Mad Red O'Bryan, Queen of the Caribbean: Chapter 3
by Tami B.
Disclaimer: The following work has been written solely for the enjoyment of fans and not for monetary profit. The rights to the characters initially created for the Daniel Boone series belong to 20th Century Fox and Fess Parker. All other characters are of the author's own creation. No copyright violation is intended.
"Stop it! I cannot stand it! Stop it!" Mingo cried. "I beg of you please do not harm my sister. You are correct. We were going to attack the boats."
The lieutenant leveled his sword so that it was only a few inches from Rebecca's neck, but she was glad it wasn't on her neck. It made shouting that much easier. "Murray! Shut up, you fool!"
"I cannot risk your life. Mother would not approve," Mingo explained. "There are only the three of us, Lieutenant. We had planned on attacking your entourage at the bend in the river by shooting as many Redcoats as we could, and then fighting the rest."
"You're a traitor," Joe said to Mingo. "We trusted you, you treasonous pig. I'd spit on you, but I can't spit that far."
Withdrawing his sword, the lieutenant returned it to his scabbard. "Murray will be granted mercy. You two," the lieutenant said, pointing to Rebecca and Joe, "will have your necks stretched. There will be quite a show at Fort Hood; a double hanging and a flogging."
"Am I to be flogged?" Mingo asked, already knowing the answer to that question.
Nodding, the lieutenant said, "Whipped like a dog and then you may go free...if you can." The lieutenant left them, satisfied that the truth had been learned.
Chuckling, Joe said quietly, "Whew, Red. You and Black Mood are good actors. Little does that lieutenant know that he's heading right into an attack and you got to keep your pretty little head intact."
Rebecca laughed but softly. She didn't want to alert Lowell who continued to stand guard outside the doorway. "I told you an opportunity would present itself even if it came as a result of my own brother's traitorous confession."
"You are welcome," Mingo said with a bow of his head. "Now, we shall simply have to hope that Baby Face and Blue Belly manage to move the crews into place without their fearless leaders being there to guide them."
"They'll be in their positions," Rebecca said confidently, "or I will have Baby Face's head on the yardarm". She smirked, looking arrogant as only the Queen of the Caribbean can.
The next morning as Adam returned from checking the sentries at the river, Cincinnatus approached him and he was in a panic. "She ain't here," Cincinnatus said. "She's not in her tent and it don't look like she came back last night."
"What about Mingo?" Adam asked, alarmed at this development.
"I haven't seen him either," Cincinnatus stated.
"Maybe they came back real late and stayed with Joe and his crew," Adam suggested, knowing that the likelihood of that happening was practically nonexistent.
"We better go find out," Cincinnatus said, not believing for a moment they were in Joe's camp.
As they were about to proceed to look for Rebecca and Mingo among Joe's crew, Blue Belly and Little Priest stomped into their midst. "What have you done with him?" Blue Belly accused them.
"Captain Snag is missin'?" Cincinnatus surmised.
"Like you didn't know," Little Priest taunted.
"Neither Mad Red nor Black Mood have returned either," Adam told them.
"So what's happened to them?" Blue Belly asked.
"I don't know, but we're goin' to find out. Let's go find 'em," Cincinnatus suggested.
The foursome headed for the river and climbed into a rowboat, which they pointed upstream. Adam didn't say anything, but he was worried, and he knew Cincinnatus was as well. He laid aside his fears and concentrated on finding sign as Blue Belly and Little Priest propelled them.
They had rowed a few hours when Adam saw movement ahead. He ordered them to shore immediately and then ran ahead to determine if what he saw was indeed the supply boats. Bringing the telescope to his eye, he peered through it. He saw British Redcoats and someone else, and then he smiled.
"What do you see?" Cincinnatus asked, coming to stand beside him.
"I see," Adam said, giving Cincinnatus the telescope, "the British are coming and bringing Mad Red with them. Take a look."
Blue Belly and Little Priest joined them then, both eager for a chance to see. Cincinnatus passed the telescope to Blue Belly and he took his turn. "What do you suppose she's doing on that boat?" Cincinnatus asked.
"I don't know, but if she's there, Black Mood and Joe Snag will most likely be with her or close by," Adam surmised.
"What do we do about the attack plan?" Blue Belly asked.
"We execute it as planned," Adam said. "We'll just have to be careful not to harm one of our own." Hearing something in the woods, Adam quickly motioned for everyone to get down. Stomping through the woods were Redcoats. "Scouts," he told the others as the soldiers passed by, unaware that they were being observed. "We'll have to take them down. They could spot our return to camp and warn the boats. Don't use guns unless you have to. The sound of gunfire might alert the boats. Let's go."
