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Saints and Sinners	By : JennyPugh Category: Pirates of the Caribbean (All) > General Views: 6291 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the Pirates of the Caribbean movie series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 24
- 25
Usual disclaimers and I can�t
wait for the film to come out!
Sorry it�s taken so long to
post this up, I�ll try and get more with it in future :rolleyes:�
�
Chapter Twenty-five

�Mornin�, Miss.�
Celia tried hard not to jump
as a marine guarding the gateway to the church spoke to her, but instead forced
a smile and bobbed a curtsey.� �Good
morning,� she nodded.� �It is all right
if I go and visit the grave of my grandmother, isn�t it?�� She decided that pretending to be a maid of
the bride was pushing the boundaries of reality just a little too far and so
had made up a story of her own.
�Of course, Miss.� The wedding ain�t for another two days �
though you wouldn�t believe it to look at all the fuss!�
�Well, it is the
Commodore,� she giggled, feeling emboldened and rather pleased with herself and
wondered what Jack would make of it from where he and some of the men were
hiding and watching.
�Off you go, Miss, and if any
of the men question you, tell them Lieutenant Murtogg said it was all right for
you to go through.�
�I am most grateful to you,
Lieutenant,� Celia smiled coyly, hoping against hope that Jack could see that
at least.
�Bloody hell,� Jack hissed
almost inaudibly.� �Yer could pick
someone better ter flirt with than Murtogg!�
At least he�s a soft touch, though��
�Where
to start?� Celia mused to herself as she surreptitiously
glanced around to make sure no-one was looking at her before studying the
gravestones nearest to her then moving on and praying that it would not take
too long to find what she wanted � if it was indeed there at all.� She held her breath as two officious looking
naval men passed by her, each doffing their hats and bowing their heads in
respect but paying her no more heed once they had gone by, and it took all of
Celia�s willpower not to exhale loudly.�
With another furtive glance at the marine guarding the gate to make sure
he had not noticed she wasn�t stopping at one particular grave, Celia carried
about her task.
�Come on, come on�� Jack
urged from his hiding place, panicking now that the young woman was no longer
in sight.
�She�ll be all right, Cap�n,�
Jos� Santos assured him with a blackened grin.
�Shhh,� Jack glowered,
feeling decidedly nervous about the amount of marines there were in and around
the churchyard and now wishing he had not asked Celia to do this.
�Oh!�� Celia stopped by a grave and peered at it,
her heart pounding with excitement as she realised it looked exactly as the
other two had done.� Her fingers traced
around the carving of a blindfolded man, working on an anvil and she bit her
lip as she realised who it represented.�
She turned and went to hurry from the graveyard but realised it would
look suspicious and so forced herself to appear calm as she strolled back
towards the gate and the marine guarding it.�
�Good day, Lieutenant Murtogg,� she smiled as she exited the
grounds.� �And thank you, once more.�
�It�s a pleasure, Miss.� Will you be coming to catch a glimpse of the
bride?�
�Alas, no,� she sighed,
edging away and wishing he would shut up.�
�I won�t be able to make it.�
�That�s a pity,� the naval
man sighed ruefully.� �Good day, Miss.�
�Thank
goodness for that,� Celia thought, her words
echoing exactly what Jack was thinking at the same time.
�Pirates!�
Celia gasped as the shout
went up and bit down a cry of alarm as Jack, Jos�, Elliot, and Josia Phelps all
ran from their hiding place with a number of marines in pursuit, firing their
pistols as they gave chase and thankfully missing so far as she could see.� She sent up a swift prayer that Jack and the
others would be safe and then turned and made her way towards the town of Port
Royal and to the blacksmiths workshop where Jack had assured her she would find
shelter and help if the worst came to the worst.� �Well it
has now�� she thought, her heart still pounding with fear
as she walked along the lane.
�
�Hello, can I help you,
Madam?�
�Ah� erm, it�s Miss,
actually, and I hope so.�
�Is there something wrong?�
�Is it safe to talk?� Celia
enquired as she regarded the man before her, taking in his open expression and
dark brown eyes, which held a gentler look than her lovers did.
�Safe from whom?� he mused,
frowning and wondering who the young woman was and why she was so nervous.� �Are you in trouble?�
�Of sorts,� Celia admitted
ruefully.� �You are Will
Turner, aren�t you?�
�Yes��
�I need to get back to Jack
and the Black Pearl,� she gabbled quickly, only stopping when the
blacksmith started in surprise.� �We got
separated and I need to get to the cove but I don�t know the way��
�Whoa!� Hold on��
let�s start from the beginning, shall we, Miss�?�
�Sorry � Hammond, Celia
Hammond, I�m� with Jack��
�I see,� Will mused, nodding
slowly as he pondered whether asking what such an obviously well bred woman was
doing with such an irrepressible rogue as his friend, would be too forward of
him, disregarding the fact that most of the town thought exactly the same of he
and his wife.� �And just what is Jack
doing here?
�On a treasure hunt, of
sorts� the clues are on gravestones and I had to go and find the next clue in
the churchyard of Saint Paul�s��
�Saint Paul�s�?� Is he mad?�
No, don�t answer that!� Did he
know about the wedding?�
�Oh yes,� Celia sighed, �but
he thought that the treasure might be there and he didn�t want the Navy finding
it first.�
�So he sent you?� He�s unbelievable,� Will sighed.� �I�d better get you to Elizabeth � it�s be
too late to go to the cove now.�
�Oh� I suppose it will be,�
she frowned, biting her lip as she did.�
�I suppose you�re wondering why I�m with Jack?�
�Yes,� Will chuckled, �but
wait until I get you home then you can tell both of us.�
�
�Bloody hell!� Jack swore,
wiping sweat from his brow with the end of his bandana, glad to be securely
aboard his ship.� �You sure you saw
Celia walking away safely?� he demanded of Elliot Deane who was nursing a graze
on his shoulder.
�Aye,� he winced as Matthias
Swain applied a potion to it.� �She
definitely started walkin� towards th�town.�
�I just hope she finds Will�s
all right,� Jack worried, looking in the direction of the town.� �He won�t risk bringin� her tonight,� he
mused, mostly to himself.� �So we�ll put
guards along th�path before first light� no, we�ll put guards along th�path
tonight.� Gibbs arrange it.�
�Aye, captain,� the
quartermaster complied, going about his task immediately, and choosing men he
knew from experience would stay awake and more importantly, alert.
