The Schooner has a narrow hull, two masts and is less than 100 tons. She is generally rigged with two large sails suspended from spars reaching from the top of the mast toward the stern. Other sails sometimes were added, including a large headsail attached to the bowsprit. She had a shallow draft which allowed her to remain in shallow coves waiting for her prey. The Schooner is very fast and large enough to carry a plentiful crew. It was a favorite among both pirates and smugglers.

Chapter 1

Terry Holllick stood amidships, feeling the wind on his face as the schooner, 'Bright Star', bit through the rolling swells like a rocking cradle. His crew of eighteen men, all busily performing their tasks, held a loyalty to Terry that was stronger than blood and when he gave commands there was never a hesitation to obey.

The Bright Star was familiar to all the merchants and ships of the line, and her captain spoken of in respectful whispers or raging curses. This day, word had reached the captain that a Brig out of Cuba was carrying colony taxes to Hispaniola through the windward passage, along with prisoners from the, Brethren of the Coast, as the pirates that sailed out of Tortuga were called.

The Bright Star intercepted the Brig, firing shots across her bow from their four guns, and ten of the crew boarded the stalled ship from their canoe and subdued a meek crew and their helpless captain. A big surprise for Hollick, as he supervised the release of the prisoners and the loading of all the bounty his own ship could carry, was the unexpected passenger.

Back aboard the schooner in the small but comfortable cabin, Hollick sat admiring the angry visage of the woman across from him.

"The Bright Star rarely has the honour of entertaining such lovely company." Hollick smiled.

"You are hardly entertaining, sir. I demand to be taken back to my ship."

"Ah, I'm sorry, that won't be possible, Miss...?"

"I am the daughter of the military Governor of Hispaniola and he will have you swinging from your own yard arm when he learns of this- this atrocity."

"A little strong don't you think, as no one was harmed in any way, including yourself."

"Snatching innocent victims from the high seas and holding them captive is an atrocity, sir."

"What of those we released from your ship, Miss Francorte? Did they suffer an atrocity?"

"They are criminals. Pirates, and how do you know my name?"

"Everyone knows of Governor Jean Francorte." Hollick rose and took a wine bottle from a cupboard, pouring a glass and offering it to the woman. "So, does Miss Francorte have a first name?"

She turned away from the out held glass and raised a stubborn chin. Hollick shrugged and sat down, sipping the drink himself. Her profile was a study in perfection and a sudden, crippling urge overcame him. He set the glass down and stood, moving to her side and taking her hand.

"Sir! Please do not touch me."

Without a beat, he pulled her from the chair and swept her into his arms, crushing her full, painted lips with his own.

"Sir!" She gasped pulling away slightly. "Is this how you tre ̶ "

Her words were stifled by his lips once again, and the struggle waned in the heat of the moment.

Hollick released her and stood staring into her wide, grey eyes, his heart smashing against his ribs with the force of a sea's waves.

"Is this why you invited me to your cabin... to have your way with me?" She slapped him hard and her hand stung.

Hollick flinched but didn't let on the heat he felt in his cheek. Instead he apologized for having taken such a brazen liberty. She was surprised and caught off guard, not expecting anything like manners from a pirate. The slap, she now felt, was also a little harsh but pride forbade her offering any regret. He returned to his seat and drank from his wine glass, gesturing for her to sit as well.

She had no idea what to do and resigned herself to accepting the gesture, sitting again, but this time more aware.

"What is your name, m'lady?" It came out in a soft whisper.

"You know my name, sir."

"Your given name, I mean."

"A- Alicia..." She touched her mouth with gentle fingers. "What madness is this? Am I to be ravaged in the Captain's cabin, helpless..." The anger she tried to muster failed and they both just faced one another with searching looks.

"Alicia." Hollick sounded the name with reverence, ignoring her outburst. "We will be at our haven shortly. You will remain with us until we can decide what to do."

"You mean I am a prisoner to be done with as you will." She snapped again.

"No Miss Francorte, as a guest."

The return to formal address was another surprise and Alicia considered this pirate Captain a little more carefully.

The Bright Star entered the small inlet carved from the mountainous and rocky north coast of Tortuga, deemed uninhabitable or accessible, it was the perfect haven for Hollick and his crew. In a cavern within the rock structure, accommodation was made for the entire crew, their wenches and all the stores and plunder taken in their frequent raids. Alicia was shocked by the location, size and organization of the cavern; no one believed anything like it existed along the formidable north coast.

Hollick's quarters were in a tent-like structure near the back of the cavern. Silks and lavish tapestries formed the cover and inside, lush oriental rugs covered the stone floor where fancy chairs and ornamental tables stood in small conversational groups. A huge sail separated the living area from Hollick's sleeping area. It was filled with pillows and stuffed cushions that lay scattered about randomly. Alicia pulled back from the insisted tour, still harbouring residual feelings from the incident on the ship.

"Do you approve?" He asked, leading her back to a seat by a low table.

"Approve? You think that by furnishing this cave with goods stolen from honest merchants deserves approval?"

"Those merchants whom you so readily defend were sailing to trade those for the slaves your upstanding citizens of Port Royal, Jamaica and dozens of other islands in this sea hold prisoner."