Adam led them up behind the Redcoats. They were soon dispatched by a strike to the back of each of their heads. Since they couldn't take the unconscious soldiers in their rowboat, Adam had them stripped of their boots and tied them with their uniform straps and belt. It wouldn't hold them if they should regain consciousness, but it would delay their warning the boats. To eliminate the danger they posed altogether, Adam knew he should kill them, but he had neither the heart nor the stomach for it. Gathering muskets and cartridge boxes, Adam and company made haste for the rowboat. Cincinnatus and Adam rowed with all their might to camp, while Blue Belly kept an eye on the supply boats.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Making another round about the supply boat, Rebecca relished being able to walk again. Her legs had become numb in some parts and achy in others. The exercise was helpful in ridding herself of both complaints. She smiled broadly at the lieutenant as she passed, but he was uninterested her. He kept his telescope trained ahead, looking for trouble.
"Ma'am," Lowell said politely, "you must return to the hold. It's your husband's turn."
Rebecca reluctantly ducked into the doorway and took her place on a trunk by Mingo. Lowell tied her up again and then untied Joe. Rising slowly, Joe grimaced as if every muscle had gone stiff. "You might fetch me a cane, boy, I'm not sure I can walk on my own."
"If you can't walk, Mr. Priest, I will have to tie you back up," Lowell told him.
"I'll force myself," Joe said. "I got to get a breath of fresh air. This hold is so stuffy that it feels like the inside of a rabbit burrow." He slowly walked to the doorway as if he was a cripple. Then he was out in the open and felt the sun and fresh air on his face. Rebecca and Mingo heard his unsteady stomping on the deck.
"Rebecca, I believe I have found the sovereign cash box," Mingo said.
"You have? Where?" Rebecca said.
"You are sitting on it," Mingo stated. "Though not directly. I believe it is inside the trunk."
"How do you know it's there?" Rebecca prodded.
"The trunk has a lock on it. Where better place to keep a cash box?" Mingo stated.
"Does Joe know?" Rebecca asked.
"I do not think so. He would not have seen it since the lock was facing me and not him," Mingo explained.
"Can you break the lock and make the exchange as planned?" Rebecca asked.
"Child's play. There are tools across from us and, if I am not mistaken, there appears to be a sledgehammer that will serve to break that lock quite nicely," Mingo said with confidence. "We will suggest to Joe that he is sitting near the cash box and then I will plant the counterfeit one there when the time comes."
"We won't have long to wait. We're getting close," Rebecca commented.
The two grew quiet and sometime had passed before Joe returned with Lowell close behind. The young soldier tied him and left without a word. "They've increased their speed. We should be attacked in a couple of hours," Joe told them as he began to chortle. "And then these boats will be ours."
"Joe," Rebecca said, "the sovereign cash box may be near you. We thought we saw something shiny over there."
Looking around, Joe couldn't find anything that might even look like a cash box. "You sure?" he asked.
"No," Mingo admitted. "It is too dark to be certain of anything. But, I am convinced that the cash box must be located near you. There are a great many places where it could be hidden. Once the Redcoats are defeated, we will search the area."
"All right, Black Mood," Joe said as he tried to figure out how to keep Rebecca and Mingo from the box that he planned to keep for himself.
Lowell returned and went to untie Mingo. "Sorry, sir, I had forgotten you hadn't had a walk on the deck."
"That's kind of you, dear boy," Mingo stated. "I did need an opportunity to stretch my legs." Not as stiff as Joe had been, Mingo still walked awkwardly to the deck.
"That was quite a story you made up, Joe," Rebecca remarked after Mingo had departed. "Me as your wife, and after you said yourself that I couldn't be tamed. And raising a passel of young 'uns too."
Chuckling, Joe said, "I tried to tell a story the British would believe. It didn't quite work."
"Oh, but it did," Rebecca said. "They still believe we're married and Black Mood is my brother. I believe they have relaxed their vigilance to some extent. That should give our men another advantage other than surprise. I must say, Joe, it's been a pleasure working with you. In some ways, I'm going to be sad that this alliance has to end."
"It doesn't have to," Joe said. "There's another river close by where you could reign as queen."
Shaking her head, Rebecca said, "Mad Red O'Bryan belongs in the Caribbean, and that's where she must return."
"Maybe I will go with you," Joe suggested.
