Black Sam - Prince of Pirates

Forty Five - RETURN TO BATHTOWN

Forty Five - RETURN TO BATHTOWN

March 1717

Even though he missed the Phineas’, Sam chose not to go with Paulgrave to their home. It would not only be awkward for Rachel, but Paulgrave needed time there alone. Besides, Sam had been looking forward to having some alone time himself. He found a room to rent in a home overlooking the inlet. The owner, Irda Woods was a widow that decided it might be nice having company from time to time, so she rented three rooms upstairs to sailors passing through.

Sam sat at a small table in his room on the second floor and wrote by the light of a single flickering candle. When he was done, he sealed it with wax and stamped it with his ring. He lay down on his bed, took the pendant from inside his shirt, and fingered the detail. He closed his eyes with her image in his mind, hoping it would inspire dreams of her. A scream came from down stairs that jolted him upright.

He grabbed his pistol from the end table next to him. He slowly opened his door to see if anyone was there, then ran down the stairs, scanning for the perpetrator. In the kitchen, Irda stood tense and frightened, staring down. He took a step toward her and saw out of the corner of his eye something move quickly on the floor. He looked down and froze when he saw it.

Almost blending into the wood floor, was a big brown fury spider. Sam couldn’t move. His eyes locked on to the creature, heart pounding. Sweat oozed through the pores of his hands as the wheels in his head tried to churn through the blockage of fear.

“Well don’t just stand there, kill it!” the woman said, still frantic.

Sam still could not take his eyes off the small terror. One of its legs moved slightly sending chills up Sam’s spine. He had to do something, there was no way he could let it live in this house while he was in it.

“What are you waiting for?” the woman yelled.

Without moving his eyes, he raised his hand to her. “Woman, shut up and let me think.”

He slowly reached down and pulled off his boot. He gripped it with both hands and readied to launch it in a perfect arch landing it directly on ‘Satan’s offspring’. A nickname Sam had long ago given all eight-legged devils. With perfectly practiced touch, he released the boot into the air. It sailed up and over falling directly toward the spider.

At the last second, the spider moved toward Sam. A shock went up his spine. He pulled his pistol out of the back of his pants and fired almost without taking aim. A hole opened in the floor where the spider had been. Sam breathed fast and heavy. He looked around the floor to see if the spider had escaped death once more. It was gone.

When he finally relaxed, Sam looked to Irda. Her face was a contorted smile as if trying to hold back a laugh. Sam looked at the hole he just shot in her floor. Whether it was the humor of what just happened, or the relief he felt, he did not know, but he laughed as he looked at Irda. That was all she needed for her dam to burst. They laughed for a moment and then sat down at the table.

Irda pointed at the hole in her floor. “You’re going to have to pay for that,” Irda said through a giggle.

This made Sam laugh again. “Yes, of course,” he said pulling some coins from his pocket. He placed four gold coins on the table in front of her.

Irda’s mouth fell open. “No, I couldn’t—.”

“Irda, you’ve seen me in a very vulnerable and embarrassing situation. That,” he said pointing to the gold, “is me hoping for consideration when you tell this story.” He smiled.