Owned by the Ocean (4 page)

James jabbered
the whole time they were walking while Brant responded with only
the occasional “yes”, “no” or “wow” to let his younger brother know
he was still listening.

He pulled out
a cigarette but James didn’t seem to notice. Smoking one after
another as his brother regaled him with tales. It wasn't until they
turned back towards the house that Brant noticed James was
shivering.

“
Are you cold?”

“
A little.”

“
You should have let me know. Come on let’s get back and I’ll
see if Maggie can brew you some hot cocoa.”

“
Papa doesn't allow me to drink hot cocoa. He says it's bad
for me.”

Brant frowned.
How could his father not allow James the simple pleasure of a hot
treat? Some of his fondest winter memories were of drinking
steaming cups of hot cocoa in front of a roaring fireplace. “That's
nonsense. Hot cocoa makes young boys grow up extra handsome. I'm
sure Maggie will make you some if I ask her.”

The boys
walked back into the house, Brant helping James hang his jacket on
the much too tall coat tree and then leading him into the kitchen
where Maggie was busy cleaning up for the end of the day.

“
Hello, Maggie. Do you think James here could get a cup of hot
cocoa? I'm afraid I kept him out in the cold a little too
long.”

“
Ach! James me dear you take a seat there next to the fire and
I'll have you a cup of steaming hot love brewed in not but a
jiffy.”

James smiled
and sat down on the floor cross legged in front of the fire. Maggie
had water boiling in minutes, having dropped everything she was
doing to look after the young boy. As James sipped his drink Maggie
sat down with Brant at a small table and handed him a cup of tea.
“How be school, Brant?”

“
It's everything you would expect, I suppose, and everything I
don't want. It's my father's idea of a good education so I suppose
I should be thankful.”

“
Your father ain't so bad. He's had it hard most of his
life... those short years he had Suzanne were the only good
ones.”

“
Shouldn't James and I be enough for him?”

“
He don't know how to handle young boys. His whole experience
with authority is his years in the navy. Your mother, bless her
heart, was the one that told him how to handle you.”

“
How's James doing with him?”

“
James don't know your father as anything other than the man
he is today so he don't see anything wrong. Things are just the way
things are. He's a good boy.”

Brant nodded.
“Thanks for the tea, Maggie. I think it's about time James got to
bed though. I'm going to go find Josie and have her see to
him.”

“
It sure is good to see you here again, Brant. I sure wish
you'd smile like you used to. You're too young to have such a sad
face.”

Brant offered
a smile, attempting a show at happiness for the old maid. She'd
been around as long as Brant could remember and always had a smile
or kind advice to offer when it was requested.

Brant left
James in the kitchen as he went in search of Josie, James' nanny.
She had been Brant's nanny as well, many years ago. She was a kind
woman, and loved both boys dearly. Brant often wondered why she
never left and found a nice man and settled down to have a family
of her own but he suspected it would break her heart to leave James
behind.

Brant lay in
bed that night staring at the ceiling. He'd always thought that it
was only a matter of time before his life held sails and endless
water, but after today he wasn't sure he could leave. He felt
responsible for James; could he leave him here alone and never look
back? Brant knew that if he left he couldn't come back for years.
James would be grown up by the time he saw him again. Was that
something he could live with?

Brant fell
asleep amid tumultuous thoughts of running away to the ocean or
staying and living up to his father's dreams so that he could be an
older brother to James. It wasn't a decision he could make in one
day, or even in one lifetime. He had a month minus a day before
school started. Brant knew that by the end of that time a decision
had to be made. If he went back to school that would be it. If his
father won this time around it would likely never change.

Christmas
morning was no different than any other morning at home. The two
boys and their father had breakfast together and then Calvin went
into London to attend to business of some kind. Nothing stopped for
the Commodore. Work, work, work every day and that was all that
mattered.

James and
Brant spent a lot of time together. Going for walks, rides, or
working on James’ schooling. Often, after their walks, they’d enjoy
hot cocoa in the kitchen while Maggie prepared dinner. Brant had to
admit that when his father wasn’t around, he was really enjoying
being home.

On December 27
^th
, Leo rode up on his large
standardbred stallion. Markus took the horse and led him away to
the stables while Leo strode across the yard towards the large
house. Brant, who had noticed his arrival, walked down the steps to
meet his friend who was pulling off his gloves and blowing warm air
into his cold hands. “Hello, Brant! How’s your holiday
going?”

“
Oh, as good as can be expected. My father either locks
himself in his study or is in London all day working, so at least I
don’t have to see him. But come inside, you must be
freezing.”

”
Just a little.” Leo followed Brant into the house where they
sat down in chairs beside the crackling fire in the parlour and
warmed their chilled fingers.

“
And how are your holidays? Missing the city yet?”

“
Immensely. It’s so dull now that the Christmas festivities
are over and New Year’s hasn’t arrived yet.”

“
There isn’t a whole lot to do here either. James and I spend
most of our days taking walks or reading.”

“
I think we both could use a little fun.”

Brant
chuckled, eager to hear what his friend had in mind.

“
Can you get into your father’s liquor cabinet?”

Brant’s
excitement immediately switched to wariness; he couldn’t forget the
mess Leo was in just before holidays and alcohol seemed like the
last thing he needed. But, it was dull and Leo always knew how to
have a good time. “I can. One moment.”

Brant left the
room for a few minutes and was back with two tumblers and a bottle
of whisky. He poured the amber liquid and handed a glass to
Leo.

“
I don’t know if I’ll be coming back to school,” he stated,
matter-of-factly, as he placed the bottle on the table between
them.