"And leave your river?" Rebecca asked incredulously.
"You're right. I can't leave it. This river is mine," Joe admitted.
"All yours," Rebecca said. "If you don't mind, I think I'd like to get a little rest before our adventure really begins in earnest."
"I'll join you," Joe said, watching as Rebecca closed her eyes and leaned against the wall of the housing. Joe realized that he would miss the fiery tempered redhead when she returned to the Caribbean. Never had he thought that a woman could command men such as she had. She ruled with an iron fist and a no-nonsense manner, but underneath all that she was a woman; a woman of passion and femininity that Joe found attractive. Perhaps, if they had met under different circumstances, they could have been together. Joe chided himself for speculating. She was leaving and that was the end of it. She would get on with her life, and he with his. There would be other women, but admittedly, none like this lady pirate he could easily have lost his heart to. He would never forget her or her name - Mad Red O'Bryan, Queen of the Caribbean.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sometime later and long after Mingo's return to the housing, Rebecca was allowed another walk about the deck and as before, she smiled at the lieutenant everytime she passed him. This time he took notice and walked with her. Then, the next thing he knew there was a man landing on top of him and chaos erupted. From ropes attached to overhanging trees, men swung down from the outcroppings and came crashing down on the Redcoats' heads. Others missed their mark and found themselves in chest high water. Fights ensued.
Adam managed to knock one of the Redcoats out through sheer luck. This type of fighting wasn't his style, but it had long since been decided on as the plan of attack and he carried it out with determination. Rebecca pulled Adam's knife from its sheath at his waist and made for Mingo and Joe. She dashed inside the housing and cut Mingo free first, followed by Joe. "Your men need your help, Joe, " Rebecca said as she ushered him outside and he joined in the fight. She then stood guard outside the doorway, looking for Cincinnatus, hoping he would bring the cash box to be planted.
Meanwhile, Mingo hefted the sledgehammer he had discovered during his captivity and broke the lock in three swings. The force was powerful enough to knock his earring loose as well. He tore the cover open and searched for the cash box. It wasn't there! He rifled through it once more, but all he found was what appeared to be the lieutenant's clothing and personal items. He then searched the contents of the housing, turning over everything.
Back on deck, Rebecca motioned for Cincinnatus to come to the boat. His arrival wouldn't be long, as he had already left the shore when Rebecca signaled him. The pirate known as Graybeard paddled towards the boat as fast as he was able. He glanced at times at the cash box containing several hundred English pounds as if it would suddenly vanish while under his nose.
Rebecca then became embroiled in a battle of her own. A couple of Redcoats from the canoes were making an attempt to board. Using the bottom of the knife handle, Rebecca knocked a soldier on the side of the head and he collapsed back into the canoe. His partner came aboard and wrapped his arm about her neck from behind. Rebecca stomped on his instep and when he released her, she twisted around and slammed the knife handle into his head as well. He crashed to the deck, unmoving.
Watching the Queen of the Caribbean under actual battle conditions, Joe marveled at her ability to dispatch men much larger than herself. "You know, Red, I'm glad I'm on your side," Joe chuckled, rubbing his head as if in sympathy for the men who had had the unfortunate circumstance to meet with the blunt end of the knife she wielded.
Smiling, Rebecca said calmly and hardly out of breath, "Behind you, Joe"
Turning around quickly, Joe managed to kick a charging Redcoat's musket from the soldier's hand while avoiding the bayonet. The rifle landed on the deck and was soon followed by the soldier who had had the audacity to attempt to dispatch the master pirate of this river. He then moved to help one of his struggling crewmembers who was having difficulty flattening a Redcoat.
Rebecca remained close to the doorway of the housing as Cincinnatus arrived in the canoe. He nodded towards Rebecca and she knew he brought the counterfeit cash box with him. Her job was to keep the housing safe from the Redcoats, Joe, and the master pirate's crew until Mingo had a chance to plant the fake cash box. Adam was to help in that effort, but he was nearby trading blows with a Redcoat. The young man was doing the best he could, but a fighter he wasn't. Growing anxious, Rebecca hoped that Mingo would soon locate the cash box before she had to leave the area to rescue Adam. She glanced at the door of the housing, thinking he should emerge any minute.
"Red!" Cincinnatus shouted. He rose too quickly to come to assist her and the action caused the canoe to rock. The counterfeit cash box almost tumbled into the water. He sat back down to balance the canoe, grateful the cash box had remained aboard.
