“Of all the crazy things you’ve been through? Shit, Charlie. you must have addled your mind with all that Italian wine.”
Giggling through her sobs, she lifted her face from my chest. Taking notice of the necklace she was wearing, I grabbed the golden charm to get a better look at it. By God, it had to be worth a fortune, but since he had given it to her I appraised it as worthless. Ripping the chain off her neck, I threw it overboard.
Glad that she did not balk over the loss, I confessed, “I truly thought you didn’t love me any longer, sweetheart. I knew I treated you bad and I thought you meant it when you told me you wanted nothing to do with me anymore.”
Her tear-filled eyes reflected the moonlight shining above us as she sniffled through her stuffy nose. “Oh, I will love only you forever, Sterling. But I am curious, why would you still want to save me if you thought that I no longer loved you?”
While attempting to run my hand through her tangled hair, I said, “If you hated me and wanted me dead I would still save you. I suppose that’s what love is. I tend to learn my life lessons the hard way, beauty, and after all that I am certain that I love you more than anything and I will do anything to keep you with me.”
She laid her face on my chest and squeezed me tight. “Even crash through a wall of glass and take on a crew of snarling pirates all on your own?”
Pushing her over on her back, I started kissing her neck. “Aye, slay the dragon, fight the guards, and storm the castle wall…”
As she giggled at my playful comparison, I lifted my face above her and said, “It wasn’t all on my own though. Your lawyer helped me.”
“You put your servant to work, eh?”
“He is no longer a servant. Law Dog signed the code and he’s part of the crew now.”
“What? You mean to tell me that Lawrence Braddock is a pirate?”
I laughed at the shock on her face. “Aye, and that son of a bitch throws a mean punch.”
Before she had a chance to ask any more questions I wrapped my arms around her and kissed her. The feel of her soft and warm skin reminded me how wet and cold I was, but the sensation of having her body against mine my easily overrode my discomfort. Between kisses we told each other everything we had felt and hoped and worried about while we were apart. When I told her about how Baudin had planned to maroon us on the island like the lovers, she said that didn’t sound like punishment at all. Maybe she was right. Ah, marriage had never once crossed my mind before, but looking at this lovely lady—who I had plotted, and planned, and risked my life and sanity to save—I realized that being alone with her forever wouldn’t be long enough.
Sitting up, she untied my waistcoat. “Take these wet clothes off, love. I want you to hug me till I fall asleep.”
After hanging my clothes over the gun barrel next to us, she laid beside me. I put my arm under her head like a pillow. She rubbed her soft little hands all over my cold wet skin. “You are so cold, and sticky, and bloody.”
Letting my heavy eye lids close, I said, “Aye, another kiss might warm me up, but you’re going to have to deal with the blood till morn. I’m not moving.”
Continuing to warm me up with her hands, she sighed, “I am going to miss Mister Shark.”
I yawned. “I surely will, too. I liked that ol’ salt. Oh, and I have a story to tell you about him tomorrow.”
Opening one eye to peek at her before I passed out, I saw her looking at the moon. Taking a quick minute to enjoy the scene myself, I watched a thin sheet of clouds rolling over the beaming white glow. It was a nice sight, but not as nice as the back of my eyelids were looking.
Just as I began to doze off she whispered, “Will you say a prayer with me, Sterling?”
“Amen,” I grumbled, but after she laughed at me I breathed, “Pray away, my beauty.”
The melody of her voice relaxed me like a lullaby as I listened in on her prayer. First she asked God to forgive her for things I knew He already had. Then she prayed that Mister Shark would rest in peace. But the thing I would remember the most was when she thanked God for sending me to save her. Aye, the sweet little piratess who stowed away from home to follow me across the sea referred to me as her knight in pirate’s armor.
PART V
The Lovers’ Treasure
Chapter 13
Sterling, My Shield
As Told By Charlotte Wetherby
“You might like to see this, beauty.” Sterling pointed towards the set of islands lining the eastern view.
