“Gentlemen!” Richard smirked as he joined them, ignoring glares from those behind him. “Governor Goodson and I have come to lend you a hand in eliminating this miscreant.”
“What's he doing?” Tom muttered, gently pushing Jack and his crew back down the stairs. “I thought he was on our side!”
Richard ignored him and shoved Gene out. “Look at what I found, sneaking around.” His former boss was too surprised to do anything when he snatched his sword. “Would you like me to handle him, Governor?”
“Richard,” Gene hissed, “damn it, I knew it! Once a traitor, always a traitor!”
“Gene?” Charles gasped in overly-dramatic shock. “You're alive! We thought a shark turned you into yesterday's seafood special!” .
Lorrie tried to peer over Gene's shoulder. “Sir, do you see my husband out there?”
“Yes, Lorrie. He's in the back of the line. We'll get to him in a second.” He turned to Richard. “How often do you want to stab me in the back, Dawson?”
Richard shrugged. “As often as I can. All I want is what's coming to me. Goodson pays me more.”
“Sir,” the largest sailor grumbled, “are we dumping this guy,” he eyed him, “or are we doing other things?”
Richard pulled Goodson next to the wall and murmured something in his ear. “I want you to,” the Governor eventually said in a high voice he fought to keep even, “release those men. We're going to put them on trial with the others.”
Gary struggled wildly in the arms of two of the men. He shook off the gag in his mouth long enough to let out a screech that frightened several seagulls perched on the mast. “Traitor! You god-damn bastard! Charles is your friend! I'm gonna slug you so hard, your teeth will land back in friggin' England!”
He kicked the man holding him in the shins. The second the fellow went down, he dashed out and made a flying leap for Richard before anyone could stop him. “You asshole!” He landed a very hard punch right on his nose. “You leave Charles and Gene alone!”
“Whoa!” It took Jimmie Walker, two sailors, and Gene to haul the raging cabin boy off Richard's front. “Down there, boy.” Jimmie tried to calm his friend. “You don't want to murder the guy in front of the governor. You can get life for that in some states. Besides, no one wants to swab blood off the deck. Am I right, folks? Am I right?”
“That wasn't necessary, lad.” Richard whipped out a handkerchief with the initials RCD embroidered in a shaky young hand and dabbed at the blood pouring out of his nose. “Try anything else like that, and you'll go over the side next.”
Gary's outburst distracted Gene enough for Goodson to push past him and reach for his golden sword. “I think we've had enough of these games. Throw them all overboard. The swim might cool them down”
“Um,” Charles called in a shaky voice from between the two beefy sailors, “little help here!” The two men smirked and shoved him against the mast, then wound rope around him until he could no longer move. His head and feet were barely visible. “I don't like this at all. I'm getting rope burns here! If this is your idea of foreplay, fellas, forget it! I don't get kinky on the first date!”
“No!” Anson shoved his way through the crowd as one of the men grabbed Laurie's arm. “Not my wife! Let her go!”
“Don't you have any romance in your soul?” Jimmie added, his hands on his skinny hips. “Can't you hear the music of love, man? These folks want to make sweet time together! What in the hell is wrong with that?”
The Governor ignored him. “Seaman Williams, you can take your wife back to shore as soon as we finish dealing with these lawbreakers.” Goodson turned to Richard. “Who's side are you on, Dawson?”
“Oh,” Richard gave him a small smile, “I'm not on anyone's side, Goodson, except my own. You told me you'd put Gene on trial. I don't appreciate being made a fool of.” He pulled out his own sword. “Why don't you and me have a little fight for these miscreants, as you term them?”
“What?” Gene made a face. “Richard,” he hissed, “what are you...”
“Go get the others,” Richard muttered, “while the apes are distracted!”
As soon as Goodson and Richard crossed swords, Gene ducked down into the holds. “I think that's our cue, folks,” he muttered. “Come on, while Richard's distracting Goodson and the other guys are taking bets.” He frowned. “Is it me, or does this room seem a little less full than it did before?”