Her attention still on the housing, Rebecca jumped when she heard Cincinnatus cry her pirate name. She glanced up in time to see the Redcoat lieutenant charge toward her, his sword gleaming in the sun. At her feet lay the musket that Joe had dislodged from the Redcoat he had fought. Swiftly and deftly, she tucked Adam's knife inside her belt, snatched the musket, and began to engage in a sword and bayonet fight. At first, they struck blade against blade with neither gaining an advantage over the other. Then the Redcoat lieutenant change tactics and thrust his sword towards Rebecca's heart.
She countered with a defensive move by locking both blades together and driving him backwards. Stepping to one side and withdrawing his sword, the Redcoat lieutenant decided to approach her from a different angle. Before he could do so, Rebecca slashed the bayonet across his chest. The maneuver served only to cut his uniform and not his person. She then took a couple of steps backwards and raised her bayonet in preparation for the onslaught to follow. Fast and furious, the lieutenant swung his sword towards Rebecca, but she blocked it. And so it went, he would swing his sword and she would match each move he made. Seeing the Redcoat lieutenant tiring as he drew in big breaths and paused with his sword only partially raised, Rebecca charged into him using her shoulder as a battering ram. He fell to the deck, dropping his sword in the process. Quickly retrieving the sword and laying the musket aside, Rebecca knelt with a knee on the Redcoat lieutenant's chest. She laid the business edge of the blade against his neck.
"Now, look who's throat is likely to be slashed," Rebecca said harshly.
"Do it and be done with it," the Redcoat lieutenant told her, struggling for breath.
Rebecca shook her head. "In my own good time, Lieutenant. Mad Red O'Bryan, Queen of the Caribbean never does anything impulsively. Perhaps, I will grant you mercy and..." She paused and then pressed the blade into his throat. "Perhaps not."
The Redcoat lieutenant made an attempt to throw her off, but found himself pinned. Another's strong hands were on his shoulders. "Go ahead, Mad Red, cut him," Adam said as savagely as he could muster. "Make him as crimson as his red coat."
"Now, now, Baby Face, one must not be too bloodthirsty. When was the last time we keelhauled someone?" Rebecca asked. She was glad to see Adam had managed to win his earlier battle, although his victory had not come without a price; he sported a black eye. She knew he would consider it a badge of honor and thought no more of it.
"It's been longer than a fortnight," Adam replied.
"Then we shall preserve him for that purpose," Rebecca decided.
Smiling sinisterly and chuckling, Adam said, "Oh, I like that Mad Red. The boys will like it too. I'll truss him up good and proper."
Using one of the deck ropes, Rebecca and Adam bound the Redcoat lieutenant ready to deposit him into one of Joe's rowboats.
While Rebecca and Adam were occupied with the Redcoat lieutenant, Joe ducked inside the housing to locate that cash box for himself.
The master pirate found Mingo tearing through the contents of the housing. His arrival was untimely. "Hey, what are you doin' there, Black Mood?" he asked.
Looking at Joe, Mingo had a flash of brilliance. "I lost my golden earring. I must find it. My one and only true love gave it to me. It is the only momento I possess of a deep and endearing relationship," he said as his face became a mask of darkness and gloom. "I must find my earring."
"I'll help you," Joe offered.
"No!" Mingo shouted, in a panic. "No one touches my earring but me. You will leave now!" Grabbing him by the elbow, Mingo escorted him out of the housing.
Rebecca approached then. "Joe, hurry, my men need your help!" she shouted as Mingo shook his head to indicate he didn't have the cash box. She knew that was her clue to continue to keep Joe out of the housing. Together the two of them fought off a few Redcoats trying to storm the boat. Joe chuckled as he fought, thinking this quite a lark.
Returning to the housing and resuming the search, Mingo finally found what had to be the cash box. He broke the lock on the box and was relieved to find the gold sovereigns inside. He then lugged the heavy box to the side of the boat where he saw Cincinnatus who, true to his word, was still waiting for him in the canoe. After exchanging the boxes with Cincinnatus, Mingo disappeared back inside the housing while the older man paddled for the shore as fast as he could. Considering he had done it once already that day, his arms felt like jelly by the time he reached dry land. Cincinnatus hid the cash box in the prearranged site and then headed back to the river, but this time he took his time.
While Rebecca was engaged in bashing a Redcoat's head into the deck, Joe snuck by her and made for the housing.
Having planted the false cash box, Mingo headed out of the housing just as Joe arrived again. Mingo resumed his dark moody look. He glared at Joe. "I cannot find my earring. Perhaps I lost it on deck."
