A Hidden Queen

Chapter 22

Josephine raises her hands above her head stretching every muscle within her body. She sighs happily, filling her lungs with the fresh salt air. It has been some time since she has had a good night's sleep. It's just something about the constant movement of the ship that lulls Joe right to sleep. She smiles brightly as she scans the upper deck for James. He was nowhere to be seen.

"Excuse me? Have you seen James?" Josephine asks a sailor passing by.

"Quarterdeck last I seen." He gruff out, jerking a thumb beyond him.

"Thank you." Josephine politely says.

She quickly moves aft, gracefully climbing the stairs to the small quarterdeck. James sat at his table pouring himself over some papers. He brings a coffee cup up to his lips never taking his eyes off the documents. Josephine politely clears her throat, smiling when he raises his brown eyes upwards to meet hers. He places his cup back on the platter, setting the papers down on the table. He quickly slides them under his empty plate, not wanting the wind to catch them.

"On deck! White sails! Off starboard stern!" The topsail man yells.

Joe startles at the loud cry from above. She places a hand over her chest, her blue eyes darting up to the man that is occupying the crows-nest. He leans out pointing towards aft. Joe's instincts kick into overdrive. She quickly turns herself around, rushing over to the stern railing lining the deck. The blue eyes squint against the glaring sun. She blinks them several times, allowing them to adjust to the brightness. She inhales sharply as she can almost fully make out the ship. And she was gaining on them.

"How did the topsails man miss that? She's nearly overtaken us!" Josephine mutters angrily.

James quickly positions himself beside Joe. He throws out his opened palm never taking his eyes off the ship. His second lieutenant quickly pulls out his periscope. He smacks it within James' open hand. Josephine stares at the ship as it drew ever closer. She could see some of the men begin to line the railing. She turns her gaze over to James who scans the entire ship. He raises the scope upwards, stopping at the top of the center mast. His breath catches in his throat; his knuckles turning white from the grip he has on the instrument. Joe furrows down her brow as his shoulder draw taunt and he lowers the periscope. The wind moves parts of his loosened hair. Joe leans out to look into the man's eyes. She inhales sharply as she sees dread and fear in those light brown eyes. The normally confident and fearless man was speechless with whatever he saw through the scope.

"James?" Josephine askes, reaching out for him.

"My god." He whispers in astonished disbelief.

"James what is it?" Joe pushes.

James quickly shoves the periscope back into his second's hands. He does not bother to acknowledge Josephine as he pushes himself away from the stern railing. He storms his way across the deck and down the stairs, barking orders in a harsh manner.

"Give me the scope." Josephine tells the second.

He turns confused eyes on her, "What for?"

"I want to see what James saw."

"Please, you are a lady how can you ever know how to work such an instrument?" He says in a small amount of disdain.

Josephine growls, snatching the scope from the man's hand, "Give me that! I know how to use this better than some men on this vessel. Now shut your mouth and go help James."

"Ma'am!" He yells in astonishment.

Josephine ignores his cries of protest. She steadies herself upon the deck allowing her body to feel the movements of the rolling waves. She keeps her piercing gaze on the pursuing vessel, calculating the rise and fall of each swell. She takes in a deep breath, letting it out slowly. She tightens her stomach muscle to steady herself before bringing the scope up to her eye. The ship was a galley-rigged vessel. She was smaller, much nimbler than the bulk of The Governor. She had the wind in her favor as the sails continue to bellow outwards. Those two factors allowed her to gain quickly on her prey, even outrunning them if she so chooses. She raises the glass to the topmost mast, knowing that is what frightened James so. All her words die in her throat as the black cloth flutters in the wind. Pirates. Joe drops the scope slowly backing away from the railing. Her heart pounds loudly within her chest. She runs a shaking hand over her forehead.