Corsets & Crossbones (9 page)

And then, like lightening, Baum was in front of her, his pistol pointing between her eyes.  She gulped, but tried to appear strong, certain.  She could hear Charlie hollering, but it was just static to her.  She couldn’t make out anything and didn’t try to.  All she was paying attention to was the barrel of a gun between her eyes.  Her life could end in a moment if Baum so wished.  She could die before the day was over.

“Such a pretty waste,” he said, lifting his hand up and dragging his fingers down her cheek.  His lips nearly touched her cheek; she could smell his breath on her face.       

“I swear, Baum, if you touch ‘er!”  Charlie was silenced by a man throwing his fist in Charlie’s stomach.  Charlie fell to his knees and gasped for breath, but his eyes remained focused on Brooke.  The two shared a look; she just wanted him to shut his mouth so he wouldn’t get hurt anymore.  He just wanted her to be safe, away from all of this.

“Now, lass,
yer a smart girl,” Baum continued as though the incident with Charlie never happened.  “Ye wanna be a part of the winnin’ team?”  He wiggled his eyebrows causing Brooke to grimace in disgust.

Brooke’s heart was racing.  She tried to speak and yet no words came out.  Instead, she did what she thought was best to convey her feelings about switching sides; she spit in his face.  Charlie’s eyes widened and he would have smirked if Brooke’s life wasn’t threatened.  Brooke stared hardly at Baum, who was frankly surprised at her action.  His one eye narrowed at her, and for a minute, she and Charlie both thought that he was about to shoot Brooke.  Her heart skipped a beat, pumping faster and then slower and then faster, yet she did not see her life flash before her eyes as survivors said they usually did.  In an instant, she felt herself fall to the floor, burning pair searing her left temple.

“What more do you want, Baum?” Charlie asked darkly as he watched a member of his former crew roughly pull Brooke up.  She shook her head and blinked a few times, trying to maintain her balance.  He could already see a bruise starting to form on her left temple.  “You have the ship, you have the crew, you killed…”  He swallowed, still not fully believing what he was trying to say.  “…you killed Heath.  Just drop me an’ the lass at the nearest port and we’ll be out of your hair.  You’ll never hear from us again.”

Baum laughed mirthlessly just as a man from the crow’s nest called, “Land, ho!”

Charlie watched as Baum put his pistol back in his holster before pulling out a small dagger.  He clenched his teeth as he saw the man dance the blade lightly on Brooke’s throat, teasing her, taunting her.  Brooke looked helpless, almost like she had given up hope of surviving.  Baum slowly walked behind her, his eye drifting up and down before a smirk littered his face.  Again, Charlie bit his lip tightly, keeping his eyes narrowed on him.  He saw movement behind Brooke from Baum, but Brooke’s face didn’t contort into pain.  Instead, she looked on in surprise.  And then, she moved her arms and started rubbing her wrists.  There were cuts on them, and bruising would be a guarantee.

“
Yer goin’ ter need those to survive, lass,” Baum explained to her.  He turned to face Charlie.  “I said I was a fair man.  Blood’s already been spilled on
me
ship; I don’t want no more.”  He nodded over the railing, past the sea, to a small, isolated land mass.  It looked deserted.  “Ye may die, lass, but not by my hand.”

It was hard for Brooke to walk.  She was still reveling in pain from Baum’s previous assault.  With the aid of two other men, she managed to make it to the plank of the ship.  One of them pushed her towards it, and she nearly tripped onto it.  She managed to regain her balance, and then glanced back at Charlie.

“Well, are ye gonna be standin’ there all day?” Baum teased darkly.

“What is it you want me to do?” she asked quietly, her eyes never leaving the security that Charlie’s provided her with.

“Are you jestin’ with us, lass?” Baum said, letting out a low, long chuckle.  The other crew members joined in with him albeit uncertainly.

“You just hit her in the head with the butt of your pistol!” Charlie exclaimed.  “Do you expect her to be reciting Shakespeare?”

Baum glared at Charlie for a long moment before turning back and mustering up what he would call a polite smile. 

“Walk the plank, missy,” he said, “
before I shoot you off it.”

Brooke glanced up at Charlie for guidance. 

“Don’t worry, lass,” Baum said, rolling his eyes.  “He’ll be joinin’ you shortly.  Now, get.”

Charlie gave Brooke a slight nod and she rubbed her lips together and then turned.  Her vision got hazy, and she felt herself blink a couple of times.  However, unlike the first time, her vision did not come back.  She could make out the water; it looked like a big, blue bed that looked so comforting, so inviting.  Then she felt herself falling, her vision going black, and her body hitting the cold water.

