A Pirate's Tale

Kate paced on the Widow's floor debating with herself over what they had done. Her long hair was braided on top of her head and hidden under a cap, and she now wore the trappings of a lad of the sea. Between the two women the sewing had not taken long, but one thing remained. Kate's chest would have to be bound. Widow Grayson frowned as she watched the girl pace, "Be still and let us be done with this worrying over how close they are coming will not delay them any." Kate stopped and lifted her shirt to allow the other woman to wrap a strip of cloth tightly around her chest. "I fear this will be for naught, if my father arrives he will see through this in a moment."
"He shall indeed, but he will also see reason, child." Widow Grayson pulled the tunic back down over the wrappings, "Much better. A blessing that you have not much bust, my dear." Kate opened her mouth to say something but clamped it shut again at the sound of horse hooves coming down the street. "Sit down, and we shall wait." The widow poured tea for them both and set out cups for 3 guests. Nathan knocked at the door, Jane had told him of the widow than Kate had visited at times. The widow opened the door, and motioned for Nathan to enter, "Enter and be at peace this night, Captain." Kate's back was toward the door, and from that angle she most definitely looked a lad. Kate didn't turn from where she sat, but drank her tea calmly. Widow Grayson ushered Nathan into the house and closed the door quickly, "You come with trouble on your shoulders, Captain, but what you seek will not be found here or ever more."
"I have found what I want widow, she is stood looking at the wall."
Kate spoke from where she still was, "No, you seek a lady to grace the halls of your house beside your lonely wife while you are at sea. That you have not found, nor will you ever more."
"Nay Kate, what I do seek is my child and that is all, my wife will not be so for much longer that much I have decided."
"Your child is long since grown, Captain." Kate laughed. Nathan looked at the girl.
"That as well may be but you are always a child to be whatever you may think. A daughter forever in my heart." Nathan sounded poetic and truthful. "Maybe a child to you, but a witch to others and an evil reminder of my mother's marriage to her lover."
"Aye Kate, true enough but I needed to know you were well looked after before I let you go your own way in this world."
I go to sea on the morrow." Kate shrugged, "Well looked after or nay, I shall do as I must." Nathan pulled a small pouch from his waist. "Here girl, take this, it'll help keep secrets." Widow Grayson poured tea into a cup for Nathan, "You know as well as I that the girl would be best on your ship, Captain." She handed him the cup and smiled, "That is not the money of secrets for a woman, sex is the only sure way to keep lips sealed for us."
"Aye and I won't have it. My own daughter aboard ship, take any you find but not mine Kate. My crew take it as a ill omen if they find a woman aboard, others are not so choosy."
"Captain." The widow's voice was sharp, "You think any other would tolerate a witch on board? At least on your ship she would have one who understands. Witches are thrown over board on all but the worst ships. And your daughter is sure to be accused of such for hiding as a man."
"The crews I speak of have had many such women found and none have yet ended up in the sea. Your fears are old and stuck in the past much as my crews are." Kate raised her hand to cut the Widow's next words off,
"Peace, Clara." Nathan nodded to his daughter, Kate understood more of the sea than this widow did. "His ship departs in three days, I depart on the morrow. Time is not on his side. For I shall miss the storm." The widow muttered, "Stubborn pirates." Then went to her cabinet to find something, "Keep the goddess' mark on you, child and don't speak of coming storms on ship. I wish to have letters from you not hear of your demise."

Nathan woke the next morning in the chair where he had slumped when he had returned. Michael was still laid in the opposite chair sleeping, he looked angelic and Nathan knew that he would one day want something from the lad that he wasn't sure Michael would give. Jane walked in looking daggers at Nathan, she kept her voice low as not to wake the boy, "Nathan, where is my daughter?"
"She'll not be found lass, that for cert, I give you my word of honour that she is safe and well."
"Nathan, at least tell me what happened last night?" Jane sighed.
"I wish I could Jane but I'm not so sure what happened myself." Nathan looked to his wife. "Jane, you are a good woman and I hope I can make you happy with what I am about to say." She was none too happy with the pirate, but she couldn't blame him for not telling her anything. It wasn't as if Jane had made any effort to let Kate get to know Nathan, "If she was with the Widow, please tell me she was NOT going to train as a witch?!"
"Nay, she was well and as far as know leaving the widows company before long." Nathan stood stiffly. "Jane, listen to me for a time as I have news that affects you and I."
"What news have you, husband, that is more important than that of my daughter?" Jane looked very tired.
"I have news of freedom from this curse of marriage that we had too long been bound into. Would you not trade a hour for the right to marry another?" Nathan sighed. "But..." She was overcome by shock and a mix of other emotions. A few moments she was silent. Then softly she said, "I would trade much but the end of our marriage, would mean our daughter is considered a bastard child, Nathan."
"Nay, she is old enough to stand alone in the world and others think ill enough of us already."
"Indeed, they may but those same think very highly of Kate in spite of her company with the Widow."
"So Jane, are you willing to give me up? I have hidden what I could for you of my nature but I well know that you have knowledge of my own self."
"Nathan, does it speak ill of myself that I believe this is the nicest thing you have ever offered to give me besides our daughter?"
"Nay Jane, it speaks ill of me holding you to this loveless marriage for so long for my own gains." Nathan looked sorrowful. "I wish I had come to my senses sooner and given you what you asked for so long ago."
Jane hesitatingly placed her hand on Nathan's arm, "My father's passing would be required before we could do such a thing or you would have to repay him my dowry."
"Aye, and now that I have enough I may pay the bride price and more to your money grubbing father."
"You would do such for my sake, Nathan?" Jane was torn, she did not wish her daughter's name to be smudged, but with Kate gone, maybe Jane could have a second chance. She scolded herself mentally for thinking such things. "I would Jane, for all I have done to you I still love you much like a sister and you deserve happiness, I do not know if I shall get my choice of life but I wish you well in yours."
Jane hugged the captain just then. She didn't say a word, just hugged him and held him thus for a few moments, until she noted the boy's open eyes upon them. She pushed away from Nathan and tried to gather her dignity, but gave up with a laugh and hugged the man again, "Thank you dearly, Nathan, look after our little girl for me." Nathan tried to look manly and failed and wrapped his arms around his beloved almost sister. "Jane, I wish you truly were my sister for you are in all but blood, I shall do what I can for our girl." Nathan noted from the corner of his eye that Michael was watching his green eyes burning with something that Nathan could not quite identify. Jane couldn't help herself she winked at the boy, "Do us all a favour and watch over my dear 'brother,' boy." She thought over what she had just said and shook her head, "Kate is much like you, Nathan and I fear her behaviour is influencing myself shall we end this non-existent marriage then, Captain?"
"Yes, dear 'Sister' and let it be none too soon."