Resting my hands on Wind of Glory’s portside gunnel, I eyed the green bundle of islands surrounded by the great expanse of shallow, aqua water. Puffy white clouds tumbled across the beaming blue sky above them and warm rays of sunlight shone through the moisture in the air. Entirely overwhelmed by the beauty of the scene, and extremely impressed by the success of Sterling’s dead reckoning, I clung to his arm and sighed, “Oh, it is like a gateway to heaven. And you are amazing for finding it without marking a map. Which island are we going to?”
Pointing to the largest island at the northernmost end of the group, he explained, “We’ll be weighing anchor at the southwest shore, near all that white sand. I think you’ll like it there. It’s much better than Tortuga.”
Slipping out of the hold I had on his arm, he gazed over the ensemble of sashes and weapons lining my once fancy dress—now ripped at the edges and stained in blood. Flicking the brim of my gold feathered cavalier hat, he chuckled, “Where’d you get this fancy thing?”
Putting my hat back in place, I told him, “Marty gave it to me. She also stitched up my dress. She is such a handy woman. I don’t know what I’d ever do without her.”
“Maybe you could have her teach you some things.” He shrugged his shoulders.
I had never thought of that. While I started thinking of all the domestic skills I had yet to learn, Sterling waved Faron and Oliver over.
Upon their arrival, Sterling showed them the island. Oliver began to compliment Sterling’s work, but Faron rudely interrupted him, “I see your voodoo paid off, Bentley. What say we ease her onto the shore like a sea turtle in heat and careen her belly while we’re ashore.”
Sterling rubbed his hands together. “Aye, let’s have us some barnacle stew tonight.”
Faron acted as if he were aiming a musket. “Maybe we can catch ourselves a few little piggies to cook up, too.”
As they blabbed on about hunting and cooking, I learned that we would be on the island anywhere from two weeks to a month. Staring towards the sandy shore and the rocky peaks protruding from the canopy of green trees, I drifted off in daydreams of the wonders and frights that might be awaiting me there.
X
After the ship was tipped on its side and tied to the trees, we set out on our hike for The Lovers’ Treasure. Mary and I walked behind the group, enjoying the scenery along the way. Sunlight shone through the canopy of swaying tree branches and danced along the sandy path ascending towards the cave. The sound of the stream along with the chirping song of colorful birds was like music in the breeze, and the aroma of fruit and flowers scented the misty air like a tropical perfume. This island was certainly better than Tortuga.
Finally reaching the mouth of the cave, I looked into the darkened hole wondering if I wanted to go in or not. Flowering ivy drooped over the grey granite entrance like a curtain, welcoming my imagination with hopeful images, but the darkness within attacked my mind with visuals of doom. As the men lit their torches, my mind replayed all the tales I had heard about the ghost who guarded the cave. I did not want to go in, but staying behind alone was simply not an option.
With a deep, stuttered breath, I grabbed onto Sterling’s arm and prepared to brave the adventure. Good or bad, I’d have stories to tell when all was said and done, unless of course, the ghost killed me.
Entering the cave—suffocated by my fear, as much as by the damp, musty air—I eyed the way the torchlight flickered against the mossy walls. Faron insisted we keep quiet so the g
host couldn’t sneak up on us. The silence haunted me as much as the spooks running rampant in my mind. My fears had intensified with every step we took. As we rounded the next corner, the terrors of my imagination came to life.
There were skeletons piled on the dirt floor.
Skeletons.
The remains of the men who had burned in the fire.
Black soot coated the wall above them, explaining their horrific fate. I wanted to scream. I wanted to cry. Yet my nerves seemed to ice over with a paralyzing fear that left me without reaction. All I could do was hide my face in Sterling’s side. Even with my eyes closed, I couldn’t escape the vision of the sprawling arm bones that were probably reaching for the exit, and the gaping jaws which had most likely screamed in horror as they died. I could almost hear their agonizing howls as we continued.
Holding me close, Sterling dragged me along until we reached a dead end. Faron Flynn’s rumbling voice filled the spooky cavern, “Well, we made it further than those blokes. Give me that key, Langston.”
