Gunpowder & Gold (Justified Treason, Book 4): Endless Horizon Pirate Stories

by Cristi Taijeron

  Oh, he speaks French, I thought to myself as Eulalie rose from the sheets. Not bothering to cover her shapely naked body as she reached for her dress, which was draped neatly over the chair Rolland was sitting in, she pinched his arm. “Je vous ai raté, Joseph.”

  “Hello, Eulalie.” He scratched his head as he greeted her with a sheepish grin.

  After slipping her dress on, she kissed his cheek. “Venez me voir plus tard, beau.”

  Though Rolland and Eulalie could not speak or understand each other’s languages, it was apparent that they had developed quite a fancy for each other nonetheless.

  With her out of the room, Royce put a black coat on and joined us at the table. “I take it your name is Joseph.” He reached his hand out to shake. “I’m Royce.”

  “Call me Rolland,” Rolland said.

  Opening a bottle of wine, and pouring Rolland a glass, Royce said, “So tell me, Rolland, how is it that you know Black Rose?”

  While Royce poured me a glass of water, Rolland said, “We were coerced onto the same pirate crew a while back.”

  “Ah, so you did not choose this profession?”

  Slugging back his wine with no grace, Rolland said, “This profession chose me, and seems to like me rather well.”

  Smiling at Royce to thank him for the thoughtful glass of water, I said, “Rolland is one hell of a master sailor and I believe every weapon on his person was gained by being the first to spot sails.”

  Eyeing the many weapons Rolland wore, Royce nodded in approval. “Then I am sure you would love my Gloria Belle. She is a dream to sail.”

  They blabbered on about sailing techniques for a moment, but when they started getting into sea stories, I knew they had to be stopped. Feeling my stomach churning, I wanted to rush things along before I ended up vomiting in Royce’s well-kept room. “So, tell me your plans, Royce.”

  His handsome face lifted with a mischievous smirk. “Earlier, I mentioned that Captain Tate and I would soon be embarking on the hunt for a prize of great value, but now that I see you are serious about your interest, I shall share a little secret with you.” He leaned in closer and whispered, “I have no interest in Tate’s retrieval plans, and intend to build a crew of my own to go after it—my way. Considering the ease of the feat, very few men will be needed to complete the chore, which will in turn offer each man involved a rather bountiful share.

  So you see, Black Rose, with my intelligence concerning said prize, your leadership skills, and Bentley’s navigation aboard your Wicked Rose—”

  “Bentley isn’t coming,” I interrupted, my churning gut tightening painfully at the sound of the names of my lost lover and forsaken ship. “Neither he nor his Wicked Rose will be a part of any of this.”

  Taking note of Royce’s doubtful expression, I explained the only part of the shitten story that he needed to know. “Having shared our thousand pounds as a crew we are each free to part ways if we so desire, and the six of us are looking to go on account elsewhere.”

  Laying his face in his hand, he rubbed his temples. “Please don’t take this the wrong way, Black Rose, I respect you greatly, but I was counting on the skills of the master navigator and was hoping to make use of his swift and capable ship.”

  My exhausted mind swarmed with angry thoughts. Of course he wanted Bentley. What a fool I was to think otherwise. Rather than lashing out like I wanted to, I took a deep breath to calm myself as he carried on, “I sailed with Bentley once. On a ship nowhere near as nice as Wicked Rose, but under his direction that heavy bitch rode the currents as smooth as a mermaid and her tattered old sails captured the winds like the wings of a hawk. I can only imagine how sweetly such a beauty as Wicked Rose would glide the tide under his command.”

  His admiration for the man who tore my world apart only intensified my outrage. Not only had Sterling destroyed our marriage, robbed me of my best friend, and left me to face the world alone, but it was going to be absurdly shitty sailing without his skills onboard. Damn it, and damn him.

  Deciding that there was no way in Hell I’d leave this room as Bentley’s helpless little bitch, I straightened my posture and said, “I understand your disappointment, Mister Freeman, and I know the skills of the master navigator are hard to compete with, but I can assure you that the group I am traveling with is far from useless without him.

