Commander of the Caribbean

By David Layman

Set just at the turn of the eighteenth century, Thomas Theodore Jessop, better known as the Commander of the Caribbean has taken it upon himself to fight evil, depravity and lawlessness around the Caribbean basin. He thinks of himself as a kind of crusader from days past who battles for God, virtue and Christianity. Jessop's comes from humble beginnings, the son of a dirt farmer from Bristol, England. He quickly transforms himself at quite a young age; he sets out on the sea to find his fame and fortune. Graduating quickly from a deck hand on a merchant ship to the captain of a slaver ship, Jessop sails to the Caribbean to sell his human cargo and sets his roots on the island of Jamaica.
Within a short time, Thomas Jessop amasses enough land on the island of Jamaica to name his large-scale landholdings as that of one Canterbury Plantations. The dowry he receives after his marriage to wife, Miriam, exponentially adds to his wealth. Thomas Jessop quickly learns that he is not one to sit idly by managing the day-to-day goings on of his plantation. Coupled with his desire is the fact that the colonial powers in Europe are too embroiled in their own conflicts about the European continent, hence, Jessop decides that he and his second-in-command, Benjamin Harrington will form up their own, what they term, as their enforcement unit. Jessop and Harrington train and drill a platoon of approximately thirty men to aid them in hunting down and returning slaves to their owners and ruthlessly crushing native insurrections.
As time passes, Thomas Jessop realizes that he can amass a much greater fortune by contracting and being put on a permanent retainer with the various Caribbean island governors to hunt down and kill the pirates who sail about the Caribbean basin creating havoc as they thieve, rape and kill the island inhabitants and interdict and rob merchant shipping. As Jessop proceeds, he happens on a plot to bring the most dreaded pirate of his day, one Blackbeard, to his early demise. Jessop is corrupted by power and riches and will take enormous risks in order to see that Blackbeard is eliminated permanently as a threat to his homeland.
A fast moving, riveting novel, Commander of the Caribbean is full of intrigue, suspense and fraught with many dangerous scenarios that confront him and his enforcement unit. Thomas Theodore Jessop fills the bill as a modern day gun-for-hire, who holds his fate in his hands and thrives on testing his own mettle of plying his brand of justice against those evil forces that abounded throughout the Caribbean basin at the turn of the eighteenth century.

• Language: English
• Publisher: David Layman
• Release date: Jan 7, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301508396

David Layman

David Layman, born in Sandusky, Ohio, attended and earned both an undergraduate and graduate degree in history from Kent State University, Kent Ohio. After finishing his Ph.D courses, he chose to write novels and also completed two children's stories. His most current novel, DIRECT CONFLICT, focuses on the Vietnam War, the concentration of his academic studies. He is currently writing the sequel, and has written several other literary works.When David is not writing, he travels, engages in long-distance running, both on the beach and in the mountains. As a former Army Paratrooper and combat medic, David has taken an interest in veteran affairs and works with the Wounded Warrior project in Jacksonville, Florida. His newest endeavor is to master surfing, then to travel to Hawaii to surf the Bonzai Pipeline.David is currently working on the sequel to DIRECT CONFLICT, titled DIRECT CONTACT. Check back with us frequently for the release date.

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Commander of the Caribbean

David Layman

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Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2012

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Table of Contents

Chapter 1 : Canterbury Plantation

Chapter 2 : Thomas Theodore Jessop

Chapter 3 : Commander of the Caribbean

Chapter 4 : The Commander's Search

Chapter 5 : Captain Jack Sparrow: The Informer

Chapter 6 : Annabelle's Request

Chapter 7 : Blackbeard's Visit

Chapter 8 : Captain Sparrow's Return

Chapter 9 : Subterfuge On The High Seas

Chapter 10 : Governor Alexander Spotswood

Chapter 11 : Israel Handsx

Chapter 12 : Mrs.McIntyre:Wellesley

Chapter 13 : A Close Encounter With Satan

Chapter 14 : Finding Israel Hands

Chapter 15 : Evil's Exposure

Chapter 1 : Canterbury Plantation

Theodore Jessop sat out on the patio at the rear of his house sipping his coffee. He gazed around at all the beautiful and very fragrant flowers that adorned the perimeter of his gardens. He breathed in deeply and felt the warm Jamaican sun coming up over the horizon, a very bright, golden, shimmering ball of sunshine in a clear blue sky. The birds chirped loudly, shrilly at times. Theo watched as the butterflies danced among the flowers, landing and briefly making their collections of nectar, then up and on to the next allure. He smiled and breathed in again. Then, he opened a folder on the table that contained the month's receipts for Canterbury Plantation, the largest farm in the Caribbean basin. He stared at the receipts and sipped more of his coffee. He thought to himself, sighing heavily, gazing off in the distance, Well, Grampa Thomas, I may not be quite the swashbuckling, brave and daring type, as you, but I have ensured that your great, great grandchildren's futures, both Amelia and Theo Junior will continue to have the very best that money can buy. They are progressing nicely, both very bright and studious. We may not enhance the Jessop legacy with all your bravado and dashing glory, but we will have extended the lineage and prosper; you see, Canterbury Plantation is very, very profitable. And yes, of course, you are still the most revered throughout the Caribbean and beyond. So, you must take some satisfaction from that, I'd say.

