Michael Aye - HMS Seawolf

"Adam Montique."

"I knew it," Dagan said. "The man has been plotting against us from the start."

"Aye," Gabe replied. "He thought I was out after his man slugged me but I came to in time to hear him brag about how he was the brains behind the pirates we faced in the West Indies. He kill ed most of his captives, but the women, especial y the blond women; he sold to the Dey in Algiers. The others he took his pleasures with then turned them over to Hindley and his men."

Caleb, who had went to check on Jubal and Kawliga, returned and reported their findings. "There's a boat right enough. Kawliga surprised the man on board and he's trussed up properly now."

"How big is the boat?" Gabe asked.

"It ought to hold us al. The tide appears to be on the ebb though so we need to hurry."

"Well, get the women to the boat. Then look around and get us some weapons, food and water." When Caleb had departed, Gabe turned to Dagan,

"This place has enough supplies in it to keep an army going for months. we'll lay a charge and on our way out we'll light a fuse and finish the job we started." Gabe had his back to Faith and so he could not see her hand go to her mouth and the pal or that crept across her face.

"No!" Dagan said.

"Did you say no," Gabe asked, not believing his ears.

"I gave my word to Colonel Marion I'd fetch you and protect myself but I'd do no more mischief," Dagan explained.

"But these supplies, this man cared nothing for the war; he's filling his pockets at both countries expense."

"I gave my word, Gabe, same as you did to the smuggler that time."

Gabe gave a sigh and turned to Faith, "Lets get your things together."

"I…can't Gabe, I can't go with you."

"But we're to be married. You said you'd marry me."

"I can't Gabe."

"Don't you love me, Faith?"

"Yes, yes with al my heart."

"Then let's get some things and go."

"I told you I can't Gabe."

"Why?"

"Cause you're the enemy…our countries are at war…Maybe after the war Gabe, but not now. We believe in different causes."

"You can't stay here, Faith, your uncle, what will he do when he returns?"

Looking very determined Faith said, "Live Oak is mine. My father made this place what it is and I intend to keep it. My father had influential friends in Savannah. I will go there. They will help me, I'm sure.

Nanny and Uncle Lum…" Faith stopped in mid sentence. "Take Uncle Lum with you Gabe."

"But missy," Lum broke in.

"No, you can't stay. You kill ed a white man and they'd hang you for sure. It wouldn't matter why you did it. Sooner or later they'd get you alone and string you up."

"My place is with you, Miss Faith," Lum pleaded.

With tears in her eyes, Faith placed her hands on Lum's face and kissed his cheek. "You've always watched out for me ain't you, Uncle Lum?"

"Yessum."

"You always said you'd do anything for me didn't you?"

"Yessum."

"Then go and look after my man til this war is over.

God knows when that will be."

"I will, Miss Faith, and I's gona bring him back to you when this heah wars over. No matter how long dat be."

Sensing the need for the two to be alone, Dagan with Lum in tow headed toward the boat. Gabe trying to hold his emotions in check, looked at Faith.

"I will always love you."

"And I you," Faith replied as Gabe embraced her.

In doing so, he felt something hard against his chest.

The ruby. They had overlooked it when he had been taken prisoner. He took it out and placed it in Faith's hand, "You have my heart in your hand, to hold til I return."

Taking the ruby, Faith grasped it tight in her fist, and then said, "I'll not let it go."

Gabe kissed her then turned and made his way to the boat, choking back his emotions once more. Nanny had been standing back, watching. She walked up and put a shawl over Faith's shoulders.

"Yo mama would skin you alive child, being out heah in this night air half-naked as you is." Faith still held the ruby in her hand and could feel the heat it exuded. Then quietly she said, "There goes the man I love, Nanny."

"Mine too, child, mine too."

The Prize

Yonder ships a privateer

With men and guns a plenty

What say you my brave men

Shall we take this enemy

Reduce al sail, run out the guns

Put one across her bow

Yonder ship will be our prize

Before the quarter hour

… Michael Aye

Lum proved his value immediately in guiding the boat into the channel through the marsh and into and down Broad River. As quietly and quickly as possible they went past Port Royal then out into the bay. The tide had been on the ebb as Caleb had warned. The boat Jubal and Kawliga commandeered was the Lucky Lady, a yawl, a fishing boat of twenty-five feet in length and six feet in width. It had two masts, a main mast and a small mizzen mast which was located right on the transom. It also was equipped for four sets of oars. The boat was overcrowded. Thirteen people with a few supplies.

However, Gabe wished for one more. Without thinking, he clutched the leather bag around his neck-the empty bag. He went to remove it from around his neck but stopped. He would keep it there. The bag would remain close to his heart. Like his heart…empty until…until.

"Better come a point or two larboard," Dagan cal ed. He was in the bow and Gabe sat at the tiller.

Casting aside his personal sorrow, Gabe cal ed forward, "Let's set the sails and see how she does. We may have to rearrange either the supplies or where people are sitting."

The girls were huddled together. Little thought had been given to how they were dressed when they were

freed and herded down the boardwalk and into the boat. The girls were shivering from the cool damp night air. The men had given what they could in the way of clothing but some of the girls had been almost naked, so even with the clothing a lot of skin was still exposed to the elements and the men's eyes.

Especial y Jubal, who was feasting his eyes. Gabe had caught him staring more than once, but what did you say to a young boy. Gabe smiled to himself, thinking of the bent up humours the boy must be suffering from.

The girls who had been silent when they first escaped had started to talk. It was amazing to Gabe as he listened to the chatter that most of them were from the Tidewater area in Virginia but did not know each other. One was a strawberry blonde from Boston and appeared to be whiter, almost pale in skin color. The girls al seemed to come from fairly well to do Colonial families but had nothing else in common, except each had been sexual y abused by Adam Montique. He seemed to enjoy acting out different scenarios while Hindley would cheer him on and on occasion take part himself.

The strawberry blonde girl was named Erin. She had been singled out by Hindley and had suffered more abuse than the others. Dagan seemed to sense her need and talked quietly with the girl who sobbed at times.

Gabe knew if anyone could help her it was Dagan.

The one thing Gabe found strange was that with al the women on board Caleb seemed distant. General y, Caleb would have been showing an interest and making

himself as irresistible as possible. Was he showing the girls respect because of their recent ordeal? Was he having pain from the recent snake bite? Something was different.

Little did Gabe know Caleb's mind was on a woman, but not one of these. But one that was tucked away in Virginia. One named Kitty.

"Sail ho!" Dagan cal ed out. Half dozing at the tiller, Gabe was instantly alert.

"Where?"

"Two points off the starboard bow."