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“Beautiful, ain’t it?”
“Hmm?” I turned my view from the coastline to the man who’d spoken to me, finding him winding rope into its place, a grin on his face. It was one of the riggers, a man named John Butler. He was a small man, but surprisingly strong, as well as kind, though his few missing teeth gave him the appearance of a terror.
“Spain,” he continued, nodding in the direction I’d been looking.
“Oh, yes. It’s very pretty.” We were far enough out that I couldn’t really see La Coruña itself, but the coastline was gorgeous—green, like Maine—and I wondered if it would dim any as the year continued, the cold coming to sap us all of our strength. Then again, it was already pretty cool, so maybe it would keep its bright colors through the winter.
Pulling my cloak tighter, I resisted the urge to shiver, feeling both grateful to be so close to freedom from the captain and afraid to be left on my own. Tristan had spoken with me about his plans after helping Captain Rodrigues drink himself into a stupor the night before. Everything had been very business-like, which also made me feel sad for some reason.
“I have family outside the city,” he’d said, cleaning up the mess of food. “Ye’ll stay with them for a bit until ye can figure out a plan. I’ll take ye myself, so there’s no problems along the way. My cousin will be glad to have ye, I’m sure of it.”
“Thank you,” I’d replied stiffly, not wanting to plan my leaving of him, but not wanting to stay on the ship any longer. We’d done the unthinkable—keeping me from being raped or having to willingly sleep with the captain—and I didn’t want to push my luck on the issue. I had a feeling if I stayed, it wouldn’t be long before I was forced to do something I’d regret.
At the same time, though, I needed to get back across the Atlantic to Oak Isle. It seemed unlikely I would be able to buy passage on a ship, so while he was busy explaining everything about his cousin’s house and how wonderful it would be for me, I was formulating a plan of my own.
“We’ll be going ashore in two hours’ time,” Tristan said, coming beside me and interrupting my thoughts of the night before. “The captain wishes to see ye before then.” There was a hint of warning in his voice, but I smiled warmly, not concerned. It was all part of the plan, after all.
“I’ll go to him now, then,” I answered conversationally, earning an eyebrow raise from him.
“I won’t be joining ye,” he added under his breath, apparently trying to warn me once more of the dangers of being alone with the captain.
“I know.” My voice was cheery as I turned and headed for the stairs to go below deck. “Bring us a bottle of whiskey, will you?” Nerves rifled through me as I walked, a tiny bit of fear cutting at me as I thought about what I was about to do. There was no going back now, though. If I didn’t do this, I would never make it home. Reaching the captain’s door, I knocked loudly, letting myself in at his command.
“Ah, Miss Greene!” His face lit up as he stared at me, hunger in his eyes. “Thank ye for joining me.”
“It was my pleasure, Captain,” I answered smoothly. “I hope you won’t mind, but I asked for a bottle of whiskey to be brought to us, to toast a successful crossing and your good health.”
“Wonderful!” He clapped his hands together, rising from his desk and coming around to meet me. “Perhaps we can toast to our final meeting together as well, hmm?”
Trying hard to not roll my eyes, I smiled, curtseying to him slightly. “That would be wonderful.” The man had probably been so drunk the last two and a half months that he couldn’t remember if we’d slept together already or not. Either way, it was going to work out for me.
The part of me that was uncomfortable tried to voice its opinions once again and I shoved it away. I’d spent a lot of time in the company of pirates. It was no surprise that I was about to employ dishonest and unfair methods to get what I wanted.
“I’m sad to be leaving.” I sighed, hoping that I was doing a well enough job to fool him. “I’ll be missing you.” Batting my eyelashes, I shot him a small smile, moving around the room to examine his collections.
“My dear,” he cooed, “I shall miss ye, too. If ye like, ye do not have to leave, mi amor. I will tell the crew ye are staying.”
“But won’t they be angry? I was under the impression that they didn’t like me.” I ran a finger over the spine of one of his books on the shelf, slowly, glancing at him over my shoulder.
“I am the captain,” he laughed. “They will do whatever I say, they have no choice.”
“You wouldn’t want to get voted out,” I pressed, moving from the bookshelf to the window. “No, I’d better go, so you can keep your station.”
“Mi amor,” he crooned again. “So beautiful and so thoughtful. Come, let me show ye my appreciation.” Holding his arms out to me, he sat in a chair closer to the door, practically devouring me with his eyes.
Taking a breath to steel myself, I strode over and sat on his lap, wrapping my arms around him as he slid his around my waist. Immediately, his lips where on my neck, and his teeth grazed over my skin. Repressing the urge to shudder or vomit, I tilted my head, giving him easier access.
There was a knock on the door and Tristan burst in eyes blazing, a bottle of whiskey clutched tightly in his hand. “Captain,” he said through clenched teeth, watching as the man leaned away from my neck, but tightened his hold around my waist.
“Mr. O’Rourke,” he stated. “Leave it on the desk.” Reaching up, he ran a finger down my neck, whispering Spanish sweet nothings into my ear.
Going red in the face, Tristan did just that, storming past me without even looking and setting the bottle down roughly. “We’ll be at port in two hours,” he said to the captain, who ignored him.
Trust me, I mouthed to Tristan as he glanced back at me, his posture rigid. Before I could tell if he’d seen or not, he turned and left the room, closing the door somewhat harder than normal. “Would you like a glass?” I asked Captain Rodrigues, turning my attention back to him, no time left to worry about Tristan.
