Chapter Ten
Thud.
Josephine’s heart gave a lurching beat as she stood beneath the wood sign of the King’s Head. Loud music and boisterous shouts pulsed from within.
She pulled her shoulders straight. “Just like Tortuga,” she muttered.
But it wasn’t. This was a foreign country. The men inside would be a mix of sorts but one thing was certain—there wouldn’t be any pirates. Which she was used to.
Never mind. Standing out here wouldn’t do her any favors.
Now or never. She pulled her hat low and adjusted her men’s shirt over the breeches she’d brought from Tortuga.
With a deep breath she pushed the door open.
Larger than the Golden Lantern with tables spaced farther apart, the only light came from primitive sconces hanging along the walls, giving the tavern a private feel.
Good. Fewer eyes on her meant better chances of success.
An older barkeep stood behind the bar, scanning the room with sharp eyes and she came to a stop in front of him. He filled mugs while keeping his attention fixed on the patrons and barely spared her a glance. Until she set a coin on the counter.
She lowered her voice to the practiced one she’d gotten so good at on the island. “I’ll have an ale. And I’m looking for someone.”
He palmed the money and laughed. “Aren’t we all.”
A moment later, a wooden mug slammed down in front of her, golden liquid sloshing onto the counter. She picked it up. “I need to speak with the Tempest’s new cabin boy.”
A bushy gray brow lifted. “What makes you think he’s here?”
Her heart dropped. Was he already on board the Tempest? If so, her adventure would be over before it started. She grasped for words. “I was told I could find him here. It’s important.”
“It always is.” He regarded her for a long moment, then sighed and pointed. “He’s over there.”
She lifted on tiptoes to find an older boy with an oversized tarpaulin hat hiding half his face. He sat at a table with a group of dockhands. Piles of money sat in front of each of them and her lips curved. Excellent.
“Thank you.”
She adjusted her own hat, checking for any wayward curls as she made her way over. While she approached, one man stood, his seat directly across from the boy. Perfect. Without asking, she slid into the empty chair.
“You’re not done, are you?” Josephine pulled out her money bag and set a small pile onto the table in front of her. Small, yet big enough to tempt several of the men to place bets, including the boy.
She fell into her familiar routine, making small bets in the beginning of the round, losing more than she won as she counted the cards.
Then, toward the end, as the number of remaining cards dwindled, she struck hard, betting big and winning several hands.
One by one, the other men dropped out, until it was just her and the boy.
Only a handful of cards remained, and after counting his remaining coins, she set an equal amount out. He scowled, but followed suit. The dealer dealt their first cards.
A nine.
A four.
She pressed her tongue against the back of her teeth. Not ideal. The boy’s face hadn’t changed, but chances were high he was closer. She would have to risk another card and pray it wasn’t the remaining 10 or face.
She nodded and the dealer slid one over.
Six.
Her breath blew out.
He noticed. His jaw ticced, but he nodded for another card. When he lifted the corner, his eyes pressed shut. Josephine didn’t need to see his hand. He’d gone over.
“I’m out.” He wiped his face and Josephine couldn’t help feeling a little sorry for taking all his money.
She’d never set out to deliberately ruin someone before.
A quick count confirmed she’d likely just swindled him out of more than he would be getting paid for his job. It explained how much he was sweating.
“No, you’re not.”
He scowled. “I assure you, I’ve nothing left.”
“Sure you do.” She let her smile build slowly. “Your job”
His eyes widened. “Hell no.”
She shrugged, then pushed all her winnings to the center and nodded at the table. “There are enough cards for one more hand. You and me. All or nothing.”
The flame from the nearest lantern glistened in his eyes and he swallowed. The amount there had to be five times what he’d lost. He counted it. Counted again. Shook his head. “I can’t”
“Suit yourself.” She slowly wrapped her hands around the stacks of coins and pulled them her way. A look of anguish crossed his face as she let one stack topple, the tinkling of coins rising over the tavern noise.
“Wait.”
She grinned. Greed always won.
The man dealing pulled her coins back to the center and gave the boy an expectant look. “What can you put down as collateral for your unconventional bet?”
He pulled out a crumpled piece of paper and smoothed it out. Neat handwriting scrawled across it. Cabin Boy. USS Tempest.
Josephine’s pulse picked up. The remaining cards posed a risk. But it was one she had to take. He would not be staying for another game.