Theo stared blankly at the receipts, as he listened to the birds and sipped his coffee. He sighed, stalling at making any effort at all the very mundane, tedious tasks of having the responsibility of running such an enormous enterprise as Canterbury Plantation. His great grandfather had secured enormous amounts of land throughout the Caribbean in his day. He thought to himself once again, Ah, but I'd prefer Grampa Thomas's lifestyle without question. At least he experienced the excitement of the hunt, battling evil, the devil, and those dastardly pirates, the cutthroats and shysters who roamed throughout the Caribbean. Oh, to imagine! Just to be able to move about freely, without all of these hindrances, yes, he and Ben Harrington's great grandfather, Grampa Ben, his second-in-command, taking charge at every turn.

Just then, Theo noticed his daughter, Amelia who came running out of the kitchen, through the French doors, straight out to Theo. He quickly closed the folder that contained the farm's receipts and held his arms out just as Amelia leapt up into his lap. He said, Well, good morning, my love. Oh, you have made my morning, little one. I was just beginning to reconcile the bills for the month. Good! Now I can entertain you. What would you like to do this fine day? Should we go for a walk? A swim? We could gather up your brother, Theo, Rachel and Ben and have Lea prepare us some food. Then, we could take the carriage down to the sea for the day. How does that sound?

Amelia listened and smiled widely up at her dad. She held his hand and kicked her feet about, giggling and squirming in her excitement. Now, she reveled in every last ounce of love that her father lavished on her; Amelia's mother having died just after her birth. As one would expect, from time-to-time, Amelia questioned her father about her mother, still not quite sure what had happened as she was now only six years of age. From time to time, she asked her dad where her mother had gone. He sat there, admiring his beautiful, dark haired, blue-eyed child. He remembered her asking, Daddy, where's mommy. Why did she run away?

Theo explained that she didn't run away. He told Amelia that mommy was needed up in heaven, to help the Lord with all the children up there with him. Amelia would listen, and nod, not really understanding any of it. At times, he might catch Amelia staring longingly at her mother's picture, talking to it, as if she were right in the room with her. Amelia would explain all about her life, her progress with reading, for instance. She would usually finish by requesting that her mother ask the Lord if she could leave, just for a little while, to come tend to her own children. Theo recalled her saying, Mommy, daddy and Theo need you, too. They do! And, so do I! Why don't you come and take care of us, too!

Theo leaned down and kissed Amelia, and she giggled, saying, But daddy, if we go down to the sea, you know I still can't swim. What if I would go out too far? Who would save me?

Theo threw his hand out, dismissing her concerns. He smiled down at her and said, We will be right there with you and continue with the lessons, my dear. You will learn. You almost had it the last time, remember?

Amelia smiled up at her dad and said, Yes, daddy, I remember. I wasn't afraid. Why can't I just learn to do it? I get mad when I can't do it. Then, I want to, ooh, just swallow all of the water in the sea and then I could just walk around on the bottom. I wouldn't have to try so hard. It makes me so mad. I know how to walk. Will I learn how to swim today?

Theo nodded and said, I think you will learn today. Now then, my child, you must control your temper. Do not allow yourself to be controlled by your emotions. It only hinders you in your efforts. You should use that energy to learn, to learn to swim today. Do you understand?

Amelia listened and said, Well, sometimes I get mad at mommy, too! I get mad because she won't at least come to care for us, too. Why won't he let her come? I want to see her, to talk to her. If she came today, I could learn to swim, I could. Why can't she come and watch me? Why not, daddy?

Theo stroked his daughter's long, silky dark hair and felt the loss that seemed to burden him as much as the day that his wife, Mary had died. She had contracted some kind of infection just after Amelia's birth and had suffered for some time. He recalled how she had made some progress at her recovery, and then, she just faded, then she slipped away into the abyss. He prayed and prayed, but the evil devil had persevered that day. Yes, the devil had succeeded, paying the Jessop family back after having suffered so many bitter defeats at the hand of Grampa Thomas Jessop. Yes, the devil had dragged Mary into a deep sleep and she never awoke.