Hearing Oliver pass him the key, I expelled the breath I’d been holding since we’d entered this ghastly place. Everyone else did the same. The mumble of familiar voices soothed my aching nerves. Without lifting my face off of Sterling’s chest, I opened one eye to peek at the room. In the glowing torchlight I saw bottles of rum on the ground and Jolly Roger symbols carved into the soot-covered walls. Luckily, there were no more skeletons.
The door was obviously made out of pieces from a shipwreck, but it was so well crafted I worried about the ease of retrieval. Faron fumbled with the lock for a moment, cursing the crafty little ghosty, but soon enough the lock broke free.
He slowly pushed on the door. The hinges creaked. Dust fell loose. The men gasped in suspense, mumbling about the dreadful spooks they feared. Among all of our colorful fears—like meeting the ghost himself or being buried alive in the pile of skeletons that would surely come tumbling out—I was certain not a one of us expected to see the warm ray of light that fill the area. While squinting from the unexpected brightness, my ears detected the sound of running water. A fresh gust of clean, moist air barraged my lungs. As my eyes adjusted to the light, I—along with all the others—sighed in wonder.
Walking into the strangely welcoming room, I saw a sort of window in the cave curtained by a glassy sheet of falling water. A beam of light shone through the waterfall like a prism and a layer of mist kept the room cool. Just when I thought things couldn’t get any better, I set sight on what we came to find.
There below the mystic glow of daylight laid The Lovers’ Treasure. Piles of gold and fanciful jewels reflected the misty rays of water and light. I was just as awed by the amount of wealth as I was taken aback by the beauty of the pieces. Aside from my attraction to the glimmering riches, I was also intrigued by the furniture. Placed neatly on a colorful rug was a small table with two tree stumps for chairs, a pipe and a mug set on top of it. There were other tools and utensils neatly stored on the shelf and parts of the ship were hung about the walls like artwork. Best of all, above the bed—made from a mix of padding and leaves—was a coal outline of two hearts. The same words engraved in the key that unlocked this magical place were written beneath it. Deux Coeurs.
The tale was true. The lovers’ had lived here.
My heart filled with a flood of wonder and sadness, but my silent fascination was brashly interrupted by Faron’s rowdy demand. “Load it up boys.”
The men plundered the precious stock with little regard for the beauty, but as I helped to fill the chests the men had lugged in, I took my time to admire the pieces. There were many bracelets, necklaces, and rings, as well as loose jewels; amethyst, emeralds, and pearls. As I put an emerald lined gold bracelet on my wrist I asked Sterling, “How much is all this treasure worth?”
“There’s enough loot here for each of these dogs to live lavishly for the rest of their pitiful days, but most of them will probably spend it in a week’s time.”
“Truly? That’s crazy. I am not even going to ask what they spend it on. What about you? What will you do with your portion? Do you also waste it all at once when you get a prize?”
“Sink me, Charlie. you ask so many questions I don’t know which one to answer.” He laughed as he rummaged through a small chest of jewelry. “I’m not sure what I’ll do with this load, but I have already learned my lesson the hard way about blowing through my loot. Now I’m sure to keep my pockets full while I’m in port.”
I asked him to tell me the story about his lesson, but he snickered, “You won’t like it.”
Before I had a chance to interrogate him, Faron called him over to help carry out the larger chest.
Transporting what I could by layering my neck and wrists, I made my way to the back of the group so that I could take in the scene after they all cleared out. Alone with the sound of falling water echoing within the barren chamber, I imagined what the lovers’ lives must have been like in this place. The man had done everything in his power to keep his woman safe and comfortable, and now everything he had gathered to care for her was gone…like her.
It might have been silly to do so, but I left a pearl necklace on a rock and told him thank you before I followed everyone out.
By the time we reached the beach, the sun was falling low and the men who stayed out on watch had started a fire. Jack and Lynden had captured a sea turtle and were slicing the meat to roast for dinner, while Lawrence was sitting by the fire with Kathleen leaning her head on his lap. Sammy Six-String was playing a guitar and Pete and Arthur were playing a game of cards. Though they each had a black eye and Arthur’s lip was bleeding, they seemed to be getting along fine now.