�Th�rest of th�ship will be
on watch on board, savvy?� Jack called out.�
�I am not riskin� th�bloody Navy findin� us here like sittin� ducks.�
�Shouldn�t�ve took th�chance
on goin� ashore now, then, should ya?� Adam Butler muttered darkly beneath his
breath and shooting his captain a withering look behind his back.
�Shut it!� Gabriel Jennings
hissed, shoving his erstwhile crewmate on the shoulder.� �Yer gob will land yer in trouble sooner or
later, an� I just hope it�s sooner.�
�Are you two bloody well
fighting again?� Jack snapped, glaring angrily at both of
them.� �Sort it out or I throw yer both
off, savvy?�
�Aye, Cap�n,� Gabriel
nodded.� �Bastard!� he hissed to Adam,
pushing past him roughly to volunteer for shore watch duties, knowing full well
that Butler wouldn�t go and most certainly wouldn�t be picked.
�
�My goodness!� I thought I had lead an eventful life!�
Elizabeth laughed as Celia finished recounting her story over supper.
�You have!� Will put in with
a rueful smile.� �So, what will you do
once you have repaid your debt?�
�I honestly don�t know,�
Celia shrugged, sated with plenty of good food and wine.� �I� I�m sorry,� she apologised as she
unsuccessfully stifled a yawn.� �It�s
been along day.�
�Of course it has, and you
have an early start in the morning,� Elizabeth smiled.� �I�ll show you to your room.�
�Thank you, you have been so
kind.�
�We�ll just chalk it up as another favour
Jack owes us,� the older woman winked.�
�At this rate, it will take all of his treasure to pay us back!�
�I�ll let you suggest
that to him!� Will chuckled.�
�Goodnight, Celia.�
�Goodnight, Will, and thanks
again.�
�You�re a friend of Jack�s
and therefore a friend of ours.� I�ll
see you before dawn.�
�Yes,� she sighed, rolling
her eyes as she exited the dining room with Elizabeth.
�I�ve got some breeches and a
shirt for you to wear.� It will save
ruining your dress.�
�Wha�?� All right,� Celia agreed uncertainly,
wondering if it would be too bold to ask why
the daughter of the Governor would need a shirt and
breeches.
�I find this life a little
stifling at times,� Elizabeth explained, knowing that the younger woman would
be too polite to ask the question that was obviously on her mind.� �Will and I take off in a small sloop which
we have.�
�A�?� I see�� Celia pondered.� �And your father doesn�t mind?�
�My father knows nothing
about it!� Elizabeth laughed.� �We
pretend we�re visiting friends but we sail away.� We met up with Jack once and spent our holiday on board the Pearl,
chasing ships.
�Goodness!� I�m boring and virtuous compared to you!�
Celia gasped, shaking her head in wonderment.�
�Doesn�t it concern you?�
�Leading a double life?� No, not really � it keeps me sane, and Will
too.� Here we are,� Elizabeth smiled,
pushing open the door to the guest room.�
�Sleep well, although I doubt you will in a comfortable bed.�
�I�ll sleep like a log,�
Celia assured her.� �I�ve dreamt of a
nice bed to sleep in for the past few years.�
�Hmm,� Elizabeth nodded knowingly.� �I�ll see you before you go in the morning.�
�Don�t get up on my account.�
�Will makes enough noise to
wake the dead,� she sighed, �so I will see you in the morning.�
�All right,� Celia
chuckled.� �Goodnight.�
�

�It is a little early to be
going to work, is it not, Mister Turner?�
And you�re not even heading in the right direction��
Both Will and Celia jumped at
the sound of the voice and Will tried to push Celia out of sight in a doorway
but to no avail.
�And just who is your
companion?�
�None of your business!� Will
snapped, grabbing Celia�s hand and trying to push past the guard.
�You are abroad before it is
even light and with a woman who is obviously not your wife - of course it is my
business,� the guard sneered.� �Now if
you�re not going to answer my question here then perhaps you will tell the
Commodore��
�I don�t think the Commodore
will thank you for bothering him with such trivialities the day before his
wedding,� Celia put in, icily.�
�Oh, but I think he will�
this way.�� Celia glanced at Will who
was trying desperately to think of a plausible story to offer Commodore
Norrington, whom he knew had always kept tabs on him in an effort to capture
Jack Sparrow, but up until now, he had never been successful and Will realised
that his options were few.
�I-I� was meeting a� friend,� Celia
blurted, looking sideways at Will and hoping he would play along.�
�And your friend is�?�
�I am not at liberty to say,�
she replied haughtily.� �Mister Turner
was escorting me back to where my horse is stabled so that I can get home
before light.�
�Hmmm,� the guard mused,
stopping and looking at her with a frown.�
�And your name is� or aren�t you at liberty to tell me that, either?�
�No,� she replied meekly, her
confidence evaporating under his scrutiny.�
�But Will doesn�t know who my friend is,� she added hurriedly.� �E-Elizabeth is a friend of mine and she
didn�t like the idea of me going through town unescorted.�� Oh Lord,
how are we going to bluff this?�
�Perhaps we should go and
wake Mistress Turner then, and ask her to verify your story��
�At least wait until dawn,�
Will pleaded.� �She is with child and I
don�t want her disturbed or upset.�
�Ah, so you can sire
children then,� the guard mocked cruelly, the fact that the young couple had
had no children in four years of marriage being the source of much discussion
and snide remarks in the town.
�You�!�
�Will, no!� Celia cried,
pushing herself between the two men as Will advanced on the marine.�� Don�t, he�s not worth it,� she soothed.
�Go!�
Celia shrieked with fright as
two figures hurled themselves towards the trio, one of them grabbing the marine
from behind and drawing his blade across the hapless man�s throat.