  As you know, we have a respected quartermaster, and a master sailor, but on the other side of that door—standing guard with their pistols ready and swords drawn, awaiting the command to pounce—is a skilled bosun, a relentlessly loyal German who is exceptional with an axe, and a drunkard who served as the gun captain beneath a skilled master gunner. Not to mention that I was trained first hand by the master navigator himself. I have studied his maps, traced his marks, and even charted a few successful routes under his guidance.” Just like Royce had done earlier, I leaned in and whispered, “But best of all, I am in possession of an item of great value. One that many men have lied for, fought over, and even killed to get their hands on. Sterling Bentley’s rutter.”

  Royce’s icy blue eyes heated with passionate interest.

  “That’s right.” I flashed a surly grin. “So you see. With our speed, strength, and loyalty combined, me and my crew work together as one massive warrior, and are fully capable of filling our plates with whatever meal we so wish to devour at any given moment.

  At this particular moment, we are hungry for retirement. My men wish to return to their families in England as soon as the winds will allow, and me, well, I have plans of my own. Though hunting this so-stated valuable prize you speak of sounds fun, in truth, we did not come here seeking wealth. Rather, we are in need of a transport.” I rose to my feet. “But since you were hoping to work with Bentley, it seems I have nothing for you, and being how you do not have a ship, you have nothing for me.”

  Rolland stood up beside me. “Nice meeting you, Royce.”

  “Wait.” Royce looked at me. “I know of a ship that we could easily take.”

  “We? Are you interested in sailing with us, Royce?” I cocked a brow.

  Putting his hands together like he was praying, Royce looked to be resisting a grin. “That I am. Please, grant me another moment of your time and I believe we can come to terms we will both be happy with.”

  Knowing damn well that I’d rather sail with him than to start over elsewhere, I resisted the urge to sigh in relief as I returned to the chair. Rolland stayed standing. Using his aggravated pose to add pressure to my pitch, I said, “Make haste, Royce. We need to get out of this shithole town as soon as possible.”

  “Look, Captain Tate will be aboard Gloria Bella tonight preparing for his move. With the dawn he plans to deliver all of his merchandise to Mister Bernard, as well as transferring his personal items to Emily Rose—he can’t stop talking about how much he loves that damn ship.” Royce shook his head in irritation. “While that perfectionist is focused on his meticulous packing, it would be the perfect time to strike. He trusts me, you see, and if step aboard with the lot of you delivering my recently purchased belongings, he won’t think a thing of it.”

  “And we could bring my orange chair!” I shrieked like a childish fool.

  I heard Rolland chuckle as Royce carried on with the seriousness of the matter, “I have a few different ideas of how to handle it after that, but we can discuss those details with our newly established crew. That is, if you are interested in signing articles regarding the cause.”

  Liking this idea, I patted the chair next to me. “Have a seat, Rolland. There is one more thing I want to set in place with Royce before I agree to arrange a vote among our men.”

  Pouring me another glass of water, Royce said, “Pray tell.”

  “Once the job is done and the men are paid, I want you to take me to France.”

  Royce and Rolland both looked at me like I was out of my mind. Though Rolland—who had certainly endured enough shock from me for the eve—didn’t say a word, Royce asked, “Why in the worl
d do you want to go there?”

  “The only thing you need to know about my desired heading, is that I will not be joining your cause unless you agree to take me there.”

  Royce stroked his goatee. “Tell me something, Black Rose, does Bentley know that I will be taking you to France?”

  Annoyed by his question, I crossed my arms over my chest. “Does your mother know you will be taking me to France?”

  “Pretty as a flower and shrewd as a serpent.” He laughed. “I come to understand the origin of your name with every word you speak.”

  I fanned my hand to rush him along.

  “Very well. If your crew helps me to seize Gloria Belle and safely deliver this prize to the king, your men will be free to return to their families, and I will personally escort you to France. Do we have an accord, Black Rose?”

  Looking to Rolland to see what he thought, I found him holding his face in his hand, shaking his head in defeat. Returning my gaze to Royce, I answered, “We have an accord, Mister Freeman. Upon the vote which I am certain both of our groups will favor, we will list our articles of agreement and together we will seize Gloria Belle.”