Theo sighed and then recalled how he countered that awful and lasting terrible trauma. He turned his anger and bitterness, forcing himself to concentrate on his two beautiful children. He would feel himself sinking into the lowest depths of despair and depression. But, by sheer force of will, he would bury himself in Canterbury Plantation and his children. He would hold up his fist, promising his God that he, Theodore Thomas Jessop would not be defeated. The devil had stolen his wife away, but he would continue the fight, just as his antecedents had never given in to that diabolical Satan. You bastard devil, be advised that we, the Jessop family will continue to fight you at every turn. You took my Mary, but one of us, one of us Jessop's will arrive one of these days to repay you in full. It may just be my daughter's son, or her grandson. But, there will be a Jessop one day who will repay you for stealing away my Mary. Just you wait! We are not finished with you yet, you black devil.

Theo continued to stroke Amelia's hair and he answered, Mommy is here, sweetheart. She is watching us right now. She is! You just have to talk to her in your mind, that's all. But, she is watching and she loves you so very much.

Amelia pulled back just a little and she stared right into her father's eyes. She stopped squirming and kicking, and said, Why does Grampa Thomas come and see me and mommy doesn't? He isn't here most of the time, either. He must love me more than her. Why can he come and talk to me, and see me, and not her? Why won't she come, too?

Theo stared back, Amelia's comments catching him rather off-guard. He said, after pausing, Well, your great, great grampa, you say? Did you have a dream about Grampa Thomas, Amelia?

Amelia adamantly shook her head and said, No, not a dream, daddy. I was in bed, staring out my window, you know the one by the side of my bed? I was looking out and Grampa Thomas came right through the window, right from outside. He just came right in. He looked funny. I could see right through him. I can't see through you, daddy. No, I can't. But, why is he like that?

Theo listened and asked, Your Grampa Thomas? How do you know it was him, Amelia?

Amelia nodded towards the house, now with a rather lackadaisical appearance. She spoke, rather matter-of-factly, Because, I know him. You showed me the paintings of him. He told me, too.

Theo felt the little hairs tingling, all of a sudden, on the back of his neck. He felt a slow surge running up from his belly. He forced a smile and asked. He told you? He told you in your dream?

Amelia shook her head with conviction. She quickly countered, as if correcting her father, No daddy, not in my dream, Amelia said, with a tone of frustration. I told you, I was looking out the window, after I woke up. And, there he was, right there. He came in my room and sat on my bed. He told me who he was. But, I already knew. I just did. I saw the paintings you showed me. And, Rachel's grampa, Grampa Ben was there, too. He stood behind Grampa Thomas. I could see through him, too. They were so nice. They smiled and told me I was so pretty. They told me that I was so pretty, daddy, like you tell me. Grampa Thomas told me who he was but I already knew anyways. I knew who he was.

Theo clenched a bit, and wondered. He sat up straight and said, You weren't dreaming? Maybe a daydream, perhaps?

Amelia shook her head again. Theo had seen this fierce determination in Amelia before. She would persist and persist until she was satisfied he believed what she was telling him; very determined, resolute. He thought, She is a Jessop, no doubt, through and through. She is resolute and will not bend when she believes something.

Amelia held her father's stare and said, again, very adamantly, No daddy. No daydream, either. No! He was there, with Grampa Ben. I told them Rachel was my best friend, too. I asked them if they would go see her. I told them that I knew she would like to see them, too. I know she would. You know what they said?

Theo slowly shook his head and said, No, darling, what did they say to you?

Amelia smiled widely and said, They said they would be seeing both of us, well, a lot more now! She nodded, affirming and grinning right up at her father, That's what they said. I am so happy because I asked them if they could bring mommy next time. They said they would try.

Theo sat there, making every effort to mask his confusion and concern. Just then, Amelia stared up again and said, Oh, and they said I was me, too, daddy.

Theo froze in his chair. He could not believe what he had just heard. He sat there, gathered himself slowly, and then asked, in a low tone, Amelia, what exactly did they say?

Amelia tilted her head back and forth, and now she began to kick and squirm about again. She murmured, now giggling again, Oh, that I was me. That's all. Why did they say that, daddy?

Theo clenched again and said, Oh, sweetheart, you're playing our game now, I see. Let's see, did they say you were one of them? A Jessop, and the same with your very best friend, Rachel Harrington, Grampa Ben's granddaughter?

Amelia shook he head quickly and said, Oh no. They said I was me. That's what they said. Why don't you believe me, daddy?