�Ta, Will,� came Gabriel
Jennings� voice through the darkness.�
�Th�Cap�n sent me an� Matty along ter meet yer � just as well, eh?�
�Indeed it is,� Will gasped
with relief.� �Things were looking a
little tricky��
�Y-you� k-killed him�� Celia
gulped, staring at the dark figure on the ground.�
�I had to,� Matthias Swain
reasoned.� �Would have been too thorny
fer Will an� �Lizabeth, otherwise.�
Talkin� of which, yer�d better get goin� Will � don�t want anyone seein�
yer around an� puttin� two an� two together, eh?�
�No,� Will breathed.� �Thanks, lads.�
�Couldn�t you have tied him
up or something?�
�Gawd, Miss Celia,� Gabriel
sighed acerbically.� �He�d still have
been able ter talk once he woke up again��
�I suppose he would,� she
replied sadly, crossing herself and offering a silent prayer for the soul of
the guard.� �Thank you, Will, although I
almost wish I had never come to you for help, now.�
�I�m very glad you did,� the
blacksmith stated firmly.� �And we will
be more than pleased to help you out again if ever you need it, all right?�
�But��
�All
right?� he demanded gently.
�All right,� Celia conceded,
reaching out to give Will a peck on the cheek.�
�Give my love to Elizabeth � oh, and congratulations!�
�Thank you,� Will
chuckled.� �I�d best be going before it
gets light.� Goodbye, Celia.�
�Goodbye, Will, and thanks
again.�� Celia walked away, sandwiched
between the two pirates as they left their friend and the stricken guard and
headed towards a path, which led, eventually, to the cove in which their ship
was waiting for them.
�
�Come on� come on�� Jack
muttered, peering through the dark along the path and praying that his crewmen
and his lover would appear soon.� He
frowned, not certain whether he had heard a noise or not before shaking his
head and deciding that he hadn�t.�
�Where are you?�
�Aw!� Celia yelped quietly as
she stubbed her toe on a large stone sticking out of the ground.� �How can you know where you are going?�
�Practise,� Gabriel informed
her in a world-weary tone.� �Gawd knows,
we�ve used this trail often enough��
�Aye,� Matty agreed as he
traipsed along behind Celia but not so close that he would be caught unawares
if she fell.
�Wait...�� Gabriel stopped and cocked an ear, positive
that he had heard something.� �Cap�n?�
he whispered loudly.�
�About bloody time!� came
Jack�s drawl from the darkness.� �Celia
with you?�
�Yes,� she gasped, relief at
hearing his voice, flooding through her.�
�Will and Elizabeth put me up for the night.�
�That�s another one I owe
them,� he chuckled, his voice drawing ever closer.�
�Elizabeth said it will take
all of your treasure to pay them back the favours you owe,� Celia chuckled, her
horror of what had happened earlier dissipating with the relief of being safe
once more.
�I�ll bet she did,� Jack
growled but without malice.� �No
problems?� he asked his men.
�Aye, there was,� Matthias
Swain told him.� �A bleedin� marine had
stopped �em, an� they were about ter be escorted ter th�fort, but me an� Gab
jumped him.�
�Dead?�
�As a doornail,� Matthias
laughed.
�Will it affect Will an�
Lizzie?� Jack demanded, �there was no-one around, was there?�
�Nah,� Gabriel replied.� �Miss Celia was just startin� a story about
how she was visitin� a friend in town an� that Will was takin� her back to her
horse
�A friend, eh?�
Jack teased, peering at the young woman in the gloomy light.�
�It�s all I could think
of.� Exactly how long were you two there
for?� Celia asked her two rescuers.
�We were about ter come out
an� greet yer an� Will but the marine beat us to it,� Matty laughed as he
started off down the path once more, eager to get back to the ship and his
bunk.
�I just hope they don�t
connect you ter me, or worse, to th�Turners,� Jack mused as she took Celia by
the arm and led her along the track, as eager as his doctor to reach the ship,
but to get as far away from Jamaica as possible in as quick a time as he could.
�Well what else would you
have me say?� Celia insisted.� �If you
hadn�t made me come and look for the damned gravestone in the first place, none
of this would have happened!� Besides,
you�re the one who told me to find the blacksmith if there was trouble � well there
was!� You got yourselves discovered!�
�That�s enough!� Jack
snapped, angry with her for voicing what he had been scolding himself with
since the previous afternoon.
�Pardon me,� she sniped,
pulling her arm away from his grasp.�
�But if you really cared for your friends, you wouldn�t do this to
them.�
�No,� Jack agreed with a
sigh.� �It�s one more reason fer
Norrington ter watch them closely.� I�ll
write ter Elizabeth an� see if I can persuade them ter move this time.�
�If yer do, it�ll have ter be
soon � she�s expectin�,� Matthias grinned.
�Eh?� Jack gasped.� �You�re jokin�?� Bloody hell!� he chuckled delightedly, his joy tempered by the
additional worry that Elizabeth might lose this child as she had two others previously.� �Maybe I should�?�
�No!� both crewmen exploded together.� �Cap�n, there�s redbacks at every turn an�
will be even more once that one is discovered.�
It�s far too dangerous,� Matty reasoned, hoping he would be
not involved in another rescue of his, at times, reckless captain.�
�I suppose so,� Jack sighed,
his brow creased with worry for his good friends.
�Cap�n?� Is Celia with you?� the dark figure of
Joshamee Gibbs called from the gloom of the beach.
�Aye, all present an�
correct,� Jack replied, casting a glance at the quiet woman beside him.� �You all right, luv?�
�If things are so dangerous
for Will and Elizabeth, why did you have me go to them for help?�
�Because I was cocky enough
ter think we wouldn�t be discovered,� he admitted with a rueful shrug.� �Sorry, luv.� But Will an� Elizabeth love this sort of thing happenin�,� he
added brightly, chuckling to himself as he remember just some of the adventures
he and his supposedly respectable friends had had over the past five years.
�I hope they�ll be all
right,� Celia fretted, biting her lip.�
�I really hope so��
�Celia, pet, it�s good to see
you safe and well,� Joshamee smiled as they reached him and Josia Phelps,
keeping watch on the ships boat beached on the soft sand of the cove.
�Thank you,� she replied
wearily, accepting his help into the boat and feeling her way to the bench at
the bow.
�So, did yer find anythin� in
th�graveyard?� Josia enquired as he and Gabriel picked up the oars.
�Yes,� she nodded, although
they couldn�t see the action in the darkness.�
�It�s the church of Saint Dunstan in Tortuga.�
�What?� Jack exploded inside his head, a cold feeling of
dread creeping over him as he remembered ordering Gabriel and Oliver to destroy
the church to prevent her from endangering herself by walking to and from it at
night � or even during the day.�
�T-Tortuga�� he repeated, glad she couldn�t see his reaction.� �Fancy that��
�How do you know, pet?�
Joshamee asked.