“Brett lead the women to the other side of the ship. Dick and Bill Cullen went with them.” Tom shrugged. “She wouldn't tell me what they were up to. Some crazy idea of hers and Marcia's, I imagine.”
The sailors barely had enough time to react before the crew burst out of the cabins all at once! Anson pulled his wife aside just in time. “Hey,” the lanky young man yelled, “watch where you're going! You could have run us over!”
“Forget that.” She grabbed a knife from one of the soldiers, then gave her husband a kiss. “Anson, these people took me in. They could have done a lot worse things to me!”
Anson grabbed another knife from a soldier, letting his pants fall down. “I'm with you all the way, honey. I'm just about done with my tour of duty anyway. I think it's time I put in for early retirement.”
“Boys,” Gene smirked, “round up the sailors. Robert, Gary, you free Charles. Jack, you and Tom take Goodson.” He glared at Richard. “I have someone I need to deal with. But first,” he slid his gold sword out of Goodson's scabbard, “thank you, Governor. This looks a lot better in my hand than yours.” He grinned. “After all, you have so many other fancy weapons, you hardly need mine.”
“Dawson,” Goodson snarled, “deal with him! Get rid of that nuisance!” He didn't have the chance to give more orders. Both Narz brothers leaped in front of him at once. It was all he could do to keep up with them after swiping a sword from one of his men.
“Moi?” Richard tried his hardest to look innocent with one eye, slapping his hand on his heart. “Deal with my former employer? Why, whatever do you mean?” He spoiled the attempt at virtue by smirking. “I did help you free our men and Brett.”
“You also threw me over for Goodson!” Gene growled, swinging his sword at him. “I'm not going to forgive you for that so easily, Richard! I thought we were friends.”
Richard countered him, his blade moving as quickly as his former captain's. “Gene, his has nothing to do with you. I'm my own man. Not yours, not Goodson's.” He barely missed Gene's swing. “You know, I still like you, Gene. I have no hard feelings, even if you do.” They pushed as close as they could to each other, their swords crossed and breath hard.
They pushed off, with him stumbling backwards. “How did you get this good?” Gene gasped, breathing hard. “I mean, I thought I was good, but...”
“How else?” He ducked behind his former captain. “By watching you. Been watching you since I first joined your crew. I learned everything I know about sailing and fighting and running a ship from you.”
“I'd be flattered if you weren't trying to kill me.”
“I'm not.” He gave him that roguish grin. “If I did, how would you come after the treasure I took from you?” He held out a pocket of jewels that glittered dully in the glowing sunset. “This look familiar, Gene? Takes a liar to know a liar. After Goodson left to brag to Brett and his superiors about his prisoners, I had it loaded onto the Family Fortunes. After all, part of it is mine.” He nodded at another vessel, one with far sleeker lines, lingering just beyond the SS Todman. Looping gold letters spelling Family Fortunes glowed dully against the setting sun. “There's my ride. Shall we settle this another time?”
“No!” Gene yelped. “You stay here and fight like a man!”
Richard sheaved his sword. “Another time, Captain! Bon voyage!” He jumped over the side before Gene could launch at him with his sword raised.
“Damn it!” Gene searched the water, but he saw not a ripple. “Where is he? He couldn't have just vanished!”
“Captain,” Bill Daily rambled nervously, “what are you looking for? There's nothing down there. Where's Richard? We could use your help. Our crew is out-numbered, sir, even with Jack's men. Did you skewer him? You're standing, so he didn't skewer you...”
“Bill, hush.” Gene finally put a hand on his mouth. “Let's get Charles first, while they're distracted!”
Jack got Goodson against the side of the ship as Gene and Bill darted downstairs. “Charles!” Gene whispered, his voice drowned out by the hooting seamen. “Come on, buddy. We're going to get you out of here.”