"Slavery is not illegal." She snapped, but heard the remark in her head and felt the bad taste it left with those thoughts.

Hollick brought wine to the table and a plate of cheese and fruit. He poured her wine without asking and raised his glass in a toast. "To all those families across the ocean who had their sons, daughters and grandchildren rounded up and forced into legal slavery."

Alicia had picked up her glass but after hearing the toast she put it back down without tasting.

"Miss Francorte, about earlier- I won't apologize but I will say that I have never behaved like that with a lady before. In case you chose to define my character by that act."

"I can hardly expect to believe that from a pirate. I'm sure there have been wenches in your ports of haven that fell prey to the great Captain Hollick."

"Wenches, certainly. And I won't apologize for that either, but never a lady." The intensity of his stare brought a flush to Alicia's neck and she fiddled with her dress skirt to distract.

Seeing her discomfort, Hollick stood and left the tent, returning after a few moments with a young girl.

"This is Mel, she'll show you where you can wash and sleep. There are plenty of clothes to choose something from that- that you can- can sleep in." He looked awkward and bade her a swift good night.

******

Jean Francorte listened to the Captain of the brig transporting his daughter as he stumbled through a string of excuses as to why he let her be kidnapped by pirates. When he was done, Francorte stood and came around from behind his desk and struck the man a vicious blow across the face.

"You will remove your belongings from the ship immediately and surrender your captaincy to my Master at Arms, whereby you shall proceed directly to prison."

"But, sir, please! I had no way to prevent this. The crew provided were not fighting men. We were overwhelmed with cannon fire and to choose resistance might have meant a danger to the Lady Francorte. Please , sir, I beg you."

"You have thirty minutes to execute my order. Now get out of my sight."

Francorte turned and stared out his window as the door closed behind him. Hollick had been his nemesis for some time and his raids had done considerable damage to the trade and business of Hispaniola, but now, the kidnapping of his daughter was the last straw. He marched to the door and called for his second in command.

"Sir." Lieutenant Christopher Barlow came to parade rest in front of Francorte's desk.

"I have relieved Mister Hammond of his captaincy of the Brig Contender. I want you to assume that authority, arm that ship to the gunnels and find my daughter. That wretched pirate, Hollick has taken her and I want her back - unharmed - and I want Hollick hung from his own yard arm."

"It will be my pleasure, Governor. About the crew..."

"Keep who you like and replace the rest with men from the ranks here."

"Very good, sir. I'll have the ship ready by nightfall and first light will see us scouring the coast."

"He has never been reported to stay in any of the ports. He visits to satisfy his debauchery but never remains; he must have a haven somewhere around Tortuga. I want the north coast checked as well."

"As you wish, sir." Barlow saluted, did a smart about face, and left.

Francorte returned to the window, smashing one fist into another, painfully.

******

Morning saw Alicia primly sitting by an open fire where the young girl who accompanied her the night before, prepared the morning food. She had actually slept quite well and the privacy awarded her was not only welcome but quite surprising. All the stories of pirates and their behaviour, delivered by her father and the other men in his circle, contained everything that was considered evil and base. The people here seemed no different than those in the town or anywhere around the countryside.

She watched the girl give the bone soup in the large pot a steady stir and then prepared a plate of egg and salted pork for Alicia and a rather delicate mug filled with a rich black coffee. At first she wanted to refuse, to keep her posture as prisoner, but the smell actually caused her stomach to growl and blushing, she accepted the meal as served.

Hollick emerged from his tent and Alicia watched him go around the cavern speaking to all the people, patting the little girls on the head and fake fighting with the young boys. In spite of her feelings about being kidnapped, she couldn't deny a simmering admiration for his demeanor and his looks. Alicia scolded herself and sipped the steaming coffee, feeling tense as he finished his rounds and came toward her.

"Miss Francorte, did you pass the night well?"

"Well enough, sir." She snapped, more dramatically than intended.

Hollick smiled. "And your morning meal, is it satisfactory?" He accepted a coffee from the girl and sat down at right angles to Alicia.

She drew her feet in and tugged at the hem of the borrowed skirt. "Actually, this young lady did a very credible job with the food. You certainly don't lack for amenities."

"No, thanks to the greedy merchants that ply these waters."

"Without those greedy merchants, as you call them, you would have no trade. Your piracy would be pitiful."

"Quite possibly, but the slavers are our main targets. The goods we liberate, aside from those you see in good use here, are all distributed to those your father and his government oppress." He drank from his mug and studied the woman with mixed emotions.

"My father executes the laws and requirements to maintain an econom-"

"Please Miss Francorte, that political blather has been pumped steadily into the populace for generations by every ruler at the time. Your father executes alright. He executes poor farmers and fishermen who can't pay the demanding taxes."

"That's not true! My fath-"

"Take a good look at Gibbet's Row, Miss Francorte, those swinging there aren't all criminals." Hollick tossed the rest of his coffee into the fire and got up. He started away and then stepped back. "I will see that you are returned safely to your father as soon as possible. Meanwhile, you will have to suffer the amenities provided by your, oh so compassionate, traders." he turned again and stalked off.