�It had a blindfolded man
working at an anvil, and the blacksmith that used to come and shoe the horses
at the convent would always go and pray to Saint Dunstan in our chapel and he
told me that he was the saint of smiths and the blind,� the young woman
explained.
�Which means it�s probably
long been discovered,� Matty sighed.�
�So much fer our treasure hunt.�
�No harm in lookin�, although
we�ll have ter move all th�rubble � it had collapsed th�last time I saw it,�
Gabriel reasoned, thinking it best to keep quiet about what he and his
erstwhile crewmate had done.
�An� have th�whole of Tortuga
wondering what we�re bloody well up to an� then havin� ter fight them all off
if we do discover somethin�,� Jack snapped, not quite
believing that fate had managed to kick him in the teeth so successfully.
�The treasure, if there is any,
might not be buried there�� Celia put in.
�Oh, I�ll bet th�whole of
Isla de Muerta that it is,� came her lover�s heated response.� �What better hidin� place than underneath
th�noses of some of th�most feared pirates in th�Spanish Main?�
�Well, Cap�n�� Gabriel began,
unsure as to his captain�s reaction to what he was going to suggest.� �Ya could always pretend that yer goin� ter
re-build th�church��
�Eh?�
�Or you could actually
re-build it!� Celia burst out excitedly.
�Whoa!� Hold yer horses, young lady,� Jack replied
worriedly.� �I�m not re-buildin� th�bloody
thing.�
�Why not?� And kindly don�t swear when referring to a
church.�
�Why not?� Well, fer one, it was dangerous fer you to
be goin� to and fro.� Two, what�s
th�point?� It didn�t fall into disrepair
fer no reason.� Three, it would take too
long an� once we get th�treasure, I intend being as far away from Tortuga as
possible.� Four��
�All right, all right,� Celia
sighed.� �It was worth a try, I
suppose.�
�Pretend ter re-buil�d
th�church�?� Jack mused, stroking his braids as he considered the idea.� �It�d mean a bit of ribbin� from th�other
pirates over my feelings fer Celia�� he pondered, talking more to himself
than anyone in the boat and he did not notice Celia start at his words.
�What
does he mean, feelings?� she
thought with horror.� �Does it mean he has no feelings for me at all?� Or maybe it�s just that he doesn�t want to admit them in
public�?�
�Captain approaching,�
Joshamee called out, breaking the young woman�s reverie, as they neared the
hull of the Black
Pearl.
�Celia an� all?� Elliot
called out from the deck.
�Aye, Celia an� all,� Gabriel
replied as he tossed the mooring line up.�
�So get th�chair rigged, yer lazy bastards!�
�Pot, kettle an� black,�
someone else on board mocked as the sound of the bosun�s chair being made ready
could be heard from the boat.
�Sails!� another voice
cried.� �I see sails!�
�Shit,� Jack swore, fumbling
about in the gloomy pre-dawn for a rope and climbing up swiftly to the deck of
his ship, cursing once more as the opposing ship fired, which fell thankfully
short. ��Everyone on board as quick as
yer like,� he barked.� �Loose all sail
an� man th�guns.� Celia, in my cabin an�
cover yourself.�
�All right,� she squeaked as
her feet hit the deck running.
�Navy!� the watchman
called.� �It�s th�cursed Navy!�
�Of course it is,� Jack
sighed, shaking his head at the obvious statement.� �It ain�t goin� ter be anyone else this close ter Port bloody
Royal, is it?� he muttered darkly.�
�When you�re ready, Mister Frazer.�
�Just let �em get a little
closer, Cap�n,� the master gunner called in reply.
�Not too damned�� Jack did
not finish his sentence as the Pearl rocked and keeled as her long nines boomed,
filling the air with noise and smoke, and Jack could hear Thomas Frazer urging
his men to reload as quickly as they could and the pirate ship rocked again,
both from the force of her guns firing once more and the force of the naval
ships balls slamming into her.�
�Damage?�
�Lost number three gun,� the
Scotsman yelled by return.� �Come on,
damn yer eyes,� he barked to the remaining men.� �Have at �em!�
�All available men to
th�guns,� Jack ordered.� �Go on, Burford
� I�ll take th�helm.�
�Aye, Cap�n,� the helmsman
nodded, yielding the helm to his captain and running to man one of the cannons
at the stern.
�Kill th�bastards!� Jack
bellowed.� �Hammer them!�� I hope
Celia�s all right,� a small part of his mind
worried and he winced as another round of shot crashed into his beloved ship.
Celia cowered on the side
cabin deck, beneath the scant covering she had managed to grab before the hostilities
started, and prayed hard.� Even with her
limited knowledge of sea matters, she knew that they were in deep trouble,
trapped in the cove with precious little room for manoeuvre.� �Oh Lord,
let Jack be all right.�� She screamed loudly as the stern of the main cabin burst out in a
cacophony of shattered glass and splintering wood and pulled the covers around
her even tighter, in a futile effort to protect herself.
�Shit!� Burford, take th�helm back,� Jack roared,
grabbing a rope and tying the wheel steady as he ran down the steps and into
his cabin.� �Celia?�� His heart stopped then sank as he saw the
destruction.
�I-I�m here,� she replied
timidly.� �Oh, Jack��
�Sorry, luv, but you�re goin�
ter have ter stay where you are � it�s safer, believe it or not.�
�Be careful.�
�I�ll try.�� Jack turned on his heel and sped back out
and up to the helm once more, grasping the railings as the Pearl rocked
to and fro under the onslaught.�
�Frazer?�
�Bring us about, Cap�n, then
we can use all th�port guns.�
�Bring us about?� Jack
repeated incredulously, looking around the tiny cove, made smaller still by
Will and Elizabeth�s sloop anchored, nestling against the cliff tops.� �As you wish, Mister Frazer�� He barked out orders for sail to be reduced
and the starboard sweeps to be deployed and slowly but surely, the pirate ship
began to turn on her axis, the cannons on deck still bombarding the naval
ship.� �Which ship is it?� he called to
his men.