Charlie heard her body crash into the ocean and he knew she lost consciousness.  Baum walked over to Charlie and cut his ropes loose, and then handed Charlie a pistol.  Charlie knew what this was for; one shot, for him to either take the life of Brooke or himself.  He hoped he would not have to do either.  He didn’t need anyone to lead him to the plank; he walked there as quickly as he could.  His mind raced; did he have everything he needed?  He had a pistol, his cutlass… The map?  The map was tucked safely away in the pocket of his breeches.  Worse thing that could happen to it is that it would get wet.

His eyes widened when he Brooke’s body floating lifelessly in the surface of the sea.  Like a swan, he dove in the water and grabbed her waist, pulling her up so her face was out of the water.  His arms wrapped around her, and from the corner of his eye, he glanced to see if she was breathing.  Her face was serene, but she still seemed to be unconscious.  With a sudden urge to get to that island, he pushed his legs, kicking them. 

“Don’t leave me, love,” he murmured throatily.  “Stay with me.”

He pushed himself, harder and harder until his legs screamed out for mercy.  Still, he would not relent. 
Harder and harder.  He glanced back at Brooke, but saw no movement on her delicate features.  This only encouraged him; harder and harder until his boots hit the wet sand.  He groaned as he hoisted her into his arms; her drenched, deadweight body made his arms burn but he carried her out of the water and onto the sand, placing her gently underneath a tree.  His breathing was ragged, but he managed to control it for a moment so he could lean over, place his lips on hers, and blow life into her.  After a moment, he placed his ear on her chest, and then placed his hands flat on her chest, and pushed down a couple of times.  He listened to her heart again, and then placed his lips on hers.

Brooke gasped deeply, her eyes fluttering open.  Her green eyes contacted with Charlie, and she stared at him, so glad that he was here with her, unharmed and
all right.  She gave him a small smile and he returned it, his gold teeth flickering in the sunlight. 

Charlie’s smile was the last thing she saw before slipping into unconsciousness once again.

Brooke woke to a piercing pain in the side of her face.  She stifled a groan, coughing a few times.  She felt something pressing into her body.  It was nothing to cause her pain, just significant pressure.  With a grimace, she lifted her head up to see the reason for the pressure.  It was Charlie, curled into her, with a peaceful look upon his face.  She smiled at his serene look, and watched him sleep for a moment.  His smooth tan given to him naturally by the sun touched every inch of his body, every inch she could see, at least.  His dark, shaggy hair was matted with sweat and sand, and flared around him like the rays of a dark sun.  The coal on his eyes were smudged, and nearly washed away.  His chocolate brown eyes were closed.  His nose was perfect, long and angular, indenting at the nostrils.  His cheekbones were angled as well, higher than the clouds in the sky.  His dark moustache curled on his upper lip, almost in the shape of a triangular roof of a house and his lips were full and looked soft.  Hair covered his chin as well, and a small patch rested just underneath his bottom lip. 

Her eyes traveled further down his body.  His tunic was ragged, but it fit nicely on his chest.  She could see from the low cut of the shirt that he was toned with some sort of tattoo on his left pectoral muscle.  His stomach raised and fell steadily, indicating that his breathing was even.  His dark blue breeches covered his long legs, and his tan, leather boots protected his feet.  Something bulged from his pocket, and she strained to arch a brow in curiosity at what Charlie managed to take before he escaped from the ship.

“See somethin’ you like, love?” he murmured, slurring his words and groaning painfully.

“Not particularly,” she said with a smile.  Her eyes pooled with concern.  “Did they hurt you, Charlie?” she asked him quietly.

He let out a groan as he sat up to lean his head on his elbow, looking at her intently.  He shook his head.

“I am invincible,” he told her with a wink.

She rolled her eyes and laid her head back down in the sand.

“Can you never be serious?” she asked him, staring up at the green leaves that cascaded above her.

“Are you all right, darling?” he asked her lowly.  He reached over and curled an errand strand of her hair behind her ear.  She felt her heart quicken when his fingertips brushed her cheek.

“See, I am invincible by association,” she said with a smile.  She leaned over and pushed herself up in a standing position.  “If anything, I desperately need to bathe.”

“I shall go with you,” he said, springing himself up with ease.  He caught her suspicious look, and his brow rose at such an insinuation.  “We have not yet explored this island.  I wouldn’t want you to get lost.”

“How do you get lost on an island?” Brooke asked curiously. 

“Well, then, I don’t want you to get hurt,” Charlie said quickly, lifting his chin up, indicating that the conversation was done and the ruling had been decided.  No more arguing.