“Gene!” Charles gulped. “Oh, thank heavens! Get me the hell out of here!”
“We'll get you out, as quick as we can,” Gene muttered as he sliced his sword through the ropes, being careful not to harm Charles in the process. “It just might take a minute...”
“Maybe we'd better speed up things, like now!” Bill pointed in horror as Goodson pressed Jack hard against the railing. Tom lunged for them, but three of Goodson's boys grabbed his arms.
“I think you'd better tell me where that treasure is, Narz.” Goodson nodded as one of the men held a knife to Tom's neck, yanking the struggling pirate back. “Or your baby brother will make excellent shark bait.”
“Bill, you and Gary stay with Charles.” Gene grabbed his sword. “I'll take care of this.” He lunged for Goodson, slashing his sword before he could shove Jack over the side. “Oh no, you don't. I won't let you give anyone else on this ship a bath!”
Goodson sighed and turned his sword on the taller man. “You always were a headache, Rayburn.” They slashed across the deck, their swords moving too fast to be seen. Jack ran to help his brother as the others watched and cheered. “If you all come quietly, I may be able to put in a good word for you. Pretty hard to laugh when you're dangling on a hangman's noose.”
“You wouldn't know about laughter if someone dumped itching powder down your pants.” Gene danced across the steps to the upper deck as Goodson's sword barely missed his neck. “Ha! Nah nah! Come and get me!”
“Rayburn, that's enough!” Goodson roared from the main deck. “Boys, go get him! I can't put him on trial if he's not standing still!”
“Gene,” Charles called from the deck under him in horror, “watch out! There's goons coming from all sides!”
“Charles, I am in complete control of this situation!” He punched the first man who reached for him, then grabbed the sail and swung out over the ocean. His screams drifted over the Atlantic and could be heard by startled fishermen on Cape Island.
The mast swung back just as he lost his grip on the ballast. He fell on a whole pile of sailors, knocking them all to the ground. “I've got to work on my landings,” he groaned. “I don't think my rear end can take much more of this!”
Goodson smirked as his men dragged his former employee to his feet. “I think it's time all of you went over the side, starting with Rayburn and Reilly.” He pointed at Robert, who struggled in one of the sailor's arms. “And that one needs to keep his nose out of affairs that don't concern him.”
“Damn it, Goodson!” Robert growled. “When I get out of here, I'm going to print the truth about you!” Gary slammed the enormous seaman's back, only to be scooped into the sailor's other beefy arm.
The governor only gave him that satisfied little smile. “I'm hardly concerned, boy. You'll likely be out of a job or in jail with these idiots before you can write your little article.”
Scoey and Gene leaned back to back. “Hey Captain,” he rumbled in a low, slightly annoyed tone, “got any ideas on how we're going to get out of this?” Goodson's men bared down on them as Anson pulled Lorrie behind him and the other men held their swords out, hoping to maybe put a paper cut on an arm.
Gene looked upwards to the masts and dropped to the deck. “Yes...yes, I do. Or they do. Scoey, duck!”
He no sooner spoke than a sharp and determined “HHHAAAA!” cut through the early evening air. Goodson's eyes widened as female bodies slid down the masts and slammed into his men. “What in the hell is going on?”
“Hello, Governor!” Brett Somers swung down from the sails, her booted feet slamming into Goodson's side. “I don't think my friends the Narzes are really in the mood for swimming. It's too cold down there.” She held a knife on his chest as he rolled on his shoulders. “I don't think you're going anywhere, either.”
Marcia smirked, crooking a finger at an aroused sailor. “You want this? Come and get it!” The second he reached for her, she lifted her knee into his manly parts. “I'd like to see them censor that!”
Barrels rolled up the steps and across the deck, knocking sailors over like nine pins. “Whoaaa!” Dick Martin jumped off right before one of the barrels hit a sailor and sent him flying overboard. “Guess he couldn't hold his liquor, huh dear?”
