Francorte strutted down the roadway at the head of his entourage, six men on either side of the prisoners. Hollick was at the head with a noose around his neck and the trailing rope tied to the ankles of his crew. Each step jerked uncomfortably as the crew tried to walk in unison on the cobblestone road. Onlookers began lining the street and following the procession, jeering and making angry noises. Mixed in among them, Mullen and his men urged them on with whispered comments about the innocence of the prisoners and how they rescued the Governor's daughter.

Francorte waved smugly, assuming it was respect for him and then suddenly the crowd surged forward, breaking the ranks of his marine escort and blocking further movement. Immediately Mullen's men took on the guards, neutralizing their ability to fire their muskets. The struggles were fierce as bayonets flashed and cutlasses swished through the air. Francorte drew his pistol, screaming for his men to repel the attack. He fired randomly into the crowd, hitting and killing a woman working to untie the prisoner's ropes. The scene became one of chaos with citizens pushing to get away from the gunfire and the bodies crashing down onto the cobblestones.

Francorte fired again and one of the crew still tied collapsed, dragging a couple of the others with him. Blood ran thickly over the roadway making the footing slick. The clang of steel against the marine muskets rang through the street, some managing to fire off a round or two, mostly in the air because of the close combat. Hollick was able to slip the rope from his neck and use Mullen's knife to cut his bonds. He took his cutlass as well and raced after Francorte who was struggling to reload his pistol. The cutlass swept down slashing the gun from his hand and he stumbled back fumbling for his sword.

More screams and shouts filled the air as men wrestled one another but with so many bodies underfoot, the fighting lost a lot of its impetus and gradually the battered marines threw down their arms and surrendered. Mullen ordered his men to round them up and care for their own wounded. Three of the pirates lay dead in the pile and four others sat together, bleeding from bayonet wounds and flash burns from the musket fire.

Hollick and Francorte were still rolling around in a ditch by the side of the road, each gaining and losing control until Francorte's scabbard got between his feet and he fell face down into a pool of dirty water. Hollick dragged him back up to the roadway, gasping for breath.

"Are you alright, Skipper?" Mullen, wiped blood from his cutlass on Francorte's jacket.

"Aye. The men?"

"Three done and four wounded."

"The marines?"

"Five left."

"Not the outcome I might have hoped for. A waste of life on both sides just to satisfy an ego." Hollick pushed Francorte into Mullin's hands. Take him and a few of the men to the dock and get the Star back. He is expendable if you have trouble."

"You'll never get away with this-"

Mullen prodded him with his cutlass and the Governor's mouth slammed shut. After seeing to his crew and making sure they were fit to travel Hollick told Braggs to take them and join Mullen at the dock, secure the ship and standby to make sail; he would join them shortly.

******

Lieutenant Barlow saw some of the action from the window in his locked quarters. He was certain that Francorte would fail, the fool. Instead of getting on with the job he had to have his public spectacle, his parade to show the people how great he was. He watched as the pirates finally overwhelmed the marines and then he saw Hollick. His teeth clamped together as the pirate Captain spoke to his wounded men, pointed toward the dock and then left in the opposite direction... toward the Governor's house.

Barlow thought about what this all meant and it could only be that Alicia was rescued, otherwise there would be no execution until she was and she was home, supposedly safe. He went to the door of his room and knocked.

"What is it, sir?"

"I need to use the head, Sergeant." There was some scuffling and mumbling then the lock snicked and the door opened.

The punch was swift and precise. Blood spurted from the Sergeant's nose and he reeled back, toppling over the edge of a table. Barlow grabbed him by the ankles and dragged him inside his room, locking the door and leaving. He stopped to collect his pistol then hurried out of the barracks and up the hill to The Governor's.

******

As Hollick made his way up the hill, he saw the movement from behind an upstairs window and his pace quickened. He leapt up the front steps and pushed open the door without knocking. Alicia was frozen at the bottom of the staircase, one hand like a claw on the newel post, the other clutching her bosom.

"You escaped! My father?"

"He is being used as barter for my ship. He is unharmed."

"You have blood on your clothes!"

"There was a battle, some men were injured."

"This was what you meant by other visitors." Her face fell and she started to sit on the stair.

Hollick moved to her side and lifted her back up, turning her to face him.

"I came to see if you wanted to return with me."

Alicia was shocked. There was no courtship dance. No moderate flirting to establish potential boundaries. Just flat out, come with me. She blushed, about what she just finished thinking, considering she had already broken the boundaries among a bed of stolen cushions with this very man.

"Well?"

"My parents... I can't just-"

"Bring you mother with you. You've seen how we live. She would be well cared for and made most comfortable."

Her mouth opened as if a hinge broke. Bring my mother! Who was this man, really? "Hollick, I can't just leave."

He pulled her close and, with eyes wide open, kissed her... hard.

"How touching, Captain. The notorious buccaneer seducing the fragile damsel he kidnaps then rescues." Hollick stepped back, reaching for his pistol but Barlow had him in his sights. "I would dearly love you to try, Captain, but not in front of a lady."

"How did you get out of your quarters?" Alicia asked.