�Th�Britannia,� Adam
Butler called.� �That�d be Gillette,
Cap�n.�
�So it would be,� Jack smiled
grimly to himself, grateful it was not the, in his opinion, more skilled
Theodore Groves, who was captain of the Dauntless.� He braced
himself when he knew that they were now in a good position to fire a broadside
at the Britannia, wishing there was some way of warning Celia what
was about to come.
Celia froze, too frightened
to even breathe as the whole world exploded and part of her was convinced that
she had died and this was what hell was like.�
The ringing in her ears continued for some time but Celia eventually
became aware that the gunfire had all but ceased, and she chanced getting up
creakily from her crouched position and making her way carefully across to
where the stern windows had once been, peering out into the dawn and gasping at
the sight of the naval ship, her main mast snapped like a twig and the rigging
all torn and tangled.� She barely had
time to react as another volley boomed from the Britannia and she threw herself back, shrieking as the deck
below her rumbled and groaned and then roared as the pirate ship fired back,
again and again, beating her opponents into submission until at last, a white
flag was waved on the deck of the naval ship, signalling their surrender.
Jack yielded the helm back to
Myles Burford and went down the steps, striding along the main deck and
surveying the damage to his ship with a worried frown.� �I hope ter God th�Dauntless isn�t
along th�coast waitin� ter finish us off,� he muttered.
�I doubt it,� Matthias Swain
sighed, mopping a cut on his forehead.�
�They wouldn�t have left them ter their fate,� he said, jerking his head
in the direction of the stricken ship.
�Nah, I suppose not,� his
captain agreed.� �But let�s hope they�re
far enough away that we can get back ter Tortuga safely, eh?�
�Aye, however long that�ll
take,� the ship�s doctor fretted, shaking his head sadly.� �I have men ter attend��
�Let me know how bad when yer
have time � I�ll send Celia down ter you.�
�Ta, Cap�n.�
Jack leaned over the port
rail, facing the wrecked Britannia, and waited until someone spotted him.� �I want ter speak ter Captain Gillette,� he
called across.
�The captain is dead,� a
marine replied.� �I�ll fetch the First
Lieutenant.�
�Dead?� Hmm.�� You will let us through,� he instructed the
First Lieutenant when he arrived at the starboard rail of the ship, �or suffer
th�consequences.�
�We will let you through,�
the naval officer agreed heavily, having seen too much death and destruction to
want any more of it that day.� �But if I
ever see your ship again, Sparrow, I will not rest until you are in Davy Jones�
locker.�
�Promises, promises,� Jack
taunted, suppressing a shudder at the mention of the sea devil who had so very
nearly had his soul.� �All able men to
th�sweeps, th�rest of you � repair th�riggin� an� sails,� he ordered, doing a
double take when he saw Celia hovering nearby.�
�You�re not hurt, are you?�
�N-no,� she stammered, tears
welling in her eyes.� �J-just��
�Hey, I know,� he
soothed.� �It�s over now, eh?� Go an� help Matty, there�s a good girl.�
�All right,� she sighed,
wanting more reassurance from him, but at the same time knowing she would not
get it, for a time at least.
�

Five days later
�Port ho!�
�Thank
goodness for that!� Celia sighed to herself,
wanting nothing more than to feel firm ground beneath her feet after the trauma
of the last few days - the constant worry that the Navy would catch them up as
they ran running repairs to the ship as they limped towards the pirate haven,
and the burial at sea of nine crewmen, including Jos� Santos, which had upset
her deeply.�
�You all set fer facin�
Aggie?� came Jack�s voice, breaking her reverie.
�Are you, more to the point?�
she chuckled, wagging her finger at him as he crossed the cabin to where she
was sitting and sewing an old coat of his.�
�She won�t believe that you didn�t force yourself on me.�
�So you�ll have ter convince
her then, won�t ya?�
�Maybe�� she mused, a spark
of devilry glinting in her eyes.� �Or
maybe not��
�Do you want me ter punish
you?� Jack warned with mock severity.
�Perhaps,� Celia teased,
smiling coyly at him.� �It depends on
the punishment.�
�Bloody hell, woman!� Do you realise what statements like that do
ter me?� he growled, pulling her to her feet and into his arms.
�Cap�n!� Ah, sorry,� Gabriel Jennings apologised as
he backed out of the cabin which he had burst into with a cursory knock.
�Knock louder next time,
Mister Jennings!� Jack snapped angrily.�
�What?�
�Ah, umm, th�Nymph�s in � I
reckon Abe Curzon would be interested in what we�ve got.�
�An� that couldn�t have
waited?�
�Yes, Cap�n, sorry, Cap�n,
Miss Celia��
�You shouldn�t be so hard on
them� Celia chided once the crewman had vacated the cabin.
�So you don�t mind if they
burst in on us?� he retorted with a shake of the head.� �They have ter learn ter respect our
privacy, savvy?�
�Yes, Jack��
�An� don�t �yes Jack� me in
that tone of voice, or I will punish yer��
�No, Jack��
�Celia�� he growled with a
grin.� �Yer lucky we�re almost in port
an� I have things ter do.�
�Well off you go then and I
might be able to finish this coat for you.�
�Aye, Cap�n Hammond!� he
teased, saluting smartly before turning on his heel and marching from the
cabin, the sound of her laughter ringing in his ears.
�
�Yer did what?!�
Aggie exploded, staring across the rickety table in the middle of the only room
in her house.� �Yer� fool!�
�Why?� Celia fretted,
surprised at the force of her friends anger.�
�I can�t help how I feel about him.�
�Didn�t mean yer had ter give
yourself t�him.� Bloody hell, girl!�
�Well I�m sorry I
disappointed you!� Celia sniped, standing and pushing past her friend, making
to go out of the door.
�Cee � wait!� Look, I�m sorry.� It�s just such a shock, that�s all.� Yer come back after nearly two months an� I find that Jack and
Mouse have fallen out over yer an� Mouse is now gawd knows where, an� yer�ve
opened yer legs fer a bleedin� pirate!�
He won�t feel th�same f�yer, y�know � they never do.�
�I know,� Celia replied in a
small voice, tears welling in her eyes.�
�But I couldn�t resist� it was hard!�
�Obviously,� Giselle remarked
dryly from where they had thought she was sleeping in her cot.
