Pirate's Pleasure Chapter 4

Adrift

Deke searched the yacht for Leslie, calling out for her. "Leslie, if that's your real name. Come out, right now!" He yelled. As he came closer to the area where the lifeboat should be hanging, he noticed that it was gone. He ran to the stern, turned on a huge searchlight and began to search the rough seas.

When Sydney saw the light come on, her heart sank. She knew that they couldn't be found by Deke. He would kill them both for certain and Gage was in no shape to defend himself.

She picked up the small paddles and began to fight the rough currents, pulling them away from the reaches of the search light.

"They have to be out there somewhere." Deke thought as he cranked up the engines of the "Pirate's Pleasure" and trolled the waters. The searchlight still was unable to spot them.

As Deke was preparing to intensify his search, the radio onboard began to crackle. "This is . . . U.S. . . . Guard. Please . . . position. Repeat . . . "Pirates Ple . . . coordinates."

"What the?" Deke said as he heard the garbled message. He looked upward and saw that the mast had been struck. He knew that the radio reception had been damaged, but still he was pretty sure of the partial message he was hearing. "That bitch! She got a message out while we were fighting." He suddenly realized. "I've got to get out of here." He gave the engines full power and began to push forward towards the incoming hurricane.

Sydney breathed a slight sigh of relief when she saw the yacht pull away. "Thank God." She said aloud.

"What's going on?" Gage whispered.

"Shh. It's nothing for you to worry about." Sydney replied calmly as she carefully lifted his head onto her lap. "Is that better?"

He nodded shakily and then passed out again.

Sydney fought to keep her tears from flowing. She stroked his cheek as she looked around them. The darkness was beginning to give way to a slight bit of daylight, but they were definitely in the outer edges of the incoming hurricane. She only hoped that the winds and rain wouldn't pick up until the Coast Guard rescued them.

******

Walker was talking to Alex when Trivette's phone rang. "Ranger Trivette." He answered.

"Ranger Trivette, this is Captain Holcomb onboard the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter 'Seahawk'. May I speak with Ranger Walker?"

"Just a moment." He cupped his hand over the receiver and turned to Walker. "Walker, it's the U.S. Coast Guard."

"Alex, I have to go. I'll call you back." He hung up before Alex had a chance to answer him.

"Ranger Walker." He answered.

"Ranger Walker, this is Captain Holcomb onboard the U.S. Coastguard Cutter 'Seahawk'. We received a distress call from a Ranger Cooke at approximately 0500. She said that she was onboard the "Pirate's Pleasure" and that she and her partner were working a case. Do you know Ranger Cooke?"

"Yes. She and her partner Ranger Gage are two of my best. What's going on Captain?"

"Ranger Cooke said that the Captain of the "Pirate's Pleasure" had killed another man onboard and that he and her partner were fighting as she spoke. She gave us a partial coordinates before the line went dead."

"Partial?"

"Ranger, we're in the middle of one heck of a storm out here. We're following the information that Ranger Cooke gave us, but we've also tried to raise the "Pirate's Pleasure" on the radio and can't get a response. We just thought you should be brought up to speed."

"Thank you Captain. Please keep us informed of your findings."

"You've got it Ranger Walker."

Walker hung up the phone, a look of anguish on his face.

"What's wrong?" Trivette asked.

"The Coast Guard received a distress call from Sydney and now they can't raise the yacht on the radio."

"Could be the storm."

"Yeah, it could be, but something's telling me that it isn't."

*******

Gage's unconscious mind began to drift to the open seas of days gone by. He found himself on the vessel of Captain Jean Lafitte and his brother Pierre. They were quickly approaching a French cargo ship and were planning to take it over. "Captain Lafitte, we are within cannon distance." A shout came from below.

"Not yet. We will not fire first. Let's see what she has." Came the reply.

"Aye Aye Captain."

Gage saw a man who looked much like himself, standing beside Captain Lafitte. "Francois Bouchard." The Captain addressed him.

"Aye Captain." He responded with a French accent.

"Prepare the men to board the ship when we are closer."

"Aye." Bouchard left the stern and gathered a group of twenty, rough looking men around him. "Men, we are to prepare to board the French vessel once we have come along side her."

"Even you, Frenchie?" One of the men shouted.

"Come up here." He called out to the mouthy man. The man didn't hesitate to join Bouchard atop the crates. "Aye."