Theo barely breathed and said, clenching, really preferring not to hear the answer he dreaded, Now, now, Amelia, not you are you, my dear. Amelia, now think.

Amelia leaped out of her father's lap. He caught her quickly and said, Amelia, now, what exactly did they say? You know, you are hiding something. You are playing our little game, aren't you?

Amelia giggled as her father kissed her all about and she said, You guess. That is our game, remember? Go ahead daddy. You guess. Go ahead. Try to guess what they said to me.

Theo debated whether to say it at all but he had to know, one way or the other. He said, slowly, I'll bet they said, 'You're like them, a Jessop. Is that what they said?

Amelia giggled again and said, Nope. They didn't. You guessed wrong two times daddy! One more chance and I win! Go ahead and guess.

Theo swallowed and said, in a resigned tone, grinding his jaw to contain the fear. He grimaced and said, They said, you were the one.

Amelia giggled and nodded quickly, Oh, you guessed it right that time! You win. Good, daddy. I usually win, but that's okay. I like it when you win, too! You guessed it right! You win!

Amelia shot out of her father's chair and said, I'm going to go get Theo and tell him to get ready, okay daddy? Can we go soon, down to the sea? I think I can learn to swim today. I'll bet Grampa Thomas and Grampa Ben will be there. Maybe they will bring mommy, too. Before they left, they both came close and whispered it again, that I was the one alright. Me! I felt all funny when they said that to me, too! And, they said they loved me more than anything. Maybe they will bring mommy next time, too.

Theo nodded slowly and reached down, drawing Amelia close in. He kissed her forehead, then her cheek and said, rather offhandedly and somewhat detached, Yes, I think you'll learn today, my love. Go and get Theo. We'll leave soon and go pick up Rachel and Ben. We'll spend the day at the beach. Does that suit you?

Amelia smiled widely and said, Goody! And, I'm going to show mommy and our grampas how good I can swim. I promise, daddy. I'll learn today. I will. That creepy devil will never be able to drown me then, will he?

Theo stared and said, now mumbling, Oh no sweetheart. Not the devil. He has no chance now. Not with all of your guardian angels standing guard over you. I am sure of it now!

* * * Ten years later * * *

We finished dinner and Maria began to clear the table. I hadn't eaten much. I swore I was going to eat much, much less than Rachel and I watched her very closely. But, she always seemed to eat quite a lot. Rachel seemed unconcerned and she simply ate until her heart's content. But, I stopped after eating nothing much at all; much, much less than her. It made me so envious that Rachel had such a perfect figure! I mean, we were best friends. Rachel and I took baths together as kids, well, up until a few years ago, maybe more than a few years ago. Even then, as kids I saw that Rachel had the perfect figure, and it kept on while I felt I was left behind. So, she would try to come in while I was bathing, when we got somewhat older, but, I wouldn't allow it; I'd yell out, No Rachel, we are not children any longer. Wait your turn, if you would, please.

I knew it hurt Rachel but I felt too self-conscious around her, too ugly, to gangly, and growing into quite the beast. I felt envy because Rachel was so beautiful, so full, she radiated beauty and such a figure, very striking with her blonde hair! Oh, I was most envious and I was growing taller, too tall, I thought and with very dark hair, and my legs had become too long and my shape nothing like hers, somewhat different. Even my neck seemed much too long now, and I felt silly, I suppose. I was rather unsure, jealous and unsettled now when I was around her.

Rachel would pout sometimes because I would not allow her in to bathe with me in the bathtub. I was stern with her. Why should I allow her in? It would only hurt me so to see her as she removed her clothing. It could actually make me most furious and I wanted to take daddy's riding crop to her backside. I wanted to see welts raised up on her perfectly shaped behind, a lot of them bleeding and swollen! Yes, I'd have loved to have fixed her good! Mine, my behind, well, we shall not discuss it. Anyhow, she'd sulk and peek into the bathroom while I bathed. She'd call out, Can't I at least sit by the bathtub so we can chat?

I watched and grew madder and madder as Rachel continued to eat whatever she pleased and she did not seem to notice that I was watching her. I felt so hungry, I wanted to just stuff my mouth, but my vanity would not permit me to touch anything more. I seethed inside as Daddy scooted his chair back and said, after finishing his meal, Maria, would you serve the coffee out on the veranda, please. I am going to read to the children.

Rachel finished off the last of her second helping of the meat, another piece of bread and then she drank her water. Oh good; she smiled at daddy, I love it when you read to us. Dessert, that is my favorite part of the meal, don't you think, Amelia?"