�Shut yer gob!� Aggie
snapped.� �Yer sure he didn�t force or
charm �is way into yer knickers?�
�Quite sure,� Celia nodded,
blinking her eyes.� �It was my decision
and not one I took lightly� well, too lightly.�
�We�ll make a whore of yer
yet!� Giselle cackled which turned into a shriek as Aggie threw a pitcher at
the cot.� �Cow!�
�Takes one ter know one!�
�The thing is,� Celia interrupted,
�I may need some of what you take to stop from getting� you know��
�With child?� Giselle
finished for her.� �Too late, I
reckon.� I can imagine th�number of
times Jack must�ve had yer over th�last two months.�
�What?� Celia exploded, looking to Aggie for reassurance
and finding none.
�She�s right, fer once,� the
red haired whore shrugged.� �Yer need
ter take it as yer doin� it, so ter speak.�
Although if yer are pregnant, th�stuff can get rid of it fer ya.�
�You mean kill the
baby?� Celia gulped, looking aghast.�
�I-I couldn�t��
�Celia� Jack ain�t goin� ter
be stickin� around � he�s a pirate��
�An� Cap�n Jack Sparrer ter
boot,� Giselle added.� �Ain�t no ties
known ter womankind that would bind him.�
�B-but� oh, what am I going
to do?� Celia worried, tears springing to her eyes.
�Take th�potion,� Aggie
suggested.� �An� keep some with yer at
all times.� Didn�t Jack say anythin�
about preventin� a babe?�
�N-no,� the young woman
sniffled, wiping her eyes on the sleeve of her dress.� �And I never gave it a thought, until��
�Until you realised yer
hadn�t had a bleed,� Giselle put in, sitting up in her cot.� �Ah, bloody hell,� she sighed, rolling her
eyes at Aggie.
�Look,� Aggie reasoned, �it
ain�t like it�s a baby until it�s born, eh?�
So yer can�t be killin� it if yer take th�potion.�
�It is a life and was as soon
as conception took place!� Celia wailed, burying her face in her hands and
sobbing.
�Yer don�t half get yerself
into some scrapes,� Giselle remarked, getting up from the bunk and crossing
over to the crying woman and placing a sympathetic hand on her shoulder.� �Maybe Jack will support yer��
�You think so?� Celia asked,
her head snapping up and she looked at the blonde whore with hope shining in
her eyes.� �Or maybe he will be pleased
to have a child � his offspring!� I
should go and tell him.�
�Whoa!� Hold yer horses!� Haven�t yer heard a word we�ve been sayin�?�
�But you don�t understand,
I�ve seen a different side to Jack,� Celia implored, �I�m sure he will not cast
me aside.�� She sprang to her feet and
hurried from the small house before either of her friends could say anything.
�She�s settin� up fer a
fall,� Giselle observed, shaking her head.�
�He ain�t goin� ter be tied down by a woman whether she�s havin� his
child or not.�
�I know,� Aggie fretted.� �I should go after her an� stop her.�
�Nah � she�s got ter find out
sometime, might as well be sooner��
�
Celia hesitated before
pushing open the door to the Faithful Bride and blanched at the noise, smoke
and smell that hit her all at the same time.�
She glanced around worriedly, trying to avoid the lecherous stares of
the men inside the infamous tavern.
�Oi!� Celia!�
Over here!�
�Elliot,� she breathed
gratefully as she made her way over to where he was waving his good arm frantically.� �Thanks goodness you�re here.�
�As am I�� Jack drawled,
hastily pushing a whore off his lap.�
�What are you doin� in here?�
�Erm� Aggie and Giselle will
be working soon, so I thought I�d, erm� come and tell you I�ll be going back to
the ship,� she gabbled, biting her lip to stop herself from bursting into
tears.� �He
was going to go with a whore,� she
thought, biting harder on her lip.
�All right,� Jack
nodded.� �I�ll take yer back, savvy?�
�T-thank you,� she smiled,
her heart soaring again.
�Ah, Mish Shelia��
Celia smiled ruefully at the
sight of Gabriel Jennings, more than a little inebriated, and she went to push
past him.
�Ain�t it funny?� he slurred,
catching her arm and preventing her from moving.� �What we destroy � we re-build�� he giggled, weaving alarmingly.
�Pardon?�
�Th�ch� church � Cap�n an� me
destroyed it, an� Cap�n an� me�ll build it again��
�Come on, lass,� Jack
growled, taking her arm and pulling her away from his drunken crewman.� �Let�s get yer back��
�You destroyed the church?� she enquired in an icy
tone.� �You did, didn�t you?� You� bastard!� she spat, slapping him hard.� �How dare you!�
�An� just what do you think
would have happened if you�d continued ter walk th�streets of Tortuga at night,
eh?� Jack snapped, angry with his secret being found out and angry that the
whole of the tavern had fallen silent and was hanging on to every word of the
argument.
�Nothing as it happens,�
Celia retorted, �for Stockton took me the following day, so your desecration
was in vain, Captain Sparrow!��
She snatched her arm from his grasp and shoved two other men aside, who
were blocking her way to the door.�
�Don�t follow me!� I don�t wish
for your company.�
�Fine,� came the riposte and
Jack stood in the middle of the floor, watching as his lover flounced from the
bar, wondering if he should swallow his pride and go after her.
�Sh-shorry, Cap�n,� Gabriel
said, a hangdog look on his face.�
�Didn�t mean��
�Forget it, Jennings,� Jack
snarled, storming over to the bar and ordering a bottle of their finest rum,
intent on drowning his sorrows.
�
�I
can�t believe it,� Celia thought in horror as
she fled down the streets of Tortuga, not knowing where she was going, but
knowing she did not want to go to Aggie and Giselle�s � not yet awhile.� She found herself at the ruined church and
her sobs started afresh as the full realisation of what Jack had done, hit her,
and she sank to her knees, burying her face in her hands, wondering as she
cried, just how she was ever going to forgive him for what he had done.
�
�Captain� yer not goin� ter
like this��
�So sod off,� Jack growled,
wincing as his head pounded viciously thanks to the large amount of rum he had
drunk the previous night.
�There�s a whole gang of
pirates up at th�church� it seems Miss Celia has told th�whole town there might
be treasure buried there�� Matthias
Swain backed away as Jack jumped to his feet, his face black with anger.