"You dare to question my loyalty to Captain Lafitte?" He asked as he twisted the man's arm behind him.

"Ya are French, aren't ya?" The man growled, obviously in pain.

"That I am, but I am also a member of Lafitte's crew and would do nothing disloyal to him. Do I make myself clear?"

"Crystal." The man replied roughly as Bouchard released him.

"Bouchard!" Pierre Lafitte shouted from the upper deck. "We are within 20 yards."

"Aye. The men are ready." He announced as each man drew their weapon and positioned themselves on the edge of the ship's starboard side.

"Prepare to board." Jean Lafitte announced.

Suddenly the crew of the French cargo ship rose up from behind her deck walls and opened fire on the crew of Lafitte's ship.

"FIRE!" Bouchard ordered and the men began returning fire. The battle lasted for twenty minutes before the remaining crew of the French vessel surrendered.

Lafitte's crew finished boarding the ship and pilfered through her cargo finding a large sum of gold bars and many exotic types of linen. "These should all bring a good price." Bouchard stated upon seeing the luxurious items.

"Right you are, my boy, right you are." Lafitte patted his back.

Captain Lafitte returned to his ship, leaving Bouchard and his men to pack the cargo and prepare to carry it across to his ship. Suddenly, Bouchard turned and shouted back to the Captain. "Sir, what of the crew?"

"How many are left?" Lafitte yelled down.

"Twenty or so."

"Look them over and bring aboard the uninjured."

"Aye, Aye Captain." Bouchard replied as he boarded the French ship and began sorting through the remaining crewmen.

After careful examination of the men, all twenty were brought aboard Lafitte's vessel. Bouchard continued to search all of the quarters below deck. He had almost completed his search when he heard a muffled scream from the Captain's quarters.

Upon flinging open the door, Bouchard found himself face to face with the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on. She looked suspiciously like Sydney in Gage's mind. She wore only a petticoat; her long black hair lay in tiny ringlet curls on her shoulder. A handkerchief served as a gag and her hands were tied to the bed railings.

Bouchard quickly removed the gag. "Who are you and why are you here?" He questioned.

"I am Josephine Dupree." She replied quietly. "Would you be so kind as to untie me?"

"Mademoiselle, I am to take you captive along with the remaining crew of this ship."

Josephine began to cry. "No, please! Not again! Captain Norse took me from my home in Paris last year. He has held me onboard this God forsaken ship all this time. Please sir! Please! You look to be such a kind man, don't let your face be a lie."

Bouchard melted at the sound of her voice. Her delicate French accent reminded him of his homeland, which he hadn't seen in years. "Josephine, my name is François Bouchard and I serve on Captain Lafitte's vessel. I might be in a position to keep you for myself, but I must speak with the Captain first. I will take you to the Captain with me and then directly to my quarters if he approves.

Josephine nodded her head in agreement. "Oui Monsieur and thank you."

Bouchard gently untied the ropes binding Josephine to the bed and then placed her hands in front of her. "I am sorry for this Mademoiselle, but if I tried to take you aboard with no bindings, I'd be punished myself." He tied her hands together in front of her and before leading her up top placed his jacket around her shoulders, somewhat hiding her ample breasts. They then crossed the boarding plank to Lafitte's ship.

"Captain Lafitte, permission to approach the upper deck with a prisoner."

"Permission granted." Lafitte shouted back without looked to see Bouchard boarding the ship with a woman. The crew let out whistles and made many vulgar gestures as he led the captive Josephine to the helm.

"Captain Lafitte." Bouchard announced.

Lafitte turned and faced Bouchard, his eyes immediately falling on Josephine. "Who is this woman and why is she aboard my ship?"

"Captain Norse took her captive last year. I found her in his quarters bound and gagged."

"And you brought her aboard my ship?"

"What would you have me do Captain, leave her on the French vessel alone to die?" Bouchard challenged.

"Twould be better than what's most likely going to happen to her onboard this ship." The captain replied.

"I'll keep her in my quarters." Bouchard started, causing Captain Lafitte to lift his eyebrows.

"You want this wench for yourself do you?"

Bouchard nodded. "Aye Captain. No one else on board needs to go near her."

"Bouchard, I like you a lot. If I didn't, I would never agree to this, but I'll allow it this one time."

A huge smile spread across Bouchard's face as he led Josephine down the steps and past the crewmen to his quarters below. Once there, he untied her hands and led her to the bed.