  X

  With Royce’s number of men matching ours, my men followed my vote to elect Royce as captain, but the vote to elect me as quartermaster was a close one. Two of Royce’s five had heard of me and were easily persuaded by Royce’s great claims to my reputation, but the other three, well, I was sure they would cause problems later. No matter what they thought, I was now quartermaster of a crew I had helped to build myself and we were now headed down a dark alley, ready to claim our first prize, Gloria Belle.

  Stepping over sludge puddles and sleeping drunkards along the way, I started overanalyzing the dangers that could greet us on the docks. Fearing the fight that could follow our thieving actions, my mind flashed with the horrors of warfare. Mind spinning, gut churning, I started wishing I could just be lying in bed, snuggled up with the man I loved. But the vivid memory of him kissing that stick body tramp—a sight far more mortifying than any of the repercussions of war—assured me of why I was taking this risk. Which then led me to face the most dreadful thought of all. What if he came after me? Then I’d have to face him. I’d have to look into those eyes that had been melting my heart for the last few years. I’d have to gaze upon the lips I loved to kiss, and hear the voice that had soothed my recent nightmares and enchanted my dreams since the night he first appeared on my veranda…

  Knowing there was no time for emotional catastrophes during the seizing of ships, I shook my head loose of the nattering feelings and held my head up high as we paused at the end of the alley. As Royce scouted the happenings on the docks before we made our approach, I assured myself that we would do a fine job together.

  “It’s time, boys.” Royce looked back at us. “Remember your parts and play them well. Tate’s a cold-blooded killer and if we make one wrong move we won’t be living to tell the tale.”

  With those dreadful words ringing in my ears, I straightened my spine and followed Captain Royce Freeman down the dock. Yakob and Rolland carried my case of belongings behind me, and the two of Royce’s men who already hated me, lugged my orange chair along behind them.

  Boarding Gloria Belle, I looked around in wonder. She was a cute little thing, clean as could be, and like Royce had said earlier, she would certainly be swift and nimble on the tide, and would surely make up for her lack of firepower with speed and agility.

  “Good evening, Captain Tate.” Royce stuck his hand out to shake the captain’s.

  Captain Tate greeted him quickly, then gazed in my direction with a lustful grin. “And what do we have here?”

  Royce laid his hand on my shoulder. “Here we have the lovely Black Rose, who is indeed interested in gracing our crew with her miraculous leadership skills.”

  Tate stroked his beard. “All of our officer positions are filled, fine sir. And even if they weren’t, I am not sure I, or the men, would find interest in taking a woman aboard as an equal.” He tipped his hat at me, “No offense, madam.”

  “None taken.” I nodded.

  Royce continued playing his part by distracting Tate with a fervid debate about my worth as a crewmember, just as he had with our men only moments before. Knowing what was to come, I struggled to sit still as I waited. Beads of sweat gathered on my forehead and dripped down my temples as I fidgeted with the gold button on my turquoise coat sleeve.

  Soon enough, just as planned, I heard one of Royce’s men announce the sight of fire. Looking towards the bow of Emily Rose, Captain Tate’s beloved consort ship, I saw the flames rising into the night air.

  “No!” Captain Tate shrieked. “Why that one? No! I love her!” He ripped his fanciful coat off and patted Royce on the back. “Keep an eye on Gloria while I rescue my precious Emily!”

  As the prior captain and a handful of his men ran down the dock to save his burning ship, the rest of our men rushed up the gangway of Gloria Belle. Sweaty and dirty, Jameson, Leo Relando, and Hank hooted with Royce’s other men who had help to start the distracting fire. When the few of Tate’s men on board began to question, Royce silenced them. “Like it or not, you sail with us now. Raise anchor, make sail, and ready the guns in case anyone is foolish enough to try and stop us.”

  Up the ratlines I went.

  With the ruckus of shouting men attempting to douse the roaring flames burning up Emily Rose’s bowsprit, no one seemed to hear us raising Gloria’s anchors, and it wasn’t until her sails draped in the wind that we were seen making our escape.

