Leopard (Fighting Anthonys Book 7) Read online

  Published by Boson Books

  An imprint of Bitingduck Press

  Formerly an imprint of C&M Online Media, Inc.

  ISBN 978-1-938463-30-3

  eISBN 978-1-938463-31-0

  © 2017 Michael A. Fowler All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, including mechanical, electric, photocopy, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.

  For information contact

  Bitingduck Press, LLC

  Altadena, CA

  [email protected]

  http://www.bitingduckpress.com

  Cover art by Johannes Ewers

  www.zazzle.com/seawolf

  Author’s note

  This book is a work of fiction with a historical backdrop. I have taken liberties with historical figures, ships, and time frames to blend in with my story. Therefore, this book is not a reflection of actual historical events.

  LEOPARD

  THE FIGHTING ANTHONYS

  BOOK Seven

  MICHAEL AYE

  Books by Michael Aye

  Fiction

  War of 1812 Trilogy

  War of 1812: Remember the Raisin, Book 1

  Battle at Horseshoe Bend, Book 2

  The Fighting Anthonys

  The Reaper, Book One

  HMS SeaWolf, Book Two

  Barracuda, Book Three

  SeaHorse, Book Four

  Peregrine, Book Five

  Trident, Book Six

  The Pyrate Trilogy

  Pyrate, The Rise of Cooper Cain, Book One

  Non-Fiction

  What’s the Reason for All That Wheezing and Sneezing

  Michael A. Fowler and Nancy McKemie

  To:

  My Comrades, our Viet Nam vets

  All gave some!

  Some gave all!

  CHARACTERS IN THE FIGHTING ANTHONY SERIES

  British Officers and Seamen:

  Vice Admiral Lord Gilbert “Gil” Anthony – Commands the British fleet in the Caribbean. First son of Retired Admiral Lord James Anthony (deceased) and Lady Anthony.

  Captain Sir Gabriel “Gabe” Anthony – Second son of Retired Admiral Lord James Anthony (deceased) and his mistress Maria Dupree.

  Bart – Long time cox’n and friend to Admiral Lord Anthony.

  Dagan Dupree – Supernumerary on Trident; Gabe’s uncle and self-appointed guardian.

  Jacob (Jake) Hex – Gabe’s cox’n and friend.

  Rear Admiral Rupert Buck – Recently promoted to flag.

  Rear Admiral Dutch Moffett – Commander of Antigua.

  Admiral Peter Parker – Commander of Jamaica squadron.

  Admiral Sir Winston Kirkstatter – Replaces Admiral Buck.

  Lord Ragland – British Governor of Barbados.

  Lord Skalla – British Foreign Office agent who replaces Sir Victor.

  Captain Stephen Earl –Lord Anthony’s new flag captain.

  Captain Austin Albright – Captain of merchant ship Georgetown, Grand Cayman.

  Captain Robert Schoggins – Captain of marines on Trident/Leopard.

  Lieutenant John Jenkins – Captain of Zebra.

  Lieutenant George Jepson – Captain of Revenant.

  Lieutenant David Davy –Captain of Tomahawk. Gabe’s friend.

  Lieutenant Justin Holton – Lieutenant on Trident.

  Lieutenant Greg Kirk – Captain of Bulldog.

  Lieutenant Leonard Montgomery – Captain of Lynx.

  Lieutenant Mahan – Lord Anthony’s flag lieutenant.

  Lieutenant Con Vallin – First lieutenant on Trident, then Leopard.

  Lieutenant Daniel Bufford – Second lieutenant on Leopard.

  Lieutenant Tolbert – Third Lieutenant on Leopard.

  Midshipman Jarvis Jackson – Midshipman on Leopard.

  Midshipman Daniel Glen – Midshipman on Leopard.

  Midshipman Hunter – Midshipman on Leopard.

  Robert Cornish – Physician and surgeon.

  Mister Pittman– Master on Leopard.

  Ronald Laqua – Fourth lieutenant on Trident and Leopard.

  John Waters – Master on SeaHorse.

  LeMatt – Lord Anthony’s secretary.

  Josiah Nesbit – Gabe’s chef and gentleman’s gentleman.

  Silas – Lord Anthony’s steward.

