He hit the stairs running, and made it to the courtyard in seconds. As he passed Pim, he pretended to wave at someone in the square, but said, "Pim, Hester, go to the lodging house. Second Floor. Run!"
Pim grabbed Hester by the arm and said, "Sorry, darlin', but trouble's afoot. Run!" They ran across the courtyard with Hester still in the halter with her hands tied. As the gawkers in the crowd watched them run, Jack doubled around the town square and came up behind Charlie and Barton Pike. He followed them as they went around the corner and approached the alley Jack knew would take them to the back entrance of Commander Dowling's quarters.
Jack followed the men into the alley and called their names. By the time they turned, he was upon them. He plunged a knife into Pike's rib and raked it sideways. Pike went down quietly, and when he hit the street, he was there to stay. One-Eyed Charlie Fine, by nature a nervous man, began shaking with fear. He fell to his knees and begged for mercy. Jack pulled him behind an empty water barrel.
"I'll have some information from you," Jack said, "and quickly."
"Anything!"
"What are you doing in town? Wait-don't lie to me."
Charlie had been about to do just that. Now it didn't seem sensible.
"The garrison up at Amelia has snuck down and surrounded the pirates."
"How could pirates get surrounded?"
"They're drunk and drugged."
"By the whores?"
Charlie nodded. "The pirates, once gathered, will be held."
"Where?"
"Top floor of my pub, the Blue Lagoon."
"Can't they jump out the window?"
"Window's too small. Even if they could get out, it's pretty high. And anyway, they're guardin' the back."
"By how many men?"
"I don't know."
"To what purpose are they being held there?"
"They're going to be hung in my tavern one by one."
"On the first floor?"
Charlie nodded again.
"When?"
"It's already started. The rounding up part anyway."
"What about the pirate ship?"
"They're sending The Viceroy to attack her."
"When?"
"At dawn."
As far as last words go, Charlie could have done worse. Jack made his way to the lodging house and found Abby and her mother whispering to each other. Both seemed dazed and distraught. Pim had gotten the halter off Hester and was working at the binding on her wrists.
Abby said, "Where did you go?"
Catching Pim's eye, Jack said, "I saw a man I know, and he meant to harm me and Mr. Pim, and some of our friends."
"Who's Mr. Pim?"
Pim smiled and gave a half bow.
Abby backed up a step and shuddered. She looked at Jack.
"You actually know this…this person?"
"I do. And he's a close friend of mine."
"A friend? How can this be possible?"
Hester abruptly stopped crying and looked at Jack.
"Who are you?" she said. To Abby she said, "And how do you know him?"
"He's the father of my child," Abby said.
"He's what?" Hester's eyes dropped to Abby's chest a long moment, then she slapped Jack full force across the cheek. Then she turned and slapped Abby nearly as hard.
When Pim said, "Jack's a good man," Hester slapped him as well.
Then Abby said, "Who the hell is Jack?"
Pim looked at Jack and shrugged his shoulders as if apologizing for blowing his cover.
"Look," Jack said. "There'll be plenty of time for explanations later on. Right now all you need to know is our lives are in danger, as are the lives of our friends. Hester, Mr. Pim is a bit raggedy now, but he cleans up right proper and he's wealthy and will make you a fine husband."
She looked at Pim and said, "I'm sorry I slapped you. It's been a vexing day."
"And getting worse by the moment," Jack said. He took Pim far enough aside that the women couldn't hear, and hurriedly repeated what Charlie had said. "I won't ask you to give up your land legs, but our mates are ambushed and need our help. Are you with me?"
"Aye, a course I am."
"Good. Now listen. I've only got the one horse, so I've got to warn the ship. You'll have to walk to Sinner's Row and scout things out."
"What about the ladies? Leave 'em here?"
Jack looked at the women a moment, and sighed. "They'll slow us down, but you better take them."
"We could get 'em a room here."
Jack shook his head. "If her father comes, it won't go well for her and the baby."
"You truly be the one got her with child?"
"Let's just move along with our planning."
Pim smiled. "How much should I tell them?"
"Tell them everything."
"Hester might not want me if she knows my past."
Jack took a moment to survey his friend's appearance. "You think you could sink lower in her eyes?"
Pim shrugged.
Jack said, "Tell them what you like. But make sure they're safe."
"You got a plan?"
Jack nodded. "I'm working on it."
Pim nodded and said, "Okay then. I guess we'll go together and listen for your whistle."
Jack walked over to Abby and cupped her chin in his hand. They kissed quickly, and when he broke away he looked her in the eyes. "I must warn my friends," he said.
"I'm coming with you."
"You can't. I'll have to ride hard. Also, I expect to pass your step-father on the road, searching for you. So look sharp and stay with Mr. Pim."
Abby's face went white. "If Philip finds me he'll kill me."
"Mr. Pim won't allow it."
"You don't know Philip."
"And he don't know Pim. Okay, I'm off."
Chapter 14
Jack galloped out of town and had gone about a mile when he ran into Philip Winter. Philip angled his horse across the path and held his musket across his chest, bidding Jack to stop.
"Who might you be?"
"Henry Ames. And you?"
"Philip Winter."
"You the man sold his wife an hour ago?"
"The same. Now I'm looking for my daughter."
"You planning to sell her too?"
Philip Winter sized Henry up. "Who knows you around here, Mr. Ames?"
"You do, for one."
Philip aimed his musket at Jack's face and pulled back the action.
"I'll have your horse, Henry, and you on the ground, face down until I decide what to do with you."
"I don't think so."
Jack jerked hard on his reign while kicking his horse's ribs. His horse slammed into Winter and Jack ducked below the gunshot. By then, Jack had his flintlock out and cocked in one hand, and Winter's reigns in the other.
"I don't know why you'd wish to shoot a fellow traveler, or steal his horse, but it concerns me enough to ask you to dismount."
Winter reluctantly stepped down from his horse.
"What do you intend, sir?"
Jack wasn't sure. His first instinct was to kill Winter. But what would he do with the body? He didn't have time to deal with this right now.
"I'll take your horse with me," Jack said. "You'll find it at the river crossing, tied to a tree."
"I have urgent business. My daughter is missing."
"You'll have to delay the search. I'm sorry."
Winters nodded. "If I see you again, I'll kill you."
"In that case, I hope not to see you again. But since I'm bound for Georgia, I doubt our paths will cross."
"You're heading the wrong way for Georgia, sir."
"I'm making a detour. I'm a scout for The Viceroy, and have pirates to kill along the way."
"Wait! Why didn't you say this earlier? I'm part of the plot."
"What part is yours?"
"Why, creating the diversion so all the locals would be in town during the roundup."
Jack nodded. "But you intended all along to sell your wife, did you not?"
"Yes, of course. But the timing added some silver to my pocket."
"Mayor Shrewsbury?"
"The same. So, can I have my horse back?"