"I'll take a look for it in here," Joe offered, patting him on the back, "maybe you missed it." After Mingo left for the deck, Joe searched for the cash box. It wasn't long before he found it, and with a happy gleam in his eye, fled with it. He found an empty canoe and paddled for shore under the watchful eye of Rebecca and Mingo.
"There goes the Master Pirate with his treasure," Rebecca said as the fight drew to an end.
"Or there goes Rabbit with his tail combs, only this time he will get to keep his tail as well," Mingo said with a chuckle, recalling the Cherokee story he knew very well. It was then Mingo heard some commotion behind him and turned just in time to see Adam's back coming towards him. The young soldier was fending off a Redcoat with a pole. Adam swung it behind him and struck Mingo in the side, knocking him into the water. The Redcoat soon joined him.
Mingo rose with disgust, his feet in the muck that was the river bottom and walked back to the supply boat. Rebecca helped him back on board. Not knowing another Redcoat had come after Adam, Mingo had just straightened up when Adam swung the pole back again, sending him back into the water with another splash. The other Redcoat soon followed.
"Baby Face!" Rebecca screeched and marched to him. She took the pole from him and threw it into the water. It landed right in front of Mingo causing a spray that soaked the already drenched pretend pirate.
The fight ended soon thereafter without a fire having been shot. The men rounded up the Redcoats and ferried them to shore. All injuries were of a minor nature and there were no fatalities.
With the first boat secure in Rebecca's hands and the second boat in Blue Belly's and Little Priest's, the mission was considered a complete success. The men on each boat poled them to the shore to divide the goods.
Adam rowed a few Redcoats to land and after turning the prisoners over to some of his men who were corralling them, he returned to his rowboat. A few others had arrived, including Mingo who had walked from the middle of the river. Adam took the ropes for the rowboats as the men and their prisoners moved to the holding area. Adam then pressed the ropes into Mingo's hand. The soaked man stood dripping on shore. "Here, Mingo, you hold the boats," he said and then pushed his rowboat out to the river to bring in more Redcoats. Mingo looked at the ropes in his hands and then out over the water. His mood was growing dark and gloomy. When he turned his attention to the shore activities, he found Big Bertha standing staring at him.
"I'm so glad you're safe," she said, wrapping her arms around his neck. She kissed him soundly on the lips, and then took off running.
Stunned at first, Mingo suddenly felt repulsed. He wondered if he should take another plunge into the river to cleanse himself, but decided against it as another wave of boats arrived and the men handed him the ropes. At last, he surrendered and accepted his role as a human dock, but his mood grew increasingly dark and brooding.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
A few days later, the booty was divided sixty percent to Rebecca's crew and forty to Joe's as it had been decided. Everyone agreed that both crews performed equally superbly. Rebecca and her crew then prepared to leave. They were taking with them the Redcoats they had taken prisoner, including the ones that Adam and his company had dispatched before the attack on the supply boats began.
With everyone aboard three boats, Rebecca turned to say good-bye to Joe. "Captain Joe Snag, I will never forget you," Rebecca said, extending her hand to him.
Joe kissed the back of it. "It was a grand adventure," he admitted. "Come back again. Being your husband for even a little while was most enjoyable"
"Perhaps, if I return, I will bring with me a fellow you know as Sidewinder," Rebecca said.
"Sidewinder? You know, Sidewinder?" Joe asked in surprise.
"Very well," Rebecca said with a laugh.
"You tell that old sea dog I said 'hello', if you should see him," Joe requested.
"I certainly will," Rebecca promised. "I'm sorry we couldn't find the cash box for you or for us. That must have been bad information on our part."
"That's all right," Joe said, being gallant. "We have enough supplies to last through the winter and other things we can sell for cash money. Me and my crew will make out all right."
"You're taking it well, Joe. You are truly a Master Pirate and a gentleman. Good-bye." She climbed aboard the boat. "Make ready the boat!" she ordered. The men scrambled to their poling positions. "Let go the bow line." The pretend pirate loosed the line on a tree and climbed aboard the boat. "Let go the stern line." Another pretend pirate did the same as the first, but gave the boat a push and then came on deck.
"Good-bye, Mad Red O'Bryan, Queen of the Caribbean," Joe said.
"Commence poling," Rebecca commanded. She waved to Joe and the members of his crew who were standing with him, including Big Bertha. Her crew did as she told them and soon all three boats were put into motion, heading upriver.
