The Main Deck of the Ursula Gothel, Just After Daybreak
No one noticed the group of ragtag figures in red and black make their way onto the ship. Most of the few crewmembers who were awake at this hour were either reading back copies of “The Military Gazette” or exchanging bad jokes about the queen, the elephant, and the ten bucks. Cribby lead them up the gangplank, shaking his head.
They gathered in a ragged circle in the shadows. “All right,” said the small, slender figure with the chestnut hair peeking out from under the hood. “We'll split into three groups. Hilary, you take Mackie, Eugenia, and Mr. Foley and search below-decks. C.J, Maple, and I will look up here. The rest of you, secure the main deck.”
Below Decks, A Few Minutes Later
“How did we end up with the dirty job?” Mackie grumbled as they headed downstairs. “Why can't we stay on the nice, safe, light deck?”
“Because my hus...ex-husband is down there,” Hilary hissed, “and there's no way I'm leaving him here to rot in that filthy cell or be a plaything for that evil, two-faced harlot of the Monongahela!”
Eugenia gulped. “It is kind of scary down here, isn't it?” She looked around the dark, damp rooms. “I feel so sorry for His Lordship. He must be frightened to death, trapped all alone in some nasty cell.” Mr. Foley shuddered at the thought and leaned closer to Eugenia.
Mackie nodded at the two guards pacing in front of Jeff's door. “How in the heck are we going to get rid of those guys?”
Hilary smirked and removed her hood. “Leave that to me.” She went to one of the guards, removing her hood. “Hello there, handsome? How would you like to have a good time?”
The pirate leered at her. “Sure, babe. Why not? You ain't that bad.”
“Get rid of your friend and meet me on the main deck in five minutes.”
She went to the other one. He grinned. “Well, hello there. Ain't you all kindsa cute?”
She winced at the breath that must have had a pickle and onion sandwich for a midnight snack, but all she said was “Meet me on the deck in five minutes. Get rid of your friend.”
The two men obeyed her to the letter. She grabbed the ring of keys from the pocket of one of them as they knocked each other out. “Nice work, Hilary,” Mackie said with a grin as he, Eugenia, and Mr. Foley joined her.
“Some of my best acting.” She nudged one with the toe of the black boots she'd snitched from the British general. “They were both uglier than a pair of wart-nosed sea warlocks.”
“What in the....” The last thing Lord Jeffrey Singer expected to see at that moment was his wi...ex-wife, wearing a ruffled red blouse and a pair of fairly tight black breeches, storming into the room. She was followed by three smaller characters in similar outfits, wearing hoods. “Hilary? What in the...”
“Pumpkin!” She went to his side. “What have they done with you? If that gold-digging river tramp has harmed you in any way, I will send her to the deepest end of the Monongahela!”
Jeff just grinned as she freed him from the wall. “Hilary, you have no idea how happy I am to see you right now.” He eyed the satiny black breeches. “Especially dressed like that. Where did you get that outfit?”
“Borrowed the breeches from a British general. The blouse is a loan from Maple.”
“Umm.” Jeff eyed her trim rear encased neatly in the breeches. “Red and black always did suit you.”
Mackie pulled off his hood. “Before you two start getting mushy on us, Jeff, where's Scott? Have you seen him?”
Hilary helped Jeff to his feet. He rubbed his wrists, trying to get some circulation back in them. “Oh, I saw him, all right. Pruitt picked him up at least an hour ago. Dragged him off almost literally kicking and screaming.” Jeff's eyes narrowed. “And with good reason. Apparently, Pruitt bought Scott and intends to use him for slave labor. I think this is Pruitt's way of getting back at Scott for cracking his codes and trying to rob him blind.”
“Poor Mr. Sherwood!” wailed Eugenia. “He's too nice to be a slave to that awful Governor Pruitt!”
Mr. Foley opened his mouth to agree, but Hilary got there first. “Let's get back upstairs. We have to find out where Pruitt took Scott.” She gave Jeff a quirky little grin. “And who would be better to know the answer than the captain of this ship?”
My Favorite Web sites
Go to Chapter 26!
Go Back to Chapter 24!
Go Back to the Crimson Blade Main Page!
Go Back to the Fanfiction Library!
