Lieutenant Christopher Barlow stood amidships, scrutinizing every man that came aboard. His own marines were already in position on deck and the crew selected was in the process of boarding.

"That man, stop." Barlow held out his swagger stick and rested it on the man's shoulder. "Name."

"Seaman, Ryan Cafferty, sir."

"I know your face, do I not, Seaman, Ryan Cafferty?"

"I doubts that, sir."

"Really." Barlow pressed the point of the stick into the man's collarbone.

"Ow, sir!" Ryan pushed the sick away.

"What's this! Striking an officer in the King's navy? Do you know, Seaman, Ryan Cafferty, that that is a hanging offense!"

"Beg pardon, sir. I only brushed your stick away, you were stabbing it into-"

"Take this man below and put him in irons. I'll deal with his actions later."

Two marines hurried forward and wrestled the screaming man away. Barlow turned to the rest of the crew on deck, his smug visage scanning the lot.

"Heed that lesson well. Insubordination aboard my ship has zero tolerance. Orders will be obeyed when given. Any man refusing or obstructing will be kissing the gunner's daughter for fifty of the deck master's finest. Am I clear?"

There was a mumble of assent and the men were dismissed to tend their duties. Barlow made his way to the bridge and gave the command to set sail.

"What course, sir? The helmsman inquired.

"The north face of Tortuga island, helmsman. Somewhere along that coast our friend, Captain Hollick has a haven and I intend to find it."

******

"Ahoy, Captain! There's a brig moving past Thunder Rock and heading this way."

Hollick climbed the crude stairs hacked out of the cavern wall and joined his lookout in the small, natural opening in the rock face. He took out his spyglass and watched the ship for a few moments.

"That's the friend that carried our guest."

"That ponce! He wouldn't have the-"

"Not him, I'll wager. More likely Governor Francorte's marines."

"What're your orders, sir?"

"For now, mark his passage. If passes, we do nothing. If he approaches, we man the top gun."

The top gun was a small canon mounted outside the cavern overlooking the disguised entrance to the cavern below. The lookout grinned a toothless smile and his eyes twinkled.

"Might I coax them closer, Skipper."

"No, Mister Mullen, you may not." Hollick patted his man on the back and returned to the cavern floor.

"Trouble, Captain?" The first mate, Hill Braggs asked, as Hollick strode to his tent.

"Not as yet, Hill, but ready the crew to stand by. The brig our guest came on is back and I don't think it's that big a stretch to think Francorte has turned his marines loose to find his daughter." Hollick continued to his tent, followed by Alicia.

"Can I help you, Miss Francorte?"

"You can let me go to that ship and I will tell my father that you behaved quite gentlemanly while I was your- while I was with- while I was here."

He laughed, continuing to walk. "Your father wouldn't care how I behaved. he wants my neck on Gibbet's Row."

"I could persuade him." She followed.

"In any case, Miss Francorte, I will not be revealing the location of this haven to any ship load of marines." He reached his tent and opened the cover, stepping aside and waiting to see what she would do.

Alicia hesitated, a sudden feeling of uncertainty prodded her and seeing the tiniest of smirks on his face, she lifted her chin and marched inside. The tent cover dropped and without any candles or lanterns lit, it became darker with shadows forming in every corner. She turned to find him but he wasn't behind her..

"So this is how you planned it, alone in your den." Her voice was becoming strident. Light suddenly appeared from a hanging lantern and the tent's interior took on a soft orange glow.

"No, Miss Farncorte, this is not how I planned anything. You fancy yourself the victim in every setting and yet, aside from my impulsive action on board, nothing has been further from the truth."

Alicia felt her cheeks heat at his scold and having no valid rebuttal she turned her attention to the interior of the tent. Cushions and pillows piled in one corner she assumed was where he slept. A small writing desk with a lot of rolled maps and navigation tools. A small table with two chairs stood to one side with a bowl of fruit and a bottle of wine, just like his ship's cabin. Hollick was pouring wine again and she thought that this time she would join him, just to show she wasn't intimidated by him.

"I didn't offer you any since you rebuffed my hospitality on board." He raised his glass to her and drank. She clenched her fists and would gladly have struck him again. "Or would you care for one after all?"

"No thank you." She hated her spite.

"Would you care to relax then?" He waved a hand toward the cushions and her heart began to thump. It was his plan after all. Saying no again seemed ridiculous because she couldn't just stand there, so she gathered her skirt and sat primly on the outer edge of the pillow island.

He joined her and the proximity set her alarm bells ringing again, then before she could react, Hollick took her in his arms and kissed her passionately.

"Mmph- sir! That was-" Hollick kissed her again, longer, and gradually her arm slid up his back and behind his neck.