Nathan visited Jane's father the next day, the old man had not taken it well. He had wanted to have Nathan at his beck and call always and knew that any future husband of Jane’s would not accept such treatment. Soon it was time to sail again and Nathan bid Jane a fond farewell and promise to visit in the near future. Michael carried the holdalls aboard with the few things that Nathan owned in them. Michael wished they'd had more time to get to know each other better but time and troubles didn't not allow such a luxury.

Kate wondered idlely how much trouble they were going to be in if those footsteps were someone coming to wake Jinadu for his Watch shift. She didn't think it was that late yet, as he was usually awake and ready to leave his bunk before they came. But if she was caught here, there would be trouble. She snuggled into the black man's side for the warmth, not truly worried. She trusted him to tell her when she had to hide again. Kate drifted off to sleep in the warmth. A sudden noise woke the sleeping pair. It was Stewart, one of the crew, coming into the bunk area. "Jinadu? It's time you were on watch." He looked into the bunk. "Hey, who are you?" Kate woke alarmed at first but then realised she was still make up to be a boy. "New cabin boy." She muttered as low as she could. "New cabin boy, huh?" Stewart didn't look very convinced, but then who was he to say Jinadu wouldn't break down and take what he could get like the rest of them. "You can come warm me bunk next, boy."

"No luck Stew." Jinadu grabbed Kate's arm and pulled her with him when he rose to leave, "You've chores to do before the morning, Kit." The African man's reputation alone was enough to keep most of the crew from challenging him. The rest liked him too much to risk pissing him off. Stewart shrugged it off and rolled into his bunk, what Jinadu did in his spare time wasn't any of Stewarts business that was for sure, but there was something odd about that new cabin boy.

Kate wondered where Jinadu would have her hide now, as there weren't many places besides his crate of belongings for her to hide. He could just send her to the cargo hold, but that was risky with the coming of morning and the pulling of supplies for the galley. She almost ran into the big black man's back when he stopped and turned to look at her. He spoke low and in half his native tongue and half English, knowing that she would pick up his meaning where others would not, "Come on watch with me. It will be safer now."

Kate half smirked as she answered with a nod and a soft comment, "Thinking this watch could be fun, Jin?" She enjoyed this game of cat and mouse they played with the rest of the crew, but knew eventually they would be caught. And from the feeling she had of a coming storm that she knew was nothing to do with the weather, it would soon be over.

What possessed Nathan to be on deck at that hour, none but he knew. He paced out from his cabin into the predawn light, his whole being taunt and restless. He'd been wondering about Kate of late and regretting not knowing his own daughter better. His line of thoughts was just about to take that usually turn of regret when his hearing picked up what sounded like the grunts of sex not too far away. Nathan would have to lecture the watchman if he was one of the guilty party. The point of a watchman was to watch for potential danger, not dally away their watch. The captain moved silently over to the shadowy corner of the deck that the sounds were coming from, but the reprimand on his lips died before it could issue forth. Before him, looking as if they had just finished up and were now correcting clothing, were not two men, but a man and a woman dressed as a man, his daughter Kate. Nathan couldn't mistake the girl, and all that he could push forth from his mouth was a hardy string of cuss words for a few moments.

Kate and Jinadu turned at the voice and the girl had the decency to look ashamed for a moment. But only a moment, then she started laughing, "Why, Captain, I do believe you have repeated almost every cuss word of the seas at least twice." She knew she shouldn’t find the situation amusing, but she couldn't help it. It was just too ironic that the only man whom she couldn't trick, would be the one to sneak up on Jinadu and herself while they were pressed up against a mast, doing things no father wanted to see. She smiled ruefully and gave the African man one last kiss on the mouth, "Your captain will nay be happy with you, I'm sure but he is an ill-mannered pirate, so it can be forgiven. I thank you for the fuck, Jinadu I'll warm your bunk again after the god captain has thrown his fit about a woman on board."