EL LOBO DEL MAR

[Welsh Wench]

Jack exhaled a breath he didn't even know he was holding.
"Are you--are you sure it wasn't Rhys that killed Madoc defending Rhiannon?"
Megan shook her head. "If only it were that simple. Then the dead would bury the dead. This is the guilt that Rhiannon has been carrying around with her the past two years."
Jack sat there, a look of bewilderment on his face. If anyone but Megan had explained this to him, he would have scoffed and called them a liar.
Megan got up and looked out the window.
"The snow is coming down harder. Just like it did that night."
She turned back to Jack and handed him a poker.
"It's cold in here. I'll let you tend to the fire. You look like you could use something to do with your hands."
He took the poker and stirred the embers, throwing some kindling on the dying flames. The fire roared to life. Megan took a blanket and wrapped it around her.
"Will Daffyd not be wondering where you are?"
Megan shook her head.
"Daffyd is very understanding. He is one of the most loving men I know. And he immediately took to Rhiannon. He knows I am down here. And he urged me to tell you the whole story."
"Does my wife know you are down here?"
At that Megan shook her head.
"No, she was too distraught. The laudanum will make her sleep till the evening.  Nanny Greyson took Zara to her room so if she wakes up, she is cared for. Rhiannon needs to sleep. This has been preying on her mind for the last two years. The nightmares are proof of that. Lady Carlisle's brother---Drake, I believe his name is--had a talk with Daffyd. I found out she was the witch that couldn't wait to tell you. She took an instant dislike to Rhiannon the minute she met her."
"I guess it is because of Rhiannon's looks and youth."
"And also because it was known that Lady Carlisle was unable to give the Earl a child. The Earl had a couple children by his first wife. She envied Rhiannon all that. And the fact that Rhiannon had it and didn't want it."
"Sounds like Rose. Not the fact that Rose wanted children. But the fact that it would have cemented her place as Lady Carlisle."

"Back to what happened--and we only had a supposition on it until Rhiannon came back to us."
Megan took a deep breath before she continued. "When Rhys came to fetch her, Rhiannon wanted to leave right away. But Rhys had arranged with his friend--"
"Dolan. Must have been Dolan."
"He arranged for his friend to arrive with a carriage and take them to Rhys' ship. They were to sail the next day for Barbados. But Rhys, being a man, well, he knew they had time and he HAD been away from her for a bit..."
Her voice trailed off before she cleared her throat and resumed her story.

"To make a long story short, Madoc had a suspicion that something was going on. Whether it was a servant....or maybe someone had seen them on holiday in Cardiff, we will never know. But Madoc came home and caught them. Rhiannon implored him to please let Rhys live. But Madoc was simply either out of his mind or just plain cruel like we always knew him to be. He ran Rhys through in front of Rhiannon. As he pulled his sword from Rhys' body, he raised it again. His intention was to do to her as he had done to Rhys."

Jack's mouth set.
"Two lovers. Dead. Madoc defended his honour and they got what they deserved is the way it would be gossiped by the populace."
Megan nodded. "English and Welsh society can be so judgmental."
"And then she killed him. In self-defense."
"Yes. Her bodice dagger was next to her on the floor. In one movement, she grabbed it and hurled it. Just as Madoc was about to come down with the sword to run her through too, the dagger caught him right where his heart was. If he had one, that is."
Jack ran his fingers through his hair. "She was so close....so close to dying. Why didn't she tell me any of this?"
"Because she was afraid. Don't forget, Jack--she was only seventeen. Madoc was hurled back against the wall and died. Rhiannon's concern was for Rhys. She held him as he was bleeding out. His last words were that he loved her."
"God. I had no idea..."
"So here she is. Seventeen, cut off from her family and two dead men in her bedroom. One of them by her own hand. She had no idea what to do so she did what she does best."
"She ran."
"She panicked. She took the jewels and any money that was in the safe. There was nothing she could do for Rhys. And she was afraid that Madoc's sons would try to exact vengeance from her. All she could think of was swinging from the gallows."
"And she ended up in Barbados."
"She ended up that night at a church. A priest who heard her confession gave her sanctuary that night. He helped her book passage.
"To the one place she knew to go. Barbados."
"Yes. When she arrived, she kept asking at taverns if anyone knew the whereabouts of a Captain Fox. Of course, no one did. A tavern keeper took a liking to her and gave her a job."
"That must have been Amos at the Varlet and Vixen."

[Welsh Wench]

"By now I imagine you can fill in the blanks. She met you and that story is the one you lived. Then when it all fell apart, she decided to---"
"Run. Again. Why couldn't she just TALK to me, Megan?"
"Because running was always her survival instinct, Jack. And if she didn't run, where would she be today? I have no idea what Madoc's sons had planned. Lord, we were worried sick about her! No news, nothing. For all we knew, she could have been kidnapped by robbers. The safe was empty. But she came back to us."
"And she ran from me. Back to you."
"Yes. And it took alot for her to go. But she was having a baby and with the way you had been acting--don't look so surprised, that last month--"
"I was a right bastard to her."
"You will get no argument from me there. Yes, you were. Pulling a gun on her. She ran. But this time she ran to keep her child alive. She booked passage and came back to us. We didn't know until a note had been sent from the ship. I dropped everything and hurried to meet her. She told me everything that happened."
"And when she needed me most, I let her down. Like Rhys did. If it weren't for me, Rhys may still be alive. He would have met Rhiannon and married her."
A mask of sheer misery enveloped Jack's face.
Megan reached out and touched his hand. "Don't think of it that way, Jack. What is meant to be will be."
"But why couldn't she tell me about Rhys?"
"She didn't know Rhys was your best friend until you inadvertently let her know he was your best friend. She was afraid that you wouldn't love her anymore. And she couldn't bear that."
"She also didn't tell me about the plantation. Under the name of R. C.  Castlemaine."
"She bought that when you left her for Martinique. She purchased it that afternoon from Henri Picou. It was the one she wanted. And she only put it in her name because it was a home for her baby. She only took those chests to provide for your child. I know she intended to surprised you with it when you arrived in Barbados. It was not an intentional withholding of information at this point now. It was to be a surprise. That she bought the one you both talked about."

Megan stood up and yawned.
"I can't believe it is three o'clock in the morning. I do believe I shall sleep till noon. Jack, I don't know if you have it in your head to leave Rhiannon or not. But don't. My advice. Don't."
"But the secrets..."
"She has no more. I have told you the complete unvarnished truth. Rhiannon could have told you but the emotions would get in the way of the bare facts. Now you know it all."

Jack gathered up the pillow and blanket.
"Where are you going?"
"Back to my room. Things may not be perfect. But I think Rhiannon needs me right now."
Megan smiled and whispered, "Then I shall see you in the morning."
"Noon. Let's give ourselves all the time to rest. And thank you, Megan. My wife and I have alot to talk about."
She gave him a hug and picked up her candle. "Good night, brother!"
Jack smiled slightly. It was the first time Megan had acknowledged without thinking that Jack was indeed her brother in law.
Things were far from perfect but at last things were beginning to add up.
And finally making sense.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Megan closed the door behind her and went to her room. As she slid into bed, Daffyd was half-asleep when she snuggled next to him.
"Things better, Megan?"
"I think so. We will know for sure in the morning."
"Did you tell him all?"
"As much as he needed to know."
Daffyd yawned, "That's good."
He kissed her and rolled over, sound asleep before Megan knew it.
She stared at the ceiling.
'Was I wrong to not tell Jack that yes, two bodies were found. One was Madoc Castlemaine.
But the other one....'

[Welsh Wench]

Honour could feel her eyes starting to close as Megan pulled the door shut. She remembered in bits and pieces now what had happened when she met Jack on the stairs.
The fury.
The bewilderment.
The hurt.
Most of all, the hurt.

The disjointed way she tried to explain why she never told him about Madoc or Rhys. But it came out wrong. Oh, so wrong!
She tried to sit up but her body felt like lead. She vaguely recalled Nanny Greyson and Megan talking in soft whispers and Nanny taking Zara out of her crib.
Honour tried to protest weakly but the words just wouldn't come.
The only thing that she was sure of was that Jack was gone.
It was her last thoughts as a laudanum haze took over her consciousness....

"It's alright, Muir. Just curl up under my cloak."
The wolf-dog snuggled closer to Rhiannon. Taliesin, the steed she took from the convent, seemed to know that his rider needed to get away as far as she could and quickly.
Rhiannon's breath clouded in the damp, cold Welsh night.
'Have to get away....have to get away....have to....'
"Halt!"
Rhiannon drew the reins up short and Taliesin skidded to a stop, rearing up slightly.
"Wh--who is it?"
A dark cloaked figure came out from behind the trees, his coal black stallion blocking their way.
"Never mind the name," the stranger said. In the moonlight, Rhiannon could see that he was rough trade.
"Wh-wh-what do you want?"
He gave a low chuckle. "Yer valuables, fer one."
Her hand tightened on the saddle bag that contained all the Castlemaine jewels. Her duffel bags with her clothes and the money were thrown across Taliesin's back and tied down securely.
"I-I don't have any money."
"No? Then what is in the bags?"
"Just foodstuff. I--I'm on my way to see my sister. She's about a day's journey."
"And what is a nice girl like you doing riding at night instead of cozied in an inn?"
"It was too crowded so I decided to ride as long as I could and then set up in a cave...or something."
He laughed. "I think I can arrange the 'or something.' Now hop yer pretty self down from the horse and I'll show you how cozy it can be."
"WHAT?"
Taliesin pranced in place and Muir emitted a low growl.
"Ye got a dog there? Just tie him up near the tree, darling. Ye have no money and I haven't seen a woman in a week. I need something out of this."