�I�m goin� ter bloody well
kill her!� he threatened; grabbing his effects from the floor of the room
someone had hauled him in to the previous night.� �Where is she?�
�That�s th�thing, Cap�n �
nobody knows.� No-one�s seen her since
last night, not even Aggie.�
�She can�t have gone far,�
Jack glowered, tying his sword belt around his waist at the second time of
asking and ramming his hat on his head, an action that he immediately regretted
as the self-inflicted pain intensified.
�We�ve been searchin�
th�whole mornin�, Cap�n,� the ship�s doctor explained, backing away again as
his captain advanced on him.
�All morning?� What th�hell time is it an� why wasn�t I
woken earlier?�
�It�s three bells of
th�afternoon watch, an� some of us have tried ter wake yer, but��
�Da?� Peter Swain�s voice
called from the corridor outside.�
�Mister Gibbs says� some pouches
have gone missin� from th�cap�n�s cabin��
�She�s gone too damned far!�
Jack roared, his anger overcoming the pain.
�She might say th�same about
yer,� Matty reasoned.� �Do we continue
ter look fer her?�
�Aye, an� I�ll be joinin�
you!�
�
Celia gulped as she looked at
herself in the hand glass she had taken from the private head of Jack�s cabin,
running her hand over her closely cropped head and then looking down at the
pile of hair pooled around her feet.� She
blinked back tears and shook herself physically and mentally before reluctantly
putting the glass down on the floor of the derelict house she had holed up in,
and checking herself over, adjusting the binding which she had wound around her
breasts, where it cut into her, and praying that she would pass for a lad, or
boy, at least.� With a deep breath,
Celia vacated the building, glancing furtively around to make sure she had not
been spotted, and squatted down, picking up some dirt and rubbing it into her
face and hair and over her clothes before hurrying towards the docks, where
there were a number of small boats and sloops in the harbour that had come to
trade with the pirates, and she hoped that she would be able to find passage on
one of them.� �You must be mad,� a
voice inside her head chided.� �That is not the worst thing anyone has ever done and he
did it out of concern for you, even before you had given yourself to him.� Don�t do this�� But her
chin jutted out and a steely glint flashed in her eyes as she looked at which
might be the best option to try her luck, before deciding on a small fishing
sloop, with women working on board, as well as men.
�Excuse me,� she called,
deciding not to try and disguise her voice and having to remember to keep up
the pretence.� Peter Swain had a high
voice and she hoped that hers would sound similar.� �Are.. yer lookin� fer workers.�� I must
talk the way they do, though,� she
belatedly thought.
�Yer wantin� work?� a man on
board enquired, looking at her with hands on hips.�
�Ye� aye.�
�Can yer gut an� fillet
fish?�
�Oh
no�� I-I�m a
quick learner��
�Go on, Abe,� one of the
women urged.� �We need some more help
an� yer know it.�
�It�s hard work,� Abe warned,
turning his attention back to Celia.�
�Ya up to it?�
�Oh yeah,� she nodded
eagerly.� �Ain�t ever been afraid of
�ard work.�
�That�s our boat there,� he
nodded, indicating a small rowing boat moored to the quayside.� �Yer�ll have ter row yerself over.�
�A-all right,� Celia replied
hesitantly, climbing down the steps and into the boat, picking up the oars and
hoping it would be as easy as it appeared to be when the crew of the Black Pearl rowed
her.� �The
Pearl,� she thought sadly, looking across at the dark
ship and biting her lip.� �I can�t go back, not after what he did� besides, Aggie
and Giselle were right, he�d never want to be tied down with me and a baby�� She
dragged her attention back to the task in hand and began pulling on the oars,
gasping with shock at how hard it was, but in order to keep up the pretence of
being an able lad, she gritted her teeth and continued to pull until the boat
knocked against the hull of the Merry
Dancer.
�What�s yer name, boy?� Abe
asked, grabbing the mooring line as Celia threw it up.
�S-Simon,� she replied,
grabbing a rope ladder and climbing up with more confidence than she felt.
�What ship yer from, Simon?�
�I-I haven�t worked on a ship
f-fer a while,� Celia lied.� �Been
livin� on th�streets.�
�Cor!� Yer look a bag of bones, lad,� one of the
women smiled kindly.� �I�m Mary � Abe�s
wife, an� this is me sister, Betsy.�
�Nice ter meet yer,� Celia
replied, chancing a small smile.� �Where
d�yer want me ter start?�
�That�s what I like ter
hear!� Abe laughed, the sound booming across the deck.� �Yer can swab th�decks, if ya like � that�ll
keep yer occupied until we�re ready ter sail.�
�When will yer be sailin�?�
�High tide,� the captain of
the Merry Dancer replied over his shoulder as he went below.
�Can�t wait,� Mary sighed
before Celia had chance to wonder when high tide was.� �I hate comin� ter this place � scares th�bejaysus out of me.�
�Me too,� Celia agreed with a
rueful smile as she picked up a pail and hauled it over the side to draw up
some water to begin her task.� �Me too��
�
Jack pushed his hat back and
scratched his head through the bandana.�
He and his crew had been searching for three hours and no-one had come
up with any sign of his errant lover.�
He glanced at Joshamee Gibbs who shrugged his shoulders in return, and
then along the street, frowning as he heard someone shouting excitedly.
�Cap�n!� Thank gawd I�ve found yer,� Elliot panted as
he rounded a corner, holding up his hand in which he clasped a hank of
hair.� �I reckon this is Celia�s.�
Jack took the hair off his
crewman and stared at it, his frown deepening.�
�Bloody hell!� he eventually swore, casting the hair to the ground and
spinning around.� �To th�dock�s!�
�Eh?� Joshamee queried as he
followed, albeit at a much slower pace than the young and fitter man.
�She�s disguised herself an�
that only means one thing � she�s goin� ter take off!�
�Oh no,� the portly man
groaned, trying to find an extra burst of speed from somewhere.� �I hope it�s not too late��
�High tide is� around about
now!� Jack called, the realisation giving him more haste and he ran as fast as
his legs would take him to the docks of the pirate town.