  Chen Lee – Rear Admiral Buck’s servant.

  Crowe – Rear Admiral Buck’s cox’n.

  Fleming – Rear Admiral Buck’s secretary.

  William Eden – Chief Resident Grand Cayman.

  The Ladies:

  Lady Deborah – Lord Anthony’s wife. They met after pirates had attacked the ship Lady Deborah and her first husband were aboard. Her first husband was killed by the pirates before Lord Anthony’s ship came to the rescue. The marriage between Lady Deborah and her first husband had been one of convenience; when she and Lord Anthony met it was love at first sight. They later married and had a daughter, Macayla.

  Faith – Gabe’s wife. They met in HMS SeaWolf where Gabe had survived an explosion but was wounded. Faith and Nanny were walking on the beach and came upon him. They hid Gabe and nursed him back to health. Gabe and Faith fell in love, but with her being an American and with Gabe being a British sea officer it was difficult. New son, James Gilbert Anthony.

  Betsy – Dagan’s love. She is the sister of American General Manning’s deceased wife. She is a young widow who lives with the general. Dagan met Betsy during the time General Manning was being held in Saint Augustine as a paroled prisoner of war.

  Lady Linda Ragland – Wife of Lord Ragland, Governor of Barbados.

  Rebecca/Becky – Lord Anthony’s sister. She lives in England with her husband, Hugh, and daughter, Gretchen.

  Maria Dupree – Gabe’s mother and Dagan’s sister. She was Admiral Lord James Anthony’s mistress of many years.

  Olivia Cunningham – Admiral’s Buck fiancée.

  Ariel – Dagan’s ward, and Lieutenant David Davy’s wife.

  Hannah Bodden – William Eden’s niece, Lieutenant Vallin’s girlfriend.

  The Americans:

  Lum – Slave on Faith’s family plantation. He kills a man attempting to rape Faith. He spends time with Gabe on board ship as his servant, and then when Faith and Gabe reunite, he leaves the sea to be with her and Nanny.

  Nanny – Like Lum, she was a slave on Faith’s family plantation. She was a personal servant to Faith’s mother and has been Faith’s nanny since birth. She loves Lum.

  .

  A Sailor’s Lot

  Got on a ship in Portsmouth

  Headed for the Caribee

  My life forever changed

  Since the press gang caught me

  The fury of battle

  Is like thunder in my head

  I hear the wounded crying

  And I see the silent dead

  And when I hear a bosun’s pipe

  I want to run and hide

  But damned if I know where to go

  I just want to stay alive

  Now it’s been five long years

  Since this war has begun

  The politicians sit at home

  While I sit behind this gun

  -Michael Aye

  PROLOGUE

  DAMME, SIR, A PRISONER, I was made a prisoner! The audacity of the man, the black-hearted scoundrel. He sailed his ship, Rattlesnake, with two prizes right into our harbour, Lord Anthony. The damnable man sailed right into Georgetown Harbour, just like it was a holiday. Hellish bold…hellish bold, that’s what the whoreson was. Pulled his pistol and made Captain Neill and I prisoners when we stepped throu
gh his entry port. Imagine that. We had ourselves rowed out to inquire if we could be of service and the thanks we get are to be made prisoners. Impertinent rogue. Two loyal British subjects deprived of our freedom in our own harbour. It’s not safe, your Lordship. If the rascal can take us with no respect or concern for the Royal Navy, what will they do next? Sack the town, take our women, or just take the whole damned island.” The man speaking was Captain Austin Albright, of Georgetown, Grand Cayman.

  He sat in the great cabin of Lord Gilbert Anthony, Vice Admiral and Commander in Chief of his Majesty’s naval forces in the West Indies. Others in the cabin, besides Lord Anthony, included his flag captain, Stephen Earl; his flag lieutenant, Patrick Mahan; and his cox’n, Bart.

  A time or two when Albright was on the verge of what Bart considered stepping over the line of proper etiquette, he made to rise and intervene, but a slight wave of his Lordship’s hand made him return to his seat. Lord Anthony could see Albright was a desperate man, and allowed his ranting.

