Page 14 of Kidnapped by the Pirate
Hands went up with a raucous cheer. Hawk grinned. “That’s the spirit of The Damned Manta!” He waited a few moments before raising his hands and quieting the men. “The boy will remain in my cabin. Untouched. Unharmed. Some of you will tend to him when needed—food, water, emptying the pot if I am otherwise engaged. Do not speak to him or allow him to ensnare you. Some of you will remember his father or have heard the tales of his treachery. Walter Bainbridge is a snake in the grass, and his son is surely just as slippery and deceitful.”
The men nodded, murmuring in agreement.
“Don’t be taken in by his innocent countenance. He’s a spoiled, lazy brat who’s had everything handed to him without a minute’s work, without a moment’s hardship.”
More agreement. Then, “What ’appens if the old man don’t pay?”
Hawk identified the man speaking. Red hair, scrawny, a perpetual scowl, rapacious hunger coiled in his long limbs. It was the sailor who had just joined them from the Proud William.
Already speaking so boldly could signal trouble, but Hawk would give him the benefit of the doubt. Hawk knew how miserable those merchant ships could be, just like the navy—working oneself to the bone for next to nothing.
“Ah, our new brother. Your name?” Hawk asked.
“Tully.” He glanced around as if daring anyone to contradict him.
“A valid question. I’m confident Bainbridge will pay the ransom.”
Another man spoke up. “I thought Primrose Isle was failing. Ain’t supposed to be any money there, not enough food, more and more people pulling up stakes and going to the Carolinas or Jamaica. Thought that was why we’ve never bothered with the place.”
“Absolutely true. But Bainbridge is a venal, greedy man. We’ve heard as well that he lives in a grand house on the colony; that he thrives while his people struggle. He grasps for power, and what message would it send to the rest of the New World if he allowed pirates to murder his only son? If he displayed such weakness, such vulnerability?”
The men murmured, nodding to each other. Hawk continued. “He cannot permit it. His pride will not. If he doesn’t possess the funds, he will acquire them one way or another, or his reputation would suffer a devastating blow. No matter the truth, he cannot appear weak. Of that I am certain. I am also certain we will have a battle on our hands once we make the exchange.”
Hawk grinned wolfishly. “But The Damned Manta never runs from a fight when our prize is so valuable. Who’s with me?”
The men cheered, raising their fists. One shouted, “Revenge’ll be fucking sweet!”
Hawk couldn’t agree more. “Now we sail for Nassau to trade the rest of the cargo.”
More cheers, and Hawk didn’t tell them the stop in Nassau would be far, far briefer than they’d like. It was too great a risk to anchor there for long. If word got out of their ransom, they’d be fighting off other pirates.
No, better to keep moving, staying out of the shipping channels, sailing close enough to Primrose Isle, but not too close.
The men went back to work, excitement fueling their steps, and Hawk turned to survey the sea behind them, the ship’s wake fanning out. Snell rejoined him after a time, asking, “Spot anything we don’t?”
Hawk laughed softly. “Afraid my eyesight’s not what it once was.”
“My everything’s not what it once was.” Snell ran a hand over his thinning blond hair and patted his thick stomach.
They stood in companionable silence, and Hawk scanned the horizon. It was true his vision wasn’t quite as sharp as it had been decades before when he’d earned his nickname, but he still kept a keen watch.
As a lad, he’d quickly become known as the best lookout on the ship he’d served. “Eyes like a hawk up there!” He credited his boyhood on Cornwall cliffs, watching the sea, pining for her embrace.
Careful what you wish for.
Sometimes Hawk missed the peace of the lookout, high above the bustle and chatter. It was a good crew, a hardworking crew, but if they’d just shut up sometimes… He shook his head. “I’m getting too old for this.”
Snell snorted. “If you’re too old, I’m fucking ancient.”
“Well, I wasn’t going to say it in quite those words, but…”
“All right, all right.” Snell’s smile faded. “Walter fucking Bainbridge. That piece of shit. I suppose it was inevitable that our path would cross his again.” He was silent for some time, but Hawk knew Snell had more to say, so he waited.
Finally Snell continued, gaze on the horizon. “I’ve wondered why we’ve avoided Bainbridge after what he did. Because of him, we almost swung. Many men would have paid him a visit to settle accounts long before now. But not you.”
“At first, it wasn’t worth the risk. We had to make a living. Establish ourselves under the black.”
