Jacquotte

Chapter 6

   She ended up at Matteo's hut once again, entering much more subdued than earlier that day. She told him everything.

When she finished, he was somber.

"That bloody bastard, if I ever catch 'im alone, I'm gonna slit 'is throat. I doan think ye should go, Jackie. Wot about yer mother, eh? She'll be heartbroken."

Jacquotte didn't want to think about her mother's reaction. She had no idea how she was going to tell her. Maman would weep, and forbid her to leave. But she simply had to leave. Here on this island, there was nothing for her. Nothing to look forward to, except the prospect of farming sugar cane and picking bananas, like her mother.

"I know, Matteo. But I cannot stay here, or I will turn into my mother. There is opportunity in London, I will get work as a governess or a maid. I have heard that the pay is very good."

"Argh, ye've always been a stubborn lass, even as a toddler, 'an I can't stop ye, but I can help ye."

He stood, and went to a blackened wood chest in the corner of the hut. He came back with two flintlock pistols, a buckler, and a cutlass.

"'Ere, lass. I want ye to have these. Ye know how to use 'em right, 'an ye need the protection. Doan ye dare hesitate to use 'em, either. I taught ye right, ye can take down anyone if ye doan choke up, ye hear me?"

Jacquotte nearly couldn't breathe, she was so touched. Then she leapt up and tackled Matteo in a hug, crying. Her emotions were all over the place, fear, sadness, joy, hope. It took her awhile to calm down, but she eventually did.

That night at home she agonized over whether or not to tell her mother. She couldn't even look Maman in the eyes. Jacquotte left the next day to meet Captain Bridges, ashamed of her cowardice. She was told to meet a Captain Colson the next day at noon sharp, in front of the brig The Dancing Highland. If she was late, then she'd be out of luck. And she was never to mention Captain Bridges, except to Captain Colson.

The next day she waited for Maman to go out to the fields before packing. She only had a rucksack, and she brought an extra dress, a pair of trousers, a shirt, boots, her weapons, and a small pouch of coins. Jacquotte arranged to have Matteo inform her mother of what had happened, after she was gone so Maman couldn't stop her. Captain Colson met her, and told her that she was not to speak to anyone on the journey, and that the cover was she was his niece. She was to stay in her cabin during the day, except for privy breaks, and her meals were to be sent to her room. The voyage was estimated to be a month, weather permitting.