Reiley took another large gulp of liguid courage. "All right then...
The horses had been collected, cash finally being turned over to the stable owner for the Chestnut. Leary eyed, due to previous encounter with Sterling, the man saw that sale was promptly made with guarantee that tack and doctor’s horse would be returned as soon as possible. Animals were quickly produced and the man breathed a sigh of relief as the men mounted and were on their way. Chestnut, already knowledgeable as to where better food and care came from, behaved admirably for new owner, who, due to medicine was having a difficult time remaining onboard.
The ride progressed for some time, with Sterling nodding off numerous times. When nearly falling from the saddle, Reiley, forced to grab a hold of captain’s collar to haul him back from the brink, began to delve into his patient’s memory regarding his illness. After awhile the questioning began to clear Sterling’s fogged brain and captain had then decided shortest route home would be best accomplished by a short cut of trespassing across a number of plantations that lay between harbor and home. Reiley had no choice but to follow along.
Journey continued on for another hour before Sterling doubled over, grabbing hold of side and Chestnut’s mane. Reiley removed the laudanum from one coat pocket. Without water to cut the drug, he passed it to his companion with instructions to take a simple swig of contents. Reiley smiled, this time there was no argument, just a sour look. They continued on, stopping a few more times for Sterling to catch his breath before the drug began to kick in.
“So,” Reiley began, since questioning about Sterling’s sickness soon turned sour as well. “Tell me about the Archangel.” Sterling rode on in silence a few minutes before he started a broken litany regarding his ship, thoughts slowly muddling once more.
“She has a …contingency of … 85 men, 14... No sixteen guns. She is a brigantine… rigged both square and fore and aft… she… oh bloody hell doctor, take a good look at her the next time you are down by the docks,” Sterling grumbled.
“Oh I have,” Reiley said. “But you must excuse me, captain. I am a doctor… barely, not a man of the sea.”
“Obviously,” Sterling groused, eyelids growing more heavy. They had ridden on for another hour when suddenly the captain reined in the Chestnut, with what could best pass for a look of alarm, on drug induced features.
“Do ye hear it?” Sterling asked, his head slightly cocked to one side.
“Hear what?” Reiley asked in return. He was rewarded with another sour glance.
“If ye would stop flapping yer gob for a minute ye would,” Sterling remarked.
“Just to annoy you, I am going to cure you,” Reiley snapped. “Even if doing so kills us both!” He stopped then, his eyes widening as he heard a cry in the distance. “You mean ….” but already Sterling had spurred the Chestnut into a run chasing after the sound.
Reiley could only groan. He watched as living nightmare galloped off, trampling through the sugar cane. “Abbi, you shall never guess,” Reiley muttered to himself. “I spent the day fox hunting after phantoms.” But then he heard the sound again. Someone was screaming. He dug his heels into his mount and quickly followed after where Sterling had disappeared. By the time doctor and rented horse caught up, Reiley could only jerk the poor old thing to a halt and stare wide eyed at the scene before him.
He had heard of such practices in passing but had never hoped to witness what he did. Two women and a man, slaves, huddled together. One woman was crying hysterically due to a child, stripped to the waist and tied to a tree. Already the young girl, Reiley reckoned to be no more then ten years of age, was bleeding profusely, her back laid open by the overseer’s whip.
Sterling, the Chestnut now prancing frantically about, had placed himself in the thick of it. His face wild with his anger, the drug making him all the more dangerous, already the Snaphance revolver was in his hand and pointed at the overseer. Reiley now cursed himself for not confiscating the captain’s weapons before they rode off.
“Who the hell do you think you are?” Reiley heard the overseer shout.
“Your better! I said belay your actions!” Sterling shouted in return. “Or so help me I shall drop you where you stand!”
“John think of what you are doing!”
Reiley started as a third horseman came up alongside him. He turned in his saddle to see Seth Childermass appear from the sugar cane.
“Shut up ye old goat! I know exactly what I am about!” Sterling shouted.
“Listen to your friend and ride on,” the overseer said. “This is no business of yours.”
“Slavery is everyone’s business and a most foul practice it tis! Now put down yer whip and let the child alone!” Sterling ordered. Instead the overseer turned his back on the irate rider.
As whip raised once more, Seth Childermass lunged forward, striking Sterling hard across the side of his head, sending him falling to the ground but already revolver had fired. The only sound the overseer made was that of slipping to the earth as spent ball surprisingly found its mark all too well. Reiley watched, slack jawed as the women ran to the child, the man ran to Sterling’s aid. Both he and Childermass, now dismounted, reached the captain.
“Touch him again and I’ll kill you,” the black man warned. “He done us a goodness.”
“Yes he has,” Childermass said calmly. “But them like him will never see it that way. This man is my responsibility. I mean him no harm.” He took hold of the dazed captain. “Come along John, you need to get away from here.” Gently he turned his charge. Tears coursed down the captain’s face. “Doctor Reiley!” Childermass called.
Doctor had slowly dismounted, in stunned movements, he had made his way to small child. Examing wounded back, his touch gentle, trying to stop the flow of blood. Reiley turned and looked to where wraithlike creature beckoned him. He watched as Childermass and the black man helped Sterling back to the Chestnut.
“The house is only a short ride. Stay to the fence line. You cannot miss it,” Childermass instructed Reiley. Doctor, with one last fleeting look to tiny figure, quickly remounted.
“The girl,” Sterling mumbled as Childermass threw him back on his horse. “See to the girl. Take her some place they cannot find her. Keep her safe.”
“I will,” Seth promised. “COME ALONG DOCTOR!”
Reiley, just as dazed, urged his mount forward, taking hold of the Chestnut’s reins. “I’ll take care of things here,” Childermass said. “Now get him the hell out of here!”