High-pitched giggles cut through the screams and whining. “I can't imagine why, love,” Dolly squealed leaped off the barrel alongside his and into his arms. “This is the most fun I've had since you and I had that tropical party and raided a Spanish ship carrying sugar cane and pineapple. Our crew had the best pina coladas around for months!”
Joyce threw metal hoops from the barrels over sailors' heads. “Waste not, want not!” she snickered, before hitting them over the head with metal trays.
“Oooh,” Sharon squealed when one reached for her bosom, “don't try that!” She managed to wrestle him to the ground and get a metal hoop over his beefy arms.
Richard Paul raised her arm triumphantly in the air. “And still champion! Didn't she say not to try anything? Trust me,” he added ruefully, rubbing his back, “that little lady may look innocent, but she's not a woman you want to mess with!”
“Hey Captain,” Scoey called as he picked up two sailors and tossed them over the side, “are we taking over the ship? 'Cause I just finished putting out the trash.”
“Thanks, everyone.” Gene grinned, wiping tears. “You don't know how much all of this means to me!” He looked around, frowning as he realized they were missing one person. “Where's Bill Cullen?”
“He's right here.” Bill pushed the top off one of the barrels Dick and Dolly brought on-deck, pointing his gun at Goodson. “A little dizzy,” he added, his face a slight shade of pea-green that matched his brocade jacket, “but here.”
“Well, it looks like you've gotten the best of me this time, Rayburn.” Goodson started to take off his jacket. “I suppose I'll join my men over the side. A good, solid swim wouldn't hurt a man.”
Gene smirked. “No, Governor, I think swimming's too good for you.” The very happy captain patted the ship's shining brass and walnut wood wheel. “We'll send you off to Cape Island and see how you fare with the fishermen and natives. They're not as impressed with pearl cufflinks as we are.”
Robert placed an arm around the red-faced politician with a wide grin. “I volunteer to take our erstwhile leader to shore. He still hasn't given me that interview on his activities in New York, how he's able to afford the fancy suits and cufflinks and the dresses for Mrs. Klugman.”
“Uh, Gene,” Goodson began quickly as he tugged at his silk sleeves, “let's make some kind of deal. That desk in my office is a genuine French original. It was owned by a nobleman in Paris before he lost his head to the Revolution, and there's my pearl cufflinks...”
Gene leaned very hard against Goodson, smiling his wide, sharp, satisfied grin. “You can take all that and shove it where the sun don't shine, Governor. Yes, I do appreciate being able to take care of my family and enjoy the finer things in life...but I also enjoy doing things my way. Mr. Walden,” he nodded at the younger man, “please escort our Governor to his vessel.”
Robert took the Governor's arm with a very big and white grin. “My pleasure, Captain Rayburn.”
They loaded Goodson and his remaining men into one of the lifeboats, making sure they all had enough provisions and water to at least make a general run for the Jersey Shore. “Give my love to everyone on land, Governor!” Gene grinned. “Including your bosses. I can't imagine they'll be happy about you losing all that lovely tax money and what you stole from me.”
Goodson still smiled amiably, even as Robert took the oars. “Once I get to Philadelphia, I'll be sending three ships from my fleet after you, Rayburn. You can count on that.”
“I'm looking forward to it, Governor.” Gene bowed, doffing his hat for his former commanding officer. “You'll have to catch us first, of course. Oh,” he added, “and you know, I think I'll keep this lovely ship of yours. And the desk, and,” he reached over and yanked them off his silk sleeves, “the cufflinks. Call them an even trade for destroying the Marauder and the Concentration.”
Goodson made a face at the one sailor who didn't climb into the lifeboat. “Seaman Williams, you're going AWOL, you know.”
“Honestly, Governor,” he put his arms around Lorrie, “I call it 'changing careers.' I was getting a little tired of the Navy anyway, and I miss my wife. In other words, sir,' he handed him a piece of pink paper, “I'm putting in my notice.”
