John Locke - Now & Then

Pim smiled and gave a half bow.

Abby backed up a step and shuddered. She looked at Jack.

“You actually know this…this person?”

“I do. And he’s a close friend of mine.”

“A friend? How can this be possible?”

Hester abruptly stopped crying and looked at Jack.

“Who are you ?” she said. To Abby she said, “And how do you know him?”

“He’s the father of my child,” Abby said.

“He’s what ?” Hester’s eyes dropped to Abby’s chest a long moment, then she slapped Jack full force across the cheek. Then she turned and slapped Abby nearly as hard.

When Pim said, “Jack’s a good man,” Hester slapped him as well.

Then Abby said, “Who the hell is Jack?”

Pim looked at Jack and shrugged his shoulders as if apologizing for blowing his cover.

“Look,” Jack said. “There’ll be plenty of time for explanations later on. Right now all you need to know is our lives are in danger, as are the lives of our friends. Hester, Mr. Pim is a bit raggedy now, but he cleans up right proper and he’s wealthy and will make you a fine husband.”

She looked at Pim and said, “I’m sorry I slapped you. It’s been a vexing day.”

“And getting worse by the moment,” Jack said. He took Pim far enough aside that the women couldn’t hear, and hurriedly repeated what Charlie had said. “I won’t ask you to give up your land legs, but our mates are ambushed and need our help. Are you with me?”

“Aye, a course I am.”

“Good. Now listen. I’ve only got the one horse, so I’ve got to warn the ship. You’ll have to walk to Sinner’s Row and scout things out.”

“What about the ladies? Leave ’em here?”

Jack looked at the women a moment, and sighed. “They’ll slow us down, but you better take them.”

“We could get ’em a room here.”

Jack shook his head. “If her father comes, it won’t go well for her and the baby.”

“You truly be the one got her with child?”

“Let’s just move along with our planning.”

Pim smiled. “How much should I tell them?”

“Tell them everything.”

“Hester might not want me if she knows my past.”

Jack took a moment to survey his friend’s appearance. “You think you could sink lower in her eyes?”

Pim shrugged.

Jack said, “Tell them what you like. But make sure they’re safe.”

“You got a plan?”

Jack nodded. “I’m working on it.”

Pim nodded and said, “Okay then. I guess we’ll go together and listen for your whistle.”

Jack walked over to Abby and cupped her chin in his hand. They kissed quickly, and when he broke away he looked her in the eyes. “I must warn my friends,” he said.

“I’m coming with you.”

“You can’t. I’ll have to ride hard. Also, I expect to pass your step-father on the road, searching for you. So look sharp and stay with Mr. Pim.”

Abby’s face went white. “If Philip finds me he’ll kill me.”

“Mr. Pim won’t allow it.”

“You don’t know Philip.”

“And he don’t know Pim. Okay, I’m off.”

Chapter 14

Jack galloped out of town and had gone about a mile when he ran into Philip Winter. Philip angled his horse across the path and held his musket across his chest, bidding Jack to stop.

“Who might you be?”

“Henry Ames. And you?”

“Philip Winter.”

“You the man sold his wife an hour ago?”

“The same. Now I’m looking for my daughter.”

“You planning to sell her too?”

Philip Winter sized Henry up. “Who knows you around here, Mr. Ames?”

“You do, for one.”

Philip aimed his musket at Jack’s face and pulled back the action.

“I’ll have your horse, Henry, and you on the ground, face down until I decide what to do with you.”

“I don’t think so.”

Jack jerked hard on his reign while kicking his horse’s ribs. His horse slammed into Winter and Jack ducked below the gunshot. By then, Jack had his flintlock out and cocked in one hand, and Winter’s reigns in the other.

“I don’t know why you’d wish to shoot a fellow traveler, or steal his horse, but it concerns me enough to ask you to dismount.”

Winter reluctantly stepped down from his horse.

“What do you intend, sir?”

Jack wasn’t sure. His first instinct was to kill Winter. But what would he do with the body? He didn’t have time to deal with this right now.

“I’ll take your horse with me,” Jack said. “You’ll find it at the river crossing, tied to a tree.”

“I have urgent business. My daughter is missing.”

“You’ll have to delay the search. I’m sorry.”

Winters nodded. “If I see you again, I’ll kill you.”

“In that case, I hope not to see you again. But since I’m bound for Georgia, I doubt our paths will cross.”

“You’re heading the wrong way for Georgia, sir.”

“I’m making a detour. I’m a scout for The Viceroy , and have pirates to kill along the way.”

“Wait! Why didn’t you say this earlier? I’m part of the plot.”

“What part is yours?”

“Why, creating the diversion so all the locals would be in town during the roundup.”

Jack nodded. “But you intended all along to sell your wife, did you not?”

“Yes, of course. But the timing added some silver to my pocket.”

“Mayor Shrewsbury?”

“The same. So, can I have my horse back?”

“One thing about being a scout. We don’t trust anyone. You’ll find your horse tethered to a tree by the clearing. You know the place?”

“Ought to, I live not a hundred yards from the spot.”

