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Authors: Grace Walton
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shipping business. St. John ships traveled the world and were seldom in their home port on the Virginia coast.
“My child, we cannot take the chance that a St. John ship will be available. I have made other arrangements for you and your aunt. There is a ship. One, I absolutely know is in port. It will be leaving in a week. That will give you time to get to Port Wentworth and get settled aboard before it sails.”
“Mother, how do you know for sure that a certain ship is in port? We’re more than a day’s ride inland. And how do you know this mystery ship will sail next week?” Jess argued.
“I know because I read it in the newspaper that is delivered with the post once a week, Jessamine. This particular ship cannot leave until her captain is released from the gaol. His name is Captain Finn McLeod. He will be released as soon as you arrive in Port Wentworth. Then you can be on your way to London.”
“What?” Jess stammered. “This captain is in the Port Wentworth gaol? Why?”
“He killed a man two months ago in a tavern. His trial was last month. He was acquitted on the grounds of self-defense. But he wasn’t released. He can’t quit the gaol until all the debt his crew has run up in town has been paid. And I don’t believe he’ll be able to pay until he gets the gold I’ll send with you for your passage. The gazette said Captain McLeod lost the price of the whole cargo in a game of chance. It seems he questioned the honesty of the men he was playing cards with. That precipitated a most unruly brawl,” she explained patiently.
“A brawl?” Jess asked weakly.
“Jessamine, please pay attention to what I am telling you. It is very important information. Now remember, I’ve told you Captain McLeod killed a man in the tavern. You do remember that part, I trust?” It was as if she was instructing a backward child.
“Yes, Mother.”
“Captain McLeod accused the man of cheating. That’s what started the fight.”
“Yes, Mother.” Jess nodded, trying hard to focus. But her mind was reeling. There was too much to think about. “Did the captain kill the man during the fight? The one who cheated him?”
“Now Jess, we must not judge. No one knows for sure if the poor man really was a cheat. Though of course, that is most likely the case. Frontier justice is harsh and swift. If Captain McLeod was right, about the cheating, no one would fault him for taking matters into his own hands, so to speak. I’m sure the trial was a mere formality,” Mother Marguerite Marie commented.
“But someone died?”
“Oh, certainly, there can be no question that the poor man is dead. And we must certainly pray for his soul. The newspaper said Captain McLeod unfortunately killed him.” The nun automatically corrected herself, “As I remember the newspaper’s account, it read that Captain McLeod defended himself from an unwarranted attack. Yes.” She nodded, pleased with her memory. “That’s it, an unwarranted attack .”
“I’ve got to get this man, this Captain McLeod, out of gaol?” Jess asked in disbelief.
“Yes, dear. But don’t worry. I’ve explained everything to him in my letter.” The little old woman headed toward the door to leave. “Once he reads it, he’ll see how practical my plan is.”
“Another letter, Mother?” It was no more than a whisper.
“Yes, the one for Captain McLeod I’m giving you to take along with the gold,” the nun answered pragmatically.
Jessamine St. John sat in stunned silence. She was about to embark on a journey in which she would be called upon to depend on a stranger. Not just a stranger, she silently corrected herself. A stranger who had recently spent time incarcerated because he’d killed another human being. Aunt Dorcas would have a hissy fit if she knew the details. Her brothers would have her locked in her room for the rest of her natural life for even considering doing something so dangerous and reckless. But she had no options. God had a
“My child, we cannot take the chance that a St. John ship will be available. I have made other arrangements for you and your aunt. There is a ship. One, I absolutely know is in port. It will be leaving in a week. That will give you time to get to Port Wentworth and get settled aboard before it sails.”
“Mother, how do you know for sure that a certain ship is in port? We’re more than a day’s ride inland. And how do you know this mystery ship will sail next week?” Jess argued.
“I know because I read it in the newspaper that is delivered with the post once a week, Jessamine. This particular ship cannot leave until her captain is released from the gaol. His name is Captain Finn McLeod. He will be released as soon as you arrive in Port Wentworth. Then you can be on your way to London.”
“What?” Jess stammered. “This captain is in the Port Wentworth gaol? Why?”
“He killed a man two months ago in a tavern. His trial was last month. He was acquitted on the grounds of self-defense. But he wasn’t released. He can’t quit the gaol until all the debt his crew has run up in town has been paid. And I don’t believe he’ll be able to pay until he gets the gold I’ll send with you for your passage. The gazette said Captain McLeod lost the price of the whole cargo in a game of chance. It seems he questioned the honesty of the men he was playing cards with. That precipitated a most unruly brawl,” she explained patiently.
“A brawl?” Jess asked weakly.
“Jessamine, please pay attention to what I am telling you. It is very important information. Now remember, I’ve told you Captain McLeod killed a man in the tavern. You do remember that part, I trust?” It was as if she was instructing a backward child.
“Yes, Mother.”
“Captain McLeod accused the man of cheating. That’s what started the fight.”
“Yes, Mother.” Jess nodded, trying hard to focus. But her mind was reeling. There was too much to think about. “Did the captain kill the man during the fight? The one who cheated him?”
“Now Jess, we must not judge. No one knows for sure if the poor man really was a cheat. Though of course, that is most likely the case. Frontier justice is harsh and swift. If Captain McLeod was right, about the cheating, no one would fault him for taking matters into his own hands, so to speak. I’m sure the trial was a mere formality,” Mother Marguerite Marie commented.
“But someone died?”
“Oh, certainly, there can be no question that the poor man is dead. And we must certainly pray for his soul. The newspaper said Captain McLeod unfortunately killed him.” The nun automatically corrected herself, “As I remember the newspaper’s account, it read that Captain McLeod defended himself from an unwarranted attack. Yes.” She nodded, pleased with her memory. “That’s it, an unwarranted attack .”
“I’ve got to get this man, this Captain McLeod, out of gaol?” Jess asked in disbelief.
“Yes, dear. But don’t worry. I’ve explained everything to him in my letter.” The little old woman headed toward the door to leave. “Once he reads it, he’ll see how practical my plan is.”
“Another letter, Mother?” It was no more than a whisper.
“Yes, the one for Captain McLeod I’m giving you to take along with the gold,” the nun answered pragmatically.
Jessamine St. John sat in stunned silence. She was about to embark on a journey in which she would be called upon to depend on a stranger. Not just a stranger, she silently corrected herself. A stranger who had recently spent time incarcerated because he’d killed another human being. Aunt Dorcas would have a hissy fit if she knew the details. Her brothers would have her locked in her room for the rest of her natural life for even considering doing something so dangerous and reckless. But she had no options. God had a
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