Blow High, Blow Low

APRIL 2025

Lainey stares at Nettie with wide eyes. “So, she left a bad situation, only to willingly walk into something worse?”

Nettie makes a face. “She hadn’t known she was walking into danger. She only knew she was leaving behind a money hungry, neglectful father.”

“That’s so sad…” Lainey utters, frowning.

“It is,” Nettie agrees, growing quiet. “And she dealt with her new abuse for far too long…”

1782

Annabeth stares at the novelist, Thomas, who sits across from her. She waits patiently as he writes word-for-word what she’s stated thus far.

Perhaps her history will be accurately depicted for once.

After another seven minutes, he stops and looks up. When he realizes she’s staring, he becomes a bit sheepish. “You may proceed, ma’am.”

She smiles kindly and begins anew.

1714. Sixteen, married; I was leaving my old life behind, starting anew. We left this place behind; it would be a long while before I would step foot in South Carolina again. Our new home was Nassau of the Bahama Islands; a sanctuary for pirates.

I thought everything would be different. I thought I would be free to be me. I would dream of journeying far away, away from Father’s shame and Mother’s grave, and at last, it was happening, coming to fruition. Surely, I would be free to sail the seas with my husband.

I was wrong, so very wrong. I was naive to believe if I married Jim, I would be free to live however I liked.

Every night, he would drink. Some nights, he would rage and use his fists. Other nights, he would scream and use my body. I was a vessel for all his needs, an anchored ship looking out to sea.

I dealt with it. Everyday. For four years.

I was grateful for the small mercies, such as never bearing his child. I wanted one, yes, only not to that man. It matters not; the babe would have never survived to be born.

Four years. I do not know why I allowed it to continue for so long. Fear of having to return to Father. Shame for wedding him so quickly and easily.

I was a ghost, a shadow of my former self. Moored to the shore, soulless, waiting on him and his drunken war; firing on me till I'd wreck on the ocean floor.

I only had peace when he was away, doing his sailor duties. I would leave our home, head for the docks. I would stare at the horizon, watch the ships come and go. I had a dream of a ship my own, standing boldly at the steering wheel, barking orders to my men.

Instead, I’d been a ship with no sails to go. Everyday, I would promise myself that one day, I'd haul up the anchor and head for the great unknown.

And when I’d return to my home, I steadied myself inside, held together by bits of twine, I stashed my dreams out of sight. And returned to my womanly duties. And waited for the cycle of pain to continue.

I thought about sharing another’s bed while my husband was away. We all knew each other; word would have reached him and the abuse would have been a lot worse. Much worse. Whenever I thought about going through with it, I’d remember how he threatened to share me. One using me was enough. I would not have survived more.

Then, 1718 happened.

It was the beginning of the best years of my life.

APRIL 2025

Nettie watches with sympathy as Lainey wipes away her tears with a napkin. “My apologies; I should’ve warned you that some heavy topics were inbound."

“It’s okay…” Lainey sniffles. “God, that was so much worse than I was expecting. I thought that, maybe, he was more controlling than her father or something. Not…that. She deserved so much better.”

“She did,” Nettie softly agrees. “And she got it, eventually. Not many have that sort of miracle happen but she did, though it took some years.”

“Four years too many if you ask me,” Lainey huffs, tossing her napkin onto the table. “I hope this tale involves James Bonny getting castrated.”

Nettie snickers. “Unfortunately, no Lorena Bobbitt methods will be mentioned in this tale.”

“Damn,” Lainey grumbles.

The mood is dampered again by the leering men from an hour ago. They didn’t approach again. However, it appears they made an effort to sit closer to her (not them, just her).

They don’t attempt to make conversation with Nettie, or Lainey. Instead, they laugh obnoxiously, side-eyeing Nettie specifically. When she doesn’t react how they want, they make very unappealing, disgusting remarks about the piece of the tale they heard.

Long story short, they were praising James Bonny for “putting his woman in her rightful place”.

Lainey opens her mouth to say something, anything really, but nothing comes out. Because Nettie says something first. Not to the men, but to her.

“Karma comes to those who wait.”

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And do check out the previous parts to this ongoing series about Anne Bonny.