Brooke narrowed her eyes slightly, but then turned in the direction of the entrance to the forest that took up the majority of the island.  Charlie walked past her, glancing back at her with his lips pursed, and then turned back around.

The forest was lush and green.  Tall trees provided shade and habitats for animals.  Colorful flowers bloomed, painting the forest with their petals.  Vines and branches obstructed the path that Charlie and Brooke were taking.  Usually, Charlie would not see the particular vine or branch and ran into it, injuring himself in some way.  Seeing Charlie, Brooke would avoid said vine or branch and remain perfectly fine.  Dirt and rocks covered the trail, and at times, they would trip over thick roots that camouflaged with the ground.

“You were a good man once,” Brooke said suddenly as they continued to tread through the greens.  “Why are you now a pirate?”

Charlie glanced back and grinned at her.  “Good is a matter of perspective, darling,” he told her.  “I believe I was a better man now than when I was under the command of Lord Sutherland.”

“Why?” she asked him, wiping stray strands of hair from her face.  “Why did you leave his service?  I hear you would have been promoted to a Lieutenant.”

“I would have, indeed,” he said, nodding. 

“Then why did you refuse?” Brooke asked curiously.  She had never heard of a man turn down a promotion before.

Charlie stopped suddenly, and whirled around on the heel of his boot to face Brooke.  His action was so sudden that Brooke nearly ran into him.  He peered at her closely, as if trying to decide if he should tell her or not.

“Discrepancies in ethics,” he told her shortly.     

“Such as?” she prodded, arching her brow.  Charlie decided that he hated when she arched that left brow of hers.

“He wanted me to transport slaves,” he told her.

Brooke’s mouth dropped open in surprise and she looked away.  She had heard of people buying and selling slaves, but her parents never believed in a human being as a piece of property, and neither did she.  While her household employed many servants, they were not forced to serve her family, and they were paid for their work.

“That is a very noble thing you did,” she told him sincerely, looking back at him.

“And yet I am no noble; I am just a mere pirate,” Charlie said, cocking his head to the side.

“The worst that can happen is that you will be underestimated,” Brooke said shrugging, and then stepped around Charlie to continue walking.  “But that can be the best thing as well.”  She smiled to herself, as though she had a secret.

Charlie watched her with a grin and then turned around himself, and started to walk. 

“How so?” he asked her, catching up with her so their shoulders were brushing.

“If someone underestimates you, then you can’t really disappoint someone, can you?” she asked him, glancing to look at his profile.  “See, I know I am smart, but people around me do not.  I hold the ace in most situations.

“Now, for you.
  People will just assume you are a dumb, drunken pirate, searching for treasures and whores.”  Charlie opened his mouth to object, but Brooke continued on without seeing him.  “But really, you are smart.  Do you know what I mean?”

“I see why people underestimate you,” he teased lightly.

Brooke pushed his shoulder but she chuckled nonetheless.  It was good to laugh.  Hell, it was good to live.  In those moments that she thought she was about to die, a list of things she still desired to do flooded her mind.  Laughing more was one of them.  Charlie seemed to be the right person to provide her with that.

Fifteen minutes later, they found a clear spring with a small meadow and a secluded cave nearby.  Charlie decided that he would go explore the cave while Brooke bathed, and after solemnly swearing on his life that he wouldn’t peek, he left.  She watched him leave, and once he was out of sight, she slowly began to undress.  Her body was colored disproportionally; all skin that made friends with the sun was bronzed while her chest and the lower half of her body was a peachy pale color.  She reached up and untied her hair, trying to run her fingers through her knotted hair before stepping into the water.  The spring was warm, and a soft sigh escaped her lips as she proceeded to enter it.  Soon, she was treading water, feeling the dirt on her dissolve.  It felt good to be clean.

Brooke swam for a moment, and then sucked in her stomach so she sank deeper in the water, her head getting wet.  She hit the surface to catch her breath before she went back underwater.  The spring was maybe eight feet deep and she spent fifteen minutes diving into the water and swimming before grabbing air and doing it again.  The water was clear; she could see the bottom of the floor, the dark sand, the rocks, the greenery.  It was beautiful.

While Brooke was cleansing herself, Charlie walked up the cave and pulled out the map.  It was damp so he had to be incredibly delicate, but the ink miraculously didn’t run.  He laid it out, placing a very small rock on the edge of the parchment, setting it out in the sun so it would dry but the breeze wouldn’t blow it away.  He chewed his bottom lip as he studied the map, trying to memorize where the marked destination was located in case something happened to the parchment.  It was an island in the Caribbean, he knew that.  And he assumed that due to the formations of the nearby islands, the one he had a particular interest in was adjacent to Cuba.  Well, that was no problem.  He just needed a ship.

