Cross-Ties E-Book

Carolyn M. Bowen

• Herausgeber: Next Chapter
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022

Beschreibung

A page-turning epic of adventure, suspense, and romance that crosses the chasm of societal rules.

Leah is not your typical young woman. A debutante from an upper-class aristocratic family, her Caribbean mother had died giving birth to Leah.

On her 18th birthday, Leah's arranged marriage is announced. But she has something else in mind, and decides to escape with her true love Brandon: the son of a local shipping magnate.

What follows is the story of a young woman coming of age, seizing her independence when nothing else would suit.

Leseprobe

Cross-Ties

Carolyn M. Bowen

Copyright (C) 2020 Carolyn M. Bowen

Layout design and Copyright (C) 2020 by Next Chapter

Published 2020 by Next Chapter

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the author's permission.

Prologue

The gulf winds wailed as a summer tropical storm approached the shore. A powerful gust sent the wooden hurricane shutters pounding against the side of the house. Leah cracked open the top and bottom sash of the double-hung windows in the suffocating hot attic to circulate the air. This would make rearranging space and sorting keepsakes more palatable. The sea air whipping through the windows quickly cooled the balmy attic to an acceptable temperature.

She braced herself for what she'd find in the old sea chest tucked away in the attic for over a decade. She'd planned to go through the chest earlier. Her life had changed drastically since her father first shipped some of their personal effects to their antebellum home, Seagrove. She chided herself for being reluctant to revisit memories the sea chest held. She deliberated for a moment before lifting the heavy lid knowing she'd face her turbulent past. The trunk lid creaks on its rusty hinges as she opens it. The musky sea odor penetrated her nostrils as she remembered her youthful voyage to America.

England

Fervent pitched voices radiated behind the imposing doors of the Earl's study. The elderly butler cocked his ear to hear what the Earl of Southwood and his daughter Leah were arguing about this time. Their voices grew louder and the words came clearer to his old ears.

“I don't know what to do with you now that Nanny Hildegard has retired,” said the Earl of Southwood. “I'm too busy to look after you right now, and Lord Worthington won't be ready to marry you until September.”

“That's just it Father,” Leah said. “Why should I stay here when you don't have time for me? I can go to Aunt Leona's and be out of your way. It will give you some time to ponder the merits of an arranged marriage to someone I loathe.”

“I will not discuss the marriage contract with you,” said Leah's father. “Furthermore, going across the ocean to Antigua, won't do. It's unheard of for a young woman to travel alone.”

“It's better than being here with you waiting to be taken off your hands,” she said.

“Leah, you don't understand,” he said. “I'm responsible for you until you marry the Duke's son. And, he would never approve of such.”

“Then we mustn't tell him,” Leah said.

“Leah!” the Earl said, “You try my patience.”

“I can't think of a better reason for me to go,” Leah said.

“Very well, I'll speak to Captain Hurst,” said the Earl.

Chapter 1

Early 19th Century

Leah closed the door of her cramped cabin and climbed the steps to the deck. She couldn't wait to get a breath of fresh air. But just as she reached the main deck the rocky motion of the ship sent her sprawling directly into the path of Captain Hurst. Leah gasped then looked up into his craggy gray whiskered face.

Captain Hurst extended his hand as she pulled herself up from the deck. His eyes were dancing with merriment as he said, “Good Morning, Leah. Are you enjoying your voyage aboard the Liverpool?”

Leah quickly recovered from her unladylike spill. Couldn't he see she just fell? She made an effort to frame an answer mindful of the manners learned at an earlier age. She chooses not to remember the lumpy pillow and prickly blanket from the previous night. Leah smiled and said, “Yes, I am.”

“Very good then,” he replied. “Take care to avoid the sailors that are working. They don't often see genteel women, and your safety is important to me as I gave my word to your father.”

Leah blushed and smiled at the Captain. “Thank you,” she said.

Leah's eyes watered and stung as the wind whipped against her face. Her long dark hair was lifted and blown astray by the gusts. She quickly pulled the cape over her head thinking she would never brush the tangles out of her hair.

Leah noticed the seagulls that usually swooped down to seize the schooling fish were nowhere in sight. The schooner had traveled some distance from the shore during the night. She could feel the wind on her back as it shifted direction and suddenly calmed. She inhaled the fresh salty air and suddenly felt stronger. Standing nearby the Captain said, “Look to the ship's port at the whale with her calf.”

Leah's eyes scanned the ocean in the direction the Captain pointed. She saw water sprouts shooting at least twenty feet into the air.

The Captain smiled and said, “Whales are like humans. They have to blow out air and breathe above the surface of the ocean.”

Leah was fascinated. She said, “Please tell me more.”

Captain Hurst continued, “The mother cow is about forty-footer.”

Leah asked, “How can you tell?”

