The long boat pitched in angry waves as she pulled alongside the ex-slaver. Carefully, Sterling was hauled upward but he insisted on walking once his feet touched the deck.
"My God, John what have they done to ye?" March asked as he greeted his friend.
Sterling waved him off. Any aid would not be seemly in front of the others.
"Tis just a scratch," he mumbled as he made his way toward his cabin on unsteady feet.
"Bloody hell it is!" March countered then sighed. "Ye always say that. I'll send Reiley to have a look at ye. Make sail then shall we?"
"Not yet," Sterling replied and disappeared inside his quarters.
Reiley, now serving as bosun, a job he was more accustomed to, took his time checking up on what Croaker had done.
"Nice work, " he admitted when he was done redressing the head wounds. "Keep these clean and ye'll be up and about in no time."
"I shall be up and about in the morning," Sterling said but for the moment he was content to be back in his own bunk.
"Not on my watch," the bosun stated, rolling down his shirt sleeves. "Ye need to rest, pure and simple. Ye won't be doing yerself nor any of us any favors ifn ye don't."
Sterling lay quietly, contemplating the other man's orders, then cautious nod of agreement was given. "As ye wish."
"Right he is," March interjected. "Just tell me what course ye wish to follow and I shall see to it. We have the wind, we might as well let it take us where she will."
"No," Sterling said. He looked across at his first lieutenant. "Tomorrow night ye must send back the long boat and find Mistress McKinney and fetch her here."
Symm's "humph!" was out weighed by March throwing his arms up in the air. The lieutenant turned sharply on his heel and walked away several paces before turning back.
"Why?! Should be yer wife we be fetching back not that actress. What on earth are ye thinkin now John?" March asked.
"I can only think that my troubles all this time in the port, have been because of her...."
"All the more reason to leave her behind," March interrupted.
"All the more reason to take her with us," Sterling replied. He shifted slightly. "She may be in danger. I owe her that much... to see that what ever games Darnely is about, that he will not harm her as well." Weary eyes closed, as fingers of one hand played relentlessly with worn coverlet.
"I cannot be certain, but tis the only thing that makes sense to me right now. This Pinon, the man has no reason to be such a burden to me. "
March let out another sigh of exasperation, but Sterling only seemed to wilt...the fight had gone out of him.
"John are ye certain?"
Another careful nod was given.
"Fetch her and we shall make sail to the American colonies. She should be out of harm's way there. Then we shall find a way to clear my name as best we can... I shall not be branded and hanged as a pirate by my own countrymen. But a man is dead and I'll take what ever punishment is offered. I will speak to the governor myself. I am certain my father's name, God forbid that I need use it, has some merit even down here.
I just cannot for the life of me remember if I have done what they say I have done. If I can manage to live through out all this... I will then fetch my wife. Make me a home ... Virginia perhaps... and do what is right by her as best I can, if she will still have me after all this. And if she does not... well then perhaps tis for the best. " He fell silent for a long time before he turned onto his side, a way from the others. "I am weary of unfaithful lovers and uncaring wives. To hell with the lot of em."
