Cutlass Anne

Cutlass Anne - Chapter Twenty-Eight

Chapter Twenty-eight

"Who the 'ell are you?" the man on the ground asked.

"If you do not answer my questions, I will be your worst nightmare."

It was obvious they had never had a woman stand up to them, or try to save the girls they were kidnapping.

"All right boys, I have the sword. You do not. You answer my questions, and I may allow you to live."

"You may?" the other man asked, rubbing his head.

"I have not decided yet."

"What do you want to know?" Jerry asked, still on the floor.

I pointed the sword at him. "Where do you get the girls?"

"They're given to me." He wouldn't look at me. His look darted around the room.

I bit my lip and closed my eyes. "By whom?"

He took a deep breath and sighed. "John Jacks."

I nodded and tried to not let them see my glassy glare. "Okay, the answer to my next few questions will determine if you live or die."

Both men stared at me with fear in their eyes. The girl cowered behind me. I could feel her tiny body shaking near my legs. I looked down, and she had covered her face with the bottom of my jacket. She reminded me so much of Jane.

"How often do you get girls from him?"

"A few a month."

"Do you remember them?" I tried to steady my hands. They shook so hard.

Jerry's eyes dropped to the floor.

"These girls are nothing more than a product for you to peddle, aren't they?"

"I have a family," he muttered as if that would make anything okay.

I was taken completely aback. "A family? A family! This girl has a family! My sister was my family! Do you have daughters?"

He nodded solemnly.

"And what if John Jacks decides one day that she should be taken away and sold to only God knows what swine wants her?"

"He wouldn't . . ." His voice trailed off.

"He is a pirate. He does not care about you. He does not care about your family. He tried to kill his own son!"

"What does that have to do with you? Why do you care so much?" he asked.

"A few weeks ago he took my little sister. You are going to tell me what happened to her."

"I don't know yer sister," he muttered, trying to get up.

I kicked him as hard as I could in the stomach. "Do not get up, you pig."

I knelt down next to the man and stared into his cold, soulless eyes. "You do know her. She is a very remarkable young woman. She has soft blonde hair the color of the sun, eyes as blue as a summer sky. Her skin is a lovely peach with the slightest hint of pink on her cheeks. She is the image of perfection. She is the sweetest girl you will ever meet, and she is my baby sister. Now, if you do not want your wife to be a widow and your children to grow up without their scum of a father, tell me where she is."

"She was here. She was the only one I've seen not cry or act like a pathetic cow."

I punched him in the face. "If anyone is a pathetic cow it is you. These little girls are terrified. You stole them from their homes!"

"I did nothing!"

I grabbed the man by the collar of his shirt. "Nothing? You are selling children! Now, where is she?"

"A baron or lord from London bought her."

"How long ago?"

"Last week."

I threw the man to the ground. I stood and turned, helping the girl off the floor.

"You can't stop this. More girls will be taken."

I paused a few feet away from the men. Anger filled every part of my body. Tears welled in eyes, thinking that some disgusting person was doing horrible things to my dear sister, and this man was part of the reason why. Men like the one buying this poor scared girl were reasons why girls like me went insane with grief from losing their loved ones. I turned and smiled while walking back to them. I wiped at my nose with my hand, a very unladylike thing to do.

"I gave up my life at home to find Jane and stop men like the two of you. Nothing means more to me in this world than finding my Jane. I am not like the other women you have met. I was going to let you live. I was." I reached for my cutlass. In one swift move, I had it out and in the man's belly.

He looked up at me with surprise and pain on his face. I clenched my jaw and leaned onto my sword, driving it further into his body. He flinched as blood dribbled out of the corner of his mouth.

"Bitch," he mumbled.

"No, I am not a bitch. This is vengeance for all the girls you have ruined. This is vengeance for all the families destroyed by you and John Jacks."

I watched as his eyes slid closed. I pulled the sword out of him and stood, watching the other man. I glanced at the puddle that had formed under him as he kept his eyes trained on me. Without another word I turned and walked out of the building. The men hustled about, none of them knowing the horrors that had been happening in the building. At least I hoped they knew nothing.

"What happens now?" The girl grabbed my hand.

"We get you home." I wrapped my arm around her shoulder and led her away from the horrible sight.

"How?"

"We shall get you passage on a ship."

"I have no money." Her bottom lip trembled and tears spilled from her eyes.

"Don't worry about it." I hugged her tightly. She reminded me of my Jane.

"Okay."

"Where do you live?"

"Virginia," she said softly.

"Not far from my home." I smiled at her.

"Really?"

"Yes, I lived in South Carolina."

"You were not taken by them?" She looked up at me filled with wonder.

"No, but someone very important to me was."

"Your sister."

I nodded my head and squeezed the girl's hand as we walked through the crowded market area toward The Gilded Lady.

"I know that ship!" the girl said.

"You do?"

"Yes, it is in port in my town all the time."

"That does not surprise me. The man who captained that ship is the same man who had you kidnapped," I said.

She shook her head, sending her brown curly hair bouncing around her shoulders. "No, that is not possible."

"Why do you say that?"

"He is a good man. He owns a shop in the town near where I live."

My breath caught in my throat. "A shop?"

"Yes."

That is where he does his business. Or at least did.

"I'm going to have you wait on board with my crew. Once I find a ship heading to Virginia, you will be on your way home," I said, ushering her onto my ship.

"Really? I can just go home?" The girl's sad eyes suddenly brightened and a smile spread across her face.

"Yes."

She reached out and wrapped her arms around my waist. "Thank you so much!"

"You do not have to thank me. You belong at home." I hugged her back.