belowdecks.
Excusing herself, Anne moved away from the siblings as
they continued their discussion of the numerous dangers on
board the ship. Despite the chaotic running and shouting of
the crew, Anne felt strangely removed from everyone and everything around her.
She drew a deep breath, her stance wide to maintain her
balance. Looking toward the stern, Anne watched the white—
capped waves that seemed to form a path trailing behind the
back of the ship. That path led to Teach.
Even as Anne tried to block out the seriousness of her situation, it continued to plague her thoughts. The fact that she sailed on the Providence instead of the Deliverance made her ability to reunite with Teach incredibly difficult.
Difficult, but not impossible.
It would not be an easy journey. For either of them. But he
would come for her, of that she was certain. And she would not give up until he found her or she found him.
Lifting her head, Anne turned and studied the open ocean
in front of the ship. The initial shock of leaving England was
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beginning to wear off. Admittedly, she’d hoped to leave under different circumstances, but she would survive this voyage.
She had to.
And one day she and Teach would be together again, for
it was just as he’d said. They could be on opposite sides of the world, but she would always be his, and he would always be hers.
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C H A P T E R 3 7
Teach
The congested dock fairly groaned beneath the weight of the
assembled crowd. Anticipation was everywhere in the city, on
the streets and in the water. Children cried, parents bickered, and clever tradesmen called out their wares for sale. With a
group this large, there were sure to be several hungry individuals.
Everyone had come to see the launch of the largest galleon
ever built. The Deliverance rocked in the swell under full canvas.
It was an awesome sight, like a preening peacock, as if aware of all the attention. The eager men of the crew stood at attention, squinting against the morning sun, small arms draped from their shoulder belts.
Richard Drummond himself stood before the group,
dressed in a velvet coat and silk waistcoat. On his head he wore a powdered wig, and the silver buckles of his shoes glinted in the sunlight. The mayor of Bristol droned on and on about the
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importance of this day and how proud the city was to have such an esteemed merchant in their midst.
For his part, Drummond’s eyes searched the crowd, a
cheerless look on his face. Despite this being one of the most anticipated days of his life, he appeared unable to muster even the slightest hint of a smile.
Teach stood back, his square jaw once again covered with
several days’ growth, his hair pulled into a knot beneath his hat.
He stared at his father, as one would stare at a stranger. Teach had always felt affection for the man. Even when Drummond had been at his most demanding, deep down Teach had yearned
for his father’s approval and affection.
Not now. Not after what Drummond had done.
Teach and John had spent the past six days searching the
docks and ships of Bristol for the two men, but they hadn’t been able to find them. Teach and John had also made more inquiries into the Providence. It belonged to another merchant but was nowhere near as large or grand as the Deliverance. It would call on several ports in the West Indies. Teach refused to believe he was too late to catch up to it.
He would have set sail on another ship if he’d found one
heading out sooner, but the journey often took months to prepare for, and the Deliverance was the next vessel leaving port.
Teach had given Kaiser to David. He could not take a horse
with him where he was going.
That morning, as Teach had wandered the city streets,
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people had drawn back in fear and revulsion when they’d seen him, for he was covered in mud and grime. They’d whispered behind his back, pointing fingers at the unsightly figure before them.
Teach had been numb to it all. He hadn’t had any feelings
left. Until he’d seen his father.
Teach’s was one face among hundreds on the docks, and
Teach did not fear discovery. On his feet he wore stout calf-hide boots. He had the old jacket and floppy hat John had given him. Once again his face and hair were unkempt, and his father would have a hard time recognizing him.
Teach watched as his father addressed the crowd briefly.
There was a haunted look in his eyes, and his was the face of a man suffering.
Teach knew instinctively that if he would simply show himself, his father would recover, but Teach was unwilling to move.
His father would make him stay in Bristol, and Teach could not accept that fate. Everywhere Teach looked he was reminded of
Anne. The pain of her absence hadn’t dulled. He was constantly aware of the knowledge that she was somewhere far away and
he couldn’t reach her.