“Oh. Hello, Papa.” She moved toward the stairs, but he strode forward and blocked her way.
“What did I tell you about the Golden Lantern?” She pressed her lips together as he pointed to the clock. “It’s past midnight. You should not be out after dark. And you most certainly shouldn’t be wearing men’s clothing. You know better.”
Heat flashed through her. “Papa, I cannot sit at home my whole life. What else would you have me do?”
“Not work at a tavern amongst drunks and women of loose virtue.”
She threw up her hands. “Drunks and loose women? This whole island is full of them if you haven’t noticed!”
“Do not raise your voice at me.” He crossed his arms. “From now on, I want you to stay home when there are unfamiliar ships in the harbor.”
“That’s not fair. There are always unfamiliar ships here.”
“I’ve received new reports of growing unrest on the mainland. These ships no longer carry only pirates and merchants.” He exhaled. “I only want you to be safe.”
“What you want is for me to die of boredom.” Josephine pushed past him and started up the steps, tears pricking at the corners of her eyes.
“Josephine.”
She ignored the warning in his voice and continued, not stopping until she shut and locked her door behind her. In the dark, she slowly made her way to her bed and lit the candle there. With a groan, she flopped back on the mattress.
Maybe she needed to start paying more attention to the merchants that came through. Because, while she may not actually die from boredom, the thought of staying on the island had become unbearable. If she didn’t find a way off Tortuga, her life would never amount to anything. The certainty hit her hard, sinking into her bones.
A shrill whistle came from beside her and she rolled to find Lola giving her a dirty look. “Did I wake you from your beauty sleep?” The parrot ruffled her feathers before turning away and Josephine couldn’t help a small chuckle as her melancholy began to ease. “Oh, alright, just give me a moment to get ready for bed and you can have your peace back.”
Something dug into her hip when she sat and she shifted to pull the turtle free. She stood and crossed over to a weathered trunk against the wall. When she lifted the lid, the light from her candle glimmered off the collection of mismatched trinkets she had won atthe tavern over the years.
“Where should you go?” Her hand hovered over the items, passing a pearl-studded comb, a crystal couple frozen in dance, and a silver teacup. She slowed to a stop above an old brass key. “Here.”
After setting down the sea turtle, she picked up the key. The familiar weight of her favorite piece settled in her palm. An ivory carving at its head depicted two skulls facing each other beneath a palm branch with a single Latin word engraved beneath them.Vita. Life. She’d won it from an old pirate who’d disappeared before she could ask for more information.
If she were younger, she might daydream about what type of treasure chest it might open. But she knew better. Nothing good would come of fantasizing. Without a matching lock, it was about as worthless as her hopes and dreams about her future. She shook her head. Nothing was worthless. She just needed a plan.
Lola let out a disgruntled squawk, and Josephine carefully set the antique back in place. She blew out the candle and laid back down.
“One day, Lola, we’re going to get off this island.”
Chapter Two
Soft dough pressedbetween Josephine’s fingers as she folded the elastic mixture over on itself. With a grunt, she threw her weight into her palms and smashed down one last time. She pulled one end over the other to form a tight ball before plopping it into a basket. A strand of hair stuck to her damp forehead and she swiped her hand to push it back. Blasted heat. She leaned in front of the open louvers, willing even a hint of a breeze to bring her some relief.
The glimmer of the sea between two buildings caught her eye and she groaned. A swim sounded lovely. In fact, she very may well kill for one. But with too many new ships in the harbor, it wasn’t safe.
Speaking of new, a trio of masts that hadn’t been there yesterday towered above the rest. Ships that size were rarely seen in Tortuga. Had Thorne returned? Surely, he wouldn’t risk it when on the run from the navy. Maybe a wealthy merchant’s ship? She picked up a handkerchief and tied her hair back. With her chores finished, there was ample time to go investigate before starting dinner.
Outside, the sun bore down on her, the heat penetrating her skin within seconds. Probably should have opted for a brimmed hat. With a shrug, she continued. Wasn’t like she would take long, only one street separated her from a clear view of the harbor.
A few steps later, the ship came into view and her eyes went wide. A sleek Sloop of War, fully ship-rigged, rested at the docks. Crisp white sails draped from perfectly straight yards. Out of habit, Josephine counted the cannons gleaming in the sunlight on one side. Eleven Twenty-two guns made her a formidable ship that dwarfed everyother boat in sight.
Very few could afford such a vessel, which meant…Her pulse quickened as her eyes flew to the mainmast. Though it draped limp, there was no mistaking the stars and stripes of the United States flag. A naval jack hung at the stern, signaling the ship belonged to the US Navy.
A small schooner floated behind it and her heart stuttered.
The same ship her father had lent.
Could it be? A lightness filled her chest, almost immediately extinguished as she remembered Colette’s words from the night before.
Still, she picked up her skirt and turned down a small footpath. It wound down the steep hillside, a convenient yet strenuous shortcut that cut the journey to the water in half. Her feet skimmed over loose rocks and ruts and she drew to a stop when a group of men came into view, standing on the dock next to the ship. A small cry caught in her throat.
