Free Owned by the Ocean by Christine Steendam Page B

that. I promised LaFleur I’d keep her sailing strong and
proud, and I intend to do that.
    “ I won’t kill this man you named captain,” he spit out the title,
dragging Jacob to the boat that was now extended beside the ship’s
rail, ready to be lowered. He pushed Jacob forward and pointed his
pistol at him. “Climb in,” he ground out through gritted
teeth.
    Jacob was pale
and climbed in without a word. His protests had grown silent during
Brant’s speech, and fear was in his eyes.
    “ Someone collect his breeches and boots!”
    Moments later
a pair of breeches and boots joined Jacob in the small rowboat.
    “ Collect some water and food.”
    Brant held his
gun steadily on the man, waiting for someone to bring what he had
commanded. It didn’t take long for a barrel of water to be rolled
up and tossed into the boat as well as a sack of various foods.
    “ Lower the boat,” commanded Brant, his voice losing some of
its anger.
    Slowly the
boat was lowered into the water below and Brant watched as the man
who had killed his captain was sent away without even the slightest
hint of protest from any member of the crew, even his mates.
    Once Brant
heard the tell-tale splosh of the boat hitting water, he holstered
his pistol and then unbuckled the brace, holding it for everyone to
see before tossing it over the rail to land in the boat with
Jacob.
    “ I’ve done your dirty work for you to save this ship, but his
blood, if he doesn’t survive is on your heads. Jacob is paying for
his sins of mutiny against LaFleur, but don’t any one of you forget
that you all put him in that position and you are all to blame.
Your malcontent and selfishness is to blame.”
    The crew was
silent for a while, and then murmurs began to rise up. “Who be
captain now?” seemed to be the resounding question.
    “ We vote,” said Karl, walking down from the upper deck where
he had stood back through it all.
    Brant looked
at his friend, and the most respected man on this ship. “Karl is
right. No more blood will be shed because of leadership. Today, we
continue on the course set. You talk amongst yourselves and at
dinner we will nominate men for captain, then the crew will
vote.”
    Nods of
approval rippled through the crowd.
    “ Why wait for dinner?” shouted a crew member. “I nominate
Brant.”
    Brant held up
his hand and shook his head in protest. “No, it is only fair that
we take time to think of nominations and then vote.”
    Ripples of
Brant’s name went through the crowd until it was picked up by the
entire crew. Brant’s heart pounded. He didn’t want this, he hadn’t
prepared for this. He had intended to nominate Karl, a much better
choice for captain than himself. He was too young and
inexperienced. But he couldn’t deny the thrill that was coursing
through him; the idea that the crew wanted him as captain. His
fingers were touching what he’d always wanted and all he had to do
was grasp it and it would be his.
    A hand rested
on Brant’s shoulder and he turned to see Karl at his side. He held
up his other hand and slowly the crew quieted. “If it is unanimous
that Brant Foxton be captain, then so be it, otherwise we take
nominations and vote at dinner,” shouted Karl, gaining everyone’s
attention.
    The men all
nodded and said their approval.
    “ Those who want Brant as captain, raise yer hand,” said
Karl.
    Brant watched, his breath caught in his throat as slowly arms
were raised. He looked around at each man in the crowd. Everyone’s
hands were held high. Brant looked to his right, where Karl stood
with his hand still rested on Brant’s shoulder, his other arm held
high in the sky. There was no mistaking it; it was unanimous. He
was captain of the BlackFox.

Chapter
Seven
     
    Brant looked
nervously at the approaching ship. They had made port briefly after
he had been elected captain—just long enough to stock up and empty
their hold. Since then they had been out to sea for a month. Brant
had taken this