Richard Castle and the USS Santa Barbara
By
UCSBdad
Disclaimer: Except for the true parts, this is fiction. Rating: K, mostly. Time: The turn of the 20th Century.
As an upper middle-class family, Kate's family had had a maid who doubled as a cook, but she had never had such a large, well-furnished house, and certainly had never had four servants to herself. General Rios felt it was quite normal and Kate took the unaccustomed luxury with good grace.
"Maria, once I am settled in, I should like to take a bath. Is there a bathtub and hot water available?"
"Si, Dona Caterina, there is a cast iron tub upstairs and Alfonso and Jorge can start heating the water now."
Once the bath was ready, Kate stripped and slipped into the bath tub. She had not enjoyed the showers aboard ship, largely because she found the salt water soap to be more abrasive than she was used to and it lacked any aroma.
She luxuriated in the tub until the water became lukewarm, using her own lilac soap and cherry flavored shampoo. Then she got out of the bath to dry herself off. When she was done, she looked in the mirror on the back of the door.
"I suppose I am rather pretty." She said softly.
She examined herself more closely. She had rather small breasts, and she found it odd that men would like very large ones. Her waist was narrow which was good as she refused to wear a corset to give her the hour glass figure that so many women preferred. She thought her legs were nice and her derriere was nicely rounded.
Not that anyone has really ever seen them. She thought.
Like many middle-class women of the time, she had practically no experience with men. When she was younger her mother had explained sex to her, but she wasn't sure she understood what it was really all about.
She had been kissed three times. Once by a boy in high school who snuck up on her and literally stole a kiss, and twice in college when she'd been lured under a sprig of mistletoe at Christmas time. She had found her physical reactions to the last two kisses to be…unsettling and oddly exciting.
Because of the heat and humidity of the Philippines, she wore less than most women. She wore no stocking, nor petticoats, but only a pair of drawers and a chemise. Both were made of silk, which she found was comparatively inexpensive in Asia and seamstresses were extremely cheap. She usually wore a white dress that buttoned up the front, with short sleeves and an open neck. She did have several blouses and skirts, mainly white or other light colors.
The next day Kate began teaching the local children. None spoke any English and few understood her Spanish, but she taught them English and they, in turn, taught her Cebuan, the local language.
USS Santa Barbara
South China Sea
March 19, 1899.
"Any news from the fisherman?" Castle asked Lieutenant Franklin.
"Just that the tuna are running. I bought three for the wardroom mess and I believe Montgomery got a few for you, although he may be planning to trade them. You have a refrigerator, after all. "
Castle laughed.
"Rank hath its privileges you know."
"And the fisherman said they haven't seen hide nor hair of any Moros in weeks. They seem to have gotten the message that dealing with the US Navy is a lot different than dealing with the Spanish."
They were interrupted by a whistle from the speaking tube there on the bridge.
"Bridge, this is Captain Castle."
"Lookout, sir. There's heavy smoke to the east. About seventy degrees off the starboard bow. Someone is in a hurry. Could be a steamer trying to outrun some Moros."
"Very good. Keep the bridge informed."
Castle stepped out onto the bridge wing and looked at the horizon. All he could see was black coal smoke rising in the air.
"The Moros have taken steamships before, I believe." He said. "'We'll have a look. Helmsman, come starboard and steer… "Castle took a quick look at the compass. "About 100 degrees. That should do it."
In another ten minutes, the lookout called the bridge again.
"Sir, there's a half a dozen Moro proas running from the ship we're seeing the smoke from. I can't make out the ship, but she's painted grey and bound to be a naval vessel of some kind."
When the Moros saw the Santa Barbara, they split up, figuring that two-ships wouldn't be able to catch them all.
"Mr. Franklin, the other naval ship is heading south so we'll go north. We should be able to get at least two of the bastards before the sun sets."
That was not to be. The three forward five-inch guns opened up at a range of some two miles and repeatedly straddled the Moro craft, but couldn't seem to hit her. Finally, they came within range of the 57mm and one pounder guns and finally blew the small ship apart. By that time the two other ships were disappearing into the gathering dusk.
"Bridge, this is the lookout. There are ship's lights coming this way. I'm not sure but I think she's a Limey. She looks like a Redbreast class gunboat, sir. Probably HMS Redpole from the China Station."
"Thank you." Castle said and turned to Franklin. "Let's hope Her Majesty's Navy had better luck than we did.
The two ships sailed within hailing distance of each other. An officer came out onto the bridge wing of the Royal Navy ship and hailed Santa Barbara.
"What ship?"
"USS Santa Barbara, Captain Richard Castle. What ship are you?"
"HMS Redpole, Captain the Honorable George Nicholson. Did you have any luck?"
"No. We only got one of the Moros' ships. How did you do?"
"Worse. The old girl's engines aren't in the best of shape and we burst a steampipe trying to catch them. We didn't get a one. I say, is that the Spanish Santa Barbara?"
"It used to be, but now it's a US Navy ship. But she's British built and a good ship."