We spent the next hour by the fire with the crew, feasting on turtle meat and drinking rum while wearing jewelry to accent our rags. Before the sun sank into the sea, Sterling grabbed me by the arm and dragged me away from the group. Sticking his hand in his pocket, he fumbled around as he asked, “Do you still fancy to see yourself as the wife of a pirate?”
“Oh, come now, love. I would never marry a pirate.” I planted my hand on my hip. Amused by the way his brows knitted together, I smiled. “But I would love nothing more than to marry a handsome buccaneer like you.”
“Good. Otherwise I was going to have to take you by force.” He laughed, and then pulled out a handful of rings. “Which one do you like, sweetheart?”
Sorting through the pile of rings he held in his palm, I took my time trying them all on. All were gold bands but the gems adorning them were of different shapes, colors, and sizes. Knowing this very ring would be on my finger for all my life to come, I wanted to be sure I picked the perfect one. The round emerald fit my ring finger the best. With the glassy ocean reflecting the colors of sunset behind my hand, I admired the precious jewel. “I love it, Sterling. The emerald reminds me of your eyes. What about you? Aren’t you going to wear a ring?”
“Ah, I didn’t think about that.”
“Well, I want you to have one.”
“I’ve never been one to wear jewelry so you can pick it for me if you want.”
Of course, I walked right over to the chest and sorted through the jewels until I found the ring just right for him. Settling on a plain gold band, I slipped it on his finger. After eyeing the piece, he called for Faron, “Faron Flynn, you slimy bilge rat. I need a captain over here.”
Faron came staggering over. Once he reached us, he propped his foot up on a rock and posed like a statue. “Did I hear that someone needs a captain over here?”
Sterling laughed, “Ah, tame your blaggard ol’ dramatics and put that blathering mouth of yours to work. Marry us.”
Faron’s eyes grew wide with surprise. As if I wasn’t standing there he seriously asked Sterling, “Just one lady for all your life, eh? You sure about this, matey?”
“I didn’t call you over here to annoy me, Captain.” Sterling chuckled.
Faron opened his big mouth to call for his crew, but Mary joined us right in time
to cover his mouth with her hand. As Faron bit at her fingers, Mary snipped at Sterling, “I highly doubt I’ll be letting you marry my best friend while she looks such a mess. Come with me, Charlie. And Flynn, you can gather your crewmen while I get her ready.”
Pulling me by the sleeve, she led me to the shrubs under the trees where the men could not see us. After cleaning my face, she combed her hand through my short hair and then pinned the rest of my choppy locks in place with small twigs and lined the braid with colorful flowers.
Tapping on her chin, she hummed, “How are we going to get around that bloodstain?” Her eyes lit up. Relieving me of my weapons, she draped my red sash over my shoulders and then stepped back to look over her work. She smiled. “Perfect. Are you ready, my dear?”
“Oh, more ready than I have ever been for anything.”
Mary handed me a hibiscus flower before she hurdled over a bush and trotted out to the crowd of men that Faron had gathered together.
After taking a deep breath, I walked towards the rugged group. Sammy Six-String began playing his guitar. Delighted by the sound of the beautiful song, I chuckled to myself. In all my life I never would have imagined my wedding day to be this way, but as I locked my gaze on Sterling, I knew it was better than anything I could have ever planned.
Braced with all his weapons, he wore his waistcoat and tattered coat undone, and just above his embroidered baldric I could see his tattoo. His long messy hair flowed over his shoulders like a waterfall and I loved the way the X shaped scar on his face lifted on his cheek as he smiled at me.
Taking my hands in his, he bit his lip and looked me up and down with a growl.
Faron cleared his throat loud and dramatically, then began his sloppy ceremony, “Dearly beloved! I have never done a wedding and I don’t know what to say, but…” After stuttering through the beginning, Faron seemed to find his usual luster for speech and finished the ceremony with a much better flow, “Sterling Bentley, do you take this woman to be your one and only for better or for worse, through sickness and health, during invasions and mutinies, over high tides and low tides, across smooth sails and stormy seas?”
Tarnished Persuasion (Justified Treason, Book 2): Endless Horizon Pirate Stories Page 22
