There was a breeze this morning, if it kept up, there was a promise in the air that the day would not be so hot.
Cathy was riding Naya, intending to ride down the dunes and into the water. Naya had learned to love the water and the way it felt around her fetlocks and hocks. She'd found out the hard way that the waters of the lagoon were not good to drink, and tended to hold her head up as the waves splashed around her.
Cathy nudged her with her heels and the mare raced down into the water, rearing a little as the water rose around her. Cathy laughed and patted her, then rode to water's edge, where she spied something curious. She leaned over Naya's shoulder and saw hoof prints, fresh ones by the looks of it, in the wet sand. The horse was well shod and had come out of the water and walked along the beach.
"Woodes", Cathy breathed, the hoof prints were big, and amongst the British, no one else rode such a big hunter. She decided to follow the prints and soon she came upon him. He'd dismounted and stood holding his hunter's reins. He had a faraway look in his eyes, as if he were seeing past Nassau to a place that was visible only to his eyes.
She slid off Naya, and dropped her reins, knowing her horse was well trained and would remain where she was. She approached him carefully and laid a hand on his arm. "Woodes?" she asked softly.
He turned and looked at her as if he did not know her, then pulled her close to him. He kissed her, gently at first, then hard before releasing her. He looked at her carefully, "No," he said, "There's no sadness in your eyes, is there?"
"No, I suppose not, but why? What do you mean?"
He sighed. "Every time I look into Eleanor's eyes I see a woman defeated. There's such a sadness there, such pain. You, you look as if you'd gladly take on the world and expect to win. I've met a lot of women, but no one like you. You love to laugh, and I never hear Eleanor laugh, I don't even know what her laugh sounds like. Even when we make love that sadness seems to hover over our bed. And you with your indecent riding clothes splashing happily in the surf with your horse, and your silk dresses like flowers of every hue. Cathy, you didn't know it, but I'd seen you before you even knew I met you."
She took his hand and squeezed it. "I've known tragedy, too, you know, but I've also known triumph. I've done things I didn't want to because they were a means to an end. I've lost people I cared about, but pirates don't live long, do they? Unlike Eleanor, I've never been insecure, never had an inferiority complex. And I'm fearless. The only time I've been afraid was when Hornigold had me poisoned, but I told myself that I would survive and I did. Poor Eleanor," she shook her head, "I don't think she ever stood much of a chance without her father."
"Hornigold had you poisoned?" this he had not expected.
"I think he was afraid I was going to interfere with his plans for Eleanor, so he decided to take care of me before I could. He had the bartender at the inn give me an overdose of opium. He almost succeeded, Ruby told me it was touch and go for a while for me, and that I'm lucky I'm alive. He'll pay for what he did to me, I know he will. He's overconfident and to try to murder Flint's sister is going to bring down my brother's wrath."
Rogers smiled at her, at the sincere expression on her face, "You're sure of this?"
"Yes," she answered, unsmiling, "Ruby told me he will meet his end when he thinks he has made his triumph. Otherwise, I'd kill him myself."
He put his arm around her waist, kissed her again, "Come with me Cathy, just for a little while, if you're willing. I want you Cathy, I want to make love to a woman who has a smile in her eyes, just this once."
She allowed him to lead her up into the fall grasses of the dunes. He laid her down and pushed up her skirts and opened her blouse. Unlike Eleanor her skin was a pale gold and he wondered how it came to be that way. She didn't resist him, helped undo his trousers and unbuttoned his shirt.
"I had no idea just how beautiful you were, Cathy, I could only guess until now.
They made love in a hurry, each eager to have the other. He was taking longer for this ride than he should, and wondered if Eleanor would guess, then Cathy gave him her glorious smile, and he knew it would be worth it.
He smiled, the easy smile of the aristocrat. "I was hoping it would be you, you know, not Eleanor. I wanted you to know that."
She lay next to him, pressing herself against him. "Woodes, you wouldn't want me, I'm far too independent. I don't need you, Eleanor does—though she didn't used to be that way. All I really want is a port to sail to so I can decide where to go next."
"So, Eleanor used to be like you?" She could not read the look on his fact, was he making fun of her?
She took a deep breath, "When Richard left her and went into hiding she was on her own. At first she was very uncertain, scared even, but Scott was there to help her and she knew a little about what her father did. It took time, but she figured it out, and even discovered that she was good at what she did—even better than her father. I never understood why he left her, what he thought she would do, but she persisted and didn't give up and it paid off. Then Vane killed her father and Hornigold had her arrested—that would take a lot out of anyone."
"And she'd received a death sentence," Woodes added, "I'm sure she was scared, maybe for the first time in her life?"
Cathy nodded. "She and I are, or were, a lot alike, only I never had the ruthless streak that she did. But she's changed, she's learned to let you take care of her, she needs you."
"But you don't need me to take care of you, too?"
"No, truly, but thank you for wanting to. When I ran away from home, away from my impending marriage, Flint appointed himself my caretaker. On my voyage here I had Gates and Billy Bones looking after me, too. I know what my brother is, believe me, but as his little sister, I couldn't ask for a better brother." She closed her eyes, was silent for a moment. "If it hadn't been for Lord Thomas Hamilton and his bitch wife," her eyes started to well with tears which he wiped away with a finger, "My brother's career had so much promise and it was gone in an instant. I asked Lord Ashe if I consented to go through with the wedding, would he help my brother, but he said no. And to think they were once friends!"
"And so you ran and came to Nassau."