"A bloody sight better than this old crock, but we do what we must."
"Do you know where we might coal? We have barely enough to get us back to our base. We've been out chasing Moros since January and have only managed to get infrequent deliveries of coal."
"Sorry old boy, but there's no coal at a British port closer than Hong Kong for love nor money."
"Thanks, and good hunting."
"Same to you, old boy."
The two ships separated and went on their separate ways.
"There's no coal for us any closer than Marviles City, so we should head for there at our best economical speed. Make it so, Mr. Franklin."
Marviles City
March 25, 1899.
Kate was just finishing dinner when young Jorge came running in.
"Missy Kate, the Santa Barbara come back. Everyone is excited."
"I'm sure they are, Jorge, but I'm having dinner and it'll take some time for the ship to berth and for everyone to get off. But, I need to see Captain Castle tomorrow."
Meanwhile, Castle had reported to the now Governor of the Marviles Archipelago, Governor Diosdado Rios.
"Captain Castle, it is so good to see you. Please join us, I was about to dine with Major Esposito and Captain Ryan. And I have several telegrams for you."
"I'd be happy to join you, sir. And we're getting telegrams now?"
"Yes. An undersea cable has been laid from Manila to our little town. It's amazing. News that used to take months to reach us now arrives in minutes. But, come. Eat with us."
Castle greeted newly promoted Major Esposito and Captain Ryan.
"We've heard many good things about you, Captain Castle." Esposito said with a smile. "You've been chasing the Moros all over the South China Sea."
"Aye, "Ryan added, "and I and my poor battalion have been using tiny native boats to get about the islands. I'll be mighty happy when we can sail on the Santa Barbara again."
"I fear you may have to wait, Captain. I have a telegram for Captain Castle from the naval headquarters in Manila." Rios went to the sideboard and took three telegrams out. "The others are matters of routine, I fear the top one is not."
Castle quickly read the telegram, frowning as he did so.
"What is it?" Ryan asked.
"The collier USS Jupiter which was loaded with coal for Manila and the squadron here, had an engine breakdown off of Brazil. She had to be towed back to Newport News. A hired merchant ship, SS Dunmoore was then loaded with coal for us, and she ran aground in the Bahamas. Another merchant ship was hired and sailed from San Francisco. She ran aground in Hawaii. We then tried to buy coal in Hong Kong. Our consul in Hong Kong, a Mr. Huntington, is even more incompetent than when I last dealt with him. He has no idea where the coal he bought is, nor the ship he chartered to bring it to Manila. I've been ordered to take the Santa Barbara to Hong Kong to straighten this out."
"We have enough coal to get you to Manila, "Rios said, "but not enough to get you to Hong Kong."
Castle sighed. More problems.
"Then I'll have to go to Manila to load coal. But the ship has been worked hard for the last few months and we need to do a bit of work on her. I'll telegraph naval headquarters that it'll take a couple of days to get us ready to head for Manila."
The next morning, with the sound of paint being chipped and tools being used on machinery filling the ship, there was a soft knock on Castle's door.
"Come in."
He looked up to see a very welcome figure in the doorway.
"Miss Beckett, how are you?"
"Fine, thank you, Captain Castle. Might I have a word with you?"
"Certainly. Come in and sit down. Would you like some lemonade? Petty Officer Montgomery always has plenty."
"Yes, thank you."
"Petty Officer Montgomery, if you could…" Castle began.
"Yes, sir. I heard what you said."
In less than a minute they were both drinking ice cold lemonade. Kate spoke.
"I understand you're taking the Santa Barbara to Manila?"
"Yes. Is there a problem here?"
"Just the opposite. The school is a great success. I have four times as many students than I had anticipated. I've had to hire two young Filipina ladies to assist me, but I'm short of school books and I'm totally out of many things such as paper and pencils, chalk and whatnot. I've been telegraphing Manila for three weeks and I can't find anyone there who'll admit to being in charge of getting my supplies. I'm at my wits end and all I can think to do is to go there and make myself a nuisance until I get what I need. Could I go with you?"
"Of course, Miss Beckett. We'll be leaving the day after tomorrow. I'll ask Lieutenant Franklin to move again and you can have his cabin."
"Thank you so much, and if I may impose on you further, could I have my meals with you? The officers in the wardroom are usually nice, but they can be a bit…rambunctious."
Castle knew that she meant they could be loud and occasionally rude.
"Of course. Petty Officer Montgomery…"
"I heard, sir. With your permission I'll go ashore and buy a few things that I know the lady likes."
"Of course."
USS Santa Barbara
Manila, Philippines
March 30, 1899.
Castle had sent Miss Beckett into Manila with Seaman Orlovsky as an escort and after seeing them off, he spotted Captain Waller headed for the Santa Barbara.
"Good day, sir." Castle said.
"Not really." Waller growled. "Shall we go to your cabin?"
Once in his cabin, Castle ordered lemonade from Montgomery. That seemed to cheer Waller up a bit.
TBC