  “We don’t have a fort or even a company of soldiers to protect us from these hellish rogues, My Lord.” Albright stopped talking and picking up a glass, he drained the last bit of sweetened lime juice from it. His mouth was dry and he’d become hoarse as he spoke. Setting the glass down on the admiral’s mahogany table, he paused.

  Silas, the admiral’s servant, had been standing at the pantry. Seeing Albright’s action inflamed him. He rushed to the table with a rag, wiping away any water circles and made a show of moving the coaster Albright had ignored or missed.

  Clearing his throat, Albright said, “Hmm, I thought you Navy men drank a bit more hearty beverage than lime juice.”

  Captain Earl had been a bit put out with the man’s ranting, as had Bart. He rose suddenly, and while trying to remain civil, said, “Sir, the sun is hardly over the yardarm.”

  The admiral smiled inwardly at how quickly his captain had risen to defend the Navy’s honor and reputation. Ignoring what might have been a request for something stronger, Lord Anthony asked, “Would you care for some more lime juice, Captain?”

  A subdued Albright nodded, “If you please, Sir.”

  Silas filled the glass from a silver pitcher, and then sat the glass down on the coaster, emphasizing the coaster as he did with a hard look. Lieutenant Mahan was quick to note, Silas had appeared without being called. The cabin servant had found it to be rewarding on more than one occasion when the crew wanted to know what was in the making, so he tended to remain close unless instructed otherwise. Beads of condensation covered the outside of the metal pitcher as the ice inside cooled the beverage. Silas touched the pitcher to his face when he returned to the pantry. The cooling sensation felt good in the Caribbean heat.

  Looking inside the pitcher and seeing that there wasn’t enough of the juice to fill a glass, Silas turned the pitcher up and drank from it. No use in it going to waste, he thought.

  Once Silas had left the cabin, Lord Anthony spoke, “You say you were detained?”

  “Not detained, Admiral, made a prisoner. Captain Neill and I were placed inside the pirate captain’s cabin and made to stay there overnight. I tried to leave but a rogue stood guard at the door.”

  “Were you harmed in anyway?” Anthony asked.

  “No, not physically,” Albright admitted. Saying this, he took a chair and sat down. Leaning forward, he placed his head in his hands. From this position, he muttered, “I’ve been ruined financially.”

  Lord Anthony and his officers looked at what they now knew was a broken man; a man who had nothing and nowhere to turn. No wonder he ranted so.

  Raising his head, Albright said, “I do not have the financial backing or contracts that some enjoy. No sir, my Lord,” he continued, “I’ve been ruined.” Rising suddenly and striking his fist in the other hand Albright swore, “Damnation, Admiral, you’ve got to do something. We’re not safe.”

  Hearing the unmistakable sound of a blade being pulled, Albright realized his mistake. He’d overstepped his bounds. What he didn’t realize was how close to death he’d actually come. Looking at the fierceness of Bart and the naked blades of Earl and Mahan, Albright sat back down and grabbed the lime juice. Gulping down half the glass of juice, he managed, “My apologies, Admiral.”

  Letting the man calm himself, Anthony spoke in an almost fatherly way, “Tell me about your losses.”

  Setting his glass down and making sure it was on the coaster, Albright cleared his throat. “McCollough, Captain David McCollough is the blackheart who commanded the Rattlesnake. He is a man of daring with little concern for a fellow seaman. He took our ships, Captain Neill’s and mine, along with all our cargo.”

  “What were you carrying?” Lieutenant Mahan asked.

  “Cotton, sugar, molasses, and lumber, some of it was mahogany, and sixteen slaves. He took it all. My entire cargo,” Albright repeated in anguish. “But that’s not the end of it. He said he’d ransom our ships back to us. The following morning, after a sleepless night on Rattlesnake, we were given parole to go raise the ransom. When we returned and paid the ransom, the contemptible lout gave us a certificate, as we were being released, that would exempt us from being taken again for a period of forty-two days. I had lost my cargo and was in debt for twenty thousand pounds, but I had my ship, or so I thought I did. When I returned to my ship, I found the bastard had left me a hull only. During the night, while I was locked away, he stripped my ship of everything they could. Every line, cable and rope; her running riggings, spars, sails, ship’s provisions, my desk, wine cabinet, even the spare anchor.”