Joe, Blue Belly, and Little Priest waved as the boats disappeared into the distance. Chuckling, Joe said, "They never suspected a thing."
"Suspected what?" Blue Belly asked.
"Suspected that we got the cash box. I did sort of hate deceiving Red like that, but that's the pirate business," Joe stated. "It contained only two hundred pounds, but that's better than nothing."
"What she don't know, she won't know," Blue Belly said.
"Blue Belly, shut up," Joe said irritably. As he headed towards his cave, Blue Belly looked confused as to why he had suddenly turned that way. Blue Belly thought Joe was probably missing that lady pirate.
Then Big Bertha began to weep unexpectedly and all the men scattered. When Big Bertha cried, which was seldom, she became ten times uglier than she already was, and that almost physically sickened them. Repeating the name of Black Mood Murray several times, Big Bertha went to her small cabin, keeping a firm grip on the earring he had lost which she had found on one of the supply boats.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
After seeing Adam and his soldiers off to deliver the much-needed supplies to the Continental Army, Rebecca, Mingo, and Cincinnatus relaxed on the porch of the Linwood home. They had only been there a few hours when Daniel and Israel arrived.
"Ma!" a delighted Israel shouted as he ran into his mother's waiting arms. Then Daniel embraced his wife and kissed her soundly. "Did you miss us, Ma?" Israel asked, standing in the Linwood's yard.
"You've been gone more than a month. Of course, I missed you both. Israel, did you look after your father like I asked you to?" Rebecca asked.
"Yep," Israel answered. "Ma, did you get bored just sitting around reading and relaxing?"
"No, dear, I didn't," Rebecca replied with a smile. "But I am ready to go home."
"Well, I don't know if we should leave right away. You looked tired, Becky," Daniel observed. "Too much adventure in a book?"
"Something like that, Dan," Rebecca answered with a smirk on her face, knowing her fatigue was evident to her husband. "I did take the time to show Rabbit how he could keep his tail and tail combs."
"Ma, that's a Cherokee story," Israel stated. "Pa told it to me."
"You showed someone how greed pays off?" Daniel concluded. "This is a story I'd like to hear."
"Remind me to tell it to you sometime," Rebecca said.
"I aim to do just that," Daniel said, kissing his wife again and encircling her waist with his arm. He nodded towards Mingo and Cincinnatus, both of whom had remained on the porch. "How was the huntin'?"
"We snared what we hunted for," Mingo replied, rubbing his earlobe, "with the help of a few friends."
"Friends?" Daniel asked.
Standing slightly behind Daniel, Rebecca pursed her lips and shook her head at Mingo. By doing so she was warning him that he was treading on quicksand.
"Friends with odd names like Black Mood, Baby Face, and Graybeard," Mingo responded, continuing to rub his earlobe. "And there was one called Mad Red who was a devil in disguise. Wouldn't you say, Cincinnatus?"
"Yep. The leader of that gang lived up to the name," Cincinnatus replied.
Chortling, Daniel said, "Sounds like pirate names. You boys hooked up with a gang of pirates to help you hunt? What were you huntin' for? Buried treasure?"
"Exactly, Daniel," Mingo said, pulling on his earlobe and smiling broadly.
By this time, Rebecca had crossed her arms and arched an eyebrow at Mingo. If he dared to go into this further, she would revert to her pirate form and dispatch him forthwith.
"You got an earache or somethin', Mingo?" Daniel said, changing the subject.
"Earache? No. Why do you ask, Daniel?" Mingo replied before realizing what he was doing. He quickly lowered his hand.
Rebecca tried not to giggle, but a few gleeful noises escaped anyway. Mingo had grown accustomed to his earring and now that it was gone, he habitually rubbed his earlobe. "Rabbit is missing something else other than his tail," she said.
Mingo glared at her as Daniel spoke. "You lost something, Mingo?" he asked.
"Nothing of value," Mingo said. "It is of no consequence."
"While you and Israel were hunting, Mingo took to wearing an earring. He fit in better with the new friends he had made, but through an unfortunate circumstance, he lost the earring," Rebecca explained.
"Well, Becky, couldn't he wear one of yours?" Daniel jested as the others laughed.
Mingo didn't join the merriment. He wanted to grouse. Why had he thought he could tease Rebecca without her retaliating?
"Of course," Rebecca said as she proceeded inside the Linwood home. "Which one would you like, Mingo? How about the dangly one? It would go nicely with your leather vest and feathers."
The men and Israel roared with laughter as Mingo remained on the porch, once again assuming the "Black Mood Murray" persona.
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