Usual disclaimers... darn!

Apologies for the delay in updating – between holidays and Mul being busy we couldn't edit!

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Chapter 13 Archibald Hughes

"Alright, alright Daffodil! Give it a rest will you!" Bessie cursed the cat as she sinuously twined about her feet. "If you have me over then there'll be no fish at all!" Checking her purse, she added a few more shillings from the bag that Jack had left in the hope that the man selling fruit would be at the market again. She picked up her basket. "Patience!" she laughed as Daffodil meowed again. "You'd try the patience of a Saint you would! I'll be back soon!" She straightened, feeling her stomach move. "We'll be back soon," she amended, unlocking the door and...

Crash!

The door burst open and Bessie found herself flat on her back on the floor, staring upwards in horror at the man. His face was split from left eye to chin with a jagged scar and, from years of running, her mind instantly screamed pirate! His words confirmed her judgement.

"Where's the map!" he demanded, his scar giving him a permanent sneer.

"I don't have the map," she pleaded, scrambling backwards away from him. "I've never had the map!"

He lunged at her, grabbing her wrist and slapping her face hard as he pulled her to her feet. "Don't lie to me you stupid bitch!"

Her face stung and her eyes filled with tears. "Please," she begged. "I don't know anything about the map..."

He pulled her to him, his hand grasping her neck and squeezing as he drew his pistol. "You and me are going to take a little walk to refresh your memory," he grinned. "And if that doesn't help you can spend some time in my brig until you remember!"

"Please..." she sobbed, her hands trying to protect her stomach. "I don't know where it is!"

He twisted her around in his grasp, holding firmly onto her arm. She paled, hearing him cock it. "You will walk nicely with me down to the docks, won't you?" he threatened, shoving his pistol into her side. "I don't want none of your tricks!"

Bessie shook with fear as he forced her back through the door, not noticing Daffodil as the cat sped out of the open door. "Wha..." She stumbled, tripping over her, the momentum carrying both her and the pirate down the stairs. Over and over she tumbled, banging her head hard on the stone floor as she landed. The pistol went off as the pirate landed on top of her, crushing her as the shot grazed her cheek. She lay there, stunned, her hands still trying to protect her stomach as she slipped in and out of consciousness.

"Damn!" Captain Hughes stared at the semi-conscious woman is disgust. She had cushioned his fall but now there was no way she could walk. He could hear people exclaiming about the shot and, cursing, realised the outer door was open. He dashed back up the stairs and climbed out of the rear window, fleeing across the rooftops until he was safely clear. "Damn the woman and damn her bloody cat!" he swore realising that he would have to return another day.

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The officer of the watch knocked politely at the door of the Turner household, relieved when Will opened it. "Yes?" he said cautiously.

"Is your wife in Sir?" the man asked.

"One moment," Will replied, puzzled. "Elizabeth!"

Elizabeth came to the door, carrying William in her arms. At nearly a year old he was already quite a weight and she handed him to Will. "Yes? Can I help you?"

"I don't know Mistress Turner," the officer said, looking embarrassed. "There has been a disturbance down near the docks, some claim a shot was fired and a pregnant woman has been injured. She has been asking for you." He cleared his throat, obviously embarrassed. "Why such a woman thought somebody of your standing would..."

"Oh my God!" Elizabeth gasped. "Bessie!" She turned to Will. "Take William to my father and come and find me as soon as you can..."

"You know this woman?" the officer said in disbelief.

"Take me to her now!" Elizabeth ordered, forcing the pace as she ran towards the docks. If Bessie had been hurt then Elizabeth was the only person she could call on in the whole of Port Royal.

Although she had never been there it was easy to see which home was Bessie's. A crowd of onlookers circled the door, peering through to look at the now unconscious woman. Nobody moved to help her. "God's judgement!" one man said, spitting on the ground before walking off.

Elizabeth barely restrained the urge to slap him, forcing her way through the crowd. A gasp escaped her lips. "Bessie!" She crouched down beside her, relieved to see that she was alive. Bessie groaned in pain as she felt her touch, slowly coming round - she had tried to move but having called for Elizabeth had blacked out again in agony. Elizabeth turned to the officer. "Fetch the doctor!" she ordered, looking worriedly as Bessie suddenly arched in pain. "And the midwife!"

"She can't afford them!" he snorted. "Why bother?"

"I will afford them if need be!" Elizabeth shouted, relieved she had Jack's pouch of money. "Now do as I asked!" Angrily she shut the outer door, blocking the view of the gawking townsfolk. "Bessie... Bessie..." She could not believe that nobody had tried to help her up - not even the officer. She was clearly hurt and in a great deal of pain. "Bessie, what happened?"

Bessie blinked, looking up, trying to focus on Elizabeth. "I fell," she evaded. "I just fell..."

"And the mark on your cheek?" Elizabeth pressed. Even to her untrained eye it was clearly the track of a shot... and the splintered wood on the bottom step confirmed her guess.

"Bumped my head... that's all..." Bessie lied.

"Well, let's get you back upstairs," Elizabeth offered, helping her to her feet. She swayed wildly but managed to stand.

"Wha..." Bessie's hands went to her stomach in horror, liquid puddling around her feet. "No!" she gasped, looking at Elizabeth in horror. "It's too early!"

"Upstairs! Now" Elizabeth urged, helping her struggle up the stairs and easing her down on the bed. "I've called for the midwife and doctor... they should be here soon..." She glanced out of the window, unable to see them. She fetched a tumbler of water and a damped a cloth to lay on her brow. "It'll be alright Bessie..." she assured her, although in her heart she knew otherwise.

Elizabeth glanced out of the window again. "Hurry!" she whispered, relieved to see the officer returning with a woman in tow. Footsteps hurried up the stairs and the officer knocked on the doorframe.

"The doctor refused to come," he apologised as the midwife dashed across to Bessie.

"Thank you anyway," Elizabeth sighed. "If you see my husband could you direct him here?" The officer nodded and left quickly, relieved to leave the problem to the two women.

"How long has she been like this?" the midwife asked worriedly as she checked Bessie as she cried in pain.

"Her waters broke at the bottom of the stairs... ten minutes or more?" Elizabeth guessed.

The midwife shook her head, guiding Elizabeth away from the bed. "You know it is too soon, don't you?" Elizabeth nodded. "Stay with her, guide her through it. If her waters have broken then I can do nothing..." She looked back at Bessie. "At least being this early she should pass the child with no problems."

"Thank you," Elizabeth sighed, reaching for her purse.

"Don't worry," the midwife replied, staying her hand. "I didn't do anything..." Quietly she let herself out, closing the door with a click behind her only to be nearly bowled over by Will dashing in the other direction.

"Bessie?" He looked at Elizabeth worriedly, but she forced him out of the door.

"Go find Jack!" she ordered. "He only left last night so he might still be at the cove..." Will glanced in alarm through the half-open door as Bessie cried aloud in pain, writhing in agony. "She's losing the baby," Elizabeth sighed. "I think she was attacked... there is a shot embedded in the bottom step..."

"Pirates?" Will frowned worriedly.

"Could it be anybody else?" Elizabeth reasoned. "She claims she fell, but I don't believe her - it has to be somebody after the map!"

Will looked at her in alarm. "Lock and bolt the door and I'll be back as soon as I can... answer it only to me!"

Elizabeth nodded, securing the door before watching him dash off out of the town. Hopefully Jack was still there for if not she did not know what to do.