By popular demand, I feel it's time to introduce Ronnie Anne. Thus, this chapter follows Bobby. They're speaking Spanish, but I'm putting it in English. I'm assuming, probably quite wrongly, that Bobby and Ronnie Anne are of Mexican descent. My other guesses were Brazilian and Cuban. I'm trying to paint him as a chill guy, but he also must be a pirate captain, so… yeah.
Also, expect some OCs. I didn't want to, but there must be officers aboard Bobby's ship, right?
"The crew wonders why we're making such speed for Mexico," one of Bobby's appointed officers said, "we should have put in for repairs and to recruit more crew."
"Our ship is manned by a skeleton crew!" another officer snapped, "The prisoners are growing restless, we're being worked to death, and you are throwing us into Spanish waters!"
The other officers muttered similar dissent.
"Relax, my friends." Bobby held his hand up, defensively, "We must return to Mexico at once."
"Why?" the second officer demanded.
"Nearly all the crew who sided with me is from Mexico, yes?" Bobby asked, "The Spanish will know that. They'll come to punish our families. We must make it to Mexico to save them."
"Our families?!" another officer exclaimed, "You're looking at bringing upwards of five men and women per crewmate! They're dead, Captain Santiago. Accept it."
"Bobby." the Captain corrected.
"Pardon?" the officer asked.
"Call me Captain Bobby." Bobby said, "It has a nice ring to it."
"Um… yes sir."
"Our families are safe, for now." Bobby continued, "Until the Spanish discover our treason, we have the opportunity to save them. Would you deny the crews the lives of their families?"
The officers stayed silent, some faces flushing in shame at the veiled accusation.
"I didn't think so." Bobby chuckled, "We have the advantage that nearly our entire crew comes from the Yucatan coastal area."
"With the added advantage that your family is there, of course." an officer muttered.
Bobby didn't hold anything against his officers. They had been crewmen from poor families who never dreamed of lives as fugitives. They'd risked their lives and careers to save him. He was asking a lot, but he was also trying to grant them security for their loved ones. Still, he wouldn't hold any grudges. The men were weary and stressed.
"How much longer until we reach Yucatan?" Bobby asked, "We won't have much time once we're there."
"At this rate, we should be there by tomorrow," an officer sighed in resignation, "We can't put into a Spanish port, though."
"Most of the men are from surrounding areas, anyway." Bobby pointed out.
"Your family lives in a port, though."
"I'll go alone to rescue them," Bobby turned to face his officers, smiling disarmingly, "don't leave without me."
His officers eyed each other levelly. For a moment, Bobby was worried they would leave him. He'd certainly given them more problems than solutions, fine captain he was. Finally, though, they nodded as one. For all their faults, his appointed officers were fine men whom he'd had the pleasure of serving with for most of his naval years. His first mate, the dour Sebastian Sanchez; his navigator Carlos Rodrigues; Quartermaster Enrico Bolivar; Boatswain Manuel Diez; and Gunnery Officer Jesus Hernandez. Everyone was Latin American, none were nobles; their families had never left the Yucatan region, had never dreamed of life away from Spanish rule.
Bobby would change that, for better or worse. If he could, he'd beat the Spanish and British back to Europe; their rule had been harsh and abusive. It was time for the Americas to be freed. A new law code was needed for such a free world – a code whispered about in taverns, passed down by brigands and buccaneers for generations: the hallowed Pirate Code. A rumor, surely, but one Bobby intended to hunt down.
But first they had to rescue their families. Bobby stayed up through the night with his exhausted crew. As a captain, he had the perk to rest while those under him suffered, but Bobby was not the sort to do such. He was a workaholic, if nothing else, who had always dreamed of getting command of his own ship. Bobby never dreamed he'd take a ship by force, though.