  Albright was almost in tears as he placed his head in his hands again. “I’m ruined. You’ve got to do something,” he shouted in desperation. “We are not safe and not a Navy ship around.”

  “Why did you come to Barbados?” Anthony asked. “Admiral Parker is in charge of the Jamaica squadron and it’s a lot closer.”

  “I did go there, but there’s been word of a French fleet being sighted and Admiral Parker has sent his fleet out looking for the Frogs.”

  “I see,” Lord Anthony said. “Were you able to learn anything of McCollough’s plans while you were being held?”

  “Humph!” Albright snorted. “They talked openly and made no secret of their plans, my Lord. They figure that they have naught to fear from our navy.”

  Bart not liking the barb made a point of clearing his throat. He was given a disapproving look from Anthony.

  “Cuba and Puerto Rico was to be used as their main rendezvous but they also talked about Cat Island as well. They talked of several ships, privateer ships that routinely meet there.”

  “Well, the Dons are not lifting a finger to object,” Mahan interjected.

  “I heard one rogue saying that they’d make a good profit taking my cargo and their other two prizes to Martinique. There was more but I can’t remember,” Albright admitted. “I do remember them saying a thirty-eight gun French frigate was patrolling Trinity Bay while they were anchored at Fort Royal.”

  Lord Anthony thanked Albright for bringing the privateer’s activities to his attention. He promised that he’d send some vessels to patrol around Grand Cayman when he had them to spare. He surprised everyone when he promised Albright that he’d see that a few Navy contracts would be sent his way once he was able to outfit a ship.

  After the destitute captain had taken his leave, Lord Anthony asked his flag captain, “What do you think, Stephen?”

  “He’s right about not having any protection. I just don’t see how we can do much with the few ships we have. We are stretched to the limit now. I recall Lord Skalla mentioning a report from Lord Howe, that stated after a battle where the Colonials were defeated, the captured guns and ammunitions were the finest England had to offer.” This brought a chuckle from the group. “The Admiralty has failed to realize the significance of the privateers. Were it not for the American privateers raiding our ships, Washington’s armies would have long ago surrendered due to a lack of supplies.”
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  “Aye,” Anthony agreed. “It’s damnable that it took Lloyd’s refusing to insure our merchant ships for Parliament to order the Navy to provide escorts to protect our convoys. Even with our escorts, Americans continue to raid with more daring and success than I care to admit.” Standing, Anthony set his empty glass down. “Albright was right about one thing, gentlemen. They, our loyal subjects on islands like Grand Cayman, are perfect targets for the Americans. Captains like McCollough, in fast, well-equipped, and well-manned ships can strike our people at pleasure. That has to be brought in check. When Markham returns in Dasher, we will set sail with a squadron to instill a little fear and make life less pleasant for these raiders.”

  “They’ll just move to less troublesome waters, my Lord,” Lieutenant Mahan volunteered.

  “You are right, Patrick, my concern is not where they go as long as it’s out of the Caribbean. The Caribbean is my responsibility, not the entire ocean.”

  Hmm, Bart thought, I better dust off ’is blades and oil up ’is pistols. Lord Anthony is ready to fight.

  Faith to Gabe

  Baby, I see shadows – on your mind

  It’s a faraway place – that’s calling you tonight

  I see the mist – that fills up your eyes

  After all these years – don’t look so surprised

  It’s that damned old ocean – I want it to go

  But listen closely – I want you to know

  If you’re going – I’m going too

  Cause baby I’m wrapped up in you.

  Yes baby I’m wrapped up in you.

  —From the song “Shadows on Your Mind,” by Mike Fowler

  CHAPTER ONE

  THEY STOOD BEFORE GOD, their family, fellow officers, and friends. They vowed they’d never love anyone but each other until death. Ariel wore a gown of white, while Lieutenant David Davy wore his navy dress blue uniform. In fact, the church fairly bulged with officers wearing their Royal Navy uniforms, hot as it was. Dagan wore civilian attire as he proudly walked his ward, the beautiful Ariel, down the aisle. Her life with Davy would be happy, this Dagan knew. Compared with the hell she had known as a sex slave to the renegade Witzenfeld.