"So, now you want from me what Norse wanted?" She asked.

"Only if it's what you want Josephine." Bouchard answered. "For now, I want you to rest. I will lock my door when I leave and it will not open from either side without this key." He held up a key for her to see and then returned it to his pocket for safekeeping. "I will bring you something from the galley in a minute and then I will be gone for the rest of the night. It's my watch."

She nodded and laid down on the cot, hearing the door lock behind Bouchard, for the moment, she felt safe.

It didn't take long for Josephine to fall asleep in the comfortably soft bed. Bouchard returned with a plate of food for her, but upon seeing her sleeping so contently he decided to just leave it on the table beside the bed. "When she wakes, she'll be hungry." He thought as he leaned down and ever so gently kissed her soft cheek.

All of the cargo from the French ship was transferred to Lafitte's ship and once all hands were back on board, Lafitte pulled the ship out into the open sea.

It was Bouchard's turn for duty in the "Crow's nest" a small bucket mounted at the top of the tallest mast of the ship. He climbed the ropes and positioned himself inside the bucket, ready to keep watch for the night for any opposing ships or storms that they may run upon.

In the pre-dawn sky of the next morning, Bouchard looked towards the south, the direction the ship was headed. They were approaching what appeared to be a violent storm. He shouted down to the deckhands. "Storm on the horizon!"

"Storm on the horizon! Storm on the horizon!" Began to echo across the ship's decks until it reached the ears of Captain Lafitte.

He reached for his scope and looked towards the south. There he could see distant lightening and darkened skies. "Prepare for the storm!" He shouted from the helm.

"Prepare for the storm!" Began to echo back across the deck and the hands began to tie down all loose items and put what they could below.

As François continued to watch the storm, a bolt of lightening struck dangerously close to the ship's mast.

"Bouchard, you can come down now!" Captain Lafitte shouted.

Bouchard certainly didn't have to hear that order twice. He was down from the "Crow's nest" like a light and on the deck of the ship.

"Get your men down below." Pierre ordered as he and several men left the deck.

"Yes sir." Bouchard replied and then called out to his men. "Down below, men! Down below!" The men quickly scattered towards the stairwells at either end of the ship. Some went straight to their quarters while others went to the galley.

"Captain Lafitte, what is our position?" Bouchard yelled as he joined the Captain at the helm.

The rain was beating down on them and the sky was fierce with lightening and thunder as Lafitte gave him their coordinates while the winds began to pick up and blow them further and further off course.

********

Sydney held Gage closer as he began to mumble unintelligible sounds. He was hot to the touch and she knew that he desperately needed medical attention soon. The rain was beating down on them now. The lightweight tent-like covering that had once offered them a little shelter had been torn apart by the fierce winds that came just before the rain. The storm was moving in much faster and the counterclockwise currents were beginning to suck them into the hurricane instead of pushing them away from it.

Sydney lightly ran her fingers through Gage's hair as his head continued to lay motionless on her lap. The waves were getting higher and she knew that their chances of being found were getting slimmer and slimmer.

She looked down at Gage and began to speak softly. "I love you. I know I've never really told you that, not the way I should have. You're an incredible man and you've come through such incredible odds. I can't imagine life without you Gage." She lowered her head and softly kissed his cheek and then looked up as thunder boomed in the darkness and multiple bolts of lightening lit up the sky.

*****

The sky was darker that Bouchard could ever remember seeing it. He could hear the angry waves lapping against the hull of the ship as it rocked them back and forth with tremendous force. The sails had been lowered so the wind wouldn't drive them further out. Now they were at the mercy of the storm.

"Bouchard, come and take the helm. I'm going to my quarters for a while. If you need me, send for me."

"Aye Captain." Bouchard replied as he stepped up to the helm and took hold of the stern.

Captain Lafitte started towards the galley, but as he neared Bouchard's cabin, he thought of the beautiful Josephine, alone in the storm. It had been months since he had felt a woman near him. He stopped and thought about this wench that Bouchard had brought aboard. "She's fair game." He thought to himself as he realized how badly he longed to feel this woman near him.

Lafitte pulled out his master key and made his way to Bouchard's door. Upon hearing the lock in the door, Josephine sat up, knowing that it would be François coming back. Even in the darkness, she could tell that the man who entered the cabin was not Bouchard. His smell was more musky and his breathing heavier.