Leo sputtered,
choking a bit on his drink and looked and Brant, shocked. “What do
you mean? Did something happen?”

“
No, nothing happened. I’ve just realized if I’m going to
leave I have to do it now.” Brant surprised himself a little with
the conviction of his words. He’d thought of little else these past
couple of weeks, but he hadn’t come to a decision. Saying it out
loud to Leo had been is way of testing the waters, to see how he
really felt and he realized that his mind really was made up. He
would leave everything behind for the chance at the life he
wanted.

“
Brant, this is insanity! You have everything you could ever
need for the rest of your life.”

“
You wish you had the freedom to be with Claire and to change
her life for the better, don’t you? Well, I wish I had the freedom
to do what I’ve always wanted to. When I was a boy my mother used
to take me down to the wharf to watch the ships sail away. I used
to dream of what adventures those vessels would embark on and I
wanted that for myself—I still want that.”

“
It’s hard work, the life of a sailor. Don’t think it is all
swashbuckling stories.”

“
I know, but that doesn’t change how I feel about the sea. I
need to go out and experience it.”

Leo sighed and
his shoulders slumped a little in defeat. “What can I do to
help?”

“
Nothing for me. Just... be around for James after I leave.
Make sure he’s doing okay.”

“
Of course. When are you going to leave?”

“
The next few days. I’ll ride to the docks and hopefully leave
before my father can track me down. After I’m gone he won’t bother
with me. I’ll be dead to him.”

“
Will you talk to James before you leave?”

“
No. He might tell someone. Could you explain things to him
after I’m gone?”

“
If that’s what you want.”

“
You’re a good friend, Leo. Thank you.”

“
Don’t mention it, please. Helping you will dirty my pristine
reputation.” Leo laughed, but Brant could see there was sadness in
his eyes, a sense of loss.

Brant only
shook his head and finished the last of his drink. “Your reputation
was tarnished about when you started cavorting with me.”

“
True. Perhaps your leaving is a good thing. It might save
me.”

Brant smiled.
Nothing kept his friend down for long, at least not outwardly. He
was going to miss Leo. He never judged Brant for his decisions or
choices, even if they were contrary to what he might believe or
enjoy. Leaving this life, school, home, his father behind would be
easy. Leaving behind Leo and James... that would be nearly
impossible.

* * *

Brant spent
the next few days with James. He played games with the young boy
like hide and seek and tag. Every day with Brant he seemed to open
up a little more, revert to his natural childlike tendencies. He no
longer had to act the part of an adult like he did around his
father. For a few days James got to be a six year old and it made
Brant feel better that he was able to give his brother that much
before he left.

On the day he
planned on leaving, Brant took James out horseback riding. They
spent dinner in silence though as their father joined them. After
that James was taken to bed and Brant was left to his own devices.
He walked throughout the entire house, in and out of rooms that he
would likely never see again. When he was sure his father had gone
to bed Brant went to his own room and packed a bag with a few
necessities and then walked out the front door and to the stables.
He quickly saddled one of his father’s horses and mounted; riding
down the lane he stopped the horse and looked back. The house was
dark and not a movement was made. Brant smiled, stroked his horse
and turned it back towards town. Tonight was the start of the rest
of his life. He had made his choice and now it was time to live
with it. Out of the corner of his eye Brant noticed the curtain in
his father's study move slightly. Brant was leaving his father's
life for good. That was the second loss in the Foxton household in
six years. Would there be more?

* * *

Brant tied his
father's horse on a hitching post and left him. Someone would claim
him come morning, whether it was his father or someone else. It
didn't really matter to him anyway.

Walking down
the docks it was quiet. It was not the right time of day to be
looking to join a crew, but he knew the taverns along the way would
house a few crews who might know of a ship he could join.

Walking into
one particularly loud one he found himself a seat and took out a
smoke. It didn't take long for an older man to approach him.

“
And what might a fine young man like you be doing in a place
like this?”

“
Looking for a billet.”

“
I see. And why might that be? From yer clothes I'd say you
ain't in need of money.”

“
I prefer to keep my past to myself. Do you know of any place
for me?”

“
Aye I might. I take it you have no experience on a
ship?”

“
None, but I'm a fast learner and a hard worker.”

“
Our cabin boy just left us, perhaps I can convince the Cap'n
to take ya on. What be yer name?”

“
Brant Foxton.”

“
Aye, Brant. I'm Karl. You just sit tight 'ere for a few
minutes and I'll let’ya know.”

Karl was only
gone a few minutes before he came back with another man.

“
Brant, I'm Captain LaFleur of the
BlackFox
. Karl tells me you are in
search of a ship.” He spoke with a heavy French accent but he
seemed friendly enough.

“
Yes sir. Anything you got I'll do. I'm just looking to make a
life on my own.”

“
We sail tomorrow. Will you be ready?”

“
I'm ready to leave now.”

“
Good. Report for duty at first light. We'll put you to work.
I'll have Karl waiting for you on dock twelve with a rowboat. He
leaves at six... Don't be late.”

“
Yes sir. I'll be there, sir.”

* * *

Brant had
nowhere to sleep, and no money to pay for a room, so he left the
tavern and made his way to dock twelve. There, he found himself a
corner beside a building that emanated some heat to chase away the
winter cold, and curled up as tightly as he could, hoping sleep
would find him. It wasn't comfortable by any means, but at least it
was quiet. Dock twelve was far away from most of the traffic and
abandoned aside from the rats that slunk around barrels and crates
looking for food.