Rhiannon shakily reached into the pouch and produced a gun.
"And what will you do if I sh-shoot you?"
He laughed even harder. "Ye can't even hold onto it, ye're shaking so hard. Now come on and hand it over before you hurt yourself."
"I--I mean it. I--I'll shoot if I have to."
"No, ye won't. Ye aint' got it in ye. Now, hurry up and I'll show ye some right good lovin' under this here full moon and then--"
BAM!
A sharp yell of pain filled the night as the man clutched his knee.
"B*TCH!" he yelled.
Rhiannon fired another shot wildly and it missed the man's head by inches. One more shot and his hat flew off his head. He dropped to the road and tried to staunch the blood.
The blood...

Rhiannon wasted no time. She dug her boot heels into Taliesin. The horse reared back and bolted. As he dashed by, he brushed into the robber's horse and spooked him. The robber's horse took off down the road in the opposite direction.
All that Rhiannon could hear as she fled was the man's cursing.

[Welsh Wench]

About ten miles down the road, Rhiannon reined Taliesin.  There was a fork in the road and Rhiannon did not know which way to go. Would one lead to a town? Does the other one drive her deeper into the forest?
Would there be more highwaymen?
And did she have any more shot for the pistol? As if she could load it herself...

The horse stopped and Rhiannon looked up at the stars that shown in the indigo night. It was becoming colder. Rhiannon watching her breath frost up, her fingers numb from holding the reins.
She gazed up at the heavens and searched them as if she would find the answer there.
'Mother? Mother?  Pl-please! Please! I need your help!' she begged.  She covered her face with her hands and sobbed. The last year had been a terror for her. Aside from the fact that she was told to leave the convent--the only home she had known for the past eleven years--her father had married her off to an old man. Even though Madoc was an old man of forty-seven, he was lively.
Or was that...alive?

Madoc had been cruel and controlling. He treated Rhiannon as if she were a child and not his wife. Telling her what to do, what to wear, how to act. How to act...as the proper wife of Lord Castlemaine should.
The portrait was Rhiannon's first act of defiance.  But certainly not her last.
Madoc realized he was losing control of the headstrong, young woman he married. The portrait was unveiled at a party Madoc had arranged. There in all her glory was the painted reflection of Lady Rhiannon Castlemaine.
She never did quite figure out if Madoc beat her for wearing the deep purple dress or if it was something else.
For the painter had immortalized her with a look of defiance--the tilt of her chin and the rebellion in her eyes.

She wiped her face with the corner of the cloak. Muir let out a whimper and licked her face. She hugged him fiercely.
'Where are we to go, Muir? What shall we do?'
She looked up to see her answer off in the distance.
A small stone church with a light in the stained glass window.

[Welsh Wench]

Honour led the horse to the front door of the church and tied him to the rail.
She took Muir with her and timidly knocked on the door.
The door was answered by a old priest. He had a full beard and was tall and imperial in his bearing. Yet there was something else in his face.
Compassion.

"What can I do for you, my child?"
"Please, Father, can you hear a confession? Tonight?"
"But, child, you should be home with your family. What drives you out on a night like this? You must be chilled to the bone."
"A confession and absolution are of utmost importance, Father. Would you deny it?"
"Of course not."
"And sanctuary in a church? Where I will come to no harm nor arrest?"
The priest took a deep breath.
"My child, sanctuary and right to asylum was abolished by King James in 1623."
"But can you protect me?"
He said slowly, "I'll do what I can. But it is time for you to tell me what this is about."
"Only in a confession. Otherwise, I leave."
He sat down and motioned for her to do likewise.
"Would you care for something to drink? Some tea?"
She shivered. "I would prefer something a bit stronger, if  you don't  mind."
The priest's eyes twinkled.
"I was hoping you would say that. Brandy it is, then."

 
The priest handed her a snifter.
"I made it myself last spring."
"You make strong spirits? Here?"
"Child, I am an herbalist and a healer and a distiller. Many of these ancient recipes were handed down by the Celts and the----" here he looked around--"the Druids."
Rhiannon's eyes went wide.
"Druids?"
The priest laughed, "Surely being Welsh, you know that alot of the ancient practices had its roots in Druidism."
She took a sip of the blackberrry brandy and it warmed her. Muir curled up at her feet, happy to be out of the cold.
The priest looked out at Taliesin, still tethered to the post.
"My child, if you seek---sanctuary--best I take your horse to the stable and let Brother Clement care for him. No need for you to get up, you just warm up. And then we shall talk."
The priest wrapped a wool scarf around his neck and closed the door.

Within fifteen minutes, he reappeared with an armload of firewood.
"Can't have you freezing. Your horse is stabled and being cared for."
He laid more wood on the fire, then sat down and lit his pipe.
"You--you smoke a pipe too?"
He smiled at her. "It calms me down. Now...let's talk. Might I ask your name?"
She hesitated and Muir looked up at her expectantly.
"Rhiannon Cas--Rhiannon Conaway."
"Pleased to meet you, Mistress Conaway.  Why are you in need of a quick confession and absolution? You don't look wounded nor do you look like you are in need of last rites."
She looked down at the floor and said softly, "I committed an unforgiveable sin."
"A young lady as yourself? Now, what could be so bad that you feel you cannot be forgiven?"
She looked up at him with pain-filled eyes.
"I killed my husband."

The priest downed his brandy in one gulp and looked at her. His voice remained calm.
"I see."
"It was an accident, Father. I swear. It was self defense."
Perhaps you had better start at the beginning."
"Is this my confession?"
"It is."

Rhiannon took a deep drink of her brandy and said quietly, "Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been over a year since my last confession."
"Over a year?  And to what do you owe the time lapse?"
"I--I was married off to an old man I didn't love! Oh, Father, he was horrible!"
"How did you come to be married off?"
She looked down. "I was sent away in disgrace.  I met a man."
The priest said nothing.
She raised her head and said almost defiantly, "It wasn't like what you think! We were in love! He had to go away to sea--"
"He was a merchant sailor?"
"Not exactly."
"What do you mean, 'not exactly?'"
She said almost inaudibly, "He's a pirate."
The priest nodded. It wasn't unusual for an imaginative and romantic girl to lose her heart to a dashing figure.  She took a deep breath and continued.
"He was supposed to come back for me but he was delayed out of a sense of loyalty to a friend and meanwhile Mother Superior found out about us. The damned--forgive me, Father--the novitiate turned me in. I was sent home. I thought Rhys--that is his name--had deserted me and my father didn't want me around so I had to marry Lo--my husband. But Rhys found me and we made plans for him to spirit me away. But--but then my husband came home. And he ran Rhys through with his saber."
"Rhys--and you..?"
She blurted out, "It is not a sin if you are in love, is it, Father? The sin would be love denied! And the sin was every time my husband touched me. THAT was not love!"
She fought for control of her emotions. The priest could see how fragile she was.
He gently prodded, "And so what happened to the husband?"
She could hardly find her voice. "He raised his saber to run me through also but I was quicker. I hurled my bodice dagger and pinned him against the wall."

Rhiannon burst into tears. The kindly priest took her in his arms and patted her on the back, making soothing sounds.
"My child, forgiveness has been granted. Go and sin no more."
She looked up at him with a tear-stained face.
"I--I'm forgiven?"
"Clearly not a sin you intend on repeating--although we are a bit foggy on the 'is it a sin or not?' but I am willing to make allowances for your youth. Now, do you have a place to stay?"
She shook her head no.
"Where do you intend to go, child?"
She sat there undecided.
"I thought so. You haven't thought that far in advance. There is a bed in the loft up these stairs.  You shall be safe and no harm will come to you. You are under my protection. And tomorrow we shall talk about what you shall do and where you shall go."

She hugged him as if she were drowning and he was the only thing to cling to.
"How can I ever thank you, Father?"
"By entering a convent and becoming a nun."
She looked at him with a shocked expression until he laughed.
"No, I can see you are not cut out for taking the veil. Now get a good night's sleep and we shall talk on the morrow."
She started up the stairs, Muir trotting after her.
Rhiannon turned and politely asked, "Might I inquire of your name, Father?"
"Simon. Father Simon for all your spiritual needs, Miss Rhiannon."

