253A note from the author: Thank you to everyone who has come along on this long journey that I truly never expected to span these last two years. Now we have finally reached THE END. I started publishing this fic back on 5/22/2022 and had intended it to end at Chapter 10. But those reading it encouraged me to continue. Thank you for the help and great story hints.
Where would we all truly be without the enjoyable skills and wonderful acting abilities of Edward Mulhare, Hope Lange, Charles Nelson Reilly, Reta Shaw and Scruffy.
Their party truly does go on eternally now…
Éirinn go Brách, Edward. Go raibh maith agat.
Slainté mhaith, mo chara. Téigh le Dia... Go with God…
But please, do not despair that this is now THE END. It is simply the end of "The Captain's Cottage." There is still "Ghost Of A Chance" and my Knight Rider chapter fic, "The Past Is A Foreign Country"
Always worth a second look and then a third…
And I'm being encouraged to start something new! I have put on my writer's thinking cap, and I have come up with an interesting idea…
Slainté!
Chapter Sixty-One
Sailing For Hearth And Home
Both men rose as one to shadow their furtive intruder. Their movements were silent and stealthy as they glided in pursuit.
At one point, their quarry turned his head, and his white face was briefly reflected in the light of the nearby fire where the supposed guards were seated, eating and drinking while they talked loudly.
"Corbeau…" Daniel confirmed, turning to nod to his companion.
The Frenchman didn't see them hiding in the deep shadows beyond the reach of the fire's light. He slid quickly along beside the piles of cargo, keeping as close to them as humanly possible. None of the men clustered around the fire appeared to see or hear him. They were involved in eating, drinking and staying warm in the chill of the desert night.
With his hand behind his back, the Bey's captain signalled to his men. At the same time, Daniel flicked a pre-arranged signal with his raised sea cap. The combined groups of seamen and palace guards rose together and glided silently after their leaders.
The net was closing fast as Corbeau neared the pile of cargo that had been despatched to Tunis under Claymore's name by the countess. It had been conveniently located at the outer edge of the unloaded cargo. Next to it stood a pile of household goods that were waiting to be shipped aboard the Carolyn at first light.
Corbeau paused at the corner, looking back to the group of men huddled around the fire. Some had curled up on the floor beside the fire seemingly settling down to sleep.
Daniel heard the French spy mutter something derogatory under his breath as he slid further toward his ultimate prize. The Raven made a rude gesture with the fingers of one hand as he settled next to the pile of cargo that was his goal.
He looked right to left and back again as he knelt beside the pile of cargo and moved aside the flap of the oilskin that covered the cavity within. In the next few seconds, several things happened all at once.
The abrupt tinkling of the silver falcon bells that had been sewn to the inside of oilskins signalled the closing of the trap. The Bey's bloodthirsty captain didn't wait for Daniel's signal to attack.
Ahmed rose to his feet and leapt forward. "By the sacred beard of the Prophet!" he screamed, waving his scimitar wildly in the air above his head.
His men followed, springing the trap on the French spy. To his credit, the Raven sprang to his feet with a loud curse. He pulled a long knife from his belt and stood at bay against the cargo as Daniel and his men came running up.
"How did you know?" Corbeau glared at Daniel as he held his knife out before himself. "What gave me away?"
"The use of my foolish cousin. He came after me to warn me of your perfidy," Daniel replied evenly, keeping one eye on the weaving knife. "You are spent, man. Give yourself up."
Corbeau raised his dark brows. "And die slowly in the Bey's prison? I think not."
Captain Ahmed stepped in. "Your death can be easily arranged, you cursed infidel!" He struck out at the spy with his scimitar.
"Not by your hand!" Corbeau evaded the stroke, countering it with one of his own which slit the expensive silk of the captain's sleeve from wrist to elbow.
Ahmed swore mightily at the sting of the blade slicing across his flesh. "Curse you!" He clapped a hand to the slow leak of blood.
"Come and get me if any of you cowards are brave enough," Corbeau challenged, backing up to the pile of cargo behind him. "I'll take you all on and win!"
"Allow me to gut him like a fish," the captain snarled, as he tore a strip of cloth from his silk sash to bind his bleeding arm. "He is mine now."