As the sun rose, he watched Yucatan draw nearer. They moored near an isolated stretch of beach near, yet out of sight of, the dreaded Spanish ports. It would take, Bobby estimated, each of the crewmen less than a day to gather their families from the nearby villages. For Bobby, though, it might take longer since his home city was one of the ports they were hiding from. Longer still to avoid Spanish patrols. His officers changed into civilian's clothes, exchanged hugs and tearful farewells. It seemed none of them expected to see him again.
No matter. Bobby had to save his family, small as it was, for they were all he truly cared for. One relative in particular was foremost in his mind as he bought a horse from a nearby villager. He would save her, even if he died in the process. Nearly half the day was gone by the time he finally arrived in his hometown.
"Alright," he muttered to himself, "where was my sweet, little home?"
Bobby found it, quick enough. It was humble for a city so large, but definitely the home of a wealthier native. It was said that the Santiagos were descendants of Cortes himself – a fact that assured their nobility while simultaneously disgusting them. To be descended from a butcher was not the legacy Bobby wished to inherit. He knocked on the door, pleased to see his old servant.
"Pablo!" Bobby exclaimed.
"Master Roberto." the native sighed, already exasperated, "Here for a visit already? Your letter indicated your fleet would be in Florida."
"It's a long story," Bobby waved the issue off, "are the others here?"
Pablo hesitated, a curious glint in the eye.
"You… have not received the letter?" he asked.
"No?" Bobby quirked an eyebrow.
"I see…" Pablo exhaled, clearly distressed, "I regret to inform you that your mother has passed."
His servant might as well have shot him in the stomach with a cannonball.
"I-I don't understand, the medicine was working!" Bobby exclaimed, "The doctor said malaria was treatable!"
"The doctor is a drunk." Pablo said, firmly before his expression softened, "I'm so sorry, Master Roberto."
"Don't call me that." Bobby grimaced, "Where is Ronnie Anne?"
"She's out back." Pablo said, "The rest of the staff and I have been taking care of her as best we can, but… she's changed."
"I don't care, she's still my sister." Bobby said, "Gather the staff in the house. I have an announcement to make."
Bobby followed the little path to the spacious backyard. Ronnie Anne was seated on a wooden swing, listing idly in the shade of a great oak. Bobby approached, hesitantly.
"Ronnie Anne?" he asked.
"Go away, Roberto." Ronnie Anne said, "It's what you're good at."
Again, Bobby felt his insides twist. Ronnie Anne was the most important person in the world to him. Their father had died from yellow fever, and Bobby had long reconciled that their mother would die eventually – he'd never expected it to be so soon, especially with her success against malaria. If Ronnie Anne hated him on top of all that, he might as well be dead.
"I've come to take you away with me," he explained, "we're going to leave this house, all this sadness, behind us. The seas and ports will be our homes."
"Women aren't allowed aboard ships." Ronnie Anne sneered, kicking at the ground, "You taught me that."
"I was wrong." Bobby smiled, meekly. Ronnie Anne stayed silent, so he continued, "I have my own ship, now. It's big."
"I'll bet." Ronnie Anne spat, "Did your captain let you have one of the dinghies?"
"I'm serious, Ronnie Anne." Bobby said, "It's huge. A ship-of-the-line."
"Stop messing with me," the girl growled, "I'm not in the mood."
"This isn't a joke," her brother replied, "I'm going to take you away from here. We have to leave, now; it's not safe anymore."
Ronnie Anne finally turned to look at her brother. She may have been a mere girl of fourteen, but she was as sharp as a tack. Her brother was hiding something, something bad that he did that they had to run away from. Something so bad her life was in danger. Something to do with this mythical ship-of-the-line.
"What have you done, Roberto?" she asked, quietly.
"I will explain inside." Bobby promised. She followed him inside where their servants – much fewer now – were waiting, just as Bobby had instructed. He exhaled to calm himself. "Friends, dear sister, I am now the captain of my own vessel, a ship-of-the-line."
The servants applauded, though confusion was evident on their faces. Bobby was a lieutenant last they'd seen him, which was not long ago. Certainly, not long enough to earn captaincy of a massive ship. Now he was wearing civilian clothes, too, instead of a uniform.