"I can't- I shouldn't be doing this." her breath came in short bursts as he steered her down onto the cushions where he slept. "You have to stop..." She felt herself lowered into the soft pile and his weight settle beside her.

"Alicia, if you wish to stop, we will."

She felt his breath on her cheek and the thump of her heart in her chest. What was she doing? This man- this pirate- had forcefully taken her his prisoner and now... and now... She reached up and pulled his face toward hers and surrendered to the stirring she felt.

******

"Captain, sir! The brig has come about and is heading for the entrance." Hill's voice cracked through the tent like a thunderbolt and the couple jerked aside, lost for just a second in the residue of their act.

"Alert Mr. Mullen, Hill. If they continue he is to fire the top gun when they are in range." Hollick stood and gathered his clothes quickly. His eyes sliding toward the form of Alicia on the cushions.

"You had best collect yourself, this may become dangerous at any moment."

"I think this moment was already dangerous." She grew a warm smile and Hollick was stopped momentarily, caught in her spell.

"I would be happy to affect another rescue, Miss Francorte." He smiled back and then grinned as her skin flushed pink.

"They're still coming, Captain!"

"As am I, Mister Hill." He rushed out of the tent and quickly up the staircase to the lookout post. Mullen had climbed up to the top gun and was already sighting the brig, waiting impatiently for it to close on their haven.

Alicia lay on the pillows, her mind spinning from what she had just done. What magic did this pirate spin? Or was it a release of her own suppressed emotions, ignored while under her father's stern eye? Whatever it was, she decided that she liked it and squirmed among the pillows, enjoying the last of the warmth from their bodies. Outside the tent she could hear the men hurrying about issuing orders and directions. She quickly dressed and left the tent, almost bumping into Mel, who was apparently waiting for her.

"If we hear the top gun, we must get directly into the longboat by the cavern entrance."

"Why, what does that mean?"

"It means the ship came too close to discovering our entrance and we have fired upon it. There will be a battle and the women and children that aren't defending are to take their places in the longboat."

"What good does that do if you are defeated?"

"There is an underground river that leads to another exit from under the cliffs. We would take that and wait until it was safe then head for Tortuga."

"That's so far from here!"

"The boat has a mast we can erect and sail our way."

There was nothing else she could say as Mel led her to the cavern entrance and the boat. She looked for Hollick but there was no sign and she wondered if he even remembered her.

******

Lieutenant Barlow grabbed the bridge rail and covered his head with his free arm. The explosion from above took out the brig's crosstrees and top gallant and the rigging collapsed down through the topsails, snapping the main mast and sending the yards and downhauls down in a tangle, shattered mess on the deck. The marines mustered on the port side were hit by the debris and many were knocked into the sea.

There were screams and shouts, Barlow's officers bellowed orders to no avail. The melee on the deck was all consuming. Barlow saw his ship become nothing more than a drifting wreck. A few of the marines who were unhurt, returned fire at the top gun but it was a futile gesture and when Mullen released a second round, even they fell victim to the collapsing spars, sail and rigging.

"Hold your fire, Mister Mullen." Hollick stood atop the cavern and gazed down at the floundering ship. It was taking on water and listing badly to starboard. He could see the officers struggling with the only longboat, watching them save their Captain and themselves while ignoring the pleas of the wounded and dying marines.

"I could put a round in that boat, sir, and finish the whole scurvy lot."

"We aren't murderers, Mister Mullen. Secure the gun... now."

"Aye, Sir." Hollick took a last look at the wreckage and ordered his first mate to send a rescue party for any survivors.

Back on the cavern floor he watched Mel and a few others leading the women and children back from the longboat and nodded his approval before holding out a hand to Alicia. She let go of the little boy she was helping and came to his side.

"We had to defend the haven. The brig has sunk. My men are hunting for survivors now."

"You won't hurt them!" The alarm in her voice surprised him.

"You still haven't learned that we are not like your father and the other governors, have you?"

Alicia looked down and fussed with her dress. "I didn't mean it the way it sounded."

Hollick directed his attention the dozen or so soaking wet men being herded into the cavern. They looked about in amazement and then in fear of their captors. One man was not a marine and was in irons.

"Who is the man in irons, Hill?"

"We found him barely above water below decks. Says he was put there by Captain, Lieutenant Barlow as punishment for objecting to being poked with his swagger stick."

"Get the irons off him and find some food and grog for the lot. We'll talk to them later."

"There's a couple that are still pretty feisty, Skipper. Tried resisting."

"Keep them apart but no harm."

Alicia touched his arm and he looked into her eyes. "I'm sorry for what I said. I do judge men by my father's measure and it is wrong to do."

"I have to see about clearing the wreck from our entrance. You may make yourself comfortable in my tent if you like. Mel will take care of anything you need."