The dealer pushed a card her way and she lifted the corner. A face. She forced her expression to remain unreadable as she considered the unplayed cards. A ten, nine, eight, four and three. From the boy’s narrowed eyes, she’d wager he’d gotten one of the lower ones.
The dealer slid another card over, his eyes gleaming in the firelight. An eight.
Eighteen.
She tapped the table, holding.
Her opponent signaled for another. Too quickly. If he held the four and three, nothing left could carry him past her. His lips pressed together as he looked at his card and held. At the dealer’s nod, they showed their hands.
She was right,
He turned over the four, three, and ten. She’d beat him by one.
She stood and took the coins and paper. “We can go over details outside.”
His lips pulled into a snarl. “If you mean to rob me, I’ve nothing left.”
A snort left her before she could stop it. “Do I truly look like I could overtake you?”
He crossed his arms. “I can tell you all you need to know in here.”
“No offense, but do you trust these men to speak freely about a US Navy mission in front of them?” She let her gaze roam over each of the men sitting at the table.
He harrumphed but stood and started toward the door. “Not like I know anything.” She followed him outside and once they got several paces away, he turned. “What do you want to know?”
Her heart raced. What indeed? She had no inkling of what a cabin boy’s duties would be. “Well, I’ll need any information given to you about the job.”
“I’m to be a cabin boy. On the USS Tempest. It leaves at dawn.”
She swallowed at the flippant offer of common knowledge. She needed more than that. “How do you board? Surely this paper isn’t the only thing I need? You must have signed some orders.”
He looked at her as if she’d sprouted an extra head. “I’m not a navy sailor. The lieutenant asked for a cabin boy, I was available and told him I’d take the job.”
“But anyone could say they were you. It doesn’t seem like him to be so lax.”
Now, he shrugged. “You should be glad. Isn’t that the point of you being able to take my position?”
It couldn’t be so easy. “So, you just walk up, wave the paper, and say, ‘Hello, I’m the cabin boy?’”
“He took down my name.”
She sighed. “Which is?”
“Jack Barlow”
“Alright, I board the ship, then what do I do?”
“Have you truly not done this before?” He shook his head and laughed. “You’re going to make a complete blunder of this.”
She wanted to throw her hands in the air. “Why else do you think I’m asking you?”
“You’ll get on and head down to the berth deck where you’ll take a hammock.
Then, you’ll make yourself useful. Usually, I end up helping the cook and scrubbing the decks.
It’s a navy ship so you’ll be doing a lot of that.
Of course, your main job is to make sure the lieutenant stays comfortable.
Bring his meals, do his laundry. Maybe he’ll want you to help dress him like a valet. ”
Her stomach twisted and heat flamed across her cheeks. Dear God, she hoped he wouldn’t. She blew out a breath. It would be fine. No need to keep up the ruse for more than a day at most. Just long enough to be far enough out that he wouldn’t return her.
“Why?” Jack frowned at her unease. “Why do you want this job so bad?”
Suspicion filled his eyes and her mind raced to find an answer. If he suspected her of having ill intentions, he might very well alert the lieutenant’s men and ruin everything.
“My father is sick, so I need to work. But, I’ve no experience. After this job, I’m sure I’ll be able to find a ship willing to hire me on full time.”
He scowled. “Probably for the best. No one in their right mind wants to go after that pirate they’re hunting. Heard he’s real nasty.”
“Well, the lieutenant already bested him once, so I have faith he can do so again.”
With a shrug, he turned. “I’d rather not tempt fate.”
Josephine stood still as he walked away. Her palm drifted over her bulging pocket and she chewed her cheek. “Jack, wait.” She hurried to catch up, pulling out a handful of coins. While she wished she could give all the winnings to him, if she did, he’d be suspicious.
“Here.” She handed them over. “A token of appreciation.”
He paused, but relief filled his eyes as he took them. “What’s your name, by the way?”
She grinned. “Why, don’t you know? Jack Barlow.”
A chuckle answered her cheeky response and he dipped his head. “Maybe you’ll pull this off after all.”
“Oh, one last thing.” Her hand remained extended. “I need your hat.”
*
The window creaked as Josephine climbed in.
Her eyes darted to Abigail’s bed, only to find it empty.
Ice slid through her veins. What if she’d told her father?
Earlier that night, when Josephine had walked in disguised in breeches and a men’s shirt, Abigail had nearly fainted and tried to make her stay.
She cursed having to use the window, but the tree outside made getting in and out of the house easy.
A scrape came from the corner and she spun.