Cutlass Anne

Cutlass Anne - Chapter Four

Chapter Four

I sat in front of the window facing the sea in my bedroom, watching as the sun set over the bay. It was a beautiful sunset with shades of orange, purple, and pink spreading across the sky, but I was losing hope of finding Jane.

"Miss?" Juliana asked opening my door slightly.

"Hmm?"

"Would you like to wash up?" She set a pitcher and basin down on my vanity.

"I suppose." I moved from my post and began to undo my bodice. My body ached and my petticoat was stained with blood.

"Miss, are you all right?"

"I am fine, Juliana."

"Your petticoat, it has blood on it."

"I just scraped my knees. I doubt it is anything too serious."

I poured the hot water into a pan and began washing my body. "Will you fix more water with cinnamon and vanilla? I want to wash my hair."

"Yes, ma'am," she replied leaving my room. I finished washing, wrapped a large towel around me, and took up my post again in front of the window.

Juliana returned a few moments later with a pan filled with sweet-smelling water. It quickly filled my room with the scent of spicy vanilla. I inhaled deeply and closed my eyes. Jane always used vanilla in her hair. My heart ached just thinking about her. I bent over the basin as Juliana poured the water over my head. She rubbed my hair lightly, getting it as clean as she could. Once she finished, she grabbed another towel and handed it to me. I slowly dried my hair as she filled my warming pan with red-hot coals.

"It's 'posed to be a chilly night," she said in her mousy voice.

"Yes, yes it is. Summer is quickly coming to an end," I muttered, slipping a soft cotton nightgown over my head.

I took up my position back in front of the window and continued to stare out over the bay. I swiped at the tears that flowed down my cheeks with the back of my hand. I knew it was pointless. John Jacks wasn't going to have a change of heart and return my sister. She wasn't going to walk up the drive and into the house. It was a relatively calm and quiet night. The moon shone on the lightly rippling water, giving the false sense that all was right in the world.

"Is Miss Jane all right?"

"I'm not sure, Juliana."

"Did John Jacks really take her?"

I nodded my head as a tear slid down my cheek.

"If it's not too bold of me to ask, what is being done to rescue her?"

"Nothing."

"I'm sorry, miss."

"It's not your fault."

"What will be done about Miss Jane?"

"Whatever I can do, Juliana." Then the thought hit me. "Juliana, do you know any sailing merchants?"

"My father knows a few."

"Are any of them looking for a cabin boy?" I asked, not turning my attention from the dark horizon.

"I don't know."

"Please find out."

"Miss?" She stopped fluffing my pillows and stared at me.

"I'm going to disguise myself, and I'm going to find my sister."

"How?"

"I'm sure there is a sailing vessel coming in to port that will need a cabin boy."

"But you're not a boy," she said.

"I will disguise myself as a boy and go in search of Jane."

I have no idea how long I stood in front of the window. I watched as the lights in the town were lit. I wondered how many people knew about what happened today. What happened with William? What lie would my father tell his widow and children? Did he even have a widow and children? My heart wrenched. I knew nothing about a man I had seen almost every day for the past five years. He was nothing more than a stranger to me. My eyes grew weary and I could not stop yawning, so I climbed into my warm bed and settled down for sleep. I longed for my sister. Right after our mother died, she would crawl into bed with me to sleep. Her night terrors woke her, and she could never fall back asleep. We would lie in bed, and I would sing to her while I watched the stars and moon. A sudden sob escaped my throat and I wept myself to sleep. It was the first time in the four years since my mother's death that I cried for someone. I always had to be the brave, strong one in the family. I had to be my sister's support and my brother's motivator. Everyone seemed to forget about my feelings. Now all I wanted was to be able to sing to my little sister again.

A soft knock at my door stirred me from sleep, "Yes?"

"Miss?"

"Juliana?"

"May I come in?"

"Yes, of course," I said, slipping out of bed and into the warm robe that sat on a small table.

"Captain John Henry will be in port for the evening. His cabin boy fell overboard a few days ago."

"So he would be looking for a new one. Would you be able to get me the appropriate attire?"

Smiling, she pulled a small, brown parcel from behind her back. "Already taken care of, miss."

"You are amazing!" I squealed, unwrapping the package.

My smile quickly dropped when I saw the clothing. Inside was a pair of black duck pants, a baggy shirt, and brown shoes. In answer to my frown and disgust, she just smirked and shrugged.

"I'm sorry, miss. I know it's not a beautiful gown, but the loose shirt should be able to help hide your bosom."

"I know, Juliana. I was expecting this, but how am I supposed to completely hide my chest?"

"With extra fabric," she said, moving the clothes to the side and revealing a long strip of stiff fabric.

"It's as though you have done this before."

"I told my mother about Miss Jane. She wants her found just as badly as I do. You girls have always been nothing but kind to us. It's not right that your father isn't trying to get her back." As she finished her sentence, a look of terror crossed her face.

"Don't worry. I feel the same way."

"I was wrong for saying that."

"You are fine, Juliana. Now, help me dress so that I can get to the dock."

I pulled my nightgown off and let Juliana bind my breasts. She wrapped the stiff fabric around my torso, squashing my bosom as much as she could. The mirror revealed a job well done.

"It's not too tight is it, miss?"

"I think at this point you can call me Anne, and it's not nearly as bad as a corset. At least the fabric is softer and more comfortable."

"Okay, Anne," she smiled.

"I suppose it should be something other than Anne."

"What about Thomas?"

"Hmm, Thomas. I think that works," I said while pulling the large, white shirt over my head.

I gathered my hair into a tight ponytail and tucked it underneath a floppy, brown hat.

"How do I look?"

"Like a little boy," Juliana giggled.

She was right; I looked like a little boy. Hopefully, it was enough to fool JohnHenry into letting me join his crew.