Convictions (27 page)

Nate raised his eyebrows. “Did we not bring you extra food and goods salvaged from the wreckage? That should help somewhat.”

“Indeed, it does,” the captain assured him quickly.

Jennie regarded him with a touch of disapproval. “And I believe the real thieves on your ship were apprehended, thanks to Nate and Meadows. And your coins were returned to you intact.”

“Aye, this was appreciated too.” Captain MacGregor clasped his hands in thanks, making a little bow toward them.

“And I recall that you procured extra gold coins, as well, from the ones Chilcott stole from the
Emily Anne
,” Nate reminded him.

Jennie glared at Captain MacGregor. How dare he try to
exploit them! She heaved a breath of disgust. She had thought he was a decent sort of man. But now she wanted to kick him in the shins. Nate held her elbow, sensing her increasing anger.

“Aye, that is also true,” said the captain, rubbing at his beard. “You understand that’s all well and good for the ship and the morale of the men, well, and for
me
. As you pointed out, I have had some compensation, so
I
might be convinced to keep my peace, but my crew…there’s not nearly enough for me to share with them. Maybe they’d yammer to someone from another ship that you had been in Tenerife. They might be wanting something substantial for withholding certain information…” His words dwindled off.

“We have nothing else to offer,” said Jennie flatly.

The captain deliberated for a few moments, then seemed to reach a decision. “No matter whatever you have to offer, I have my own skin to consider. There is no guarantee someone will not talk. I cannot risk my commission. Being captain of this ship, or maybe another, is my whole life. If I let you go, and it ever got out, I would be ruined. I’m sorry, but I can’t help.”

Jennie’s spirits sank even more. Now what were they to do?

Chapter Twenty-One

Jennie stared
at the captain’s retreating back. T
he other women dispersed, muttering in disappointment. They might have to wait months on Tenerife for a decision about their fate. Assuming a ship that would give them passage came their way, they might be taken home, jailed and transported again to Van Diemen’s Land, or sent straight to the penal colony. No choice at all.

What would Tenerife be like? Where would they be held? Jennie’s mind clashed with jumbled thoughts. Maybe they could escape, if they planned it right. They’d have to think of every possibility. She turned thoughtfully toward Sarah and the other women. Now was the time to enlist their help.

Jennie gathered Sarah, Alice, Kate, and Fanny to her and voiced her thoughts about escaping. “Do you think just we few should try to get away? With so many of us, I’m not sure we can all go,” said Jennie, looking at the dozen women nearby.

“I say we all stick together,” said Sarah. The others nodded. “They might be able to help us come up with a plan.”

Fanny shrugged. “Why not? Even if they don’t join us, they’re not likely to squeal our plans to anyone given the risks to themselves.”

Jennie motioned the other women over. They stood in a huddle amidship, their voices kept low while Jennie conveyed their intentions. She didn’t need to do any convincing. They all wanted to be included.

“We have to think about how to get away, where we go, and how to get there,” said Jennie.

Sarah added, “I think we’d all have to agree on the same destination to make it the easiest and safest.”

She looked around the group and they all nodded.

“Yes, let’s make sure we all get out together,” said Hildy.

Jennie thought of the consequences if one of them was caught and tortured to talk. They’d have to make sure that didn’t happen.

Fanny, ever the individual spirit, said, “We can make our separate ways after we get out of the captain’s clutches and away from the law.”

“Let’s think about getting to safety first,” said Sarah. “Where should we go?”

“What about the Province of Canada?” suggested Jennie. She recalled the excitement she’d felt when Captain MacGregor had suggested this for Nate.

“What would we do there?” asked Mary.

“With a new settlement like that, I’m sure there are lots of opportunities,” said Hildy. “Probably better than anywhere else.”

They mulled this over for a while, tossing out pros and cons. Jennie didn’t know what she’d do either, but she was willing to take her chances. At least in the Province of Canada they hadn’t accepted convicts like the Americans had done in the past. Maybe the people there wouldn’t have jurisdiction, or be as prone to lock them up and send them back.

“Does anyone see any other viable option?” Jennie asked.

No one spoke.

“Then I suggest that’s where we head,” Sarah said.

“Is everyone in agreement?” asked Jennie. She eyed each individual until they responded. There was no hesitation.

“All right then, the Province of Canada’s our destination.”

“We’ll have to make sure the story gets out that our ship sank and we were all lost. Otherwise, the law might come looking for us,” said Kate.

A sudden wave of sadness clasped Jennie’s stomach. Would her family hear about the shipwreck? Somehow she’d have to let them know she was still alive. At that moment, she vowed whatever choices came her way, some day she would see her mum and sisters again.

Jennie rallied. “Okay, now, what’s our plan to get there?” She waited for ideas to surface.

“Maybe we could find a cargo or passenger ship to give us free passage, if we all offer to help on board,” Mary suggested.

“Possible, but not practical. There are too many of us,” objected Hildy.

“Maybe we will have to split up,” said Fanny.

“Some of us wouldn’t make it on our own,” said Mary.

“Let’s see what other options we can come up with first,” said Jennie. “We have to think about where to stay hidden while we await passage.”

“What about the convents?” Iris asked. “There are plenty on Tenerife, no matter where we land. We could hide in one or two for a while.”

Fanny guffawed. “Yeah, the likes of us could dress in habits and walk around in plain sight.”

“That’s not such a bad idea,” said Sarah.

“I was joking,” Fanny said. Then she sobered. “You know, it might just work.”

“But what about me?” asked Alice. “I couldn’t be a nun at my age.”