[Welsh Wench]

Father Simon was baking bread when Rhiannon and Muir came down from the loft. He smiled up at her.
"Would you like a few slices of sunflower seed bread? It was made fresh yesterday. And the butter is freshly churned."
She gave him a radiant smile in return. "I can't think of anything better, Father."

She dropped a few pieces of saltpork to Muir as she spread the butter on her bread. Father Simon continued to knead the bread as he asked her, "And have you decided on any plans, young Rhiannon?"
"Yes, I have. Rhys and I had talked about leaving Wales for a place called Barbados. It's in the Caribbean."
He nodded slowly, "Yes, I know. And that is where you intend to go?"
She took a bite and chewed slowly. "Yes. I think Rhys would have....."
Her voice trailed off. A look of sadness like Father Simon had ever seen crossed her delicate features. Her eyes were far away, along with her thoughts.
And her heart.

"And what do you intend to do with that fine steed?"
She said, "He was the convent's horse. I took him because I refused to have Mother Superior arrange for me to go home in a carriage. With all the money my father donated to keep me there, I feel the horse belongs to me. When I married, my sister Dilys arranged with the groom to have him stabled there. My father really took no note that Taliesin was there and Madoc was pleased to have such a fine piece of horseflesh in his stables. But I cannot take him with me, Father. So I would like to give him to you. As a thank you for a confession well done."
"It's very generous of you, Rhiannon. But he's too fine a gift. Why not sell him?"
"Sell Taliesin to whom? I will not have him passed to strangers. And you would be kind and not work him. And then there is the factor of time."
"And what of your dog?"
She raised her head defiantly. "Muir has been with me since I was six years old. Where I go, he goes."
Father Simon laughed. "A deal, then. But I also have something for you."

He walked over to the mantle and opened a box of rosewood. In a soft cloth, he withdrew a dagger.
It was mother of pearl, inlaid with a ruby on the hilt. He sat down and pressed it into her hand.
"Take it. From me to you."
"Father, I can't..."
"Yes, you can. Let it be a lesson to you, Rhiannon."
He opened her palm and pointed to the ruby. "This represents the blood that has been spilled in the name of lust.  But it is tempered with the pearl, the purity of white which represents the forgiveness of your sins.  Never forget, Rhiannon, that which was shed. But what has now been absolved.  Besides, I have blessed it and you may need it some day."

She took the dagger and slipped it into her bodice. Father Simon pretended not to notice where she kept it.
He said briskly, "And when did you intend to leave for Barbados?"
"As soon as I can book passage. Preferably today."
"But there may be no ships leaving for a few days."
She shrugged, "Then I shall wait till one does. I can procure a room for a few days."
"Are you sure? You are more than welcome to stay here until that time."
Rhiannon shook her head no. "It would be better that I leave. I shall miss Taliesin dearly but I know he will be in good hands. Will you take me to the harbor?"
"If that is what you want."
She said softly, almost to herself, "That is what Rhys would have wanted. He had a friend that would have helped us."
"Does this friend have a name so you can contact him?"
Her brow furrowed. "I can't  really remember. But I think it may have been Fox."

Father Simon dusted flour off his hands and wiped it on his frock.
"I must say sending you off to a foreign land is not setting well with me, child."
"Father, my wolf-dog has been protecting me since I was a little girl. I shall be fine."
She looked off in the distance and said, "Yes, that is where he would want me to go."
"Barbados?"
"Barbados."

The effects of the laudanum were starting to wear off.  Honour felt as if she were underwater and was swimming to the surface. Slowly her consciousness was returning. She sat bolt upright in bed and blurted out, 'It wasn't Fox! It never was Fox! It--it was...WOLFE!'

From next to her, a sleepy voice said, "Wolfe....with an 'e' no less...'
She looked over to see Jack looking at her with bleary eyes.
"I've had about three hours of sleep, Honour. I could use about twenty more."
She looked at him, hardly daring to believe that Jack had come back to her.
"Jack..." she whispered.
Jack shook his head and put his arm around her.
"Later, munequita. We can talk later....' as he fell asleep with Honour in his arms once again.

[Captain Jack Wolfe]

Jack stirred, and he could smell the gentle scent of Honour's perfume.  It brought a smile to his lips as it always did.  He opened his eyes, and blinked the sleep away from them.  He found himself looking into Honour's deeply puzzled eyes.
"Oh, please tell me you haven't been looking at me like that all night," he smiled.
"No, I've only been awake a few minutes."
He cocked an eyebrow.  "Really?"
"Well... closer to an hour."
"That's what I thought."
Honour touched his face.  "Why?  Why did you come back?"
"Why not?  Like I said at the door before I so foolishly left, I love you."
She gave him a dubious look.  "Really?  You're not known for sudden changes of heart, Jack Wolfe."
"All right, you've caught me.  But it is true that I love you."
"Are you going to be honest with me?"
"I honestly love you."
"I mean completely honest, you pirate!" she said, looking hard into his eyes.
"Oh, that!" he tried to laugh, but quickly sobered.  "Megan and I had a very long talk in the wee hours."
Honour's eyes grew wide, then became resigned.  "What did she tell you?"
"Everything she knows."
"Oh, God," she said, he eyes welling with tears.  "Jack, I'm sorry!  I'm so, so sorry!  I should have been the one to tell you, but I didn't know how..."
"Honour, sweetheart!  It's all right!  I understand, I really do!"
"You... what?"
Jack brushed her hair away from her face, dabbing away a tear as he did so.  "I understand why you didn't tell me.  And more importantly, I know it wasn't your fault."
Honour shook her head.  "Jack, I don't understand."
"Megan explained the whole series of events.  She told me that Rhys was delayed in returning to Wales.  If he had returned when he promised, your father never would have had the chance to marry you off to that tyrant.  You and Rhys would have run off together, and you would be living your happily ever after.  Did he ever tell you why it took so long for him to get back?"
"Yes.  He said that a friend had been taken prisoner by some mad Spaniard, and he had to stay and lead the rescue.  I don't remember the friend's name, though.  Were you with him on that adventure?"
"Honour, think about it.  Does any of this sound familiar with what you know about me and a certain crazed colonel?"
Realisation dawned in Honour's eyes.  She put her hand to her mouth and gasped.  "It was you!  And the Spaniard was that horrible Mendoza!  Briggs told me that Mendoza had kidnapped you, but I never made the connection."
"I haven't exactly been talkative about that part of my life.  If I could forget it, I gladly would."
"Is... is that where some of the scars came from?" she asked tentatively.
"Most of them, in fact.  I'm surprised you never asked."
"You don't quite live the life of a gardener, Jack.  I assumed they were from some of your more harrowing exploits.  There are a lot of tavern stories about you."
"Well, now you know, and that one was real.  But the reason I brought all this up is to explain why I know what happened couldn't possibly be your fault."  He looked into her brilliant blue eyes and sighed.
"It's mine.  I'm the reason Rhys is dead."

Honour shook her head.  "Why would you say that?  You weren't there.  You didn't put the sword in Madoc's hand. You didn't make him..."  Her voice caught, and she let the sentence hang in the air.
"If I hadn't been a damned fool and fallen for Mendoza's trap, there would have been no reason to come after me.  Briggs was in a panic when Rhys showed up in St. Lawrence.  It was obvious to him Josiah was out of his depth.  So Rhys..."
"Rhys was a Morgan," she said with a note of pride in her voice.  "He stepped in and took charge."
"Yes, he did.  If it weren't for him, I'd be dead."  Jack's mouth became a grim line.  "And if it weren't for me, he'd still be alive."
Honour thought about his words for a few moments, and to his surprise, she began to smile.  He searched her eyes, confused.
"What?"
"You really don't see it, do you?" she asked. 
Jack shook his head.  "You've lost me."
"If Rhys hadn't saved you, we never would have met.  We wouldn't have Zara.  Jack, think about it!  Rhys rescued us both.  We were prisoners; you literally, me figuratively.  But bound equally nonetheless."  Honour's eyes practically shone with the epiphany.  "If Rhys hadn't freed both of us, Zara would never have been born.  Maybe that was Rhys' role in all of this.  To bring us together!"
Jack's brow furrowed as he thought about what she said.  "Honour, that sounds an awful lot like destiny.  You know destiny and I have never gotten along well."
"That's because you're a stubborn Englishman."
"Oh, and the Welsh have a lock on destiny and its workings?"
She looked her husband in the eye with a cocky smile.  "As a matter of fact, yes.  We do.  So you'd best listen to an expert."
Jack made a face as he mulled it over.  "Well, when you put it that way...  And it does make a certain poetic sense."
"I think it makes perfect sense.  Rhys brought us together, just as we were meant to be.  We have Zara to prove it."
"Who am I to argue with an expert?" he said with a smile, and gently kissed her.  "I don't feel like getting out of bed just yet.  Do you?"
Honour returned his kiss.  "No, not yet.  Not for a while," she said softly.
"In that case..."
"I'm still exhausted from that accursed laudanum Megan gave me."
"Oh," he winced.  "So, no..."
"No," she said with a giggle.  "But tonight... who knows?"
"What does destiny have to say about it, ye Oracle of the Welsh?"
She closed her eyes and pretended to concentrate.  Finally, she opened her eyes again.  "Ask again later," she said with a wink.
"Believe me, I shall," he said, and wrapped his arms around his wife.

