A Hidden Queen

Chapter 30

Charlie's mouth waters as the cook slaps another helping onto his plate. Some may find him piggish going back for a second plate, but he couldn't care what others thought of him. He was a growing man after all. He grins. Charlie nods to the cook, squeezing his way through the scattered tables. He plops himself down on the bench, digging into his food with a vengeance. A moan leaves his body as his taste buds are overrun. He sighs contently, grabbing at his grog.

"Did you hear what happened topside?" Alex asks.

Charlie pauses. What happened topside? He thinks to himself. Did it have anything to do with that girl? Charlie tunes his ears to the conversation progressing behind him.

"Yeah, the damn brat threw something at the captain I heard." Grady remarks.

"What do you think happened?" Alex wonders.

"Maybe the captain tried to bed her and that was the results." Cuffy snickers.

"Who would want an unwilling whore like that?" Alex snips disgustedly.

"None. That's why she'll soon be ours to do what we want with." Cuffy jokes.

Charlie's grip on the metal cup tightens as the men roar in laughter. His anger boils. They were not only disrespecting the young woman but also their captain. Charlie growls as the men continue their vulgar joking.

"So, you have questions for me?" Burnt asks.

Charlie startles at the sudden appearance of Burnt sitting right next to him. He sets his cup down, lowering his head as his heart raced.

"Don't do that!" Charlie admonishes. Burnt chuckles, grabbing at Charlie's neck and shaking him. Charlie shoulders him off. "You know for a man that weights over two-hundred pounds you sure do move quietly."

"It's a gift." Burnt sasses. "Now. Captain says you have some questions for me."

"You gonna actually answer them? Not just shoulder me off with 'It'll be explained in due time' nonsense." Charlie quips.

"Captain says I can. Ain't that right Barlow?"

Charlie looks across the table noticing Barlow for the first time. His red hair was a bit haphazard and ragged. He was slouched over his cup of rum. His fingers dancing over the rim. Barlow sighs, resting his chin within his hand.

"How long have you've been there?" Charlie explains.

"Yes." Barlow addresses Burnt. "Although I wouldn't take much of what the captain says to heart in the rage he's in." Barlow comments.

"Hmm." Burnt hums nodding his head. "So, I'm sure your questions are the same as before." Upon Charlie's nod, Burnt continues. "Let me ask you this, how much do you know about Clinton Carter?"

Charlie shrugs, "Not much. I hear amongst the men he was a great captain. Disappeared a few years ago, rumor has it he's dead."

"The rumors are true boy. Clinton was hung several years ago." Burnt acknowledges.

"By who? Several other rumors all said that Carter was one of the best at getting out of tight spots like that."

"Oh, he was the best at that." Barlow admits. "But he never stood a chance. Not with the odds stacked against him."

"Stacked nothin' the man was downright smashed with 'em." Tony Rogers comments.

The three men look up at Rogers as he hovers over Barlow. He wore a disapproving scowl as he gazed at the men sitting at the table. Rogers huffs out of his nose, forcing his long limbs between the table and bench seat. He drops his heavy bulk next to the much smaller man, digging each elbow into the tabletop. Charlie bites at the inside of his cheek as Roger and Burnt scowl at each other. The mirror image making the two seem like distant kin.