"Who's there?" She called out.

A pair of hands reached for her and held her shoulders down as a bearded face began to brush against her smooth skin. She started to scream but was silenced by Lafitte's tongue being thrust inside her mouth.

Without warning, Lafitte found himself flung against the wall, away from Josephine. He didn't need a lamp to know who would dare to take him on. "Bouchard!" He yelled.

"Captain? I would have never expected this behavior from you."

"Trust no one Bouchard. If you have learned nothing else from me in all of your time on my ship. Remember, trust no one." Lafitte stated as he made a lunge towards Bouchard in the darkness.

Bouchard sensed Lafitte's move and deflected his punch while pulling out his sword. He brandished his sword in Lafitte's face, the lightening from the storm flashing through the small porthole causing the fierce weapon to gleam.

"Are you certain you wish to do this, boy?" Lafitte asked as he too drew his sword.

"There is no other way Captain. You have betrayed me."

"And you have drawn your sword on your Captain. You know that you can no longer serve on my ship." Lafitte said as their swords clashed for the first time.

"I don't wish to continue to serve on your ship. You, my Captain, are a liar." Bouchard crossed swords with Lafitte again and again. The clanking of metal brought all of the deckhands to Bouchard's cabin door. They began placing bets on who would win the battle.

The wind continued to rock the ship violently, but the sword fight continued on. Josephine pulled her legs underneath her on Bouchard's bed and moved as close to the wall as possible.

"Who is guiding the ship?" One of the deckhands asked.

"I'll see." Another answered. Seconds later he returned. "Pierre is at the helm. The waves are about to overtake us!" He yelled.

Lafitte and Bouchard's swords met again and they held them there crossed, staring deeply into each other's eyes. "Truce for now?" Bouchard asked.

Lafitte nodded. "For now, but this is far from over Bouchard. If the ship was not at stake, you would not be living through the night."

"Nor would you Captain. Nor would you." Bouchard replied as both men returned their swords to their sheaths.

Bouchard turned to Josephine. "Are you alright?" He asked quietly.

She nodded, wanting to have his arms around her, but still not certain if she trusted him or not.

"Mon chérie, as soon as we are out of this storm and into port, we will leave here together. I cannot continue to serve under Captain Lafitte knowing what he intended to do to you." Bouchard looked down as he talked to her.

"Thank you François. I will go with you." She replied, still not moving.

Bouchard nodded and turned to leave. "I will lock the door again. I didn't realize that Captain Lafitte had a master key. I'll try to keep an eye on him so he doesn't bother you again."

She slightly smiled and nodded.

Up top, the deckhands were all too busy bailing water to notice Bouchard. He headed straight for the helm. "Where do you want me Lafitte?"

"Off of my ship, preferable. But for now, get up in the 'Crow's nest'."

Bouchard stared at the Captain for a moment. The winds were thrashing the ship from side to side and the last place he wanted to be was in the 'Crow's nest'. "The 'Crow's nest'? You must be kidding!" Bouchard exclaimed. "Even if I survive the climb on these wet ropes, you know that no one could stay up there in these winds!"

Lafitte pulled his gun and pointed it at Bouchard. "CLIMB!" He ordered.

Josephine pilfered through Bouchard's closet until she found a shirt and a pair of pants and traded her petticoat for the manly clothing, cinching the shirt at her waist with a wide black leather belt. She then carefully tucked her long curls into a red bandana and tied it around her head.

Looking around the room, she spotted the items to complete her ensemble. She picked up Bouchard's pistol and dagger, tucking them both inside the belt. She then pulled a single hairpin from her hair and picked the lock on the door. In minutes, she had the door open.

Rain and sea spray stung her face as she set her bare feet on the wooden deck. The men were all still busy making sure that the ship stayed afloat. They didn't even notice her on deck.

From where she stood, she could hear Lafitte and Bouchard arguing. She watched in horror as Lafitte pulled his gun on Bouchard, ordering him up into the 'Crow's nest.

Quickly, she made her way behind Lafitte. Bouchard could hardly believe his eyes when he saw her. Despite his current situation, he found himself trying to stifle a laugh at the very sight of the beautiful Josephine dressed in his clothes.

"Now Bouchard! Climb up now!" Lafitte demanded, waving the gun at him.