Honour snuggled against him, and her eyes slowly closed.  She felt safe, loved, and blissfully free.  Finally, truly free of her past and the demons that had kept her running for so long.  Everything made sense to her now, with crystal clarity.  As she drifted off to sleep, she thought one more time of Rhys.  Her heart was still filled with pain for the loss of her first love. But she began to realize that with the revelation of what had happened those few years ago, she was finally able to let Rhys go.  She knew that as much as she loved Jack with all her heart, a piece of it would always belong to Rhys Morgan.

Rhys Morgan...the man who had rescued her from Lord Madoc Castlemaine but paid the ultimate price with his life.
He did love her. As she loved him.
But with the catharsis of this confession, she now knew that Rhys was finally letting her go.
She would always feel the pain of his death. But Father Simon's words came back to her.

Never forget, Rhiannon, that which was shed. But what has now been absolved.

"Thank you, Rhys.  Thank you for everything.  I'll never forget you.  But my place is with Jack and Zara.  May you rest in peace."

[Welsh Wench]

Honour carefully folded her new clothes in the new trunks that Jack had bought.
He held Zara as she started to fall asleep, her rabbit clutched in her hands. Finally her eyes shut and Jack quietly put her in her cradle.
"Anything I can help you with, darling?"
Honour shook her head. "No. I think I can fit all these things in the trunks. I had no idea how much I really had."
"It was very thoughtful of Megan to have retrieved the things out of your room before you married...um, before you left."
She sat down on the bed and took Jack's hand, holding it in hers.
"Jack, I still don't know if I can ever make up to you for not telling you.  It was just a chance for a clean start. I never meant to hurt you. I love you."
He brushed the hair back from her face and nodded solemnly. "I know, Honour. We both did wrong things, made bad choices. But if you hadn't crawled out on your hands and knees in that tavern--what was the name of it again?--"
"The Bilge Pump Pub."
"Right. If you hadn't crawled out and I hadn't seen you--rather hear the swish of your skirt on the floor. And if I hadn't been so full of rum...."
She put her fingers to his lips. "Enough of that. It's more proof that we were meant to be together. And Jack, wait till you see Henri Picou's plantation. It is just beautiful!"
"I am sure it is everything you say it is. A new start. For both of us. And Zara now has both her mother and her father with her. Do you think she will be traumatized in later years over the separation?"
"She won't even remember. Can you remember anything from your childhood?"
"Well, yes, I can remember alot. But not from Zara's age."
"So she will be fine."

Just then a knock was at the door. Jack crossed over and opened it.
Megan stood there looking a bit distressed.
Alarmed, Honour asked, "Megan! Is everything alright?"
"Yes. And no. Oh, Rhiannon, I don't want you to leave! Jack either! And the baby! The children are upset because Zara is leaving here. Especially Morwenna. She always looked at Zara as if she were her baby doll. And now you are taking her away!"
Megan was on the verge of tears.
Honour gave Jack a look.
"Why don't I go down and see what needs to be done? I'd like to say goodbye to Dafydd. Share a brandy..."
He looked at Megan and put his hand on her shoulder as he went out the door.
It was then that Megan gave way to tears.

Honour felt herself misting up.
Megan sniffled, "I don't see why the two of you can't just settle down here? Father squared away that little....incident. And there is no need for Jack to worry about making a living. He could always go in the horsebreeding business with Dafydd."
Rhiannon looked down at her hands.
"I can't do that, Megan. I don't belong here anymore."
"But it is your home! Your daughter was even born here!"
She reached over to touch her sister's hand.
"Megan, let me see if I can explain how I feel. Wales is Zara, it's true. And my sisters. Wales was also Rhys. It was his and my dream to settle down here. Now Rhys is dead. If I stayed here, I would be seeing Rhys around every corner. Megan, he is finally letting me go."
"I don't understand...."
"Megan, by Jack finally finding out the truth---the truth about me, about Rhys, about Madoc--it was almost as if Rhys was giving me his blessing to live again. To love again. It was almost his way of saying, 'if I can't be with you, then I am sending you Jack to love you.' "
She looked down and said softly, "I know. It sounds far-fetched."
Megan blew her nose delicately, "No, it doesn't. It makes perfect sense."
Honour continued, "Except for you and Dafydd, Gwyneth and James, Dilys and Angus, I have nothing to hold me to Wales. Jack has no ties here. But don't you see, Megan? Barbados is US. Jack and I. And we can make a life there. Oh, Megan, you should see it! How blue the water is!"
"But what if I never see you again, Rhiannon?"
She hugged her sister. "We shall! I promise! I am not saying I won't come back for a visit. And you will come see me too."

Megan nodded. "You have a fine man there, Rhiannon. He loves you."
Honour sighed happily. "I do, don't I? And sometimes I ask myself what did I finally do right to deserve it?"
"You always deserved it, my dear. More so than anyone. Jack is exactly what I pictured him as. I'm sure I would have liked Rhys Morgan too. But I didn't like the way it ended up. You having to take the guilt over it all. Madoc was a bastard. We all knew that. And he deserved what he got. But yes, if you are to move on, then you need to put Wales behind you and go where your heart is. To Barbados."

Honour was quiet for a minute and then she asked Megan a question she dreaded asking but she had to know the answer.
"Megan, did you ever hear what happened...after?"
The words stuck in her throat a bit. "What I mean is, did Rhys get...taken away by someone? Did he ever get a proper burial?"
Megan picked her way carefully through her thoughts and what she knew for a fact.
"After you ran, Madoc's sons---Henry and Oliver---well, Henry found his father. The initial thought was that it was a robbery and you were kidnapped since there was no trace of you. But someone who saw you in Cardiff with Rhys deduced that you had a lover and the word spread. You know how stablehands love to talk to milkmaids and they talk to the cook and it works its way up the system.  But there was talk then of you having a lover and the search was on from one of seeking to rescue to seeking to bring you to an inquest."
"And that was the little mess that Father spent all that time cleaning up."
"Yes. You now have a self-defense excuse."
"And how can it be self-defense when it was evident that Rhys was my.....guest?"
"I guess Father covered that over too, dear. Why question it too deeply? Just accept it. You are a free woman"
"But what of Rhys? Who...took him away? When it was all over? His family?"
Megan hesitated, then picked her words carefully.
"I am pretty sure it was his quartermaster who...arranged everything."
"Dolan."
"Tall man, sandy hair, broad shouldered, good looking?"
"Thomas Dolan. He was like a brother to Rhys. Megan, where is Rhys buried?"
Megan answered slowly and carefully. "No one knows, dear. I am sure he was returned to his family but they kept it quiet. I never heard. You were our only concern at that point."
"I'd like to make sure. As closure."
Megan shook her head. "Rhiannon, let it be. And let Rhys rest in peace. He wouldn't want you fretting. Go and be happy for the rest of your life."

Honour hugged her sister. Megan blew her nose and through her tears, she laughed a bit.
"One favor?"
"Anything!"
"Leave Zara here with me and we will call it even!"

[Captain Jack Wolfe]

Jack stood at the doorway of Daffyd's study and rapped on the frame.  Daffyd looked up from the papers he had scattered across his desk and smiled broadly.
"Jack!  Do come in!  How many times do I have to tell you, you never need knock?  Sit down, and I'll pour us some brandy."
"I know, it's perfectly reprehensible of me to show such respect," Jack laughed as he settled into one of the high backed leather chairs by the fire.  "Believe me, it's a consideration I believe I'll be insisting on from my quartermaster.  He has a habit of barging in.  Not so much any more now that Honour-- I mean, Rhiannon, has been on board.  Embarrassment is a very good teacher."
Daffyd had to quickly swallow his brandy to avoid spraying it all over the study in laughter.  "I'm sure having a woman aboard is something the men aren't used to."
"Certainly whilst not at sea."
This time Daffyd was able to laugh readily without fear for his brandy.  "Sounds like you led quite the bachelor's life, Jack!"
"It had its moments.  But I can't imagine going back to it, nor would I care to.  Rhiannon and Zara complete me in ways I never knew I lacking."
"The right woman will do that to a man.  Children even more so.  I know Rhiannon loves you with all her heart."
"As I love her, Daffyd.  More than I could ever put into words.  Life is misery without her.  I've tasted it once.  Never again."
"It's a shame you have to leave us.  Are you certain you can't stay on a while longer?"
Jack took a sip of brandy and shook his head.  "As much as I'd like to, we can't.  I have a ship and crew that depend on me, for one final voyage together at least."