He stepped forward but Daniel blocked his path with a raised arm. "No. He and his fate are promised to your master. I will not renege on my word."
"But he called us cowards," Ahmed replied grimly. "That insult must be avenged immediately." He raised his scimitar.
"Any revenge to be taken belongs to the Bey," Daniel replied stoutly, still blocking the other man's path as he drew his own sword.
Intent on facing down the other man, Daniel didn't see Elroy Applegate creep to the edge of the cargo above their heads. He held a block of firewood in his hands which he deftly dropped onto the French spy's head, knocking the man out cold.
Corbeau crumpled to the ground with a groan. Both Daniel and Ahmed stared down at him sprawled on the ground at their feet.
"I'm cold and I want to get back to my hammock and go to sleep," Elroy complained, sitting up to clamber down the pile of cargo. "Can we now go, please, Sir?" He pulled at his forelock before hugging his arms across his body and dancing from foot to foot.
"Well done, Seaman Applegate!" Daniel began to laugh. "An extra ration of rum for you tonight!"
"Thank you, Sir!" Applegate grinned as he saluted smartly and nearly toppled over backwards.
"My master will be pleased with this wretch," the captain remarked as he toed the French spy's inert body. "A shame though that I cannot remove something precious from him. He possesses a fine set of ears."
"We will leave him in your care," Daniel replied with relief, as he signalled to his men.
Those of his crew who were not set to guard the cargo answered his summons willingly. Daniel sent them on their way back to the ship with a stern word of command.
He turned back to the Bey's frowning captain. "Tell your master I have kept my side of the bargain. Now I expect him to keep his."
He didn't wait for the other man's reply. He turned on his heel and followed his men from the cavernous warehouse and into the cold night beyond. It was time to sail for home and he couldn't wait to shake the dry and dusty soil of Africa from his boots and get back to the world he knew and loved.
※※※※※
An hour after dawn the next morning, Daniel was in the middle of ordering the loading of his fresh cargo. Everything was going according to plan and Claymore was being useful by closely inspecting every load that was carried aboard.
Daniel looked up as the last of the cargo was hoisted over the railing and he was surprised and delighted by the sight of a long line of heavily burdened donkeys weaving their way along the dock toward his gangplank. The beasts were guarded by a strong contingent of the Bey's palace guards and the same captain from the previous night's work.
"Salam alaykum, Sahibi…"Ahmed saluted Daniel with a flourish of his fingers to his chest and lips and then he touched his forehead. "My master has sent me to receive his reward from you in return for all of this." He waved a careless hand at the line of patient donkeys who stood still with their heads drooping.
"Alaykum salaam, my friend," Daniel replied with a grin. "I have the Bey's due reward for him."
He turned to Mr Jarvis who was standing attentively at his elbow. "Bring up those barrels of mead from the hold and then assemble the men to help unload those over-burdened donkeys. I think we are about to be handsomely rewarded. But we'll need to be quick about it to prevent any theft. And collect the wrapped parcel from my desk while you're about it."
"Aye, aye Sir…" Jarvis saluted before he turned on his heel and hurried away along the deck.
The Bey's captain walked up the gangplank. He moved closer to Daniel and lowered his voice, shielding his mouth with one hand. "My master said to inform you that the Raven came to my country to become the leader of a large network of spies who were well placed to do us great harm. It did not take long to wring a confession from him."
He shook his turbaned head, and his flumes danced. "You have saved my country from a fresh attack from the French infidels. My master could not be more pleased and grateful." He waved his hand at the line of donkeys. "You have been rewarded most handsomely."
Daniel nodded. "Please tell your master I am grateful to be of service."
"And the small matter of the liquid gold from the bee's hard work?" The captain's eyebrows rose. "My master is most anxious to secure them."
"You shall have all the barrels in my possession."
"Then blessings be upon you always." Ahmed smiled and licked his full lips before he turned away to begin shouting orders to his men.
A line of men soon formed from the donkeys to the deck of the Carolyn. They passed tightly bound boxes and sealed woven containers along, all to be delivered into the nearest hold. Then the barrels of mead left the ship for the donkeys' empty panniers.