Well, Rachel was my best friend but everyone thought she was a part of our family. And, everyone thought I was part of her family, too. They assuredly knew that I was a Jessop, but possibly somehow related to the Harrington family. All that came about because our families had been so closely tied together since the time of my great, great grampa, Thomas Jessop. It bothered me; I was a Jessop and our family had ruled the Caribbean basin since my great, great grampa Thomas became the most powerful man anywhere about. The Jessop family ruled like no other, not the Harrington's, no; nor anyone else.

I had heard all the stories, over and over and over and I loved hearing them. My great, great grampa Thomas was larger than life and a real legend. He was the one then; he made the Jessop family very rich and powerful. We ruled the Caribbean, that I knew for sure. And yes, I suppose I did feel some jealousy towards him. It seemed to irritate me how the Jessop legacy had diminished somewhat since his time.

Over the years, the Jessop name lost some of its luster. It made me so mad that since his time none of the other Jessop men could duplicate his gallantry, his courage and his desire to expand the Jessop legacy of greatness, glory and fame. I loved daddy but I just could not understand how he could read to us all about Grampa Thomas's heroism and bravery, his unwavering dedication and skill at ensuring that our family would ascend to higher and higher heights and yet he did nothing towards that end. He didn't seem to me to feel that he might just be quite unworthy of the Jessop name.

Yes, father was content to simply allow the Jessop family name to wane, to lose some of its luster. Well, I was sure I would have something to say about that. Grampa Thomas told me I would; he told me many times even when I was much younger, and I believed him. Why would he lie?

Maria brought a plate of her baking creations and the coffee outside onto the back porch overlooking the gardens. Maria seemed to spend too much time on her baking, but daddy allowed her; he said if it gave her comfort to spend such time on her baking, then that was fine with him. I tried to tell him to have her stop. I couldn't allow myself to eat any of her delights. I wanted to, the whole house filled with the wonderful aromas of her baking creations. I died over and over thinking about how those delights would taste. Occasionally, Rachel would visit Maria in the kitchen and sneak a few of them; Maria always willing to oblige. Rachel would then tell me to take some and we could feast. Well, I told her no; that I didn't particularly care for Maria's baking. Then, Rachel would start in on them, sometimes eating even before we sat down, or she might stuff one down even before we reached the back veranda.

Of course, Maria would come out and serve us coffee. She'd ask, Amelia, you aren't having any of my desserts? Could I make you something special, anything at all; I'd be happy to do it! I'd offer a very thin, forced smile and shake my head. No, no, thank you Maria, coffee will suffice, thank you.

* * *

Father, myself, Rachel, Rachel's brother, Ben, and my brother Theo all reached the back veranda to listen to daddy as he read to us. And, yes, Maria followed with her desserts and coffee. I sat there watching, and, of course, my Rachel certainly didn't hesitate, oh no, she helped herself to two or maybe more, exclaiming, This is my favorite part of dinner. I might want more, too!

Father and Theo and Ben also helped themselves to the dessert as I waited for Maria to pour my coffee, with no dessert, of course. I was not about to allow one more ounce onto my body; I'd die first! I had to compete with my Rachel, my supposed best friend and it was horrible for me! I had noticed how men set their sights on her and not on me; it was so very painfully obvious. I disdained the fact that men found Rachel more appealing; it made me want to thrash her good! I decided then that I would make Rachel pay for her stupidity because she did not consider my feelings at all; she should have made herself subservient to me, to give herself to me willingly with no stipulations.

Now, I wanted her as my slave, to own her. I had little use for her in any other capacity. She, so flippant, was she my friend? No, I thought not, but, in any case, I would use her! She certainly would pay dearly in time, I knew it to be just a couple more years and I would give her a very good dose of revenge!

I sipped my coffee as daddy opened up the folder and removed the manuscript to read to us. I always relished his readings, I would daydream and let myself slip back there with my great, great grampa, Thomas, and Rachel's great, great grampa, Ben. I knew it was my time back then, that I should be there with them and that I had been born in the wrong century, too late. I knew it, and whenever daddy read us these stories, I felt as if I could make myself travel back in time to really feel and know how it was to be a true Jessop who earned the name, the great Jessop name, so brave, so valiant and so resolute, revered by all! After all, my Grampa Thomas, he killed Blackbeard! What else needed to be said?

As father read, I'd think about Grampa Thomas and I would speak to him; silently, of course, and I heard his replies which gave me such comfort and so many cherished memories!

I simply shivered and felt the goose bumps emerge over me as I could hardly wait; then daddy picked up the manuscript and he began, as he cleared his throat, reading from the place in the manuscript he had left off the last time we sat out here on the patio. Father