Cover courtesy of @BarryVosloo
An action adventure pirate tale with all the expected elements. The ship carrying the governor's daughter is attacked at sea and she is kidnapped by Tortuga's most notorious pirate, Terrance Hollick. Spirited away to t...
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A/N Having totally screwed up the chapter sequences, I reorganized them once again and fully intend to accept keel hauling or the plank as deserved punishment.
Fall arrived in the Caribbean and Hollick, finding their activities around the central Caribbean becoming more restricted with the French and British fighting over various islands and ports, decided to sail eastward to the Windward islands. The slavers that came from Africa plied several routes in that area and he felt they might just find it lucrative. The French and English were fighting down there as well but further south in the Grenadines. Times were changing quickly in the islands. The black Haitians were smouldering and the French smelled the winds of rebellion in the offing.
Hollick figured it would be better to be away from the impending conflicts and seek new seas for practicing their trade. In September the Bright Star sailed from the haven in Tortuga, leaving several of the crew who chose to stay with their families, and rounded the top of Hispaniola and down between it and Puerto Rico into the Caribbean. Turning eastward again, they headed for Martinique at the top of the Windward islands.
Hollick sat alone in his cabin plotting courses and inventorying supplies. He sat back and suddenly his mind filled with the vision of Alicia when she first sat across from him in his cabin, and when he surrendered to his desire and kissed her. It had been three months since their escape from Port-au-Prince, three months since he embraced the smooth skin of her body on that final afternoon. He poured some wine into a glass and drank, closing his eyes for a few more moments of wistful memory.
Woodcuffe had made several sorties around the coast to no avail; Hollick did not want to engage that size ship, refitted with more and larger cannons. Besides, he actually found he liked the salty Captain a little. He had wanted to sneak into port and see Alicia but common sense and some objections from the men kept his course steady. He opened his eyes and went to set the glass down when he felt the ship buck and he went to the port hole and saw heavy skies forming.
"Mister Braggs, report please." He called as he stepped on deck.
"Just started very quickly, Skipper. Winds increasing from the east and the clouds are moving nor' west."
"Looks like foul Weather coming from Africa, Hill. Feel the sand in the air?"
"Aye. That blows ill for us out here, Skipper. That's hurricane weather."
"Change our heading to north east and make for St. Kitts or Antigua if there's time."
"Time is what we'll need, Skipper. That sky is getting heavier by the minute."
"Reef the jib, Mister Braggs and if it gets stronger prepare to heave-to."
"Beggin' your pardon, Skipper, but the men prefer to run on. We've got the lines we can trail and it keeps us heading for shelter." The waves grew and the ship began rolling uncomfortably.
