Here is the last of it!! After this I will have you up to date and will try not to wait so long next time to post. I know it is a bit short, but hopefully short and sweet applies here. Thank you to all of you who have the patience to read my work and I appreciate your critiques!
The fragrant scent of orchids and saltwater wafted through Josette’s open window. A shaft of warm sunlight made the dust dance and sparkle as Jo stretched her weary limbs. Her stomach twisted in hunger, urging her out of the bed. Jo crossed over to the window, which provided a clear view of the docks. Josette searched for the dark-colored brigantine and felt an unexpected wave of relief when she saw her Father’s ship.
Her ship. It was hers now, now that her Father was dead. Josette turned away from the window fighting the depression that sought to overtake her. She needed to be strong. That is what her Father would expect of her and Josette would never let her father down. Repressing any doubt Jo dressed in her black britches, loose ivory shirt, brown leather boots and weathered black tri-cornered hat. She hid a mean looking dagger into one of her boots and strapped on her brown leather scabbard that held her steel cutlass. A small pistol was tucked into her pants and the rest of her belongings shoved into a burlap sack.
Downstairs in the tavern of the inn she was served a simple breakfast of crusty bread and watery porridge along with a chunk of sharp cheddar. Washing it down with a pint of mead Jo felt strengthened by the presence of her weapons and a full stomach. Pegg was probably already waiting for her at the boat. Had William managed to get the posters made as he had promised? Jo wondered just how well this plot would work out.
What if hoards of men showed up only to discover that the Captain was female? Would they turn away the instant they were told that Jo would be their head of command? And what of the other men who had deserted her so readily? What if they tried to thwart her efforts? What if one of these nights in port they decided to steal the Dark Goddess? Her Father’s ship was all Jo had left. She had nothing else.
As Jo made her way down to the docks she watched the city come to life. Although drunks and animal feces littered the cobblestone roads, merchants still carted out their wares. They displayed their goods, kicking at men who were passed out in front of their doorways. Jo could smell fresh bread being pulled out of the bakery’s oven and in the distance she could hear the metallic musical of the blacksmith’s hammer on his iron anvil. The prostitutes with their overly made-up faces were replaced by much simpler looking women, servants dumping out chamber pots or going to the marketplace to buy fresh produce.
All of it made Jo feel very small. As if she were playing a very minor role in the history of mankind. Would she leave some sort of legacy behind for generations to come? More likely her name would be cast off and forgotten, as if she had never really existed on this Earth. Josette scolded herself, trying to chase away the dark clouds that had caused her face to pucker into a fierce scowl. Who wouldn’t remember Josette LaVie? The first female Captain on a pirate ship!
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Hence why I am sure many women who wanted to play in a mans game opted to pretend to be men themselves - it just made life easier.