"Yes, I did, but my world was shattered and Eleanor helped me put it back together. I had my brother back—mostly—Richard Guthrie had taken a shine to me and I went to work for him. Eleanor didn't have much of an education, but I'd been convent educated and James was always giving books to read. It's kind of a tipsy life, but I had a place where I felt like I belonged. Now I don't know where I fit in, so I'm leaving. I like the idea of hiding out in Port Royal for a month or two, then sailing to Europe. Maybe Paris, maybe Rome. Anywhere but here and all my memories."
She hadn't mention Vane, and he was grateful. Neither she nor Eleanor had said much about him. How two such exquisitely beautiful women had been caught up in the web of Charles Vane was beyond him. If he was curious, he could ask, but he found himself not wanting to know.
He stood up, held out his hand and she took his, allowing him to help her stand. "Cathy, I do need for you to leave. I don't think I could remain faithful to Eleanor if you're around, you are far too much of a temptation. I can get you on a ship to Port Royal next week. I'll give you letters of introduction, I'm sure that once they meet you, no party will be considered complete if you're not there. But you must stay away from your brother or any of the other pirates that haunt Nassau, I can't guarantee your safety if you don't."
So that's what he wants, she thought, get me away from Nassau and him. If Billy can't find a way for me to see Flint, I'll do exactly as he suggests. She took his face in her hands and kissed him gently. She smiled and patted his cheek.
Suddenly she desired to see Paris and see the handsome French privateer. She sighed remembering his hands and how it felt when he loved her. She'd run away from him once, but maybe she'd get a second chance.
She brushed the sand from her skirt. "I wish we could do this more, but you're right, this has to be the last time. In spite of our differences, we would have made a good match. I don't have Eleanor's business acumen, but I do well with people. Ruby says it's a gift I have."
"Ruby Marie? Who is that?"
"She's the old obeah woman who sells her herbs and charms in the market. She was the one I got the herbs from to treat your fever. Make sure your soldiers treat her well, she's an asset, she's canny, she knows everyone in Nassau, and she can cure just about anything. She never cared much for Charles, but told me she wasn't worried about me, that I'd see through him in time. She was born in Dahomey, that's where the most powerful witch doctors come from. That's what she told me anyway." She shrugged her shoulders.
"Then she's the one I have to thank for my recovery?" he asked.
"Yes, and Eleanor for having the good sense to listen to me and use the herbs I brought for you. Ruby's the best midwife on the island, too. We're lucky to have her."
He stood and took her in his arms one last time, and kissed her. "I wish it had been you, Cathy, I don't think I'd ever be sad around you." He lifted her on her horse, and she rode away. He watched and wondered if he'd ever see her again.
Cathy rode at top speed back to Nassau. She handed Naya impatiently over to the groom, then went to the house where Billy had been hiding out. She sat at the table, idly leafing through sheets of paper, reading a little of one, setting down another.
"Cathy!" he kissed her affectionately, "I don't suppose you have something useful to tell me?"
"No, except that Woodes Rogers almost expressed his undying love for me. That could be a good thing for us, but he'd only be disappointed in me. He's book passage for me to Port Royal, I'm to sail next week. He's going to send some letters of introduction with me, so that may come in handy. Is there any word from my brother?"
"No, he's staying on the island with the maroons. I guess Silver has fallen in love with one of the girls, very lovely she is, the daughter of the queen." He looked at her intently to see if this elicited any jealousy.
If so, he was disappointed. "Someone should tell her not to trust him. Maybe she'll make an honest man of him, but I think he'll always have a roving eye. I want to see my brother, Billy, I don't know when I'll have a chance to see him again. I'm going to Europe from Port Royal, maybe with a stop in Boston, depending on which ship I sail on. I miss him, Billy, I don't want to take any unnecessary chances, but I miss him."
"Billy, I don't want to give Flint away, and I know we're being watched, but I want to see him. Could someone take me there at night? I may not see him for a very long time, and I know that Flint's a bastard, but he's my brother and I love him." An idea came to her, "How closely are they watching the Pearl? If we sailed from there would anybody notice?"
He shook his head, "I don't know. Why don't you go up to the brothel and have a bath like you normally do in the morning? And while you're there, see if you can find out any news? You're a pretty girl, men get loose-tongued around pretty girls."
"Before Max reins them in. I'm sure she only has her loyal girls servicing the soldiers. If I hear anything I'll let you know, but I imagine Idella can find out more than me. Is Max on to her, do you think? It's hard to keep secrets in a place like Nassau, and I'd hate to see her swinging from a noose."
As was her habit these days, Max was busy so Idella took care of Cathy's bath. "Tell me, Idella," she asked her, "How closely do they watch people coming to and from the island? I want to see my brother, but I don't want anyone to follow me or hinder me from leaving. I'm going to take ship to Port Royal next week, and I don't have much time."
"I don't know," she answered softly, "There was a group of slaves that attempted to escape, and they were shot before their boat even got in the water. You want to go that badly, have Billy take care of it. He's keeping a close eye on things these days. You want to leave, you let Billy help you."
But what if Billy won't? She thought. Billy had stepped into Flint's shoes and taken on the role of her caretaker. But she didn't need one, what she needed was to see her brother before she left. She didn't know how long she'd stay in Europe, and she couldn't bear to not have a chance to say goodbye.
She and Billy made love that night, and she went to sleep curled up on his arms. Feeling safe, as he'd always made her feel. So she wasn't prepared for him shaking her awake, holding a lantern so it shone in her face.
"Cathy, we must hurry. I'm taking you so see your brother."