Her sweet voice, one I thought I’d never hear again, was quiet so that only I could hear. “I prayed that you’d come back. Every night and all the day. Sometimes, Red Legs even prayed with me.”
I gave her shoulders a final squeeze and held her at arm’s length. Her hazel eyes matched the color of the Welsh sea. “Tell me something. Is Red Legs treating you well?”
“Yes, he is.” She wiped her nose across the back of her hand. “Sorry Mama, I just get so emotional.”
“Never apologize, Rusty. You’ve done nothing wrong.”
She wrapped me in a hug again. “Thank God you’re home.”
Red Legs joined us. For the first time since I’d come to know him, he was smiling. “Welcome home, Back from the Dead Red.”
Rusty grabbed his hand.
“Such a difference in this girl,” I said.
Rusty blushed as I sang her praises. “When she came aboard The Black Otter, she was a scared captive. I never dreamed she’d beg to stay aboard as mine and Jack’s daughter. Only to become wife to the most unlikely pirate.”
Like his wife, Red Legs flushed as red as Rusty’s hair.
“Thank you, Red Legs.”
He is smile widened.
Behind Rusty and Red Legs, Solo and Poison Lightning’s movements caught my eye. “Hey,” I began, “what are they—”
I cut off my thought and slapped my hands over my eyes. “Lord above!”
Poison Lightning pretended to nail Solo’s feet to the deck with an imaginary hammer. Solo flailed his arms and cried, just as Charles Swan had the night I truly took control of The Black Otter. In tandem, both Solo and Poison Lightning stopped and looked at me with mischievous grins.
“Why, it’s a reenactment, just for you. Of your bloodiest moment.” Jack spoke from beside me. “When they retire from pirating, I believe the two of them could make a go of it in a theatre troupe.”
I shook my head and howled. “I can’t—” Tears, this time of a different sort, streamed down my face as I watched Solo and Poison Lightning go back to their nailing.
“Over here, over here,” Tommy cried from beside the rope that, that fateful night, doubled as the keelhaul rope for Dark Water William. He jumped up and down, and his paunchy belly bounced over his britches. “Tie me up and push me over!”
I buried my face in Jack’s shoulder as a rabid flush burned in my neck and face. “Seeing everything you missed, Jack, from your brutal killer of a wife?”
“I’ve heard about and these things and more, my love.”
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.
