" Morgan turned and stormed out of the room, resisting the urge to slam the door. Anger washed away the hunger she felt and she rushed down the steps, relieved to see her horse, Mercury, saddled and waiting in the street. Taking the reins from the doorman she swung into the saddle and nudged him into a gallop, his hooves ringing out a sharp warning on the cobblestones. People parted before them and soon they were weaving through the carts on the waterfront, her eyes pinned on the familiar shape of her ship moored at the furthest dock. Jacob stood at the foot of the gangplank waiting for her.
Pulling Mercury up in front of him she looped the reins over a pylon and followed Jacob wordlessly up onto the deck. Jacob led her down into the hold and every step fueled her anger as she saw bottles of oil stuffed with rags waiting to be lit.
"Jacob, this was going to be more than vandalism." She said, her voice sounding haggard. Jacob nodded slowly.
"I know Mor, that’s why I sent for you. The worst part is who was going to do it." Jacob stopped her just short of a brightly-lit area where two men sat tied back to back against a support beam. Morgan’s blood went cold as she recognized both of them and reached a hand out to steady herself. He quietly continued. "They both admit to the same employer, and after a bit of coaxing they said they were told to make sure she sank." Morgan’s jaw clenched and her hands shook. "Mor, what’s going on?" She shook her head.
"I don’t know, Jacob, but you can bet I aim to find out." She frowned at the men for a moment, then glanced up at Jacob. "Did I see Saul’s ship docked across the way?" Jacob looked at her for a long moment then nodded. "Do me a favor then, take these two over there tonight and tell him if he’ll add them to his cargo, then I will consider our debt even." Jacob frowned.
"Morgan, I don-," she cut him off with a sharp look.
"Jacob, they were going to sink my ship. I don’t care how much they were paid, I’m going to make it quite clear that they made the wrong choice." Jacob looked at her for a long moment and she dropped her eyes to the floor. "What else would you have me do, Jacob?" He sighed and patted her shoulder.
"Don’t put ‘em on the slave ship, Morgan. Jes’ send ‘em down to da’ big island and give ‘em to that plantation owner that likes ya so well. Make ‘em work it for a year or so." Morgan frowned. "Mor, you know they won’t make it to America alive…not in that hold." Morgan sighed heavily and nodded.
"Alright, Jacob, you win. Do it. I don’t want anymore blood on my hands." They turned and left the men there, Morgan nodding at the two crewmembers that were guarding them. "Make sure they get rewarded well, Jacob," she said loud enough for them to hear. Both flashed a smile her way as they passed and nodded at her. They reached the main deck and Morgan walked over to the railing and looked out over the harbor. Jacob followed her and leaned against the railing next to her, keeping an eye on the dock.
"I’m worried, Mor," he said. Morgan nodded in agreement.
"I am too, Jacob, I am too." Morgan's jaw flexed as she tried to keep a hold of her temper.
"What are you goin' to do?" Morgan looked up at him and saw him flinch away from the look on her face.
"Well, my friend, I guess for now I'm going to play the game. I have to go to the Harbormaster's for dinner this evening with her, so I don't think I'm going to let on that I know about this yet. I'd like to let her show a bit more of her plan before I cut her off." Jacob nodded slowly.
"Do you think she'd try to hurt Miss Allison?" Morgan looked at him sharply.
"Why would she do that?" Jacob shifted uncomfortably.
"Mor, if she's tryin' to hurt you...then tha' would be another way t'do it. I don' think you can tell me tha' you don't care fer the gal." Morgan sighed softly and gazed down at the water lapping at the hull.
"I don't know what I feel, Jacob, and that's the problem. I wish I could just stay away from her...then none of this would be an issue." She turned around and leaned back on the railing and looked down at her horse moving restlessly on the dock. "I guess I'll have to figure that out." Morgan stood up and clapped Jacob on the shoulder, trying to ignore his look of concern. "Take care of those two for me, Jacob. I don't want to see them for a very long time." Jacob nodded and watched her leave, pulling in the gangplank after she reached the dock. Morgan unlooped Mercury’s reins and rubbed his nose soothingly.
Walking him slowly off the docks, she waited until they were on solid ground before swinging back into the saddle. She kept him to a walk and turned him down an outer street, moving slowly towards the outside of town. As the traffic in the street thinned she let Mercury choose his path, her thoughts in a whirlwind. Alright, I need to get this figured out. Things are getting too out of control. If I don't get matters back into my hands I'm going to find myself without a ship and who knows what else. So. What would Carolyn have to gain from hiring someone to sink my ship. Hmm. Well, she probably thinks she could get me to stay in port and settle down. Especially since she tried to dress like she did when she was married to James. But why would she want me to - she always said she loved the fact that I owned my own ship. So what else.....is she trying to punish me for spending time with Allison? Maybe....but that's pretty drastic. So there's got to be something else going on....some other angle. But what is it. Morgan sighed and scrubbed her hand across her eyes and looked around. Mercury had wound his way around the outside of town and they were only a couple of streets away from the one they would need to take to the hotel.
