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She was shopping He’d heard it said that her husband, living in Spain, had tired of his wife’s idle days at their island property He was de for the journey He stepped out of the way as she and her entourage passed; her eyes touched his She didn’t se hiht--there were still pirates aplenty in the water

He passed some of the less scrupulous bars in the town, bars where it was said that pirates caood citizens of the town

He knew of one pirate, Mad Miller, who often liked to come to Key West, to drink with the navya killer, just a thief He was friendly with a bar wench, and it was said as well that he would coether He s that love knew no bounds

He knew that so well hihty Dona Isabella and the crazy pirate Mad Miller He met Victoria, and, if possible, they made love more passionately

"I leave withexpedition with friends," Bartholoht--or possibly for two nights We are going out to catch ht of the fish Perhaps, I can cancel--"

"No!" she said with horror, "youas ould normally do" She was quiet for a minute "Bartholomew, I kno you love this place, how your dreams were here, but I believe we must run away"

"My dreams are where you are But ill not run away Not unless forced in time I love you, and I care not about any place, but I know that you love your father, and so I will try through my friend, Captain Beckett, to reach your father Only if we are forced e go Let’s give it a few months I would never have you resent me in time, hate me that you lost the love of your father"

She cradled his face "That you can care, when he has treated you so shabbily, ht her hand and kissed it "I will not wait forever" he teased "There are places we can go We can go to Jamaica, Bermuda or even New Orleans I have friends there still," he assured her

"We ait three er And if we are forced to flee, then later e have our own precious little daughter, he will make peace with us He is, at the bottoreed; they kissed

And they knew they must part

Part II

Death

"Ah, what a beauty!" Captain Craig Beckett applauded, watching as Andrew Morton, a businessiant blue nificent fish in truth "What a fine beauty! You’ve done yourself proud, Andrew!"

"Couldn’t have done it with the expertise of your young friend there!" Morton said, acknowledging Bartholomew

"It was hty toast!" Beckett said, grinning He looked at Bartholoood , rather, I believe--we’ve sugared her down , another friend of Beckett’s, orked as an architect

"Grog, it is! Peter, soon enough Bartholo to need your services, you know You had best plan to cut hiback the finest goods fro handed to him by the architect

"A home!" Peter boomed "Indeed, when you are ready, I will build you a fine home, my friend And as it is done, I will keep the cost down for you--and expect the best in tea, silk, and so on in return!"

Bartholohed with the men

The conversation went on, and he was pleased, and he thought that hea ho men ere respected in the co--to be a good husband and provider for Victoria

"What say you, Bartholomeard to the islands?" Beckett asked

"Pardon?" He had been thinking about Victoria