"That is the good news." Bobby continued and the applause stopped, "I am now on the run from Spanish law. I am a pirate."
The servants stayed silent, shock engraved on their faces. Ronnie Anne's mouth dropped open. She realized he wasn't lying and steadied her hands against the pleats of her dress.
"When my betrayal is discovered, the Spanish will descend on this house seeking retribution." Bobby wiped tears from his eyes, "They will kill all of you, if you do not escape."
"Where would you go?" one servant demanded, "No one will hire servants of a brigand!"
"I am deeply sorry for my transgression against you, but the Spanish are slavers and butchers." Bobby said, "We are natives, and we are treated as second- and third-class people. Many are treated little better than chattel, and it is not right! So, I resist. I extend an invitation to all of you, my faithful friends, to join me on my vessel. Shed your chains for a life at sea."
"Women aren't allowed aboard sea vessels." a maid pointed out, "We're bad luck, supposedly."
"I was given my ship by a crew of women." Bobby explained, surprising everyone again, "A woman might not be allowed to be a sailor, but she can definitely be a pirate."
"We don't want to be criminals." Pablo said, "What about our families?"
"The Spanish will not harm your families if you flee," Bobby said, "but they will harm them if you return to them. You are like family to me, and the Governor knows this. He will make you suffer to make me suffer. Flight is your only chance."
The servants looked at each other before slowly filing out of the house until only Pablo remained. He smiled, bleakly.
"I swore to your father and your mother on their deathbeds that I'd look after you, and here you've gone and made my job difficult." he chuckled, "I suppose I'll be calling you Captain Roberto now?"
"No," the pirate shook his head, "I go by Bobby now."
They took three horses from his family's stables and rode off towards the isolated coastline where their ship was moored. Fortunately, crewmen were still returning with their families – the ones who didn't just jump ship – so the ship-of-the-line was still present. Ronnie Anne's face lit up at the sight, and that made Bobby's heart soar. It was good to see her bitterness fade, especially after he had left her behind when she needed him the most. Never again, though, would he leave her unprotected.
By sunset most of the crew had returned. The only ones that hadn't all came from nearby villages. Bobby knew they had deserted him, but it did not matter. He only hoped they could escape and secure the safety of their families before the Spanish descended on them. Bobby was pleased to see none of his officers had deserted.
"I think that's everyone that's coming, Captain." Sebastian said, "We'll be hard-pressed to sail, now, what with how few crew we have."
"What are you talking about, Sebastian?" Bobby grinned, "Our decks are bristling with potential crewmen and women."
"Children and women working a ship?" Enrico blinked, "That's madness!"
"It's a temporary solution at best." Sebastian said, "Until we can put in at one of those damned havens and recruit a real crew."
"Most of ours will likely jump ship at the first haven." Manuel muttered, darkly.
"Are we ready to set sail?" Bobby asked.
"The men are exhausted." Sebastian explained, "They need rest."
"They can rest in Tortuga," Bobby said, "tell the men I'll pay them each five pesetas and give them a week shore leave if we make it."
"Holy…" Sebastian muttered as the officers blanched.
"It'll come out of my own pocket, never fear." Bobby smiled, "We must make for Tortuga as soon as possible, though."
"I'll tell the men." Sebastian nodded.
"I'll man the helm." Enrico said.
His officers left to attend to their respective duties. As he had done in nights past, Bobby would stand before his men as they labored under the extremes. Exhaustion was eating away at them all, but Bobby was confident they could make it to Tortuga if their morale held. Thus, Bobby had to inspire the men.
And what was more inspiring than a captain sharing the workload?
Sorry for the short chapter. Also, sorry for killing off Bobby and Ronnie Anne's parents, but considering I know nothing about them, it made for easier writing. Not a lot going on in this chapter except an introduction of Ronnie Anne. Next chapter: Tortuga.