"The same way you paramour did, Miss Francorte, violently." Barlow waggled the pistol at Hollick. "Step outside Captain, I don't want to ruin the Governor's floor."

"What are you doing, Lieutenant? I demand you stop this outrage."

"Outrage! You stand here giving yourself to this- this scum while your father's men lie dead in the street and your father his prisoner!" Barlow's voice became strident and his movements jerky. "Outside, Captain... now!"

Hollick started for the door and as he reached for the handle, Barlow raised his pistol.

"Hollick!" Alicia screamed as the gunshot sounded.

He ducked and turned instinctively, surprise scrawled across his face. Barlow lay face down on the marble floor, the back of his head a mess of hair and bloody matter. Alicia screamed again and sagged back onto the stairs.

"Sorry the lady had to see that, Captain," Cafferty said, coming from the back hall where he had entered the house.

"Mister Cafferty. It would appear I am in your debt." Hollick stood and went to Alicia.

"He was about to shoot you in the back and no, we're even. I would have gone down with the Contender if you hadn't had me rescued."

"Fair and good then. If you wish you can join my men at the dock, we need to replace some good crew members. I'll see that Miss Francorte is taken care of."

******

"Mister Cafferty, welcome aboard sir. Will you be sailin' with us now?"

"Aye, Captain Hollick said you needed some more crew after the incident. By the way, Mister Braggs, I think you'll be standin' by a while yet." Cafferty turned and nodded his head toward the house on the hill.

"Ah, I see." Braggs called to Mullen and told him to make sure Captain Woodcuffe and his marines behaved themselves then he patted Cafferty on the back. "Well then let's go and have a drink to celebrate the day and we'll poke sticks at the Governor, eh?" Braggs winked and both men went below, laughing.

******

Alicia came out of the room and walked back down the hall where Hollick was waiting.

"How is she?"

"She's sleeping. It's the best thing really. The rest is what the doctor wanted for her."

"You never mentioned she was ill."

Alicia waved a hand and leaned against the banister. "It's been this way for a long time. She just gradually gets weaker and more tired."

He blew out a breath and looked around the hall, wondering what to say or do. "I guess my previous offer seems a little off course."

"It was- it- I found it most chivalrous and surprising to say the least."

Hollick found himself unable to make a considered thought. He couldn't just keep standing here with a ship waiting to sail and the island's Governor his only advantage. At some point more marines would be scouring the island for Barlow and they would likely come for Alicia too, to protect her. Her hand on his arm gave him a start and he turned to look into her striking face. Her eyes were the deepest brown and her lips... her lips. He leaned down and kissed her again, this time enjoying her full cooperation. She slipped her fingers into his hand and tugged him gently toward her bedroom door.

The ship won't sail without him, he thought.

******

The Bright Star was manned with his remaining crew and all on standby to make sail. Cotton clouds drifted in a brilliant blue sky and the waters glistened with tiny wavelets. Not much wind, he thought, for a swift departure.

"Mister Braggs, are we secured?"

"Aye, Captain, and ready to uhm, finally make sail." The grin told it all.

"Yes, well, secure that dory with a tow line and make ready." Hollick walked over to the group of marines lining the dock. "Who is the senior officer here?"

The tall officer stepped forward, chest out, chin high. "I am, sir. Captain Alger Woodcuffe of the King's Navy."

"Very well, Captain Woodcuffe. I want you to put one of your marines on board. Choosing a stalwart fellow would be a good move."

"May I ask why, sir?"

"Indeed. When I leave port I don't want those men you have beside the primed land cannons sinking me right here in the harbour. The Governor will be put into that dory, along with your chosen man, when we are well out of range. I suggest a strong fellow because it will be a long pull back to shore... and he may have to do it without assistance, knowing Governor Francorte."

Woodcuffe smothered a smirk and nodded."Very well. You there, that man. leave your weapon and get aboard the ship."

Shyte! "Yes, sir." The marine handed off his musket and jogged to the ship and up the gangway.

"We will meet again, sir." Woodcuffe cautioned. "Knowing the Governor as you do, this is not the end."

"No, I don't expect it is. I would prefer our next meeting to be more amicable but then those are the fortunes of our lives." Hollick gave him a courteous salute and walked back to his ship.

"Cast off, Mister Braggs. Ready about and make sail."

"Aye, Skipper." Braggs shouted the orders down the deck and busy hands executed all the necessary actions.

Hollick stood at the rail and watched the marines as the Star eased away from the dock and slowly came about, the sheets beginning a slight flutter as the weak breeze slipped into their grasp. His eyes drifted up to the house on the hill and he felt a lump form in his throat. Of all the women in all the ports, he had to lose his heart to one that seemed unattainable. Losing his heart at all was strange enough for him. That kind of attachment was simply an interference for a man in his trade... still...

Governor Francorte and the marine were cast off in the dory, outside the harbour to a string of wild threats and curses. The crew gathered at the rail and cheered, drowning out the harangue. Outside the harbour the breeze pick up and soon the schooner's sails were full and taught and she swept through the rising sea with the sharpness of a cutlass.