“By looking at the size and shape of her blow,” replied Captain Hurst “The higher the spout, the larger the whale. This one is an Emperor Whale. She can dive deeper than most.”

As if on cue, the whale dove deep into the ocean, flipping her tail as saltwater sprayed high into the air. Laughing, Leah thought there is beauty in nature.

Reading her thoughts, the Captain asked, “Would you like to come back on deck later to watch the sunset?”

“Yes, that would be nice,” she said.

Leah insisted that her father allow her to travel alone this summer. After nearly a year of trying to persuade him, he finally agreed just to get her out of his sight. Leah couldn't wait to receive the long-awaited welcome from her mother's only family and friends she'd met on previous occasions. The thoughts of her Caribbean vacation made her feel warm all over. Even now, Leah could feel the silky white sand teasing her toes as they explored the legends and hidden coves along the seashore. She could almost taste the delicious sweet fruit that grew there.

Leah especially looked forward to seeing her friend Brandon, whose father was a shipping baron who had business interests with her father.

Last summer they had sailed together and Brandon even let her take the wheel at times. Leah never told her father about that, or how Brandon taught her to maneuver the sloop in deep waters.

Leah was sad about her relationship with her father. He hadn't even come to see her off on her voyage, and she missed her loving grandfather who died in the spring whom she could always count on. It was difficult to remember Leah's mother since she died when Leah was five years old. Leah's nanny tried to keep her Mother's memory alive, but she had recently retired leaving Leah feeling utterly alone.

A loud “boom” interrupted Leah's thoughts. Then the ship lunged forward. She ducked to the deck of the ship. What is happening? Leah thought, as the ship lurched forward and trembled from the unexpected increase in speed.

Straining to see through the thick fog, Leah spotted the dreaded pirate skull and crossbones flag waving from an approaching vessel. Instantly, Leah ducked out of sight and crawled along the rough honed deck to the stairs leading down to her cabin. Frantically, Leah secured the door with the wooden plank she used at night. She could hear her heart beating in her chest.

The sound of boots trampling across the deck commenced, then a stony silence. Leah knew that the crew was an easy mark for them. They were sailors who delivered precious cargo such as spices, oil, and handwoven cloth to the Caribbean islands. They were not fighters and plunderers.

Leah hesitated to open the door after the ship became quiet and the waves could be heard lapping against the transom of the ship. Leah knew it would take a miracle to save the crew from the scavengers bent upon taking the vessel and its' cargo. But why was it so quiet? It seemed that the ship was sailing, but under whose control? Leah was afraid but had no choice but to sneak on deck to find the answers. But, first, she needed a disguise to rid herself of her long flowing gown. The Captain's quarters might have what she needed storing away in a trunk.

Leah cracked the door and looked around for pirates before tiptoeing to the officer's quarters. Inside she found an ornately carved cedar trunk and opened it with the key positioned in its' lock.

She found no items of clothes, only odd keepsakes and faded photographs. She did find the ship's logbook on the floor beside Captain Hurst's bedside table. She closed the log noting the latest entry before placing it under her arm for safekeeping. Leah eased down the corridor to the crews' quarters where she found a pair of sailor pants and oversized shirts to hide her true identity.

Leah sneaked back into her cabin and let out a sigh of relief. Leah's hands shook making it difficult to roll up the sleeves of the sailor shirt. Her stomach felt like someone had dropped a ton of bricks on it. She anxiously waited until after the sunset to investigate the deck.

The moonlit night gave Leah a panoramic view of the deck from the alcove where she was hiding. She saw a gang of pirates laughing about something one had said. She quietly listened to determine if more pirates were on board. Perhaps, they were elsewhere on the ship. She had not bothered to look below the deck or in the galley.

The stance of one of the pirates caught Leah's attention. He was younger than the others with skin not burnt nor wrinkled by the sun. When he opened his mouth to speak his teeth were not stained yellow or missing. She wondered why he became a pirate and if it was too late for him to change. Lost in her thoughts, Leah did not see the pirate glance her way and then draw his counterparts' attention to the barrels of rum stacked on the deck below her.

Sneaking along the corridors of the ship she made her way to the Galley. Leah needed a piece of bread or fruit to eat later in the cabin when the butterflies left her stomach. Ivan, the ship's cook, was in the galley. Leah brightened knowing there was someone else on board besides pirates. He looked up and saw Leah just as he was slamming the lid on the pot of stew.

“You all right?” asked the cook.

“Yes,” said Leah. “Where are the Captain and crew?”

“Captain's dead. Seen it myself,” said the cook.

“Where's the ship's crew?” asked Leah.

“All dead except those shackled and pressed into service by the pirates. They'd have me cook for them. 'Tis rotten luck, either way, I tell you.”

“Let me think,” said Leah. “There's got to be a way we can escape.”

“You best think fast,” said the cook. “We're on our way to Curacaos.”