Josephine stepped up behind Lafitte and shoved her pistol into his back. "Drop your weapon Captain." She ordered with enough vigor to rival any man on board.

"What is this?" Lafitte questioned with a growl as he let his gun fall to the deck.

"This is where I leave you, Captain!" She announced. "François, tie him up!"

"Oui chérie." He picked up a nearby rope and began to tie Lafitte to the mast.

"Hurry François. The others will be coming to assist the Captain!" As these words left her mouth a group of deckhands rushed towards them from the stern and another group from the bow.

Bouchard and Josephine looked at each other for a moment and then Josephine expertly drew the dagger from her belt to accompany her gun. As she did this Bouchard pulled his sword and pistol from his belt.

When the angry mob of men reached them, they began their attack. A man made a dive for Josephine with his sword drawn. She stepped aside as he grew closer and he hit the deck, landing on his own sword, killing him instantly. Josephine kicked his body over with her foot and retrieved his sword, giving her a more even arsenal against the men. One by one Josephine and Bouchard picked them off, leaving dead and dying men scattered all over, the cold, driving, rain pouring down on them.

Bouchard surveyed the men still standing. He knew just by looking at them that he and Josephine would never make it off of the ship alive if they didn't take matters into their own hands. As he fought off two attackers simultaneously, he turned to Josephine. "The boat Jo." He motioned towards the smaller boats hanging over the side of the ship. "As soon as we have opportunity." He yelled. She nodded in understanding.

They both continued to fight the advancing crowd. Josephine made a run for the boat and began to lower it. Bouchard started towards the edge, but was stopped short by Pierce. "Where do you think you're going?"

"Ah, Pierre. Here to assist your brother?"

"My brother, for whatever reason, took a liking to you, but I have never shared his sentiment. It is time for you to die, Bouchard." Pierre lunged at Bouchard with his sword. Bouchard easily dodged the attack and pulled his own sword to defend himself.

Pierre, an expert swordsman, quickly unarmed Bouchard and once again lunged towards him with his sword. Bouchard, once again dodged the sharp edge. He looked up and grabbed a rigging rope above his head. Gaining enough of a push off from the deck, he swung towards the edge of the ship, high above the heads of the crew. Once at the edge, he let go and landed beside the railing of the ship.

Pierre in the meantime had pulled his pistol and was aiming at the spot where Bouchard landed. As Bouchard let go of the rope, Pierre fired! The bullet struck Bouchard in the side with enough force to carry him over the edge of the ship's railings.

Josephine had the smaller boat in the water and watched as Bouchard fell towards the rough seas, seemingly in slow motion. She paddled the boat to the spot where the sea had swallowed him and without thought for her own safety, dove in.

The waves crashed around her as she forced herself into a diving position for the third time. As she went down, Bouchard was coming up, fighting his way to the surface, and desperately needing air.

Josephine grabbed his arm and helped him towards the surface. When they broke through the surf, Bouchard gasped for air. Josephine looked around for the boat and finally spotted it several yards away from them. "We must swim for it François!" She yelled.

He knew he had to force his arms and legs into motion. His body was beginning to throb from the gunshot wound he had suffered to his side, but somehow, with Josephine's prodding, he made it to the boat and she struggled to drag him in.

He lay on the floor of the boat, the rain beating down on him relentlessly. "Francios?" Josephine called out to him. "Are we safe from Lafitte here?"

He lifted his head and could see the Pirate, Jean Lafitte's ship heading away from them in the distance. "He won't turn back." Bouchard said quietly.

"Have you any idea where we are?" Josephine asked.

"No." He said quietly, still holding his side. "We've been blown way off course and there's really no way of knowing where we are until we get out of this storm."

Josephine cradled his head on her lap. "François, I do not know why I trust you so, but I do. I feel that you intend me no harm, if anything, you desire to protect me."

"Protect you? Jo, back there on the ship, nothing could have surprised me more than when I saw you dressed in my clothes, pointing a gun at Lafitte."

"My name is Josephine, not Jo." She raised her eyebrows along with her voice in a reprimanding tone.

"I'll try to remember that." Bouchard replied, gritting his teeth against the pain of the gunshot wound.

"Is it bad?" Josephine asked.

"Well, it sure isn't good."

She took the bandana from her head and stuffed it inside the wound to help stop the bleeding. Hopefully, they would be out of this storm and on dry land soon.

END CHAPTER 4