"Are you looking forward to getting back out on the open sea?"
"Part of me is, and I imagine always will.  But I've made peace with with it.  I'm truly ready to settle down to a life on dry land."
"You know," said Daffyd, "Now that the... unpleasantness from her past is finally put to rest, you and Rhiannon could make a life here.  You'd be close to family, and Zara would have her cousins to play with."
"Megan put you up to this, didn't she?" smiled Jack.
"Well, yes, she did.  But it's a sentiment I share.  We love having you as part of our lives here.  We could even go into business together.  You have a wonderful eye for horseflesh, Jack.  I'd dare say you're a natural."
"You're too kind, Daffyd.  I admit, it's an enticing offer.  We've even talked seriously about whether or not to stay.  Who knows, perhaps one day we will make Wales our home.  But we have too much unfinished business in Barbados.  A life interrupted, you could say."  Jack paused, then looked his brother-in-law in the eye.  "We've been given a second chance, Rhiannon and I.  A chance to get it right this time.  We've managed to get this far in spite of ourselves.  Imagine what she and I can do together?"
"She was right to take you back.  And you were right to hunt her down."
"If only my goals had been so noble at the time.  All I wanted was that damned relic.  Here I thought it would bring me the riches of the Ancients.  Instead, it brought me greater riddles, but the greatest treasure I've ever known.  I've frittered away more in my life than I care to account for.  But I will not squander this."

Daffyd shook his head and smiled.  "Jack, I was certain no man could be more in love than I am with Megan.  Today, I've met that man.  Rhiannon is a very lucky woman.  And Zara is one very lucky little girl!"
"I'm the lucky one, mate.  It took losing it all for me to finally understand just how much.  I'll spend the rest of my life doing whatever it takes to keep it."
"I genuinely admire your intensity, Jack.  You have such clarity of what is important in life, and all the rest is burned away.  Such a quality is something I wish I had more of.  I suppose it's a necessity when commanding a ship and crew, especially one comprised of, um, rough individuals."
Jack chuckled.  "You mean pirates?  Daffyd, it's perfectly fine to use that word around me.  Yes, I suppose that's part of it.  But I never felt the need to apply that to the long term until now.  When you know your next encounter may be your last, planning isn't a priority.  Hopes and dreams are just that, nothing more.  Now, they're everything."
"If the way you handled Rhodri is any indication, I can imagine how masterfully you manage a crew!" Daffyd laughed.
"Him?  He's easy.  Rhodri is so used to having everyone bend a knee without thinking, he's forgotten how to deal with anyone who dares think himself an equal.  You'd think with four strong willed daughters, he'd be a bit more on his game."
"I believe he's come to expect a certain amount of unwavering wilfulness from them."
"Lord knows as their husbands, we have!  And what a glorious thing it is!" laughed Jack.

[Captain Jack Wolfe]

"Well, I know you've said before that a life at sea is anything but the glamorous adventure books and broadsheets would have us believe.  But I'll tell you one thing that makes me envious about you lighting out for the Caribbean," said Daffyd, almost conspiratorially.  "Never having to endure another evening in the company of the Countess of Shrewsbury!  Or as we've been known to call her... no, I shouldn't."
"Ah, no, you've started it!  Come on, give it up!"
"The Shrew of Shrewsbury."
Jack laughed loudly.  "Truer words were never spoken!  She's certainly earned that title in my eyes."
"You could have knocked me over with a feather when I found out you knew her!"
"That was a long time ago.  If anything, she's gotten worse.  God, I can't believe I asked her to marry me..."
This time, Daffyd's drink didn't get swallowed.  He had to spit it back into the glass to keep from choking.  "You... you did WHAT??"
"Oh, it was years and years ago.  I was still at university.  Young, idealistic, and stupid."
"Well, she had to have had some redeeming qualities if you fancied her so."
"Whatever I thought they were, they evaporated when she turned me down.  And after the other night, I'm very glad she did.  Fair play to her though, she got her money and title.  That's what she wanted most out of life."
"Now it's a solitary life with only shopping sprees and the occasional party to break things up.  Megan has already decreed that Rose Carlisle and all her thorniness will never be welcome in this home again."
Jack held up his glass.  "To Megan!  And to the fierceness of the Conaway women!"
"Hear, hear!" chuckled Daffyd.

"I do wish I'd gotten a chance to talk with her brother after all that foolishness," said Jack.
"Oh, yes.  Poor chap.  He was positively mortified by it all.  Rose wanted to stay a while longer – there was still plenty of spirits left in the house – but he wouldn't have it.  Saved Megan the trouble of throwing her out on her ear.  He seems a nice enough fellow.  Your ship's surgeon, yes?"
"Yes, and a dear friend.  Drake and I were at Oxford together.  No matter, we'll have plenty of time to talk on the way back to Barbados.  The main thing is we'll never have to lay eyes on Rose again."
"To small blessings," smiled Daffyd.
Jack thought for a moment and took a sip of brandy.  "Well, I wasn't going to ask, but curiosity is getting the best of me."
"About what?"
"Rhys Morgan.  I'm sure Megan told you he was my friend."
Daffyd nodded grimly.  "I was bowled over to hear that revelation.  Amazing what a small world it is.  I can only imagine how you felt."
"Bowled over doesn't scratch the surface, let me tell you."
"What is it you want to know?"
Jack sighed heavily.  "What ever happened to him?  His body, I mean?"
Daffyd fought the urge to polish off the rest of his drink.  There had been so much wild conjecture surrounding the deaths and Rhiannon's disappearance that the only thing anyone could be sure of was that the two men were dead and that Rhodri had done everything necessary to sanitise the Conaway name.  But he and Megan had thought it best for everyone that Rhys' memory be truly put to rest once and for all, to ensure Rhiannon could truly move one with her life with no questions, no regrets.
"It's all a bit muddy to be honest.  From what I understand, someone from Morgan's ship claimed his body."
"That would have been Dolan, his quartermaster and first," Jack said thoughtfully.  "Good.  Then Rhys got the burial at sea he deserves."
"God rest his soul," Daffyd said quietly.
"He was a good man, and a good friend.  I owed him my life.  Loving and caring for Rhiannon is how I shall honour him and repay that debt."  Jack gazed into the fire, and began to smile.  "You know, I recall a time where Rhys and I were in a tavern, in the Azores I believe it was.  He was on his way back here to Wales, to quit a life on the sea and marry Rhiannon."
Daffyd's eyes went wide.  "Marry her?  Rhodri would have never allowed it!"
"Well, elope was more like it.  The plan was he'd fetch her and they'd come to Barbados.  I was going to make sure they had a place to get started, a wedding gift of sorts.  He was going to completely abandon his world to live in hers, which was something I simply couldn't square with no matter how much he tried to convince me it was the right thing for him to do.  And once he got started talking about her, you couldn't shut him up!  But this one time, he told me that if I ever met Rhiannon, I'd understand how he could love her so much and be willing to risk everything just to be with her."  He paused and smiled at the irony of it all.  "And you know what?  He was absolutely right.  In fact, he's probably up there getting a bloody great laugh at proving me wrong!"
Daffyd lifted his glass and entreated Jack to do the same.  "Another toast.  To Rhys Morgan."
"Aye!" replied Jack.  "To Rhys."
He looked up and nodded slowly.  "Godspeed, my friend.  And thank you.  For everything.  I promise to take good care of her."

[Welsh Wench]

Megan carried Zara down the stairs as Honour held the last of the boxes to be sent on the ship.
"It's hard to believe Zara will be gone, Rhiannon. This house will seem so quiet without her."
Honour laughed, "Then maybe it is high time you and Daffyd got busy and filled that cradle with the next Llewellyn baby."
Zara played with her aunt Megan's curl as Megan laughed. "You never know. It may be something we need to dis.....Father!"

Honour almost dropped the box she was carrying. At the foot of the stairs stood Lord Rhodri Conaway, proud as always.
"It looks like I arrived just in time. Am I to assume you are leaving us, Rhiannon?"
She said stiffly, "You assume correctly."
"And you are going through with this hare-brained scheme to leave your homeland and raise my granddaughter in a tropical jungle?"

Rhiannon's chin tilted in a defiant gesture. Megan hastily said, "Why don't I take Zara to the kitchen so the cook can spoil her one last time? I think Mrs. Quigley will never be the same after this little one goes. She always made her shortbread. Come, sweetheart, let's see if there is a cookie for you."
She glanced back worriedly at Rhiannon but thought it best to remove the baby from what could be a bit of unpleasantness. Honour imperceptively nodded to her sister.
"Shall we go in the study, daughter, to chat?"
Honour returned her father's stare with a steely gaze of her own.
"Nothing would give me more pleasure, Father."

