The Lady and the Gunner
Chapter 1 – More than Pirate Booty
After their adventures in San Domingo, the crew of the Renown were tired and ready for the town of Port Royal. However, they had several days at sea to get there and in dangerous waters. Not terribly dangerous for the seventy-four gun ship herself, but there were pirates, privateers, and merchants a plenty here.
They found sails of a pirate vessel out in the open and moved to run her down. Her bottom was low in the water suggesting a high amount of booty to be had. While not under direct orders to engage pirates, the fleet were to bring them if they had no markings of being privateers and therefore paid by the crown to attack the Spanish, French, Portuguese, and indeed even Americans.
This ship was not flying the king's colors and in fact the ominous sight of black flag. The ship was a pirate ship beholden to no country.
Lt. Bush smiled. "Light crew, maybe twenty guns." He looked back at Buckland. "She's at anchor."
"Very good Mr. Bush. The booty will liven them men after our recent misadventure."
"I do say indeed, sir." Bush said.
Hornblower came to them and saluted. "I heard tale of a ship."
"Small pirate ship."
"Do we mean to take her?"
"Aye. You and your choice of men will board her after we soften her up a bit." Buckland said. "To quarters!" He called.
Everyone run around and they turned the ship to engage the enemy. Hornblower and Bush went below where the compliment of the heavy guns were. "Load!" The both barked to the men.
"Gun ready!" Matthews called.
"Gun ready!" Gunner Hobbs said right after.
"Roll them out!" Bush barked.
When in position Bush smiled a little. "Stand clear! Fire!"
"Fire!" Hornblower echoed.
The first barrage of the board side removed the ships center mast. She was a sitting duck as Hornblower made ready to go to her by small boat with Stiles, Matthews, and a handful of others including Mr. Hobbs. While Hornblower did not fully trust the man, he had proved himself well at the fort and was an able fighter with a sword and pistol. He had many years in his majesty's navy and had gained much experience.
They group arrived, but the pirates were not going down without a fight. They fired at the incoming boat, and Hornblower had his men fire back. Several pirates fell and only one of his men. They reached the ship and came up the side, the first up surprised the men standing there who were looking about for them for they had become too close to the ship to see them.
Once aboard the all-out fighting begun as it became clear the pirates were not going to surrender as a French or Spanish boat would. The men of the Renown made their way through the vessel killing any who were there for no one surrendered.
They went into the hold and heard a soft whimper. It was not that of a man, perhaps a boy. They walked forward looking at the guns. Two had been blown out of their cradles and wood was sprayed everywhere.
"Here sir!" Stiles said as he knelt down. A man had a chunk of wood through the side of his head and he lay across a something struggling beneath him. Stiles and Hornblower pushed the pirate to the side and looked down at a young, barely dressed young woman. Hornblower hurriedly pulled down her skirt and knelt pulling off his coat and putting it around her bare shoulders in a futile attempt at modesty. She looked up at him, with terror, but she was also grateful.
Stiles spat on the man who had his drawers around his ankles as he lay to the side. Hornblower gently helped the girl up and noted her arms were bound behind her. He cut her ropes gently and then pulled her to her feet. She looked at him and murmured and then fell backwards. Stiles caught her and lifted her in his arms as she fainted. She had blood on her, a mix of her own and her would be rapist's.
Stiles held her as Matthew stayed beside him. He softly cooed to her as though she were a child as they all stood together looking out across the gun deck for more trouble. "Well this is clearly why they were stopped." Hornblower muttered. "They were out for sport." He looked at the girl. "By God she is young."
In another part of the ship, Hobbs has been making his way with three others. Two of them were killed by pirates around the corners. Hobbs had shot them both and then the third, whom injured his last man by shooting him in the shoulder, he fought with a sword. The man fell, miscalculating how quickly Hobbs could shift his weight and thrust. Behind him were the doors to the captain's quarters.
He turned back to Mr. Reese. "You all right?" He asked.
"Yes. Thank you."
Hobbs nodded and then walked to the doors. He opened one and aimed a gun in. When nothing fired at him he moved heavy door to the side. Still cautious, he looked in, pistol in one hand and sword with the other.