When all was finally completed, Daniel turned to Ahmed and held out the parcel containing the dynamite along with the fuses and detonator. "A parting gift for your master," he said, gladly handing over the explosives. "Take care with it all."
The captain hefted the parcel, testing its weight. "I shall do that."
He grinned widely as he saluted again before he walked back down the gangplank to rejoin his men and ordered them to depart. He was still tossing the parcel of explosives from hand to hand as they walked out of sight.
"I'm glad that's all behind us." Daniel wiped his damp brow with the back of his hand.
He turned to Jarvis once more. "My compliments to Captain Beaumont. Ask him to join me for a consultation before we sail for home."
"Thank you, Sir." The younger man nodded and turned to call for the signalman to attend him.
※※※※※
Old Alfred bit down the thread he'd been using to mend the sail bunched in his lap. He spat out the two ends of the stout cotton with a grimace of distaste. His teeth hurt and they were starting to bleed a little.
He sighed long and low. "Maybe it's finally time to retire…" But he hated the very idea of not going to sea anymore.
He glanced up at his frowning apprentice who was also bent over his work. "What're you gonna do with your share of the loot, lad?"
Elroy looked up, his brows rising. "What loot?"
"Our loot…" The old man shook his head. "Get your head out of the clouds, boy and listen up. Our Captain is as fair an' straight as they come. He'll see us right with our share of the Bey's treasure. You'll see."
Elroy's eyebrows rose higher on his forehead. "We get a share? I didn't know that."
"All the crew get some," the old man replied. "On this ship and the Rebecca. It's the rules. So, what ya gonna do with yours?"
"I… don't know…" Elroy went still as he drew in a confused breath and held it.
"But it's got ya thinking, hasn't it?" Old Alfred chuckled. "About that sweet little girl of yourn who you left behind when we sailed."
Elroy sighed. "Aye, it has…" he admitted quietly. "I'm always thinking of her. I… love her. Very much. And she loves me."
"Are you thinkin' now about a ring and making an honest woman out of her?" Old Alfred continued, watching him closely.
"Aye, that too…" Elroy's gaze went unfocused and he stared at the bulkhead beside him.
"Like I said, don't leave askin' her until it's too late," his companion muttered. "Don't you go getting old and alone like me. I lost my chance long ago."
He heaved a long sigh. "Take the advice of an older and wiser man. As soon as you get off the ship back in Schooner Bay with your loot safe in your pocket, then you go right around to her house and ask her. Promise me that lad. Promise me, now…"
Elroy heaved an even bigger sigh, and he smiled. "I promise…" he said dreamily. He continued to stare at the bulkhead, the work in his lap quite forgotten.
"Good lad. That's the ticket…" Old Alfred smiled at him and went back to his own work.
There would be time enough yet to get all done before they berthed back home. He shook his grey head. And maybe yet, there was still one more voyage left in him…
※※※※※
Daniel and Lucius stood shoulder to shoulder in front of the piles of their reward for the Raven and his spy ring. They had studied, poked and looked through everything the Bey had gifted to them.
"The old man gave you all of this in exchange for a French spy network and some barrels of mead?" Lucius gave a low, incredulous whistle. "It looks like there's enough loot here to pay off the Admiral and have some left over after our crews get their rightful share."
He reached into the narrow mouth of a woven basket and lifted out a handful of glistening pearl necklaces. He shook his head in wonder as he allowed the long strings to slide back between his fingers.
"We shall take one string each for our wives," Daniel replied.
He was standing next to a tall, wide-based brass incense burner. It was huge and had taken two strong men to manhandle it into the hold.
"What do you plan to do with that thing?" Lucius asked, pointing to the object. "It's good brass, so there's value in it as scrap metal. But you're welcome to it. I know Rebecca would hate it."
"I stopped to admire it as I was leaving the Bey's palace. The old man gifted it to me. If Carolyn refuses to have it in the house, then there will be a place for it in my cellar. It'll go nicely with my Chinese war god, Turkish ceremonial altar and my medieval whatchamacallit."
Lucius began to laugh as he pocketed one long, lustrous string of pearls. "How does it feel to finally be richer than Croesus?"
"I don't think we have reached those heady heights," Daniel replied as he selected a string of pearls before he began to reseal all the containers of loot. "Besides, I am already a rich man. Rich beyond my wildest dreams."