“You'll never work on the ocean again, Williams,” Goodson added in more of a monotone. “You'll be blacklisted from any sea voyages the moment I return to land.”
“I know a family who owns a hardware store in the Wisconsin Territories,” Anson called. “Their son is a friend of mine! They'd be more than happy to give me work!”
“We'll drop you kids off on our way back to Shore for supplies,” Gene assured them before turning to Goodson. “Have a nice trip to Jersey! Don't run into any sharks!”
“I'll remember that, Rayburn.” Goodson smiled, even as Scoey and Bart lowered the little boat into the water. “I'll see you around too...in jail.”
Gene smirked. “That remains to be seen, Governor.” The moment the boat dropped into the water, he turned to Jack Narz. “Here you go, Captain. These should give you more than enough money to replace The Concentration.”
Jack pocketed them, but he shook his head. “I'm going to make real use of that treasure while I'm still alive. My share will fund my retirement from leadership. Captain Hall of the Big Deal's been asking me to shove off as navigator. I may take him up on that offer.”
“Hey big brother,” Tom added as he put a hand on his shoulder, “we can still have fun digging up that loot. Where is it, anyway?”
Jack gave him that adorable round-cheeked grin. “Where everyone should keep their loot. On shore on the southern end of Cape Island, not far from that old bunker.”
McLean saluted his superior officers. “Everyone here and accounted for, captains, from all ships. No broken bones, as far as I can tell, but a couple of guys have paper cuts, bruises, and assorted bumps and bloody noses. I'll need to borrow a little of that rum to clean cuts and keep them from trying to kill me when I do it.”
“We'll put aside a cup or two.” Tom patted his shoulder. “We need to get back to The Golden Medley, before she drifts halfway across the Atlantic..”
“Brett,” Charles added as she dropped next to him, “what about you, now that your secret is out? Are you going back to shore?”
“Eventually. I do need to visit my children. I miss them.” Brett sighed...but when she looked up, her dark eyes had a wicked gleam. “But if you think I'd abandon you when we're gonna kick Dickie in the damn rear and get our money back, you're all a lot dumber than you look!” She smirked at Charles. “Especially you. What's with the inside-out sailor shirt?”
“It's not inside-out!” Charles whined as he tugged at his shirt. “I got this off a French sailor in New York. They sew the seams like that to make them more waterproof! What about you, in that fancy dress that you can't even fill out?”
Brett made a face. “As soon as I can, I'm getting back into trousers. This damn dress itches, and I can't do anything in it!”
“Ok, ok, you two!” Gene shoved between them. “Save that energy for taking on Dawson and his crew.” Brett and Charles glared at each other, but said nothing more.
Dolly tapped Gene's shoulder. “Do you mind a new recruit? I don't think I could leave Dick now, especially since we've gotten the rum flowing!”
“We'll have the best party ever!” Dick added with his big charming grin as he handed mugs of rum out to the crew. “All we need are some spices from Asia and apple cider, and we might have something.”
Tom patted Dolly's shoulder. “I know you've missed your husband. We have plenty of help, especially with my brother staying on for a while.”
“I have no trouble with her staying on,” Gene admitted. “The more, the merrier!” He turned to Dick. “By the way, Charles is now my first mate, Brett is second mate, Dick's third mate, and Gary, do you think you could handle navigating? Jimmie, you're the cabin boy. Get up there and start scouting!”
Jimmie gave Gene a cheeky salute and his huge gleaming grin. “Aye, aye, mon Captain, sir!” He shimmied up the mast before his captain could take a swat at him.
“Me? Navigate?” Gary squeaked. “It's an honor, sir! Where do you want me to direct us to?”