What he found, he did not expect. He looked at the girl standing before him. Her hands were bound by chains, but she still stood like a fighter ready to attack. Her face was bloody and bruising and she had some scratches and finger bruises on her. However, the fire in her eyes gave him pause.
She had fiery red hair and was petite in her size, but looked all the world like a fighter with her fists up ready to do battle. She looked at him and dropped her hands slightly. "Who the bloody hell are you?" The Irish Brogue certainly matched her hair he mused as he lowered his weapons.
"Hobbs, Gunner, or His majesty's Ship Renown. And you are miss?"
"Eliza." She said looking at him. Those dark eyes. He could lose himself in them, but for now he needed a clear head.
"How did you come to be here?"
"Long story really, but I thank you all the same." She said.
He looked at her. "You are welcome. You will need to come with me."
She wore soft slippers and her peasant skirt did not match the bodice she wore that looked to be a merchant class. She looked at him and lifted her arms. "You wouldn't happen to know where the key is, would you?" She asked looking at him.
"No." He turned back to the man who had fallen behind him. She moved passed him and straddled the man's chest as she began searching his cloak.
He smiled a little and then pressed her a little to the side and helped look on the one side. "This is the captain then?"
"Aye. He took the loot from my father's ship." She looked up sharply. "June!" She gasped.
He sighed lifting the key as she ran toward the mid-ship. He nodded to Reese. "Get yourself to the boat will you."
"Right away." He said nodding and moved toward the stairs to take him to the deck.
The girl made it to the guns and looked about. "Where is she? That rat of a Boatswain liked her. Where did he put her?!"
Hobbs came to her and gently touched her shoulder.
She looked up at him desperately. "She's my sister. What did they do to her?"
She found him lying on the floor and kicked him as hard as she could. "You motherless bastard. What did you do to her?!"
She was reduced to sobs and Hobbs came to her and gently touched her arms afraid she might do herself injury.
"Treated her unkindly." Hornblower said cutting into her thoughts.
Both of them looked up. She took a step to him the chains on her wrists clinking. "She is alive?"
"Yes. She is aboard the dingy. Mr. Hobbs. See the women safely to the Renown and then send back ships. There is much booty to be had."
The man nodded. "Aye, Aye sir."
"It isn't booty. It belongs to the town of Port Royal. My father was a merchant and the good are from our ship, sir."
"All the same we are headed there and you both are in need of medical attention. If you please, Mr. Hobbs."
Hobbs nodded and looked at the girl. "If you would follow me, Miss Eliza."
"I will not. I will see that my father's shipments are handled with care and…" Hobbs looked at Hornblower and rolled his eyes before he spun the girl about and put his shoulder into her waist. He held one of her arms as he lifted her up, the other arm firmly over her legs and skirt.
By God she weighed nothing at all to the man who made his living moving twenty-four pounders about. Her wiggling was not helping matters for a man who had been without a woman for nearly six months. She was full of spirit and beautiful.
She realized what he was doing and gasped. She tried to fight, but her skirt and her bound hands made it impossible as the large gunner walked up the mid ship stair and onto the deck. "This could have gone so much easier if you had just come on, Miss Eliza." He chuckled and held her firmly as he walked to the ship and then lowered her down to the other men. Once in he climbed in himself.
She glared at him and he smiled at her disarmingly. "Welcome aboard, Miss Eliza." He reached for her hand. At first she fought, but a look from him caused her to pause. "Better." He muttered and then put the key he had to the locks at her wrists. He undid one and then the other. The chain dropped with a clang and she rubbed her heavily bruised wrists. It was clear she had been in them for days on end and she gasped as feeling came back to her hands in a rush.
She shivered at the breeze and Mr. Hobbs removed his jacket and put it about her shoulders. It was still warm from his body and she sighed. "Thank you, Mr. Hobbs."
He nodded. "Now to the middle if you please, Miss Eliza." He said.
She nodded and went to where there was a space. She gasped seeing the wrapped up body of June in a small sail. She was pale and there was blood. The girl fretted and Hobbs nodded to the men to row back to the ship.
It took some time to get there and then they unloaded the injured June first, calling for Doctor Clive. The doctor came and he looked down at the young patient. "Mother of God. Where did you find her?" He asked. He touched her face and down her neck to feel for a pulse. He found one, though it was weak.