"Aye, we are that, my friend…" Lucius clasped his shoulder in a strong grip. "We are that indeed."
He raised his shoulders. "Shall we hoist our sails and turn for home? I'm beyond ready to leave this whole place of spies and intrigue far behind. The blasted sand gets into everything."
"I think it's well past time," Daniel concurred as he sealed the last of the large containers and re-covered them with the heavy oilskins before tying off the fastenings to keep all secure. "Now that we are our own masters, we will never need to come this way again. The Bey will have to look elsewhere from now on for his supplies of mead."
※※※※※
Four weeks later:
It was late afternoon when Martha answered the sharp knock on the front door. She opened it to find Pertwee, Schooner Bay's ancient telegraph boy standing on the doorstep.
"Good afternoon, Miss Grant…" He raised his cap respectfully.
Martha smiled. "Good afternoon, Pertwee. What do you have for us today?"
"Got a couple of telegrams here for Mrs Gregg…" The ancient telegraph boy drew a pair of envelopes from the inside pocket of his jacket and held them out. "They's from Boston. I knew you'd want 'em, so I came right out with 'em."
He rocked backwards and forwards on his heels, whistling soundlessly. "Don't know what they says. But I thought I'd better bring them up since they's marked urgent and I knew she'd wanna read them right away."
"Thank you…" Martha frowned as she took the envelopes, turning them both over in her hands. "I'll see that Mrs Gregg gets them immediately."
She dipped her hand into the pocket of her apron for her purse. She opened it and drew out a few coins. She passed them across to the telegraph boy's eagerly outstretched palm.
"Thank ya, Miss Grant." He pushed back his cap and scratched his forehead. "Now, what I can say is, ya needn't be afraid of Mrs Gregg opening them. It ain't bad news, if that's what's worryin' ya," Pertwee volunteered, pulling his cap from on his head again. "Just so's ya know."
Martha shook her head ruefully. "As with all the others, I suspected you already know the contents of this these. Despite what you said about not knowing."
"Yes, well…" Pertwee shifted uncomfortably. "I might've sort of looked at it. Just in passin', like. It was, ah… It was…"
"Accidentally, like…" Martha supplied helpfully.
"That's it exactly! Accidental, like…" Pertwee lifted his shoulders. "Good afternoon to you and yours."
He turned away quickly and made good his escape before Martha could question him further. She shook her head as she closed the door and carried the telegrams upstairs to the main bedroom.
"What is it, Martha?" Carolyn looked up from her typing. "Who was at the door?"
She was working on her latest manuscript as she waited to hear any word from Daniel. It gave her something to do to distract her mind. Her heart desperately wanted to believe what the little medium had told her. But her head still doubted.
Martha held out the envelopes. "A pair of telegrams for you. From Boston. Pertwee said he brought them right out because they were both marked urgent."
"Boston?" Carolyn queried as she accepted it. "Are they from Sally?"
"Pertwee didn't say. But he did tell me to tell you that they're not bad news."
"Well, that's something, I guess…" Carolyn sighed as she picked up a letter opener and slit the first envelope open.
She drew out the folded telegram and opened it. She read the contents quickly. "It's from Daniel…" She sagged back in her chair and sighed with relief. "He says he's well and hopes to be home as soon as he can leave Tunis."
"Well, that's a relief," Martha replied with a relieved sigh.
Carolyn studied the telegram again. "It was carried to Boston by the captain of the Mary Anne. He says Daniel asked him to send this to me the moment he docked."
She wiped a hand over her eyes. "I'm so glad."
"Perhaps the little medium had the right of it, after all," Martha replied as she accepted the telegram to read.
"Yes, but we will have to wait and see," Carolyn acknowledged. "I will not rest properly until he is home again. There are two more weeks to endure."
"Then we must pray that it'll be sooner rather than later." Martha nodded.
"Yes, but soon cannot be soon enough," Carolyn replied as she slit open the second telegram. She read the contents quickly and gave a low whistle of astonishment. "This one is from Sally. She says that Vanessa Beauvoir has completely disappeared. Her shop has been shuttered and everything has gone, including the owner. No one has seen her for days or knows where she went. Her house is also empty of furniture and her servants have all been dismissed."