“Very well. In the meantime, if I come across a young lady I’ll assume she’s your daughter. What shall I tell her?”

“Tell her to get her ass home.”

“Done, sir. Good luck to you.”

“And you, sir.”

Chapter 15

As Jack approached George and Marie’s home, he stopped his horse and whistled loudly. Within seconds he received a welcome whistle in return. The family gathered round. Johanna wore an angry expression on her face even as she cradled Rugby in her arms. The boys were chattering away about something, and George and Marie seemed puzzled. Jack looked at Rose.

“Can you really fly?”

All eyes had turned to Rose. She curled her lips into a humorless smile and said, “Is it the end of days, Henry?”

The way she said it sent a chill down Jack’s spine.

Marie grabbed the boys by their shirts and dragged them to the house, kicking and screaming.

“Henry,” said George. “She’s our daughter. We’ve brought you in and trusted you. What are your intentions?”

Jack said, “You know nothing of the ambush at Sinner’s Row?”

“What ambush?”

“You’ve heard no word of The Viceroy attacking The Fortress ?”

“Of course not. Where have you gotten your information?”

“From the lips of a dying man.”

Johanna, less angry now, said, “Henry, what is this about?”

“My men are being hung one by one at Sinner’s Row. My ship is about to be attacked.”

“Your men? Your ship?” Johanna said.

George looked at the two girls.

“Henry’s a privateer,” he said.

Rose’s face grew animated. “I knew it! And no ordinary pirate, are you Henry? I’ll tell you who he is, Johanna. He’s Jack Hawley!”

George’s face went white. “Could that possibly be true?”

Johanna had a different reaction. She seemed to be putting something together in her head. After a moment she said, “ Gentleman Jack Hawley? Well that makes sense, now, doesn’t it!”

Rose said, “Do you wish to ravish us, Jack Hawley?”

“Of course not!” Jack said. “Why would someone your age even think to say such a thing?”

“I’m an old soul, Henry. I’m sure George has told you that.”

Indeed, George, who’d been known to exaggerate, had told Jack that Rose didn’t appear to age like their other children. She looked the same four years ago when he found her as she did today.

“What are your intentions, Henry?” George said. “I mean, Mr. Hawley.”

“George, we go way back. I like to think we’re friends. I can see you might not have heard the news since the soldiers came from the north. But you’re either with us or against us, and I’ll respect which it is. But you need to cast your lot now, for time is running out on my men.”

“I’m with you Henry,” Johanna said.

“My family stands at your service,” George said.

“And you, miss,” Jack said to Rose. “Tell me truly. Can you fly?”

Chapter 16

Jack started a smoke fire while George gathered all his weapons into saddlebags and tied them to four horses. Johanna put Rugby in a basket and tied it to her saddle.

Jack said, “Where’s Rose?”

They looked around the yard. And when their eyes returned to the place they’d started, Rose was standing there, a scant four feet away.

“God’s blood!” Jack swore.

Rose had rubbed gunpowder all over her face and rimmed her eyes with bright red paint. She stared straight ahead, as if in a trance.

“Jack?” George whispered tentatively.

“What?”

“We don’t have any red paint here.”

Jack turned to George. “Surely at some time you did.”

“Never. No paint of any color. Where would I come by paint?”

“Where indeed,” Johanna said. She snapped her fingers and Rose came out of her trance-like state. From inside the basket, Rugby hissed savagely.

Jack said, “How did you know to do that?”

“Trial and error,” Johanna said, and Jack felt another chill go down his spine.

He led his party of George, Johanna and Rose back up the trail, past the crossing, beyond the town, and out to Sinner’s Row.

About a hundred yards from the path that led to the small pier, Jack noticed two brightly colored soldier hats tied to trees six feet off the ground on either side of the road. He halted his horse, and the others fell in behind.

“What’s that mean?” George said.

“It means they’re dead,” Rose said.

Jack nodded. “Mr. Pim must have found them guarding the trail. From the big pier, it looks like they’re still here, standing guard.”

“There’ll be other guards I’m sure,” George said.

“If there are, we’ll probably come upon their hats as well.”

“How much danger are we in, Henry?” Johanna asked.

“It’s okay to call me Jack, miss. That’s my given name. I’m sorry for the lie.”

“Jack,” she said, softly. “I like that.”

“How much involvement do you expect from Rose?” George said. “I can’t let you put her in harm’s way.”

“I won’t use her till it’s safe.”

“And when it’s safe, what shall you have her do?”

Rose said, “Why, scare the life out of someone, right Jack?”

Jack nodded absently, trying to decide if his plan had any chance of success. The entire rescue depended on a creepy little girl who might very possibly be crazy. Or delusional, if such was different. He didn’t know if Rose was a witch or not, but he knew she had a terrifying laugh. If nothing else about her was supernatural, the laugh alone would likely suffice.

Jack looked around. It was getting on to dusk, but they were still two hours from dark. He chanced a light whistle and heard nothing in return. They climbed off their horses and led them into the woods until they got to a place where the foliage was thick enough to provide cover. They sat and waited.