  “They’re taking Gloria!” one man shouted from Emily’s stern.

  In the light of the flames, I could clearly see them pointing and wailing as the wind filled our sails. It wasn’t long until flying musket balls followed their shouts. Hearing the black powder explosions, and the bullets zipping through the humid night air, I prayed that none would hit me. There was nowhere to take cover up in the yards and how stupid would I feel if I got shot before even clearing the harbor.

  According to the groans of my men, one was nicked with a bullet and one was shot in the leg, but by now we were clear of musket range.

  “Oh, thank God they don’t have any stern guns,” I said to Rolland.

  “Aye to that.” He wiped the sweat off his brow.

  With the warm evening breeze whipping through my hair, I looked back at Tortuga. My heart tightened with every knot we distanced from the shore where my husband remained. This was it. I was truly leaving him. For good. Without a word I watched the flames of Emily fade out, and with only the mere torchlights of town illuminating the shoddy shores of that godforsaken island, it seemed the darkness enveloping the area also cast a shadow over my heart.

  Holding tight to the yard, my tired arms felt weak and useless. Hearing my stomach rumble, I felt the need to vomit, again. Sucking back the tears welling behind my heavy eyelids, I wondered how in the world—sick and tired as I had been—would I ever be able to make it alone.

  “Are you all right, Charlie?” Rolland put his hand on my back.

  Hearing the genuine concern in his voice, I remembered that I was not alone. I knew he was upset about the whole thing, and I figured he’d be bitching in my ear like a nattering old grandmother throughout the sail across the Atlantic, but the way he smiled at me now assured me that he would support me no matter what. Just like the half of our small handed crew that I knew and trusted.

  Being surrounded by such true friends made this heartbreaking move so much easier and much less frightening. If we were to face war, we’d fight together, and if Sterling came after me, I wouldn’t have to face him alone. But best of all, me and my brethren were once again sailing together, and soon enough I’d be running my cute little inn on the shores of France, free of this wretched life of piracy.

  “I’ll be fine, Rolland. I have to be,” I responded to my friend, then turned my back on the island and looked out to the sea. Eyeing the way the rippling water glimmered under the light of
the full moon, I took a deep breath and thought over the night’s events. We had planned well and conquered our first prize without error, and my own wit was a leading force in our success. That’s right. I seized a damn ship and Sterling Bentley had nothing to do with my conquering of the feat. I didn’t need him to be successful, I didn’t need him to stay safe. I would lead this crew across the damn Atlantic without a skip in my saunter. No matter where the master navigator was, or which woman he was kissing on now, the Mighty Rose of Death would take this life as her own and make the best of it.

  Like the good book says, Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also, and though I wasn’t quite sure where either was at the moment, I was bound and determined to find it out.

  Chapter 16

  No Amount Of Gold

  As Told By Sterling Bentley

  With the sound of the slamming door ringing in my ears, I headed for the washroom. If it wasn’t bad enough to wake up to Charlie throwing up all over the bed and the floor, she then had to go and chase away the maids like a crazy lady, and now I was stuck in this messy room without the means to take a bath.

  After washing off as best as I could, I decided to shave. I hadn’t since we’d arrived and I was looking like a wild jungle man. While gazing upon my reflection in the mirror, I eyed the suck marks Charlie left all over my chest, and remembered the night we’d had. One of the many wild nights we’d had. As far as I was concerned, we were living the dream, but if she’d had enough, I’d have to find a way to get her out of here. But I had no idea how.

  Flynn and Reid’s arrival was still a while off, and though I couldn’t do much until I spoke with them, I suppose I needed to find a way to set her up somewhere she’d be more comfortable in the meantime. As of yet, there was no word about her being wanted for killing Lord Abbott Thatcher, but her name was well-known among sea rogues, which meant it had most certainly spread to the common folk in town by now as well. There would be no amount of gold that could hush the rumors concerning the life of piracy led by Wallace Wetherby’s one and only daughter. Which meant Port Royal was not an option, and even London would be risky. Perhaps I could attempt to pay for our pardon in London and see if we could make it in Bristol. Some of my father’s good friends owned businesses there, and well, I kind of liked the place.