“Well,” Gene squinted at The Family Fortunes floating just out of sight to the south, “after we hit Cape Island, I'd say if the wind's right, Dawson's heading southeast across the bay to Delaware. He may intend to bury his loot at Lewes, or even closer to Maryland.”
“Then set our course, oh master navigator! Charles,” Gene nodded at the wheel, “could you get us turned around? Marcia, take Dick and Dolly below decks and see if we can fix up some sleeping arrangements. Brett, check the safe box and see what we have in the kitty. Somewhere along the line, we need to get a check-up on this tub and re-name her.”
“Hey Boss,” Scoey called as he tightened one of the ropes on the mast, “what are we gonna rename this thing? It's pretty obviously a Navy boat. 'Sides, 'SS Todman' doesn't exactly have much ring to it.”
“Something not so Naval, of course.” Gene racked his brain, tapping his fingers on the end of the rails. “Hmm,” he murmured as he watched Dick and Dolly glide across the deck together. “How about the Dancing Lady?”
Charles made a face as he swung the wheel around. “Sounds kind of sissy to me.”
“I think it's beautiful and romantic.” Brett patted Gene on the shoulder. “I'll see you at dinner, as soon as I change clothes and check on our finances.”
“Speaking of dinner,” Joyce added, “I need to figure out what kind of a galley they have here. We've had a long day, and this entire crowd is going to start gnawing through the floorboards soon.”
Tom nodded. “I think we'd better get along, before my boys do the same.” He shook Gene's hands. “Good luck catching up with Dawson. Hope you kick him half-way down to Georgia!”
“Good luck with digging up that treasure,” Gene added, wincing at Tom's strength. “Give my love to the family.”
Bill Cullen shook hands with Gene next. “Hopefully, the next time we've worked together, you'll have found the loot and Dawson.” He patted him on the shoulder. “I'd better get along, too. For some reason, these guys think I'm something of a love expert. I'm sure they'll be a lot of questions after they ran into the ladies here!”
Gene chuckled. “I'm sure, old friend.” He pulled in the gangplank as the last member of Tom's crew climbed aboard The Golden Medley. “I believe that's it, everyone!”
“Set course for Cape Island!” Gene waved to Tom and the others as they followed them to the moonlight-kissed Jersey shores. “I'm going to check out my new cabin room. Brett, tell the others I'm not to be disturbed until dinner.”
He settled down in his huge room, putting his feet recklessly on the perfectly polished gold leaf-trimmed desk. The chair had a pink plush pad so soft, his rear sank into it. He leaned back in his chair and was just about to take a nap when Bill Cullen's voice cut the silence, and something shook his shoulder hard.
“Gene? Hey Gene, are you awake?”
~*~*~*~*~*~
“Huh?”
“Gene?” As his eyes focused, he gradually took in Bill Cullen, who gave his right shoulder a good shake. “Are you awake?”
“I am now.” He yawned and stretched out his long limbs, cramped from being shoved under the vanity table. “What time is it?”
Bill checked his watch. “Past six o'clock. We just finished taping. Are you done for the day?”
“Yeah.” Gene jumped up and grabbed his luggage. “Not to talk and run, but I have a plane to catch.”
“You really should move out here, Gene.” Bill ran a comb through his hair. “Ann and I did, and we're having a wonderful time.” He nodded at the TV. “Mind if I change the channel? I wanted to catch the second half of the Pirates-Dodgers game.”
“Suit yourself.” Gene chuckled. “Pirates. Funny you should be watching that. Bill, have you ever wanted to be a pirate? Really stick it to Goodson and all those other producers?”
“Well, I have no beef with Goodson, other than I never did see all the money I was supposed to get from The Price Is Right.” Bill shrugged. “I guess I'm just not the fighting type.”
“Yeah, I guess not.” Gene nodded as Bill flipped the channel. “See you later, Bill!”
Bill nodded. “See you in a few weeks, Gene!” He was so involved with the game, he barely noticed Gene head out to his rented car in the parking lot with a sigh.
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