John whirled, pointing a finger in his face. “I’ve had just about enough of you and your smart comments.”
Anne smirked at the innocent look on Benjamin’s face. John turned his attention back to her. “Just how do you propose you get back to the ship? If you truly shoot the man, and save Teach, there’s no guarantee you’ll make it back before everyone discovers you’re a girl, including Kitts.”
Anne stopped at the door, gripping the handle. “If it is Kitts, then he’ll be dead.”
John quirked a brow at her. “And if it isn’t?”
“I haven’t gotten that far.” She’d once accused Teach of not seeing the broader picture, but she didn’t have time to go over the pros and cons of her decision. She simply needed to get to Teach.
Grabbing the two water skins that Benjamin had filled, John followed behind, muttering under his breath as they took the stairs. Only a handful of men were on deck. They were clearly still exhausted from battling the storm. Nobody gave Anne a second look, her hat pulled far too low for them to make out her features. John and Benjamin untied the ropes and started to lower the longboat to the crystal clear waters below.
“How will you know which way they’ve gone?” John asked.
Anne gripped his arm, wishing she could smooth the furrows from between his brows. “There were thirty men who left with Teach. I’m fairly certain they’ve left a trail even I could track. Now, are we going to continue discussing this or can we get going?”
“I wish I could go with you,” he said, his voice strained. Anne knew John was worried. Not only for her safety, but for Teach’s as well.
“You’re needed with the ship. I’ll be careful, John. I promise.”
John gave her a long hard look. Finally, he nodded. “All right, then. Let’s get to the longboat.
? ? ?
As Benjamin and Anne followed the clear path left by Teach and his men, the sun’s rays beat down on them in relentless waves. If not for the breeze, Anne was fairly certain they would have been devoured by mosquitos.
The afternoon dragged on, the only real mark of the passage of time was the moving shadows across the ground. Anne was grateful for the hat John had given her, but she wished she hadn’t wrapped her wounds. The extra material caused sweat to run down her back in unending rivulets, and her head started to pound.
Ever attentive, Benjamin was quick to catch her when she stumbled. She hadn’t fully recovered from her injuries and marching through the heat was exhausting. By the time they came to a large pool of water, Anne had already finished the skin she’d brought with her. She felt nauseous, her muscles cramping and fatigued.
“You need to rest in the shade,” Benjamin said.
Anne eyed the brown surface of the pool, littered with leaves from the surrounding trees, and wondered if it was safe to drink.
Benjamin didn’t hesitate. He took the skin from her and filled it before handing it back. Then he filled his own. “It’s safe,” he said, taking a large drink. “The fresh water is on top. The saltwater is far below. There are no large animals to taint it.” It was obvious he’d benefited from pools like this before.
Anne filled her skin three more times and downed it all. “Okay, let’s move on,” Anne said, eager to keep going.
“You need to rest.”
“I can rest later.”
“You won’t help him if you collapse from the heat. We can’t be far behind. Even they must have taken a short break.” Benjamin sat and removed his boots.
Torn between wanting to press on and recognizing the need for a rest, Anne stepped carefully to the limestone edge of the pool and looked into its shadowy depths. “Are you going in there?” she asked.
Benjamin nodded, his forehead gleaming under the sun. “It will help us cool off. But you must be careful of your stitches.” He dove in, fully clothed, and surfaced a few feet away with a smile splitting his face. He made it seem so easy.
Unlacing her boots and removing her stockings, Anne placed them at her side. Her back was still tight and bruised. Inching forward, she dipped a toe into the water. It was definitely cooler than the air around them. In England, she’d never learned how to swim, and she envied Benjamin’s confidence in the water.
“Where did you learn to swim?’ she asked, sticking her legs into the pool. She relished the feel of it gently lapping against her warm skin and wished she could fully submerge in its cool depths. But if she did, her stitches would soften and pull out.
“My father was a fisherman. I had to go and gather the nets for him.” He swam to her side, somehow managing to stay afloat by waving his arms and legs back and forth. “When we have time, I can teach you.”
His smile and warmth were contagious. Anne didn’t think she’d met anyone as caring as Benjamin. “I’d like that.” Dipping her hat into the water, she leaned forward and poured it over head, feeling instantly refreshed, her fatigue momentarily forgotten. Drenching her hair again and again, she closed her eyes, grateful for this brief respite from the blazing sun. She hoped it wasn’t much farther to the next cay.
Benjamin filled the skins, insisting Anne drink as much as possible. “I’ve watched people die because of the sun,” he said. “Alastair wouldn’t forgive me if anything happened to you.”
“Nothing’s going to happen to me,” she assured him, but did as he asked. The small break had certainly helped and the pounding in her head had receded somewhat. It was time to continue their journey.
Using her stockings to dry off her feet, Anne slid them on. As she picked up one of her boots, a tiny head popped out. With a small shriek, Anne dropped it, the hair on her arms standing on end. The lizard disappeared inside the dark cavity of leather.
Benjamin reached over, but Anne grabbed his arm. “Wait! What are you doing?”
“I’m removing it from your shoe.”
“But you don’t know if it’s dangerous.”
“It’s not. It’s seeking shelter.” Just as Benjamin said that a large white bird flew overhead, its shadow darkening the ground briefly beside them before disappearing amongst the trees.
Wary, Anne watched as Benjamin calmly removed the lizard, holding it gently in his hand. She couldn’t help the shiver that ran down her back as it turned its head, its beady eyes staring at her. “What are you going to do with it?” she asked.
“Set it free.” Lowering his hand, he placed the lizard in some sand. It scurried away, its tiny legs carrying it as fast as it could run.
“But what happens if the bird comes back?” she asked, feeling rather silly. The lizard had startled her. Just to make sure there wasn’t another one hiding in her other boot, she picked it up and shook it out before sliding it on.
“Then it will seek shelter elsewhere. If it escaped once, it can do it again.”