“Maybe later,” he breathed, placing a hand on my chest. “There are more important things to do at the moment, mi amor.”
I was going to slap him if he called me that one more time.
Smiling firmly, I started massaging his shoulders, feeling for the point that I wanted. It had been several years since my women’s self-defense class, but I was confident I remembered everything correctly. When I found it, I pressed hard, pinching with all my might despite his immediate protests. Finally, he faded into unconsciousness, the pressure point having taken all it could handle.
Disgusted, I got off his lap, leaving him a sleeping lump on the chair. Not knowing how long he would be out, I quickly moved to his wardrobe, pulling it open and rifling through the clothes inside. Just as I’d expected, he had many to choose from, ranging from the more extravagant to the rattiest pieces of clothing I’d ever seen. Tristan’s clothes would have been preferable because of smell alone, but he’d moved his belongings out of his room while I was occupying it. There was no way I would be able to sneak into the crew’s quarters and take them from him. Quickly, I grabbed a long brown coat, a pair of matching pants, a billowy white shirt, and a hat, along with a pair of boots and stockings.
The captain was already starting to rouse, his eyes rolling around in his head as he tried to make sense of what happened. Panicked, I grabbed the bottle of whiskey and hit him over the head, knocking him out once more. Nervous that I’d done serious damage to him, I accidently dropped the bottle and it broke into several pieces, spraying alcohol all over the floor. His chest was still moving, though, so he was alive.
“Sorry,” I said, unapologetic. “I need you to stay out until I’m gone.” Turning back to the closet, I sorted out a few more things, finally taking two more pairs of stockings and hoping they would do the job.
We were undisturbed for the next two hours, Tristan’s voice barking orders across
the deck as the men brought the ship into port. Finally, when I knew it would be time for someone to come and get me, I glanced at the captain’s unconscious form and let myself out. When I came on deck, the men were already climbing into the long boats and rowing to shore.
“Tristan,” I said, smiling brightly, the stolen clothes hidden under my skirts.
“Miss Greene,” he answered tightly. “I have a few more business things to take care of. Mr. Abby has agreed to take ye to shore and get ye to a nice inn for the night. I will send directions to my cousin’s house, as well as word that ye will be arriving tomorrow.” He waved a hand at two crewmen who were rowing away, shouting at them for shirking their duties.
“You’re not taking me?” I frowned, suddenly aware he thought I’d been doing something besides stealing clothes and sitting by the window for the past two hours.
“No.” He turned his back to me then, heading down the stairs into the pit.
“Tristan,” I called, hurrying after him. “Nothing happened. I took care of it.”
“I’m glad ye’re well,” he breathed. “We need to get ye ashore. Mr. Abby?”
A man on the upper deck nodded, calling me up to him. “We must be going, Miss Greene.”
“Are you mad at me?” I asked, grabbing his arm as he went to move away.
“Mad?” He turned to look at me, the hard emotions on his face softening some. “Ye’ll be safer here, Sam. Ye need to get off this boat. I can’t protect ye anymore. There are too many things I can’t tell ye, things ye wouldn’t understand. But, here, on land and away from the sea and its scum, ye’ll be far from harm.” Resting a hand on my waist, he leaned in and kissed my forehead, his fingers gripping me tightly. “Go to my cousin’s. He’ll keep ye safe and that will be well with me.”
“You’re still trying to protect me.” I laughed, holding on to his arm to keep him from going. “Why?”
Eyes searching mine, a small smile played on his lips. “If yer still here when we make port again, I’ll find ye and tell ye.” He pushed me away then, waving James Abby down and telling him to take me.
“Thank you,” I said with the most sincerity I could. “For everything.”
“Safe travels, Samantha Greene.” Grinning widely, he nodded to me, and then turned, disappearing into the ship.
Mr. Abby and I went back to the upper deck, climbing into one of the long boats, and were lowered into the water with a few other shipmates. Everyone was so excited to be going ashore, several of the men making crude suggestions about what they were going to do with their leave time, but all I could feel was an emptiness. With each stroke of the oar, the Adelina and her quartermaster got farther and farther away. The sense of loss was almost overwhelming and I turned away, focusing my attention on the shoreline.
There were camps set up among the rocks, pirates roving to and from the settlements. Further up, the town began, a beautiful city. I could see the steeple of a church among the buildings, smoke rising from chimneys, and the sounds of people going about their day reached my ears.
“Welcome to La Coruña, Miss Greene,” Mr. Abby said, jumping out of the boat and into the shallow water to help pull it onto the shore.
“Thank you.” Awe filled me as I took everything in, relishing the fact I was seeing something no one in my time would ever be able to.
“The inn is not far,” he continued, missing my total devotion to looking at everything. “If ye’ll come with me, I’ll make sure that ye have a nice room and meal for the night. Mr. O’Rourke told me he’ll be sending someone with instructions on how to get to his cousin’s, so I’ll let the innkeeper know that as well.”
“What all is here?” I asked, following him haltingly. “I would love to see the city.”
“I wouldn’t if I were you,” he chuckled. “It’s not safe for a lady to be out on her own here, not unless she’s a whore looking for a job.”
“Well, then.” Shocked by the harshness of his words, I fell in step behind him, keeping close so as to not be left.
The inn, which wasn’t far at all, was a three-story building full of people, food, and loud racket. Loopy on alcohol, the patrons were an unnerving sort to be around, and I felt a sudden discomfort at being left here on my own. Within minutes, I’d been secured a room in the hot place, ushered upstairs, and left there, without a single person in the world to turn to.