I pushed back from Jack. “Oh I cannot even imagine what you have—”
My words died on my tongue as Bon’s face appeared over Jack’s shoulder. Of course, her garb was mannish and ragged and heavy with salt. Her brown hair stuck out this way and that, as wild and untamed as the waves themselves. The dagger on her belt gleamed as she reached out toward me.
“No downcast faces when Irish Bon is about.” I could hear the smile in Jack’s voice. “Say hello to the woman who saved your husband’s life.”
“That she did, too many times to count!” With a belly laugh, I took Bon’s outstretched hand.
“Look who’s alive after all!” Bon turned me a circle, as though we were on a dance floor back in London. We swept across the deck to a song only we knew, laughing and smiling. Her arms tightened around me as we made our way back round to where Jack stood, clapping and smiling along with everyone else.
“Welcome home.” The words were a whisper on her lips as Bon dipped me low. She pressed her mouth to mine in a kiss that raised catcalls from the crew. Passionate. Lasting. Like a promise that would be kept even if I didn’t keep mine.
Russian Jack smiled and held out his hand as our dance ended. I took it but watched my precious friend.
Irish Bon stepped backward into the throng of crew. Something in her eyes dimmed as Jack wrapped me in his arms. My own smile took on a hint of sadness.
“My precious friend.” I kissed my fingers and held them out to her. She kissed her fingers, too. Before she could hold them out to me, I saw a tear slide down her cheek.
Jack’s voice was warm in my ear. His breath on my skin sent excited sparks down my neck. Other muscles ached with anticipation of what the night held in store for my husband and me. “Welcome home, Back from the Dead Red,” he whispered, “to what is already yours.”
Pirate and Prostitute Index
This book was inspired by the lives of historical women who just happened to be pirates. But where there are women, there are also men. Below you will find a list of the actual pirates, who lived their lives and sailed the seas and in doing so, inspired this book.
Edward Low—1690–1724. Edward, or Ned, was an English pirate during the Golden Age of Piracy. He was markedly cruel and even earned the titles of bloodthirsty and wicked. It was said by those who served upon on his ships, that Low murdered out of “passion and resentment.” Ned inspired Charles Swan.
Red Legs Greaves—abt. 1649–1700. Red Legs was a Scottish man born into slavery in Barbados. He became a sailor then a pirate, though he was called even then “the gentleman pirate”. He was captured and tried for piracy and sentenced to death. A freak earthquake that demolished the prison which held him gave him the chance to escape. He earned a royal pardon and retired from piracy and became a philanthropist. He inspired Red Legs Roberts.
Mary Read—1690–1721. An English pirate also known as her late brother’s name, Mark. Her mother raised her as a boy and she continued to dress as a man the remainder of her life. She came to work on Calico Jack Rackham’s ship where Anne Bonney was also on board. The two were fast friends and may have been lovers. When Rackham’s ship was overrun, everyone aboard was tried for piracy and sentenced to death. Mary and Anne, found to be pregnant, weren’t executed with the others but Mary died of fever while in prison. There was no record of her child being born. Mary inspired Redella and Irish Bon.
Anne Bonney—1700–1782. Anne was an Irish pirate whose father dressed her as a boy and called her Andy. She was said to be a red head with a temper to match. She supposedly married Calico Jack Rackham, but was probably in a relationship with Mary Read, too. There is no record of her dying or being executed after she and Read “pled the belly” at their trial for piracy. She inspired Redella and Irish Bon.
Thomas Tew—abt. 1640–1695. English sailor-turned-pirate. He is rumored to be the father of Ratsimilaho, who created a kingdom in Madagascar. Tew may have created a pirate colony called Libertatia, which may or may not be real. Captain William Kidd, before he was a pirate, was commissioned by King William III to hunt down Thomas Tew. He inspired Tommy Tew.
John “Calico Jack” Rackham—12/26/1682–11/18/1720. Calico Jack was an English pirate who was known for wearing calico clothing. He, along with Anne Bonney and Mary Read, operated during the Golden Age of Piracy and his first mate, Karl Starling, designed the Jolly Roger flag. He was hung for piracy and has a cay named for him in Jamaica, where he was executed. It is said that his wife, Anne Bonney, told him upon their capture that, “Had you fought like a man, you need not been hang’d like a dog”. He inspired Russian Jack.