"Well, maybe the devil does look after his own," Martha asserted. "Either way we're well rid of that harlot. The Frenchies are welcome to her. If that's where she's gone, back to the saloons of Paris."
"Yes…" Carolyn nodded. "And Sally also says her father is now under investigation by the Internal Revenue Service." She laughed softly. "It seems he's been covering his large gambling debts with funds stolen from his many businesses. Sally says that's why he was so hot on taking over her magazine. For its growing profits. She says Ellsworth will not worry us again. He will likely go to jail for a very long time."
She smiled as she read further. "And Sally has been asked to take over her father's empire immediately. It seems Ellsworth's creditors think she's the right person to bring it all around. Even if she's just a woman. They're prepared to give her time to prove herself."
"Well, that's even better news and one in the eye for that dreadful man," Martha replied with a wide smile. "Vanessa and he were no better than they ought. They deserve what they've reaped."
"Yes, they do," Carolyn handed her the telegram as they both began to laugh with heartfelt relief.
※※※※※
Daniel stood at the rail and watched the sun rising higher into the sky. It painted streaks of light across the dark waters around them as the blazing orb left the embrace of the sea. Behind the ship, the ocean seemed limitless but if he turned her head, the rugged coastline of Maine was beginning to shoulder its bulky way into the sky, offering the solid comfort of hearth and home.
He knew the entrance to Schooner Bay would soon appear from among the tangled jumble of countless bays and inlets that dotted this part of the Maine coastline. They had spent one night in Boston Harbour where he and Lucius had counted the Bey's very generous reward for the French spy.
"It's off to the bank for all of this," Lucius said, waving one hand at the piles of loot. "I won't be happy until it's all locked up safe and sound in their vault. Then I'll pay our crews out in dollars. Makes it easier for them to carry around."
"Yes…" Daniel nodded as he pushed the toe of his sea boot against one of the many baskets of goods. "I think the old rascal may have stolen all this in the first place. There are merchants' marks on some of these bales from all over the East and beyond. So, it would be of no loss to him if it is so. Merely moving along the trade and blessing himself for his cunning."
Lucius grinned. "Yes. I did notice those same marks." He glanced at his good friend. "And now we are finally back in port. What of the countess? What of her fate? If it were me, I would send her off to Tunis. Maybe the old Bey could be the one to tame her wild spirit."
Daniel shook his head. "I think that would be cruel and unusual punishment, even for the Bey. But I just received a message from Sally Hall saying that Vanessa has completely disappeared from the city. Maybe even the country. All she owned was shuttered and cleared. She's nowhere to be found."
Lucius nodded. "Her French masters would not have liked their network in Tunisia being uncovered. They would blame her and seek to make her pay for their losses. Perhaps a French prison is now her fate."
"Yes, it may be so." Daniel stroked his bearded chin thoughtfully. "Then she got no more than she deserved." He stretched his long limbs. "But now, I am for hearth and home. I have been gone too long and I need to make love to my wife."
"Me, too." Lucius nodded.
The two men grinned at each other before they parted on the best of terms. Lucius rounded up the trusted members of his crew and ordered them to carry the many containers of the Bey's largesse to Boston's main bank where he caused quite a stir.
Daniel watched now as the green land grew steadily larger and closer. Once more, he began to softly quote the poem he'd written, "'Beloved, I am bound to you, for now, for all eternity. I can chart no other course, but homeward to your arms. I must return to you as surely as the sea birds flying with my ship return every season to the distant land. Your loving arms are my harbour, my shore, and my anchor in a storm-tossed world. I fly to you as truly as an arrow flies into the sun, to be lost in the brilliance of your smile, the warmth of your greeting…'"
"I'm finally coming home to you, my beloved." He sighed roughly, dropping his eyes to the watch he'd pulled from his pocket.
He calculated how long it would be before they docked in their home port once more. A burning sense of impatience rose in him. He was very eager now for this troubled voyage to be finally over and to find his own shelter in his wife's loving arms.
Claymore and Jonathan walked up to stand beside him. Daniel turned to them and ruffled the boy's curls.
"Are you glad to be finally going home, lad?" he asked.
