John Locke - Now & Then

“You’re tall enough,” Jack said, “but you seem quite young. Are you even close to the age of consent?”

“I am twelve, sir, by almost nine months. There is proof from a midwife, as mine was a difficult birth.”

“Are these two in fact your parents?”

“They are.”

Now that Jack had her talking, the words spilled out of her. She told him that her father was a mean drunk who beat her older sister to death and made it appear to be an accident. “He’s nearly killed me twice,” she added, “though not recently, as I have to gain strength again before trying to run away.”

“And yet you keep trying.”

“I do, sir.”

“What’s his drink of choice?” Jack asked, and Johanna gave him a funny look.

“Kill Devil,” she said.

“Aye, that would do it,” Jack said. Kill Devil was rum laced with gunpowder. It had been Blackbeard’s favorite drink. “So your father drinks regular and beats you?”

“Regular enough.”

“What about neighbors? Is there no one nearby to offer help?”

“We live deep in the woods where there’s no one near to hear me scream. By day he keeps me tied to a lead line which is convenient because he can use it to beat me with, should I move too slow in my chores. He threatens to hobble me if I run away again, and would have by now, except that he couldn’t get a fair price for me. Of course I am as horrid as I can be around them, thinking he might wish me gone enough to lower the price.”

“I’ve met wood children before,” Jack said. “How is it you learned such a fine manner of speech?”

“They weren’t always like this. Before the poverty and drink seized him they were decent people. Mother was educated in London, taught my sister and me to read and write, taught my sister Lisbeth mostly, but Lisbeth taught me much. It was she who started the running away.”

“What did he whisper to you just now?”

She looked around. Jack said, “It’s all right. You can tell me.”

“He told me if you turn me down, he’s going to ruin me for all men.”

Jack held up the lantern and saw the bruises running up and down her arms and legs. She had choke marks on her neck, and her cheekbones were in various stages of healing. A blood bruise covered half her right eye, and her lip was fat from a recent slap or punch. A line of dried blood started at the corner of her mouth and made a stain down her chin. She looked around again and whispered, “Though he quoted you twelve, he’d be happy with half that. Should you be interested in saving me, that is.”

“You seem a lovely sort. A decent man wouldn’t quibble over the price.”

“Are you a decent man, sir?”

“I like to think so.”

“I’d like to have children someday.”

Jack nodded. He took her to mean she feared being ruined by her father, should Jack turn her down.

“He’ll eventually kill me,” she said. Her body began shaking, and he realized she was crying. “Please, sir,” she said. “I can butcher your kill and cut it down and salt it. I’m handy in the woods. I know some healing herbs and I’m good at finding tubers. If you save me I’ll never give you reason to regret it.”

Maybe it was the welts and bruises, or the unfairness of it all, or maybe just the rotgut from dinner buzzing his brain. But Jack had asked to hear her tale of woe, and now he couldn’t bear to hear another word. He took her by the hand and together they walked across the yard to George’s front door, and when they opened it, Jack amazed himself by announcing he would marry Johanna Bradford that very night. He opened his kit and paid Richard and Patience Bradford twelve pounds sterling for their daughter’s hand in marriage.

The only requirement for a legally valid marriage in 1710 was the completion of a marriage contract called a ‘spousal,’ and the exchange of vows. The entire process could be completed in minutes, with no witnesses required. For this reason, most young lovers were able to marry in secret. But Jack and Johanna had a number of witnesses. George prepared the contract, Jack and Johanna exchanged words, drinks were passed around, and then Johanna went with Marie to help put the child Steffan to bed.

Jack had half a mind to kill Johanna’s parents where they stood, but in deference to his bride he hustled them out of the house and told them to leave and never come back. With that chore out of the way, Jack sat down and worked out a payment for George and Marie to house Johanna and teach her to be a proper “helpmate,” meaning a woman who knew how to keep a house and educate children.

“She can sleep in the guest room unless we have a visitor,” George said.

Jack paid George two months in advance and said, “Her father claims she’s wrong in the head, but I think he’s the one that’s crazy. But if she proves too much for you, I’ll work out a different arrangement when I return.”

The two men shook hands to seal the agreement, and Jack took some time to explain the arrangement to Johanna. Then he kissed her on the forehead, took a blanket and a bottle of rum out to the boat, climbed in and slept. The next morning he woke early, saddled one of George’s horses, and went to the river crossing, hoping to see (but not intending to impregnate) his girlfriend, Abby Winter.

Chapter 18

Now, in the woods, Pim waited patiently while Jack confirmed Johanna’s claim. Abby called him a bastard, and Johanna lunged at her again.

Jack stepped between them and said, “Hush, you two. What’s done is done and I’ll do right by both of you.”

“I don’t see that possibility,” Abby said, “since you’re already married to this hellion, and I’m carrying your child.”

“You’ve given her your seed?” Johanna said, incredulously. “How could you do this to me? I’m your wife. That seed is rightfully mine.”

“I’d give it back if I could, you pasty-faced brat!” Abby said.

“Abby, that’s enough! Johanna, it happened before I ever met you!”

“Oh,” Johanna said.

“And again this very morning, if we’re keeping a tally,” Abby said.

Johanna glared at the older, prettier, pregnant girl a moment, then turned away and started running. Jack raced after her and found her lying on the ground, sobbing. Jack sat beside her and said, “This is not the best of circumstances, but we’ll get through it. Right now we’ve some men to save, and I’ll ask you to be civil for the time being. Too much noise at the wrong time could get us all killed.”

Johanna looked him in the eyes. “You coupled with her this very morning? How could you, Jack?”

“I’m sorry I’ve hurt you. That’s all I can say.”

When they got back to the camp, Rose was grinning at him.

“Don’t say a word,” Jack warned.

Surprisingly, Hester had not spoken throughout the ordeal. She’d been treated far worse by men than what she’d seen between Jack and her daughter, and seemed content to stay out of it. When the camp had quieted down to an uneasy truce, Pim gave Jack his scouting report.

“There’s eight soldiers guardin’ the Blue Dog,” he said, “and I don’t know how many inside. Maybe ten, maybe twice that. Some’re whorin’, some’re waitin’ for the hangin’. Like you said, the men are all upstairs, so there must be guards on the steps as well. There were two guardin’ the road on this side and two on the other, but they’re arguin’ for their souls with St. Peter at present. You formed a plan yet?”

“Has The Fortress moved?”

“Aye, she’s backed out to deeper water, so she must’ve seen your signal. But she’ll be a sittin’ duck out there against The Viceroy , without man enough to work the guns.”