Cara jerked her head up, her hands stilled over Anne’s skin. “No! I’m not going anywhere without Coyle.”
Alastair sighed. “Cara, you have to be reasonable—”
“Uncle, I am not leaving you behind. Together we’ll think of some way to free Coyle.” Cara wiped at her eyes, her expression determined.
“I can’t run the risk of you getting caught as well,” Alastair said.
“You can’t do everything alone. I can help. Please. He’s my brother.”
Running his hand over his face, Alastair sighed in resignation. “All right. Anne will go with Teach. Cara and I will get Coyle. If the governor knew about us trying to leave on my sloop, I dare say he’ll have other ships watched. I might have to call in a few favors with some people to get us out of this blasted place.”
Cara bit her lip, the tears on her cheeks mixing with the rain. She gave Teach a solemn look. “You’ll take care of Anne for us, won’t you?”
“With my life.”
Smiling slightly at Teach’s response, Cara took a portion of her own sodden skirts and gently wiped at Anne’s back. But a wheel hit another hole in the road, and Cara cried out in frustration.
Teach placed a comforting hand on Cara’s shoulder. “We’ll take her to the captain’s cabin. You can finish once we’re on board.”
They pulled up beside the bobbing Triumph, ocean water splashing up between the ship and the wharf.
“I’ll go speak with the port officials,” Alastair said. “I’ll arrange for a pilot cutter to take you out of the shallows. The last thing we need is for you to ground the Triumph as you leave.”
Grateful for the older man’s assistance, Teach replaced the lid on the crate and slid it toward the back of the wagon before he jumped down and took one side in his hands. Benjamin grabbed the other side and the two of them hefted it in their arms. Teach backed slowly over the slick plank leading from the dock to the deck as the rain continued to fall. Once they were safely on board, they moved to the stairs leading down to the belly of the ship, but Teach stopped when he saw torches in the distance.
Cara reached for the crate where Teach held it. “They’re bringing your crew already. We’ll take Anne down. You stay here to meet them.”
“It’s too heavy for you,” Teach said.
“I grew up carrying newborn calves on a farm. I’m quite sure Benjamin and I can handle a crate,” Cara said, shouldering Teach aside. “Besides, I wish to tell her good-bye.” Her voice was unsteady, her eyes glittering.
Teach nodded in understanding. He didn’t see anything wrong with allowing Cara these last few minutes with Anne. “At the bottom of the stairs, turn left. The captain’s cabin is at the end of the hallway.”
The two of them disappeared, and Teach moved to meet the oncoming party. The soldiers outnumbered the men of his crew.
Striding to the plank, Teach stopped the lead sergeant from boarding the Triumph. “Where are the rest of my men?” He saw John, but Jack Thurston and several others were noticeably absent.
The man held his torch aloft and Teach noted the triumphant gleam in his eyes. “The rest of your crew will wait here for you until you return with George Easton.”
“That wasn’t my agreement with the governor,” Teach said, his voice sharp.
“The governor has had a change of heart. Don’t worry, you won’t be left short-handed. My men and I will be accompanying you. I’m your new first mate.”
“I’m not leaving my crew behind.” The thought of Jack, Matthew, and the others spending any more time in those dark cells make Teach sick. And he wouldn’t be there to ensure their well-being.
“You’re free to speak with the governor tomorrow.”
They had to leave now or risk being discovered. “Do you even know anything about sailing?” The first mate was second in command to the captain, and like the captain, he never pulled, hauled, or did work with his hands.
“Of course,” the man said, clearly affronted.
“I already have a first mate,” Teach said, pointing to John. “And I wasn’t aware the governor was in a position to make such changes. Last I heard, he’d taken ill.”
The sergeant’s face showed surprise. “Where did you hear that?”
“From me,” Alastair said, coming up from behind. The soldiers parted, allowing Alastair to approach the plank. It was clear they respected the tavern keeper. “I was with the governor when he took ill. What are you doing here, Kitts?”
“That’s Sergeant Kitts to you. The governor wishes to have a word with you, Alastair.”
Teach shot a glance at Alastair, but the Irishman appeared unruffled.
“As I said, I just spoke with him. I can’t imagine what else he would like to discuss with me again so soon.”
Kitts smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Nevertheless, you’re to be escorted to his house.”
Alastair motioned to the men on the docks. “I’m sure I won’t need that much of an escort.”
“As I was just telling your friend here, part of my men will sail with him. The rest of his crew will remain here. For their well-being, of course.”
Teach shifted, torn between wanting to set sail as quickly as possible and making sure Alastair and the rest of his crew were all right. “It could take weeks to find Easton.”
The sergeant stepped forward on the ramp, coming nose-to-nose with Teach, a clear threat in his posture, his wide-set eyes intense as they locked on Teach’s. “In that case, your men will be well-rested when you return.”
Sucking in a deep breath, Teach drew up to his full height, but Alastair gave a slight shake of his head. “I’ll make sure they’re taken care of, Teach. I’ll speak with the governor myself.”
It was too risky for Alastair to stay, made clear by the burning of Alastair’s ship. Alastair staying in Nassau was precisely what the governor wanted. And Lord Pelham too.
Cara and Benjamin joined them. The sergeant’s eyes raked Cara from head to toe, and Teach’s hands curled into fists.
“Were you planning on one last visit before you set sail?” Kitts asked Teach. “That might be allowed elsewhere, but there’s no room for whores on this trip.”
Alastair moved quickly, grabbing the sergeant by his collar and planting a fist in his stomach. Kitts toppled into the choppy waters below. Two other soldiers scrambled to pull their comrade up to safety. Teach’s crew laughed, joined by some of the men in uniforms. Apparently Kitts didn’t have the respect of all his men. Teach motioned for the men to come on board.
“I wish you hadn’t done that,” Teach muttered beneath his breath.
“Why?” Alastair asked, coming to stand by his side on deck.
“I should have been the one to hit him,” Cara said.
“You’re my niece. I won’t allow anyone to call you that.”
“He deserved much worse,” Teach said.
Cara nodded. “True. Plus he’ll be in a devil of a mood when they fish him out.”