A laugh broke him out of his revelry.  He glanced up, and though he promised he wouldn’t look, his eyes found the girl swimming in the water.  He couldn’t make out any particular part of her anatomy but he could see her smile from where he was.  She looked so calm and so happy that he couldn’t help but smile as well.  She was beautiful when she smiled; she was beautiful when she didn’t.  But the particular way she was enjoying herself in that moment made him feel something he couldn’t quite explain.  He didn’t dwell on it though, and looked back down at the map, trying to concentrate on the memorization of the map.

An hour later, Brooke headed up to the cave to find Charlie, lying flat on his stomach, looking over the map.

“You kept that thing?” Brooke asked, walking over to him.  She kneeled down so she was lying on her stomach, her shoulder touching his, and she looked down at the map.

“Do I have to explain to you what this is again?” he asked her, glancing to look at her profile.  She was staring down at the map intently.

“Well, do you know where this place is?” she asked him, locking eyes with him.

“I know everything, love,” he told her with a wink.  She shook her head and said nothing, glancing back down at the map.  Charlie bit his bottom lip, his brow pushing together.  He knew he had to say something about the mutiny, but he didn’t quite know what.  He sighed.  “I’m sorry about not
trustin’ you, love.  I didn’t mean for anything like that to happen.”

Brooke nodded and sat up, crossing her legs.  Her eyes had lost the happiness he had seen in them only moments before at the mention of the mutiny.  She stretched, arching her back up so it popped.  Charlie made no move to sit up next to her; she needed some time and he would give her as much as she needed.

“I miss Heath,” she murmured so quietly that he didn’t quite hear her at first. 

Charlie looked up at her. Her arms were wrapped around her drawn-in knees, her cheek resting on her knees.  A very small tear fell across her small nose, staining the dirt beside her.

“Me too,” he said softly, pushing himself up to a sitting position.

“I… I didn’t even have a chance to say goodbye,” she said, more to herself than to him.  “I couldn’t even do anything, it just happened so quickly.  And then…”  A sob choked her throat, and Charlie scooted over to her and wrapped his arms around her.

Brooke wrapped her arms around him, balling his tunic in her hands as the tears began to fall like raindrops.  He rubbed her back with his fingertips, trying to soothe her.  He did not say anything to try and comfort her for there was nothing for him to say.  Heath wasn’t coming back, and it was his entire fault.  His best friend was gone because of his lack of faith in Brooke.  He could have prevented the whole thing from ever occurring and he would never forgive himself for that.  All he had left was Brooke.  She was his one, true and loyal companion.  He knew he could count on her for anything, and he would never let the same thing that happened to Heath happen to her.

Charlie let Brooke cry on his shoulder for as long as she needed to.  It wasn’t long before he could feel her start to calm down a bit, her sobs less ragged,
her tears drying up.  She was simply resting her head on his chest, her eyes staring out, just thinking of everything and nothing.  He rocked her back and forth very slightly, his head resting on the cave wall.  She felt so safe in his arms that she did not want to leave him.  He was warm and he was the only person Brooke had now.  With no knowledge of the survival of her family and Heath now gone, Charlie was the only person she could trust.  And that scared her because if she lost Charlie, she was alone.  So she clung onto Charlie, reveling in the support he gave her, finding his chest to be rather comfortable despite being toned.  He even smelled rather nice; a mixture of the sea and his own natural scent.  She would not let herself lose him, not when they had just found each other.

Her eyes began to feel heavy and her breathing became even.  Charlie glanced down and found that she was asleep.  Again, she looked so peaceful, so serene.  She shouldn’t have seen Heath die like that.  Her innocence was vanishing and it had only been a week.  He wanted to protect her from the harshness of reality, yet he knew that was not possible.  He lifted his hand from her back and lightly caressed her cheek with his thumb.  She shifted in her sleep, only pressing further into him, and smiled before going still again.  Charlie placed the hand back on her back, smiling as well. 

To know what she was thinking
, he thought, and glanced out at the cave.  Darkness would come soon, and while they had not seen any wild animals, he did not want to be caught in the forest if there were any on this island.  He knew he had to look for food while it was still light, but he did want to leave Brooke.  She looked so comfortable, and he didn’t want to wake her when she had experienced such an exhausting day.  But he knew he had to leave; he just hoped that when he got up, she would not awaken.

Sliding up and gently releasing himself from her grasp, he stood.  Brooke recognized that she had been shifted and whimpered, but she did not awaken from her slumber.  With one last smile, Charlie left to look for food.