Free True Treasure: Real - Life History Mystery by Lisa Grace Page B

with purpose. No stray bumps or creaking from the men stirring about in the nether regions of the vessel.
    She got up from her knees and tried the door. It swung open. She climbed the steps slowly, and saw the crew was gathered at the far end of the ship all intently, quietly, observing something. Many sailors had climbed the ropes and the masts and were watching from their makeshift perches. She moved closer to find out what held all the men’s attention. She climbed up onto some sacks and barrels to get a better view. She spied Captain Graham, and her heart skipped a beat. He looked so serious, strong, in charge. He was all right. She saw two sailors handing a man up onto the back rail, he yelled out something in Portuguese. One of the men lifted a cannonball secured with rope and tied it to the man’s legs. He slapped at the soldiers while cursing in his native tongue. She recognized the words from her childhood, having learned curses in the various tongues spoken in a port city as children are given to do. The sailors then pushed the man into the sea.
    Mary held back a scream, and climbed down off the sacks. She instinctively clutched at her stomach as it dawned on her they had cast the man into the ocean to drown. The pirates were being executed. The thought made her sick to her stomach. She went back to her room. She’d heard of men having to walk the plank before, but it had never seemed like something real. She could not believe the man she thought she knew, could be capable of killing so coolly. Captain Bennett Graham would force men to die.
    She rushed back to her cabin hoping Bennett hadn’t seen her. She’d never really thought of him being a man of war other than in the most romantic sense, a warrior who could steal her heart. But being a warrior meant he had to kill. He did kill. He would keep on killing. She said out loud to herself, “How foolish could you be?”
    Putting himself in danger meant he put others in danger too. The consequences of crossing a king and his country were severe.
    Seeing the man falling to his death, and knowing Bennett Graham must of had no other option than to sentence the pirate to death, opened her eyes. She saw his life was not one of just rushing about on the sea. He lived a life of death.
    Having seen both sides of him now, and what his job entailed, she sat on the edge of her bed contemplating how this had changed her feelings for him. Her love hadn’t lessened any, but it was now tinged with the truth he had burdens well beyond her understanding. She refused to believe he could feel good about killing those men, whether they deserved it or not. The horror of what he must live with—now she understood why he kept his feelings in check. He must be a steady rock for his men. He must take on the burden of his decisions. This gave birth in her a want to please him, to comfort him, to be a safe harbor in which he could renew his strength. She was more determined than ever to find a way to him, and his heart. He shouldn’t have to bear such responsibility without the hope of someone to care for him. King and country were a noble duty, but hardly a comfort when out at sea. He and his men were the sole law watching over a vast ocean of crimes.
    She got up and brushed her hair. Mary just knew he would come to her cabin once this ordeal was over, and when he did, she wanted to be ready for whatever he required or wanted from her. She prayed her heart was right with God. It didn’t feel wrong, just unknown. Her uncertain future seemed just like the winds, forever changing at a moment’s notice. She sat down and waited for her future to come to her.
    ***
    Captain Graham along with his crew watched the drowning of the pirates. To take a man’s life was a solemn business. Some went in fighting and clawing. Some were desperate to work loose the cannonball while being pushed in. Others went quietly, and willingly stepped off. Some called to God for help. He could only guess they’d