffen and try to take a step back but with her holding him so tight he was unable to do so. Then sensing someone else on the porch Faith turned and saw why Gabe had stiffened.

  “Aunt Caroline…this if Gabe…he’s…,” Faith not sure if she should reveal Gabe’s identity or not finally said, “he’s my fiancé!”

  “I see,” Caroline replied, “but child if you don’t let loose of him there will be no wedding. You’ve fairly squeezed the breath out of this young man.” Then smiling Caroline reached out her hand to Gabe and said, “And a handsome young man he is too Faith, no wonder your so moonstruck. Seeing the two of you tangled up pure gave me the vapors. Now come in the house before we shock any passerby and they die of apoplexy.”

  At that time the rustle of feet could be heard and Nanny rushed in. One hand had Lum in tow while the other fanned her face. “Would you look a heah, child, what da debble done brung up and left at our doh steps. Fact is ole Nanny’s heart is jus’ a flip-flopping like some ole catfish what done been caught and drug up on da creek bank.”

  “Mine too, Nanny, mine too.”

  Gabe felt some flutters himself but was in strange territory and was at a loss for words.

  Not so with Lum. He walked over to Faith who gave him a big hug, then Lum volunteered, “I been takin’ care of de cap’n foh you missy, jus’ lak I promised you I’d do. I been right by his side and we’s been doing fine. ’Ceptin’ I knows the cap’n been missin’ you. Yes mam, he sho’ nuff has. I see him holden on to dat little bag round his neck and starin’ out into de ocean and I knows who he’s thinking bout.”

  “Well, thank you Lum,” Faith said using her dress sleeve to dry the tears that started with Lum’s words.

  Sensing the need to leave Faith and Gabe alone, Nanny said, “Well come on heah you ole rascal, I know you must be hungry.”

  As the two left for the kitchen Caroline said, “So you’re a ship’s captain, Gabe?”

  Oh hell, Faith thought, Lum let the cat out of the bag.

  Gabe, deciding not to lie, said, “Yes ma’am, although I don’t look like it, I command a British ship of war.” He then added a little lie, “I wanted to see Faith and knew I wouldn’t be well received dressed in my uniform, therefore these clothes.”

  “You realize you could be shot as a spy?” This from a man who entered the foyer from what appeared to be an office or library.

  Turning to the man, Gabe replied, “Matter of fact it was a risk I was willing to take in order to see Faith.”

  A silence filled the room and Gabe sized up the man standing before him. He was of medium height, short brown hair that was graying at the temples and balding on top, a man that would not wear one of those stylish wigs. He was barrel-chested and had a weather-beaten tanned face. He had deep-set green eyes and wore white pants and a dark blue frock coat.

  Gabe knew the man’s clothes were of the finest quality. He also knew by the way the man spoke and carried himself he had spent many a hour on a quarterdeck. The sailor in him was unmistakable. This had to be Faith’s dead father’s partner, Gavin Lacy.

  Lacy held Gabe’s gaze for another moment then broke the silence. “Well said young sir. I like it when a man knows what he wants and is willing to risk all for it.”

  During the exchange Faith had sided up to Gabe and again put her arm around him.

  “I’m pleased to meet you,” Lacy continued and held out his hand, “For now I welcome you as a guest. We’ll talk about other matters later.”

  Gabe breathed a sigh of relief and relaxed.

  Later that night after gorging himself on a fine southern supper, Gabe sat in the swing with Faith in his arms.

  “How long can you stay?” she asked.

  “I leave at daybreak.”

  “Take me with you.”

  Gabe’s heart almost stopped. “I can’t,” he finally replied, “I’ve no place for you right now. A ship is not place for a woman…and…Faith you once said you couldn’t marry me as our countries were at war. Does that still hold true?”

  “Oh no, Gabe, I’m so sorry I said that. You don’t know how many times I wish I could have taken those words back.”

  At that time Gabe could see Lacy rounding the porch on the far side of the house. He was holding a long-stemmed corncob pipe and was lighting it. It was similar to the one Lum smoked but the “bowl” was over three inches high.

  Seeing Lacy, Gabe stood from the swing, “Mr. Lacy, may I have a word with you, sir?”

  Lacy made his way over to the far end of the porch where the two young lovers were then sat down in a white rocking chair that was beside the swing. Gabe sat back down by Faith who nestled up close to him.

  Mr. Lacy,” Gabe began, “I love Faith and desire to make her my wife. I’ve put enough prize money up that I can care for her in a manner of which she is accustomed. I would like your blessing on this union.”

  Seeing Faith’s face light up, Lacy said, “You have it of course.” Then he noted Gabe had raised his hand to interrupt him.

  “However, you know sir that I’m a British officer, what you don’t know and neither does Faith, but I think its important you know now before you give your blessing, is my father, who was an admiral, and my mother, who was a gypsy, lived together for over twenty years. They were never married, sir.” Then taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly Gabe continued, “I’m a bastard.”

  “Hmmph!” Lacy snorted. “Aren’t we all at some time or another? That changes nothing. You have my blessings, sir, regardless.”

  “Oh, Uncle Gavin,” Faith leapt from the swing making the chains creak and groan.

  Gabe stood and shook Lacy’s hand, “Thank you sir.”

  “Think nothing of it young man. Now just between the two…uh, three of us, should I expect to see warships in the harbour?”

  Gabe fell silent for a moment then said, “Just between the three of us I wouldn’t worry this year. However, I’d not speak of anytime after that.”

  “I see,” Lacy said as he rose. “Rest assured this conversatio
n will go no further. Now, I’ll let the two of you alone as you only have but another quarter hour before Faith has to retire.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  A fog drifted over the lowlands. The distinct smell of the marsh was very evident on the gentle sea breeze. The tide was coming in. It was a tearful departure. Faith’s goodbye kiss was hot and passionate and salty as the tears flowed from her face.

  “I will see you as soon as I can,” Gabe promised. He had offered to let Lum stay behind but Lum would hear nothing of it.

  “We’ll come back time to time and when dis heah wars over we’ll come back to stay.”

  Making their way back to the rendezvous, Gabe said, “I just don’t know, Lum. This whole situation makes no sense.”

  Lum could feel the melancholy Gabe was experiencing. He paused and laid his hand on Gabe’s shoulder then said, “Yo problem cap’n is you don’t hate dem whats we’s fighting against and you don’t love what we’s fighting for. I don’t reckon you’s even knows dis King what making the war. But foh me, you’s give me freedom. So’s I’m yo’ cabin servant, I’m paid to do it and iffen I was to decide to quit, I could. Iffen I’d stayed behind I’d jus been a slave.”

  Well, I’m not much more, Gabe thought, but understood the wisdom in the old black man’s words.

  Finch was waiting as had been planned. Gabe could see the man was nervous and fidgety.

  “We’ve got to take a detour on the way back. Seems a frigate has tied up at Wilmington Island. I don’t want to chance getting stopped by coming too close. I know another way. A little rougher and longer but it’ll bypass the island.”

  “But I want to see this ship,” Gabe insisted, “even if we have to wait until dark.” He could sense Finch’s anger but the ranger held it in check.

  “You hankering to get shot up or have your neck stretched? That’s what they’ll do or worse if we’re caught. You ever see’d a man skint?”