“Why,” asked Leah?

“For the schooner to be torn apart and outfitted for the pirates,” said the cook.

What if the ship doesn't sail to Curacaos but goes somewhere else,” asked Leah. “How's that,” asked the cook.

“If we could sail her into the port of Antigua, we'd be safe,” said Leah. “His Majesty has taken a stand there against pirates and will aid us,” said Leah “I'll explain later.”

“Sounds like you have that on good authority,” said the cook. “So what's the plan?”

“I'll change the compass headings every night until we reach Antigua,” said Leah. “You know-how,” asked the cook.

“I think so,” said Leah.

“I'll keep watch! When you hear Ouee Ouee, run for cover.”

“I'll do that,” said Leah.

“Here take this bread,” said the cook. “It'll strengthen you.”

Leah stuffed the bread into the deep pockets of the sailor pants. Then she carefully tiptoed to the empty wheelhouse to change the compass headings while the cook stood watch at the galley window. This was easier than expected Leah thought.

Leah heard the pirates slurring the words to their songs. It wasn't long before she heard the ringing sound of swords with metal against metal as the pirates fought amongst themselves.

Leah was unaware that in the shadows stood the young pirate. He watched her leave the wheelhouse before taking his watch at the wheel. The pirate mumbled aloud, “there's something afoul here. This ship is dead reckoned for Antigua without my help. There's a traitor among the pirates.”

Leah was returning to her cabin satisfied when she heard “Ouee Ouee.” She had to hide, but where?

Heart racing, she looked over her shoulder for pirates while frantically trying to hide. Then she remembered the tour of the ship with Captain Hurst. The hold would be the safest place to hide. No one would think to look for her in that dirty, nasty place.

She found the trap door and lowered herself down into the belly of the ship. Trembling with fear, she closed the door cutting out the light from above. She clutched the locket with Brandon's picture she wore around her neck. She whispered, “God, help me!” Think about Brandon, she told herself. If only he was here.

His father's freighter, the Carrabelle, was scheduled to pick-up sugar in Antigua sometime during the month. She hoped to see him in there. One could hope, couldn't they? Leah questioned. For a moment, it kept her mind off the large wharf rats scurrying around the bottom of the ship. She wondered if they smelled the bread in her pocket. The thought sent chills up her backbone.

When her eyes adjusted to the darkness, Leah saw a rope attached high on the ship's wall near the trap door. She'd feel better closer out of the confinement of the hold. Leah wiped her sweaty palms on her britches before grasping the rope to climb up the side of the ship. She leaned her shoulders against the ship's hull hoping it would balance her weight and hold her close to the trap door. Leah wondered if wharf rats climbed walls. Her body stiffened at the thought. Leah's eyes burned and filled with tears at the musty odor. The stench was so strong that she could taste it on her lips. Spitting, Leah wished for a handkerchief to cover her nose and mouth.

Leah heard a thump, and the ship ground to a halt. Had they hit a reef? The hold was the first place the ship would take on water if it were sinking.

Leah's pulse quickened. She had to get out of the hold now - pirates or not! Maybe they would be busy trying to get the ship underway and forget about her.

As Leah cracked the trap door of the hold to look around, the morning light blinded her. Blinking, she shielded her eyes with her hands. Leah allowed her eyes to become accustomed to the daylight before opening the trap door all the way. Quietly, she looked around for a new hiding place. Leah found a cubbyhole on deck with an opening that would fit her petite frame. Partially hidden she could observe the pirates activities. Perhaps, they'd lost interest in capturing her.

What the Pirates Did…

The pirates hoisted more sails to try and dislodge the ship from an underwater sand bar. The Liverpool did not budge.

One of the pirates yelled, “We need more guns to protect our bounty. No time to convert her and make our haul to Curacao. Let's abandon ship.”

A quick look around the deck to the one swivel cannon brought the agreement of the others. The shrill sound of abandon ship was heard. Quickly, the pirates cut the ropes holding the lifeboats and lowered them to the water before jumping in after them. Leah was anxious as she placed the Captain's spyglass to her eyes and watched the pirates rowing to where their shallow hull pirate ship had maneuvered. Leah breathed a sigh of relief thinking good riddance.

Leah was too tired to worry about it. Instead she went to her cabin and stretched out on her bunk. She pulled the harsh wool blanket over her body and fell asleep. The next thing Leah knew the Liverpool had suddenly stopped its steady rocking. It was moving! Leah dashed up to the main deck to find out what was going on. She remembered the pirates had left the sails just as they were when they hit the low tide sand bar. She quickly regained her wits and searched the galley for Ivan. He was gone. Leah was left alone to sail the Liverpool. Her heart pounded so loudly it beat in her ears. Then Leah remembered a Bible verse her nanny taught her when she was younger. It was Philippians 4:13. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” She prayed, “God, please help me!”