Rhodri led the way to the study and closed the door. He poured himself a brandy.
Honour looked at him expectantly and when no offer was coming her way, she said sarcastically, " 'May I get  you a brandy, my darling daughter?' 'Oh, don't mind if I do, dear Father.' "
Rhodri nodded stiffly, "I keep forgetting you are not a child anymore."
Honour walked over and poured herself a snifter. "Funny---I used to serve this and other spirits to men of lower station than you, Father. And they paid me well."
"No doubt," he said dryly.
She took a deep sip and flippantly remarked, 'It's not what you think, Father. In fact, in view of my overall life, I would have to say that laying whisky down for the dregs of humanity was far more fun that the scant time I spent with you. Lord knows it was more fun that the time I spent getting my thrashings from that misanthropist who passed herself off as a bride of Christ. Lord.  If his bride is the Mother Superior, then he is probably wishing he stayed single."
"Rhiannon! Such blasphemy!"
"And then you married me off to that monster Madoc. Did you ever come to see me? To inquire as to my well-being? No, you did not."
He said coldly, "So you found adultery to be the answer?"
Honour stood there, pretending to be deep in thought.
"Why, yes. Yes, I did."

Rhiannon walked over to her father and stood in front of him. She placed her hands on her hips and looked up at him, her gaze never wavering.
"For years I had tried for your approval. Sought it. Craved it. I tried to find a morsel--just a shred--of familial love. But sadly, it was lacking. I always sought  your approval, Father. Did I get it? No. I was the recipient of all your resentment. Dare I say hatred? No, that is too cruel. You wanted me out of the way. Why didn't you ever remarry?"
Lord Conaway sat there, stonefaced, trying for once to find words. "There was no one to fill your mother's place...."
"Oh, cut the bid for sympathy, Father. You were too selfish to find someone else."
'WHAT?"
'You would rather wallow in the pity. 'Oh, poor Lord Conaway! Grieving all these years after the tragic death of his wilfe.' You used it as a license to run roughshod over people. You turned your heart to stone. If you had no feelings then you weren't accountable for what you inflicted on others. Therefore, you had no conscience."
"That's not true!"
"No? Did you ever try to understand me? I suppose you loved me once. Maybe until I was three. And then you got rid of me so you could nurse your broken heart. Nurture it and cultivate it.  And in the end, you turned it to stone and pushed everyone away."

So taken aback by Honour's stinging words, Lord Conaway opened his mouth to speak but the words wouldn't come.
Honour continued, "I was fortunate that Rhys Morgan came into my life when he did. Three times he entered my life. When I was ten. When I was sixteen. And when I was seventeen. It helped keep me sane. Otherwise, I may have turned into the wreck of human nature known as Mother Superior or a hard-hearted bitter woman, a female counterpart of YOU."

He sat there silently, shocked that his younger daughter, who had always sought his love and approval, had finally unburdened herself.
"When I ran away to Barbados, I found a strength in myself I didn't know I had. I ran away. I found a way to make a living. And I found a man who loves me. ME, father. He fell in love with me as Honour Bright, tavern wench. Not the daughter of the esteemed Lord Conaway, landed gentry. And in return, what did Captain John Wolfe get? He got a woman who loves him. And a fine daughter. And God willing, he will find a houseful of children and a life of contentment. I am prepared to be the best wife I can be and all I ask in return is a man who loves me. And I found it."
She paused to catch her breath. "Fortunately, you taught me about love. You didn't know it. Oddly, I had to be deprived of it to know what I want. My Zara will never know what it is like not to be loved. And if I have my way, you will never lay eyes on her again. Or me."
She turned to her father and shook her head.
"I feel sorry for you. What a waste of a life. And now you can die old and lonely in your bed."
She turned to go.
"Yes, I feel sorry for you. Goodbye, Father."

[Welsh Wench]

The carriage from Bancroft Hall pulled up on the docks. Jack's breath quickened as he gazed towards the harbor.
And there she stood, proud as can be.
El Lobo del Mar.

"Look, Zara! Look! Big boat!"
He held Zara up so she could look out the window of the carriage. Zara's eyes grew wide and her lower lip trembled.
"What is wrong, sweetheart?"
Zara pointed and said one word. "Doggie! Doggie!"
Honour could barely stifle her giggles.
"What is she talking about, Honour?"
She still dissolved in laughter.
"She means the wolf figurehead. She thinks the wolf is a doggy. You know, it does resemble Megan's Irish wolfhounds."
Jack laughed. "I guess it does look like a doggy to you, sweetheart."

Honour looked back at Beaumaris.
"In a way I am glad to be leaving but I will be missing my sisters."
"Darling, they all said they would be down next year to visit. But will we have room?"
She put her arm through Jack's.
"Yes, we do. Jack, the Picou plantation is just gorgeous! Mr. and Mrs. Avery have been doing a marvelous job of running it for me--US!"
"Then I can't wait to see it. Lord, I wish Thomas could see me! He would never believe it."
"Where is your brother?"
"Somewhere patrolling the waters of the Mediterranean, I would daresay. Making the high seas of Mother England safe and protected."
"And you haven't seen him?"
"Oh...I did see him once in port. Morocco to be exact. Of course, I wasn't exactly presentable."
"Jack, you always are presentable!"
"No, it would be hard for an admiral in the King's Navy to introduce his brother, Captain Mad Jack Wolfe. Pirate extraordinaire."
She frowned. "I see your point. Did he snub you?"
"Not at all. I met him in a little tavern on the outskirts of Casablanca and we got rip-roarin' drunk together!"
"So how long ago?"
"Oh, I'd say fifteen years ago. And...Zara, no touch! NO TOUCH!"
Zara had bent over to pet a wharf cat. Honour reached down and scooped her up.
"No, Zara. Bad kitty!"
The wharf cat glared and ambled off.

"Where do you want these chests, Captain?"
Jack motioned to the dock near one of El Lobo's mooring lines. "Right there will be fine."
Honour turned to Jack. "How long has El Lobo been in port?"
"Briggs sent word four days ago they had ported. I sent him a note back for him and the crew to enjoy theirselves in port and we would be down here Friday morning."
"So he is expecting us."
"See for yourself! The gangplank is down. Are you ready to leave Wales and all it has to offer you for a life in paradise?"
She leaned over and kissed hs cheek. "I am so ready. To finally be in a place we can call home."
Zara pointed and started to cry. "Kee! Kee!"
Honour took out a handkerchief and dabbed the tears on Zara's cheeks.
"No, darling. You can't have that 'kee'."
Jack looked quizzically at his wife. "Kee?"
"She means kitty. She wants to bring it with us."
"I wish she had come with sub-titles or a translator."
Honour laughed.
"It won't be long before the baby talk gets clearer."
"Well, at least she isn't speaking Arabic!"

One of the men who was unloading the chests opened up the carriage door. Bounding out was Honour's beloved Muir. Zara laughed.
"Doggie!"
Muir jumped up on Jack and he grabbed the wolf-dog's leash.
"Come, boy! I just know that Briggs will be happy to see you!"

As the newly formed family walked up the gangplank, the first person standing there waiting their arrival was none other than Eli Meredith.
"Captain! Mrs. Wolfe!"
Honour raised up her finger in warning. He quickly corrrected himself. "I mean...Honour. And this is the little lassie!"
Eli reached out and gently laid his finger on her hand.
"Welcome aboard El Lobo, young lassie!"
Zara rewarded him with a small smile.
To Jack, Honour whispered, "Zara knows gentleness when she sees it. I told you Eli had redeeming qualities."
Jack affected a scowl. "Alright, so you were right....will you ever let me live it down?"
She thought for a moment. "Um...probably not!"
Jack nodded to Eli, "You are looking well, son! How were things in Amsterdam?"
Eli spoke, "It went very---"
"Shouldn't it be ME you are asking?"
There stood Josiah Briggs in all his glory.

"You old sod, you are looking better than I ever saw you look before in your life, Briggs! Acting--and emphasis on ACTING--Captain has agreed with you!"
Jack and Briggs clasped each other.
"And ye can have it back, Captain Wolfe! T'is fun to play captain for a few weeks but after that, it gets tiresome."
In an affected loud voice, Briggs said, " 'Captain, he did this to me!' 'Captain, he ain't doing his job!' 'Captain, can I have some apple dumplings?' And I swear the worst one was, 'Captain, are we there yet? Are we there yet?' "
Briggs looked over at Honour. "And if ye ain't a sight for sore eyes! I swear, Honour, ye get prettier and prettier each time I see you! Oh....and well, here is the one me and the crew have been dyin' to meet!"
He looked at the little toddler that Honour had in her arms.
To Jack, he said, "Can't be denyin' that one, Jackie me boy! It ain't the hair--although them curls are a dead giveaway--but it is something else. That look in her eyes. That chin I just bet juts out in defiance when she ain't gettin' her way. Am I right?"
Jack laughed. "Pretty much so."

Josiah broke out in a grin. "A real chip off the old block, Jack, she is. Here...come to Uncle Briggs...'
As he held his arms out, Zara reached back.
And bonked Briggs on the nose with her rattle.
He covered his nose, looking for blood, his eyes watering.
"Aye, she be your daughter allright, Jack."

[Welsh Wench]

Honour gently smacked Zara's hand.
"No! No! We don't do that!"
Briggs turned to Eli, "Is my nose broken?"
Eli looked closely. "If it moves to the left, is it broken?"
"Hell yes!"
"Then it's not broken! It ain't movin'!"
Briggs glared at Eli who burst out laughing.
Jack laughed too. "He got you there, Josiah! I sense there was a bit of bonding between the two of you while you were in Amsterdam."
Briggs grumbled, "The kid ain't so bad."