Sarah responded, “No, dearie, but you could pass as a child in one of their orphanages.”

“It would just be until we could find our passage to the new country,” said Mary. “Pretending to be nuns might even help us get free passage.”

“I like it,” said Hildy.

Iris snipped, “It will be good to be in a house of God again and away from you heathen lot.”

Everyone ignored her.

“All in favour of hiding in a convent?” Mary asked.

Everyone raised their hands. Excited whispers rustled through the huddle of women. They silenced suddenly when Nate approached them.

“Come with me,” he said to Jennie and nodded to the others.

He led Jennie starboard. Sarah and Alice aided Kate. The others followed, assisting those who needed help.

“We’ll be docking in a few hours.” Ned pointed out to sea.

“What do you mean?” she asked.

His eyes followed a flock of gulls in the distance.

She recalled birds only flew close to land.

“Now look a little to your left,” he directed.

Far on the horizon, fishing boats bobbed on the glistening water.

“We’re near Tenerife!” Jennie caught her breath. Her future lay before her. But what would it bring? A life of servitude on a penal colony, or chancing the unknown in the Province of Canada? The women around her stared transfixed but subdued, probably wondering the same thing.

Puzzled, Nate looked at her. “I thought you would be happy to see land again.”

“Not if it means I’ll be imprisoned.”

Jennie felt Nate’s eyes on her as she walked away with a sad heart. The other women followed.

“We’ve got to finish making our plans quickly,” she said when they were out of earshot of the sailors.

She noticed Nate and Meadows had waylaid the captain in what seemed an animated conversation.

“How will we escape from Captain McGregor and his crew?” Jennie felt her temperature rise. There wasn’t much time to plan. “Remember we’re all in this together.”

Sarah spoke first. “We have no money, doing chores for them obviously won’t get us paid, and even if we were willing to trade our bodies, which we’re
not
, there would be no guarantee they wouldn’t renege on any deal we struck.”

“And for sure we could never overpower the captain and the crew,” said Hildy. “And sneaking off without being noticed is impossible.”

“We need something else to bargain with,” said Fanny.

“We may be able to negotiate something.” Nate’s voice behind them made them all jump.

Nate nodded and Meadows brought the captain over to them.

“Captain McGregor,” Meadows prodded, “tell the women how you are willing to reconsider your decision to release them. I want them to hear, so there can be no misunderstandings.”

The captain loosened the top button of his shirt and cleared his throat. “When we get to Tenerife, I would consider…looking the other way if a certain party of women were to disembark without aid and disappear.”

The women grew excited, but Jennie scrutinized the captain.

“You’d be willing to do this? There wouldn’t be any trickery?”

Captain MacGregor nodded. “Yes, I would, though I think a little recompense wouldn’t be amiss.”

“And I think, Captain MacGregor, you should reconsider your request in light of your situation,” said Meadows.

The captain hesitated, weighing his chances of other compensation.

Meadows lost his patience. “I’m not without the ear of General Tottington, whom I’m sure will be none too pleased to hear of your drunken command of this vessel and the ineptness of your handling of the men, who have stolen merchandise from the company you work for, which, incidentally, belongs to
him
.

“Well, I, well…” MacGregor spluttered, his face turning purple. “If you put it that way, I shall withdraw my suggestion.”

He bowed his head, but Jennie had seen how his eyes glowered at Meadows.

Jennie, too, had misgivings about the captain and his men. “What if someone from the
Lady Margaret
slips?” she whispered to Nate.

He gave her a slow smile. “He can always say he put everyone on another ship and washed his hands of us, and that he knows nothing more.”

Jennie’s attention was caught by Captain MacGregor asking the very thing she wanted to know next.

“Just how am I supposed to ensure that my men, once they are on shore or leave my employ, won’t let their tongues wag?”

Meadows responded ruefully, “It would be in your best interest and theirs, Captain MacGregor, to warn the crew that they could all be turned in for grand larceny and plans of mutiny. I’m fairly certain if you do, the threat of prosecution will hold their counsel too.”

The captain nodded, his face sullen and wary.

“If that’s not enough, when we’ve docked, we’ll arrange for the women to leave the ship under cover of darkness, while most of your crew is asleep. Old Ruddick will keep his counsel, so leave him on watch. Angus too, if you have a mind for it. Then none of you will know details of how or where they went.”

The captain tilted his head in taciturn agreement. “Aye, and I have your word for it that naught will be said about my command?”

“As long as you keep up your end of the bargain,” said Meadows. “I will be with you until we return to Britain to see that you do. I also have acquaintances who will keep me informed afterwards.”

Captain MacGregor pressed his lips together and contemplated Meadows. Then he reached out a hand. Meadows shook it. The captain stalked off toward his cabin.

Jennie sucked in a deep breath. “The captain is really willing to let us go?” she asked in amazement.

Meadows nodded.

Jennie persisted, “And you’re willing to do so too?”

Meadows shrugged. “You’ve been through so much, I think you’ve paid for your crimes.”

“We’re really going to be freed?” asked Alice.

Meadows nodded again.

“Oh, thank you so very much,” Jennie grabbed Meadows’ hand and shook it so hard his arm jiggled.

Meadows smiled and released her grip. The other women gathered around, cheering Meadows and Nate. Amid everyone’s tears and hugs and pats on the backs, Jennie was overwhelmed with emotion. She managed to drag herself away to thank Meadows again. Though they weren’t out of danger yet, a beacon of hope shone brightly through for the future.

“How can I – we – ever thank you? This will make such a difference to our lives.”