"Yes, but I really want to go on being your cabin boy, Sir," the child replied. "I don't want to go back to Philadelphia to become a banker like Grandfather. I would hate that. I'm a seaman, not a banker."
"Well, you have well proven yourself to me," Daniel replied. "I would be proud to have you aboard any ship of mine. But the next time I sail for London town, all of you will be coming with me. I have made that promise to your mother."
"Well, you can count me out of those plans," Claymore asserted, frowning at the land that was fast approaching. "I took this voyage under protest and that still stands. I will be glad to get back to dry land and stay there."
He looked down at his great-nephew. "And there is nothing wrong in becoming a banker. It's an honest profession."
"Bah!" the boy declared, shaking his head vigorously. "I'd rather face a great grey whale or a force ten hurricane!"
"Children…" Claymore shook his head regretfully.
"Henry may want to go to sea too. When he's older," Jonathan added brightly. "After all, he's now a Gregg!"
"We will cross that particular bridge when we come to it," Claymore declared with a grimace.
He scowled at his cousin's wide grin of appreciation before he turned back to the view with a harrumph of displeasure. "No son of mine…" he muttered.
※※※※※
Carolyn sighed with the deep satisfaction of repletion as she settled closer against her husband's powerful body. The hour was late, and the house was quiet. Lucy had slept in her cot in Martha's room for the last few nights.
The reunited couple had spent a great deal of time renewing their love and passion. Daniel had been home for five days and they'd barely left their room.
Martha had been wise enough to keep the children downstairs and under her care. She brought Lucy upstairs when the baby was hungry or was needing her mother. Then they spent time together. But soon the passion would build again, and Martha would take the baby away and close the door to the main bedroom with a wistful smile.
Carolyn played her fingers across her husband's chest as she pressed a kiss to his warm skin. "Where do you think, Vanessa has gone to?"
"I do not know, and I care even less," Daniel murmured, kissing the top of her head. "She deserved her fate as did Ellsworth Hall. They may both go to perdition with my blessing."
"Yes…" Carolyn rubbed her cheek against his naked chest. "I am so glad you are home. I have missed you so much. I love you."
"I have missed you and I love you more than life itself…" Daniel replied, reaching down to turn her face up to his.
He kissed her lingeringly as he cupped the soft fullness of her breast in one hand. He smoothed across its burgeoning tip with the ball of his thumb making her gasp against his lips.
"Not fair…" she whispered as she played her fingers across his hip before trailing lower.
"I've been thinking now that I am my own master and may come and go as I will," her husband said softly, as he lifted her hand to admire the beauty of the Bey's sapphire ring that adorned it. "I think we have too long neglected your list of likes and dislikes…"
"Oh…" Carolyn pushed herself up onto one elbow to look down at him. "What did you have in mind?"
Her husband smiled as his hand cupping her breast slid lower to splay out across the warm softness of her abdomen. "I think Lucy is growing and she'll soon need another brother or a sister. We have one last voyage to London town this season. Then the winter will come, and they say it will be long and cold this year. We will have nothing much else to do but read and make love again and again..."
"Captain Gregg?" Carolyn raised her brows at him saucily.
"Mrs Gregg…" He grinned up at her, so beautiful and glorious in the lamplight.
"These suit you…" He released her hand to touch a fingertip to the long string of lustrous pearls around her neck. They were all she was wearing and felt warm from her body.
"You were saying something about my list of likes and dislikes…" Carolyn teased, lifting his hand to her lip to kiss his palm.
She folded his fingers over the caress. "We have time now. The children are asleep and it's not even midnight. We have nowhere to be in the morning. We can sleep in."
"Come here then…" Daniel tangled his fingers in the long string of pearls and pulled her gently down to him. "We need to do some work on that list of yours…"
"Our list…" Carolyn murmured against his lips before she allowed him to take her back to where they always longed to be. That place between heaven and earth where everything shimmers and floats and love is eternal…
※※※※※
"Are you gently sleeping, here inside my dream?
And isn't faith believing all power can't be seen?
As my heart holds you just one beat away
I cherish all you gave me every day…
'Cause you are my forever love,
Watching me from up above…
And I believe that angels breathe,
And that love will live on and never leave…"
Richard and Linda Thompson