Honour shifted Zara in her arms. "Why don't I get settled in? I'm sure you have alot of business to catch up on."
Jack leaned over and Zara gave him a kiss.
"Doggie!"
Muir got up and followed them to the captain's cabin.
Briggs looked at the two as they walked down the companionway.
"Feisty!"
"You always knew Honour was."
"Not her--the youngun. She's gonna have you in knots, Jack. I just know it!"
Jack sighed. "I know. The rest had better be boys.  Don't think I can fathom having another girl."
"She's as pretty as I thought she would be. Except for that powerful right hook!"
"Sorry about that, Josiah. She's a bit wary of strangers. You should have seen her with me."
"She clobber you one?"
"No, on our first introduction, she tried to scalp me! Bare-handed. Two fistfuls of hair and she was screaming with those Wolfe lungs! But she came around."
"Smacked her bum, eh?"
No, I bought her off with a stuffed rabbit. That and my charming ways with her mother. I guess she figured if Mama liked me, I must be a bit of alright. Anyways, she won't go to sleep without that rabbit."

Just then, Puddin came up to Jack and rubbed against Jack's leg. He scooped the cat up and Briggs pointed at him.
"That one---he's been a right royal pain in the arse since you've been gone."
"What did he do, throw up a hairball on your bed?"
"Yeah, well, that's a given. He just had an attitude, that's all."
Jack put the cat down.
"Alright, let's go down to your quarters and talk a bit of business before we get shipped out. Duckie been around?"
"He sent word he would be here later this afternoon. Some baggage he had to get rid of."
"I'll bet." Jack muttered.
"Come again?"
"Never mind. I have a plan that I want to run by you."

Jack came into the cabin as Honour was folding a few things and putting them away. Zara was bouncing on the bed. Puddin had found his way into the room and as Zara bounced up, the ship's cat bounced down with a scowl on his face.
"I'm just getting a bit of brandy for Josiah and myself. I wanted to run a few things by him and wanted to find out about the Amsterdam transactions."
Honour offered her cheek and Jack kissed her as he headed out the door.
"When do we sail, Jack?"
"Mid-afternoon with the tide."
From the bed came, "Squee!"
"Rawr!"
"Squee!"
"Rawr!"
Jack shook his head. 'Poor Puddin has met his match in that one....'

Josiah had his ledgers and notes open. Jack poured each of them a snifter and they raise their glasses.
"To El Lobo!"
"Long may she sail!"
They both became quiet as they both knew that Jack was going off account. Josiah cleared his throat.
"Yes, well, it's all in the ledger. De Witt tried to drive a hard bargain, as you told me he would but we held out for the price we wanted. I swear, it was a fine haul! Tobacco, coffee, textiles and spices. Came back with some cheeses and delftware, glassware and some artworks. More textiles and even some of those bulbs that you put in the ground and they give you those flowers that are red, yellow, pink..even a few that look almost black!"

"How did the kid work out?"
Josiah chuckled and shook his head.
"That one! Should have seen his eyes as we pulled into port! If his eyes got any wider, I could have used them for dinner plates! T'was a real eye-opener for the lad!"
Jack laughed, "I'll bet! Remember the first time we took Davis there?"
"We had to comb every brothel in town! Took two days and he was as poor as a churchmouse but we couldn't pry the smile from his face for nigh on a month!"

Jack took the ledger.
"Nice, Josiah! Very nice! This will give you a very nice commission for your retirement plans!"
"What retirement? Jack, I suppose with El Lobo being sold, I'll have to sign on with another ship. I hate to do that, probably will be just another tar. Hard to deal with when you've been second in command and actually acting captain sometimes."
"Which brings me to what I wanted to talk to you about. I've thought long and hard about this, Josiah. This crew is top of the line. I would hate to lose them. Most have been together for a long time. McGlynn, for example. He helped you and Rhys rescue me. If it weren't for Cade finding that doxy, what took me in..."
Jack's face became a mask of sadness.
"dangnubbit, sometimes I find myself missing Cade fierce!"
Josiah nodded. "But the whelp turned traitor on you."
Jack shrugged, "In retrospect, he didn't set out to. He fell in love. And in a strange way, I can't blame him. Oh, sure, I find it hard to forgive but in a way I understand. Rhiannon has a way of undoing men. Cade...me...Rhys...."
"Rhiannon? Wait a minute! You found the woman who got Rhys killed?"
Jack sighed. "I keep forgetting that you've been out of the loop, Josiah. We were right all along. The woman who shares my bed and gave me a child is none other than the Lady Rhiannon Conaway Castlemaine. She was the 'Rhiannon' that Rhys was so anxious to get back to. And if I hadn't been taken prisoner by Mendoza, he would have been with her."
"Jack, ye lost me."
Jack poured another snifter of brandy for each of them.
"It's a long story, Josiah. Better tuck in for this one...."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I just can't believe it, Jack! What are the chances? And the way you found out. Who would have guessed? Duckie..Rose...Rhys...."
"And now it is all out in the open. No more secrets, Josiah."
"Now we know what really happened to Rhys. And not that he was set up. The man was in love."
"And I believe that Rhys sent her to me for safekeeping. For someone to look out for her and love her like she deserves to be loved."
"Just hard to believe."
"Well, we are moving forward. She will always be 'Honour' to me. As she said, Rhiannon belongs in the past. When she stepped on the ship for Barbados, Rhiannon Conaway Castlemaine died and Honour Bright was born. But enough of that! Let me fill you in on the plans. How would you like to be captain of El Lobo del Mar?"
Josiah choked on his brandy.
"WHAT?"
"When I saw El Lobo in port, I realized that I could never let her go. So let's do this--I retain ownership. You are the acting captain. Become a legitimate merchant ship if you want. Occasionally plunder if the spirit moves you. I'll make sure you have your letters of marque. Whatever you take or import-export, I take ten percent. And I reserve the right to take back being a captain any time I want. Josiah, I can't foresee letting El Lobo go to someone who wouldn't love her as we do. And I can't separate this crew. The man the crew and I respect is sitting right in front of me. In reality, it will be like Amsterdam but on a very long, extended plan. Do we have an accord?"
Josiah broke out in a grin.
"Aye! Jack, this is the answer for all concerned!"
They spit on their hands and shook on it. Lifting their tankards high, they toasted each other.
Jack wasn't sure--but he thought he saw a tear in Josiah's eye.
Josiah had the crew and ship.
Jack didn't have to give up El Lobo del Mar. He had the best of both worlds.
His ship and the woman he loved and the promise of a new family.
Life was, indeed, good.

[Welsh Wench]

Honour held Zara's hand as they walked around the ship. Mostly it was Honour doing the walking with Zara toddling. She picked Zara up so she could feel the wind in her hair.
"See, Zara? It's not so bad. And now take a deep breath."
Honour inhaled deeply and Zara imitated her, then sneezed.
"Ooops! But see? Don't you feel better?"

Jack came up behind them and put his hands over Zara's eyes.
"Guess who?"
She pulled his hands away and said, "Da! Da!"
Briggs, standing behind Jack, shook his head. "I swear, Jack, I never thought I would see the day when some tyke would call you that. And ye be liking it!"
Jack took Zara from Honour and pointed out the crow's nest. "See? Maybe we should put Zara's crib up there? What do you think, Zara?"
Her eyes grew wide. Honour laughed.
"I don't think so, Zara. Don't worry."
"I'm going to show her the helm. Maybe let her steer it."
"Jack! We aren't even out of port yet."
"It's alright. She can just play."

As Jack walked off with his little girl in his arms, Josiah and  Honour looked after him.
"Aye, Honour, it really does do my heart good to see Jack with a young'un."
She gave his arm an affectionate squeeze.
"I'm so happy you feel that way, Josiah."
"He needed something to be grounded with. And you gave it to him."
She looked off to the harbour of Beaumaris.
"Jack gave me something too, Josiah. He gave me a second chance at life."
Honour turned to look at Josiah.
"He told you, didn't he?"
"Yes, he did."
"Can you ever forgive me for what happened to Rhys?"
"Not my place to forgive, Honour."
"I know. But when I met you and Jack that night in the tavern, I was a real mess. I never told Jack--and I don't intend to--but I had reached the lowest point in my life."
"Then I guess ye saved each other, girl. Maybe Rhys Morgan did have something to do with it."
"He was a wonderful man, too. And he rescued me too. He taught me what love is. And Jack perfected it. I don't know what would have become of me if Jack hadn't come into my life."
Josiah patted her on the shoulder. "And now ye have the little lassie."
"She's the best thing that ever happened to me. Besides Jack. "
Josiah looked over at the dock.
"Best I be getting things rolling. Looks like Jack won't be any use for a bit."
They both looked up and there was Zara with her hands on the helm pretending to steer it and Jack giving her a few pointers.
They both laughed.
"Yep. Looks like I will be hearing, 'Mr. Briggs? The ship is yours' alot more often."

