The Pyrate's Daughter

Part One

The sun set over the coastal colony of Carolina, casting a golden glow on the quiet streets. Thirteen-year-old Isabel "Izzy" Fulford stood at the window that gave her the best view of the harbor. She could see the masts of the ships already in the dock, and in the distance... She squinted to get a clearer view.

Were those sails she saw? Or were they just clouds?

If they were the sails of a ship, what kind of ship could it be? What kind of cargo might it carry? Where had it been?

Closing her eyes, Izzy strained to hear the waves, but the ocean was too far away. The breeze off the water carried with it the scent of salt and fish, but she didn't mind. To her, it was more enjoyable than the clinging perfume her grandfather's clients wore.

"Isabel Fulford!"

Izzy flinched at the shout. From her grandfather's tone, she knew that he wasn't simply calling her for supper.

He knew.

For a moment, Izzy debated where she could hide until he calmed down or if it would be better to face him directly. Had she really thought she would be able to get away with it? Not really, but she hadn't been able to resist.

There were footsteps on the staircase behind her. Heaving a sigh, Izzy turned and put her hands behind her back.

"Good evening, Grandfather," she said as soon as she saw the man's head come above the landing.

He had taken off the wig he wore every day. Somehow, he looked older without it, even though his hair still had some of the brown color Izzy had inherited.

"Well," he said, his tone stern. "What do you have to say for yourself?"

"Of what do I stand accused?" she demanded, raising her chin. She knew better than to confess to anything.

"I think you know."

For a moment, they stared at each other. Izzy refused to give in. Finally, Mr. Fulford heaved a sigh. "There is no reason for you to be this rebellious, child," he said, sounding fatigued. "Have I not said you are to stay away from the docks? There are dangerous people there."

"Who says I was at the docks?" Izzy asked, still cautious.

Mr. Fulford's eyes narrowed. "I am not a fool, Isabel," he said. "At least three respected men came to me and told me they saw you with a boy at the docks."

Izzy's mind raced as she tried to think who it could have been. Her grandfather had many friends in town. She had tried to stay out of sight, taking alleys and ducking behind crates.

But of course, the nosy busybodies had been watching, anyway. They were always watching for her to misbehave.

"I wasn't doing anything wrong!" Izzy exclaimed, even though she knew it was futile. Her grandfather's stern gaze remained fixed on her. "I was just... exploring."

"Exploring," Mr. Fulford repeated, clearly unconvinced. "When you were supposed to be in school?"

Well, at least he hasn't been told about what she'd done to Amy Lewis. She wasn't sorry she'd pulled the girl's hair. Maybe that would be a reminder for the other girl not to call other people cruel names.

 "I wasn't at the docks for long," Izzy pointed out, though she knew it wouldn't please her grandfather. And it didn't answer his question. Hopefully, he wouldn't notice.

"And what did you hope to find at the docks?"

Izzy hesitated for a moment. She could fabricate another lie, but the truth was already gnawing at her. "I just wanted to see the ships."