Ching Shih—1775—1844. Ching was a Chinese prostitute who turned to piracy when her brothel was captured, and she married the pirate captain. Known for her brutality and her code which favored women’s fair treatment, Ching grew to be the most successful pirate in history, even after her husband died. Her strict code, or articles, were adapted as the articles in this book. She was pardoned for her piratical acts later in life and opened a gambling house. She inspired Redella.
Grace O’Malley—1530–06/18/1603. Irish pirate who spoke Gaelic and Latin, but no English. She met with Queen Elizabeth of England and refused to bow and was even carrying a dagger, though she swore she meant Elizabeth no harm. Though married, she rescued a shipwrecked man fifteen-years her junior and he became her lover. When he was killed, she turned revolutionary. She is still a popular Irish folk figure. Grace inspired the women in this book.
Anne Dieu-Le-Veut—08/28/1661–01/11/1710. She was a French pirate. Her husband was killed in a barfight by pirate Laurens de Graff. He insulted her, as well. To avenge her husband, she challenged de Graff to a duel. De Graff was so taken aback, he proposed to her instead. She accepted. Anne inspired Redella.
Christina Anna Skytte—November 9, 1643–January 21, 1677. Christina Anna was a Swedish baroness and a pirate who was an active participant in brutal pirate activities alongside her husband. Christina inspired the women in this book.
Jacquotte Delahaye—A French-Haitian whose best days came around 1656. She was a female buccaneer who faked her own death and assumed a male identity. When she revealed herself later, she was known as Back from the Dead Red, on account of her red hair. Jacquotte inspired the title of this book, and the main character.
Racheal Wall—1760–October 8, 1789. Racheal was attacked by a group of girls on a dock, only to be rescued by George Wall, a small-time pirate. They married and began their life of thievery and pirating. After storms, Racheal would stand on their deck and scream for help. Any who came to their aid was murdered and their vessels, looted. After George and his crew washed out to sea, Racheal attempted to steal a girl’s bonnet and rip out her tongue. She was sentenced to die by hanging and was the first American woman to become a pirate, and the last woman to be hung. Racheal inspired the women in this book.
Black Caesar—born in west Africa and was hanged for piracy in Williamsburg, Virginia in 1718. He sailed with Blackbeard and was an African who would never be a slave. Big, strong, and smart, he was able to outwit the slave traders every time. Rumors of his buried treasure have never come to fruition. He kept a harem on a rocky island named for him, but left them no food or water, so many died. Dark Water William is based on this legendary pirate.
Charles Swan—A reluctant and arrogant pirate who wound up speared in the water in 1690. Charles was inspired by this pirate of the same name.
•
Some of the prostitutes aboard The Molly Maiden were also taken from colorful wenches of the day.
Mary Carleton, or orphaned Princess von Wolway of Cologne—January 11, 1642–January 22, 1673. Mary took on many false identities and defrauded countless men, many of which were too embarrassed by their having been taken to report her. She was tried for bigamy when she was found to be married to two men at the same time. She was banished from Europe to Jamaica, but when she was discovered to have come back to England an assumed identity, she was sentenced to death and hanged.
Salt-Beef Peg of Port Royal—An infamous Port Royal prostitute; it cost 500 pieces-of-eight just to see her naked.
Unconscionable Nan and Buttocks-de-Clink Jenny—Port Royal prostitutes who worked alongside Salt-Beef Peg. To spend the night with one of these drinking, swearing, promiscuous ladies-of-the-evening would cost a pirate 2-3,000 pieces-of-eight per night.
But what are pieces-of-eight?
Pieces-of-eight were silver Spanish coins that were worth eight Spanish reales, which were the currency at the time. However, pieces-of-eight became popular and were used as currency all over the world from the Americas to the Orient—and especially by the pirate faction.
•
The funeral for Loreena followed the traditional pirate funeral and burial at sea traditions as outlined in A General History of the Pyrates.
About the Author
Sara Harris is the author of more than fifteen books in a variety of genres for both children and adults. She lives with her family—including a number of rescue pets—in a small town west of Houston, Texas, where the sunsets are gorgeous, the ice cream is perfection, and the ocean is close enough to visit each weekend.
Sara has her Bachelor of Arts degree in History and is currently enrolled in nursing school.
Visit Sara online at
Also Available From
WordCrafts Press
Fiery Red Hair, Emerald Green Eyes, and a Vicious Irish Temper
Ralph E. Jarrells
Demimonde
James E. Cressler
A Pale Horse
Michelle A. Sullivan
Saturday and the Witch Woman
Thomas O. Ott
