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Book: Justified Treason (Endless Horizon Pirate Stories, Book 1) by Cristi Taijeron
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Authors: Cristi Taijeron
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heart flooded with horror. This had to be the situation Sterling was talking about.
“Is everyone alright?” I gasped.
“Yes, my dear, everyone is alright. Maureen has a lump on her head, a bruise on her face and is as frightened as could be, but she will heal fine. The mess in the parlor will take some time to repair, and Maureen is so shook up she has yet to relay the details of what happened. All we know for sure is that this travesty was committed by pirates.”
I was ever so relieved to hear Maureen was alright but struggled to wrap my mind around what had really happened. As confused as I was, I kept hearing Sterling saying, I didn’t hurt anyone. I believed him, but I agonized over the fearsome possibilities. He said he protected her by his own honor and at a great risk. I would have to find a way to ask Maureen about the details.
“Ease your worries, my dear Charlotte. Governor Morgan will be going to great measures to help resolve this piracy problem. In the meantime, I want to use this situation to remind you how important it is to find you a strong and protective husband.”
When I heard the words I remembered the way Sterling had his sword out to protect me as he hid me behind the rock last night. The memory made it easy for me to nod in agreement.
“I am an old man Charlotte; I cannot protect you forever. I want to know that you will be safe and cared for once I am gone.”
“That makes sense father,” I acceded.
“I think you will be pleased with Mister Braddock; he is very well off, Charlotte. He is an attorney and is buying the Eden’s Edge estate up the road. He will be practicing law and making a life here.”
In my mind, I flinched at the thought of being stuck on the island for the rest of my life, but I politely nodded in appreciation. Father put his arm around me and I leaned my head onto his shoulder, resisting my urge to sigh in despair.
He kissed me on the forehead. “Alright, my darling. Go up to get Mary and we will head to the market.”
X
Mary and I made our way around the market, and though this was usually my favorite thing to do, I was too busy dreaming about Sterling, and worrying about his part in the break in to show much interest in the world around me. I blindly fumbled through the goods as I wondered where he was. Knowing he wasn’t leaving until sunset, I hoped I would run into him somehow. Then I remembered him talking about The Rusty Anchor, and I tempted Mary with the idea of sneaking into the tavern.
Mary put her hand over her heart in a sarcastic display of a bashful expression. “Oh Miss Charlotte, that would be brazen.”
Unlike myself, Mary had experienced hard times and dark places. She had worked at a bar in the slums of Ireland so the thought of sneaking into a pirate tavern was not the least bit intimidating to her. After I laughed at her silly facade she acceded, “I said I would do anything to help. Your father will be expecting us in two hours. Let us get going.”
We purchased some multicolored shawls and planned to disguise ourselves with them as we walked to the tavern. I assumed we looked like traveling merchants as we passed down the alley, for we snuck right into The Rusty Anchor without notice.
The moment we entered through the heavy wooden door, my eyes opened wide with shock. I was aghast by the entire setting. Smoke and music drifted through the dim and musky room, and the crowd was quite vulgar and ever so sloppy. The men were salty from the sea and cursed as they staggered and swayed, while the women were lacy and busty, floating about the room lacking all sense of virtue. There was a scuff of men surrounding a volatile arm wrestling match in the corner, and the whole room felt like it could go awry at any moment. It was definitely a shocking sight, but I knew if I wanted to be a part of Sterling’s world I had to learn to be comfortable in this sort of chaos.
I settled my nerves and straightened my posture as I scanned
“Is everyone alright?” I gasped.
“Yes, my dear, everyone is alright. Maureen has a lump on her head, a bruise on her face and is as frightened as could be, but she will heal fine. The mess in the parlor will take some time to repair, and Maureen is so shook up she has yet to relay the details of what happened. All we know for sure is that this travesty was committed by pirates.”
I was ever so relieved to hear Maureen was alright but struggled to wrap my mind around what had really happened. As confused as I was, I kept hearing Sterling saying, I didn’t hurt anyone. I believed him, but I agonized over the fearsome possibilities. He said he protected her by his own honor and at a great risk. I would have to find a way to ask Maureen about the details.
“Ease your worries, my dear Charlotte. Governor Morgan will be going to great measures to help resolve this piracy problem. In the meantime, I want to use this situation to remind you how important it is to find you a strong and protective husband.”
When I heard the words I remembered the way Sterling had his sword out to protect me as he hid me behind the rock last night. The memory made it easy for me to nod in agreement.
“I am an old man Charlotte; I cannot protect you forever. I want to know that you will be safe and cared for once I am gone.”
“That makes sense father,” I acceded.
“I think you will be pleased with Mister Braddock; he is very well off, Charlotte. He is an attorney and is buying the Eden’s Edge estate up the road. He will be practicing law and making a life here.”
In my mind, I flinched at the thought of being stuck on the island for the rest of my life, but I politely nodded in appreciation. Father put his arm around me and I leaned my head onto his shoulder, resisting my urge to sigh in despair.
He kissed me on the forehead. “Alright, my darling. Go up to get Mary and we will head to the market.”
X
Mary and I made our way around the market, and though this was usually my favorite thing to do, I was too busy dreaming about Sterling, and worrying about his part in the break in to show much interest in the world around me. I blindly fumbled through the goods as I wondered where he was. Knowing he wasn’t leaving until sunset, I hoped I would run into him somehow. Then I remembered him talking about The Rusty Anchor, and I tempted Mary with the idea of sneaking into the tavern.
Mary put her hand over her heart in a sarcastic display of a bashful expression. “Oh Miss Charlotte, that would be brazen.”
Unlike myself, Mary had experienced hard times and dark places. She had worked at a bar in the slums of Ireland so the thought of sneaking into a pirate tavern was not the least bit intimidating to her. After I laughed at her silly facade she acceded, “I said I would do anything to help. Your father will be expecting us in two hours. Let us get going.”
We purchased some multicolored shawls and planned to disguise ourselves with them as we walked to the tavern. I assumed we looked like traveling merchants as we passed down the alley, for we snuck right into The Rusty Anchor without notice.
The moment we entered through the heavy wooden door, my eyes opened wide with shock. I was aghast by the entire setting. Smoke and music drifted through the dim and musky room, and the crowd was quite vulgar and ever so sloppy. The men were salty from the sea and cursed as they staggered and swayed, while the women were lacy and busty, floating about the room lacking all sense of virtue. There was a scuff of men surrounding a volatile arm wrestling match in the corner, and the whole room felt like it could go awry at any moment. It was definitely a shocking sight, but I knew if I wanted to be a part of Sterling’s world I had to learn to be comfortable in this sort of chaos.
I settled my nerves and straightened my posture as I scanned
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