Honour watched as Briggs went to join his captain and his little girl on the quarterdeck.
She ran her fingers through her hair and breathed deep the scent of the seawater.
'Jack, you have no idea how you really did rescue me...'
 
Honour opened her eyes. Her head felt heavy, pounding with the aftereffects of liquor.
Lots of liquor.  

She sat up too quickly and held her head in her hands. Looking over with bleary eyes, she saw the reason why.
The handsome pirate from the night before.

Bits and pieces of the night flashed through her memory.
The rum.
The gambling.
The flirting.
The late hour.
And the loneliness.
Always the loneliness.

She slipped out of bed and looked at the pirate. Not just any pirate. A pirate captain.
Captain Jonas Corwin of the Golden Phoenix. Handsome, sardonic. And a streak of cruelty.
Just like Madoc Castlemaine.

The sun was starting to rise. Ships were coming and going out of the harbour. Honour walked over to the casement window to look out over the port of St Lawrence.  She laid her head against the window and felt her eyes fill with tears.
'What has happened to me?'
But she knew the answer to that question.
What happened to her was Captain Rhys Morgan.

A sense of abandonment washed over her again. Only one man came remotely close to Rhys and he was also gone.
Captain James Blake of the Dark Vexation.
Two weeks was all he stayed with her. And in the light of day, it was painfully clear.
He wasn't Rhys Morgan.
None of them were.
She knew she was looking for Rhys Morgan in every man she had made love with.
Made love?
Hardly.

The resentment for each of these men welled up in her.
Used.
She felt used.

She looked at Jonas Corwin again and then quickly rifled through his pockets, taking all the gold coin and currency. Honour opened up the casement window and glanced below. Yes, there he was. In the alley picking through the refuse as usual. Picking up Corwin's clothes and his cavalier hat, she yelled from the window, "Gibson! Head's up! Here's a new set of clothes for you!"
And with one toss, Rhiannon had donated to the poor.

Honour hastily put on her clothes to go to work downstairs. From the bed, Jonas mumbled something in his sleep. With her hand on the doorknob, she turned to his sleeping form.
"Goodbye, Jonas. I hope you had a good time. Because I didn't."
She left him his boots.

As she walked down the hall, she felt bad about what she had done. In a moment of remorse, she headed back to the room. She whispered, "T'is a terrible thing I even thought of doing to you, luv...." She put his sword in the corner. "I would hate for you to be left defenseless."
She closed the door and left Captain Jonas Corwin with his dreams.
And with one satisfying thought.
She finally got even with one of them.

[Welsh Wench]

 
Honour scooped the loose coins she found on the floor into her apron. Not hard to find when the sailors and pirates were deep in their cups. Even more careless when they waved their sovereigns around, freely spending to impress a young tavern wench.
"I'd say you were done for the night, Honour."
She turned to Amos, owner of the Varlet and Vixen. "We've been busy.  It's been a long day---and night."
"Always is when a ship or two ports. Especially if they had a successful run. By the way....I heard some commotion coming from your room. Any ideas what the pounding may have been?"
Quickly she said, "It may have been the casement window banging open. I think I forgot to latch it and there has been a breeze."


She opened the door to her room. There was the source of the pounding.
Three holes had been punched in her wall.
And the bedclothes were missing.
She couldn't help but smile at the image that came to her mind.
'Looks like someone got up on the wrong side of bed this morning.'
She rubbed her arm where a bruise was turning black and blue. Jonas had grabbed her roughly when they made it back to her room. No tenderness. No gentleness. Jonas had treated her like a common trollop.
'Serves you right,' she thought. 'Next time maybe you won't take advantage of someone's loneliness.'

The moonlight shone through the casement window. She opened it up to let in the sea breeze, inhaling the salt air. The restless feeling let her know that sleep would elude her.
Slipping on her boots, she grabbed her new cloak.
Over in the corner to one side was her sword. She smiled wistfully as she recalled the day she had purchased it. As she picked it up, something didn't seem quite right to her. I wish I could tell what it is, she thought. She slipped her favorite bodice dagger into its proper place, along with her rapier and went down the back door.
As she walked down the lane, a voice slurred, "Miz Honour--thank 'ee kindly fer the new duds!"
She looked up and there was Gibson standing with a flask of rum.
"Hello, Gibson. I must say you look dashing. I love that hat on you."
Gibson handed her the flask. " 'ere, Miss, take a sip!"
She tried to appear gracious. "No, thank you, Gibson. I've had plenty tonight but thank you just the same."

The wind had picked up, whipping her hair around her face. Should have bound it up, she thought. Ah well, it feels good. As she walked down to the harbor, she stood on the dock and surveyed the ships that were in port.
Let's see...there's Poseidon's Revenge....Charles Elliot, I saw him earlier. The Black Rock. I thought I saw Blue flying around...The Lady Barbara. Nice! Samuel is back in port....The Ebony Blade ...oh dear, Captain Faraday' is still here. I thought he'd be gone by now......The Golden Phoenix...Wait! The Golden Phoenix? Wasn't Captain Corwin supposed to be gone by now?
She felt an arm around her neck. Cold steel against her throat. A rum-soaked voice said rasply, "You're going to pay for that."
She knew the voice.
Captain Jonas Corwin.
And this time he was dressed.

"I must say, Jonas, that is a nice sword."
"Yeah. Nice indeed. Since that was all you left me with. And where are my clothes?"
"I have no idea where you put them."
"Don't mess with me, trollop. I'll run you through. What is one less strumpet to this place?"
Honour thought quickly. He was holding her arm that she normally used to draw her rapier.
"Jonas, please. I have no idea what you are talking about."
"NO? I had to walk through this town wrapped in your bedsheets."
"Really? I found it odd, yes, that they disappeared."
The blade moved across her chest, leaving a faint red mark. Blood began to seep slowly out of the razor-fine cut.
"Jonas, please, there is no need to get testy."
"Testy? Try outraged. When the crew saw me in my boots and YOUR sheets, I would say they lost a bit of respect for me."
"Well, it's not my fault you were so eager. You must have thrown the clothes and they went flying out the window."
"Yeah. Right. How stupid do you think I am?"
Honour gathered all her wits and flung back at him, "I don't know, Jonas, how stupid ARE you? OW!"
She flinched. Another thin line began to trickle blood.
He's serious now, she thought. I think he is beyond reasoning. Blood began to trickle into her chemise and stain.
She remembered she was wearing new boots with really good heels. She moved quickly and ground her heel into his shin.
Jonas Corwin let out a yell. At that opportunity, Honour spun around and drew her rapier out. She faced her attacker. He had his sword in position.
Honour knew now that he meant business.

She tried to remember everything that James Blake had taught her in those two weeks.
Measure twice, cut once. Keep the sword out in front of your body. 'On point' he had said.
She kept repeating to herself, 'Win by not losing. Concentrate on staying alive.' Like a mantra.
She could feel adrenaline pumping through her veins.
Jonas sneered, "You think I am to be bested by a woman?"
They stood there on the docks in the moonlight. Somehow her cloak had slipped off.
She whispered with all her strength and a confidence she did not feel, "I'm not just any woman, Jonas. I thought you of all people would have realized that."

They cautiously circled as he attempted a thrust. She parried it. Something did not feel right. Jonas's sword glanced off her arm. Blood was drawn.
This is not going well, she thought. I'll deal with it later. Something just doesn't feel right with this sword. Something not...balanced. How can that be? It was just replaced. Jonas thrust again but this time she was ready for it. She blocked it and the blade felt like it had a 'give' to it. She remembered Blake had told her to keep her opponent as far away as possible. She thrust her sword toward Jonas but he blocked it. Her blade twisted ever so slightly.
Something is dreadfully wrong with this sword. Could it be...? No! Impossible!
She thrust again and Jonas parried. Then he swung at her sword and it caught her hilt, barely missing her hand. The blade twisted even more.
Her sense of preservation was at full steam. He thrust and she parried, and the blade was giving way.
She thrust once more and the blade was giving way from the hilt.
At that moment, Jonas backed up.
And stepped on one of the cats that lived on the wharfs.

The cat screeched and sunk his claws into Jonas' leg. Jonas let out a scream and Honour saw her chance. She drew her foot back and kicked.
Hard.

Jonas never saw it coming. As he dropped to his knees, Honour drew her foot back once more and kicked him square on the chin. He went unconscious.
She stood there gasping for breath, blood streaming down her chest and she took a cloth and tried to stem the flow of blood that was starting to gush from her arm wound. She thought fast of what to do. Reaching towards Jonas, she took his sword and pitched it into the water. She walked over and ground her heel into his hand once for good measure, hearing the bones break. He never uttered a word.
He was totally knocked out.
She dragged herself over to a shed, took some rope and expertly tied his hands to the dock, throwing canvas over him. She stuffed a rag in his mouth, gagging him. Let his crew find him. I've had enough killing in my life.