"Below decks, sir. She is Miss June. Miss Eliza will be up shortly." Mr. Hobbs called.
The doctor nodded calling for his assistant.
Hobbs looked at the girl. "We are going to tie a rope about you and lift you up, Miss Eliza. Don't be afraid.
She sighed. She did not have the strength to argue. Hobbs caught the rope that was swung over. One loop he put around under her arms and the other he smiled and nodded for to sit. He looked up. "And heave, steady as she goes!" He called.
The girl was lifted in increments as the men pulled. She almost laughed as Mr. Hobbs climbed his way up to the deck with a rope. He made quick work and she was hoisted clear of the side. Hobbs looked at the men. "Easy now, let slack."
The girl was lowered until she was just above the deck. Stiles held the loop so she could step out of the bottom and Hobbs nodded for her to lift her arms. As she did so the loop was raised over her shoulders and head and she was free.
She took a few hesitant steps and then sighed as she found that the deck was sturdy. Mr. Hobbs turned. "Mr. Buckland, Mr. Hornblower sends his compliments and asks for land boats be sent to collect the treasures from the hull."
"Very good, Mr. Hobbs. See the girl safely below and to the doctor for care. God knows what they have suffered from pirates."
"Aye, Aye, sir." Hobbs said. "Miss Eliza if you will follow me."
She nodded and reached out a hand so she would not lose him in the densely packed lower deck as the men moved about. They reached the sickbay and Hobbs nodded. "Miss June is inside." He said.
He turned to go, but her hand shot out and gripped his wrist. He turned back and looked at her with his vivid blue eyes. She smiled and leaned up and kissed his cheek softly. "Thank you, Mr. Hobbs."
He colored a little as she turned away and went into the sickbay where the doctor and his assistant were making the other girl comfortable. The then moved to go oversee the boats, but the place where he cool lips hat touched his warm cheek still felt like the cool breath of winter upon him.
"Ah, you must be Miss Eliza." The doctor said looking up from stitching a wound on June's arm.
"How is she?" Eliza asked. She was clearly the elder, but she was still growing into her woman's body placing her about seventeen or eighteen. He placed June at closer to fourteen.
"She has lost a great deal of blood." The doctor said honestly. "She also has suffered much in your captivity." He said quietly.
She swallowed and nodded as she caressed June's hair. Tears came to her eyes. "This never would have happened if Angelique had not died."
"Who was that?"
"Her mother." She said.
"So you share the father, but not the mother. Explains the difference in how you look."
She nodded. "Father did not trust us on the care of anyone else. And now he is dead." She said. A single tear dropped from her eye to June's hand.
The doctor sighed and turned his attentions to her. "Come you need to rest. You are overwrought." He reached for some water. He put in three drops of something and handed it to her. "Drink that down."
She did so and then sighed as she moved to stand. She blinked. What was going on? She took a step and then suddenly she knew no more. The doctor caught her as she fell and then gently lifted her into the hammock nearby in the sickbay. Her sister was laid in the bed against the wall for observation. He pulled the blankets up on them both and sighed.
June woke an hour later, but there glazed look to her eyes and the doctor touched her brow. She had a fever. He gave her laudanum as well in a bit higher dose. He also laid a cool cloth on her brow. She soon was sleeping again.
Mr. Bush came down and looked at the sleeping pair. "Are they well?" He whispered.
"The elder suffers only ligature marks and minor cuts. The younger lost much blood, mostly from the splinters of wood I pulled out of them."
"Anything else?"
The doctor coughed a little. "The younger's virtue is not intact sir."
"I beg your pardon?" Bush looked at him startled.
The doctor lifted his hand and Bush frowned. "I mean she was raped, repeatedly. There is bruising on bruising on her inner thighs and she too was bound."
Lt. Bush hung his head. "Poor girl. She can't be more than fifteen."
"No."
"Will she make it through this?"
"Pray for her. The night is critical. The fever she has could take her." The doctor said sadly.
"Keep me posted, Doctor."
"I will, sir."
Bush moved on and the doctor watched him go before returning to his charges. These poor girls. His daughter was ten and he could not imagine having her beat and raped so. He was not sure if the elder had been, but with a ship of men and two young women captives…
He sighed. It would be a long vigil with the pair of them through the night.