�But, Cap�n,� Elliot gasped
as he struggled to keep pace with Jack, owning to his injury.� �We ain�t got enough men on board ter sail �
an� gawd knows where th�rest of them are � it�d take all night ter round everyone
up again.� B�sides� th�ship ain�t in any
fit state ter sail.�
Jack turned his head and
glared at the younger man, cross with him for pointing out the obvious, but at
the same time praying that by some chance, his entire crew would be waiting at
the quayside and that his ship would be miraculously repaired.� He skidded to a halt as he reached the
wharf, throwing his hands up in despair as he watched four vessels making their
way towards the natural mouth of the harbour and out to the open ocean.� �Celia!� he called, cupping his hands around
his mouth.� �Celia!�
�I�ll go an� see who I can
find,� Elliot offered, making to run towards the town until stopped by his
captain�s raised hand.
�No point,� Jack sighed
despondently.� �By th�time you�ve found
enough of them, they could be well away an� probably goin� in different
directions, knowin� my luck��
�But it�s worth a try,
Cap�n!� the younger man protested.�
�Ain�t it�?�
�All right, lad,� Jack
nodded, forcing a smile.� �Go an� see
who yer can find�� He waited until
Elliot had gone from earshot before sighing deeply once more, staring at the
three remaining boats still in the harbour, the fourth already having made her
way out of the mouth.� �Bloody hell,
Gibbs��
�I hate to say it, Jack��
�Well don�t!� the pirate
captain snapped.� �I know what I ordered
Fernan an� Burford ter do was wrong, but I did it ter protect her, savvy?�
�I know,� the quartermaster
replied with a sigh.� �She might not be
on board one of those boats.�
�Why else would she disguise
herself, eh?� I wonder if Aggie knows
where she�s goin�?�� Jack pushed past
Gibbs and sped in the direction of the two whore�s house, hoping against hope
that they would know of Celia�s plans.�
�Aggie,� he panted, pushing open the door to the ramshackle house
without knocking first.� �Where�s
Celia?�
�Bloody hell, Sparrow!� the
red haired woman shrieked as she pushed Abraham Curzon off her and grabbed a
coverlet, hoisting it to her chin.
�Thanks a bunch, Jack!�
Curzon growled, hauling his breeches up and shooting him a dire look as he
stormed from the house, slamming the door so hard that the walls shook.
�What th�fuck d�yer mean,
�where�s Celia�?� What�s happened,
Jack?� she asked, a warning tone in her voice.�
�What yer done ter her�?�
�Oh shit,� Jack murmured,
sitting heavily on a chair and running his hands across his face as
hopelessness and fatigue washed over him.�
�She�s gone, an� yes, it�s all my fault��
�Yer know she thought she was
pregnant�?�
�What?!� he exploded, thinking that things could not get
any worse if they possibly tried.� �Damn you, you bloody fool!� he cursed himself.�� I have ter try an� find her,� he lamented, knowing full well
that it was futile.�
�

Five months later
Celia winced as a drunkard
barged into her and she placed a protective hand on her swollen belly, smiling
to herself as she felt the child kick in response.� She stopped to ease her back, placing the basket of food on the
ground as she did.� The coins that she
had stolen from Jack�s cabin had been enough to tide her over, and with the
work that she did, taking in laundry and sewing in the town of Grand Turk,
meant that she was better off than most women would be in her position.� Celia stooped to pick the basket up again,
crying in alarm as someone else pushed into her and grabbed the basket from her
hand.� �Stop!� Thief!� she called, trying her best to run after the robber, but
her bulk made it difficult.� �Oh�� she
sighed, throwing her hands up.� �Now I have to go all the way home and come all the way
back again �and before it gets dark.�� She started on her way again, despondency
settling on her like a cloak as she trudged along the track, the rains from a
storm the previous day making the way muddy and at times treacherously
slippery.
�Celia?� a voice called.� �Dear God, is that you?�
�What...?� she gasped,
whirling around and looking at the speaker, her eyes going wide in
astonishment.� �Oliver�?�
�What in th�world�?� Oh, yer�� he glanced down at her belly.� �Is it�?�
Sorry, none of my business.�
�Oliver?� she repeated
incredulously.� �What are you doing
here?�
�Me ship docked this mornin�
� gawd, I can�t believe it�s yer.�
�Likewise,� she replied,
still dazed at the chance meeting.�
�Yes, it is, and yes, it is,� she shrugged, belatedly replying to his
many questions.� �Why don�t you come
back to my house and we can catch up on all that�s happened?�
�I�d love ter,� he grinned,
offering her his arm.� �Ah, th�Cap�n
ain�t�?�

�No, I� left
him.� I found out that he destroyed, or
at least he had, the church in Tortuga destroyed.� I� ran away,� she confessed, not adding that
she had berated herself ever since for being hasty and foolhardy, now realising
that he had done it for her.
�Ah�� Oliver nodded,
wondering if she knew his part in it .�
�She wouldn�t be so friendly
towards yer if she knew,� he reasoned to
himself.� �It looks like we�ve got a
fair bit of catchin� up ter do, eh?�
�Indeed it does,� Celia
smiled.� �You first.�
�Ah, well� I dunno if
th�cap�n told yer what happened � he did?�
Ah� well, I found myself a berth on board th�Jester at Saint Marta an� have been with them ever since,
although th�cap�n�s a right bas� sod.�
�I�m glad you weren�t hurt or
anything.� I�m sorry for, you know��
�Me too,� he smiled
ruefully.� �Should�ve kept me big mouth shut
an� me feelings ter myself.� Are yer
with� anyone else, like?�
�No,� Celia replied, shaking
her head sadly.� There had been one of
two men interested in her when she first arrived in Grand Turk, despite her
closely cropped hair, but as soon as her belly started to swell, all suitors
had melted away, leaving her with just a cat for company.
�I see,� he replied brightly,
desperately hoping he did not sound too eager.�
�So what happened ter ye after Saint Marta?�
�Oh, goodness,� she breathed,
clinging on to him as she almost slipped.�
�I think it might be best to wait until we�re safely inside � oh!� she
groaned, suddenly remembering her stolen basket.� �I will have to go back to town straight away.� Some bastard stole my food.�
�Ah, bloody hell.� I�ll see yer home then go an� fetch yer some
more � save yer havin� ter go out again, eh?�
�Oh, I couldn�t ask you to do
that, Oliver.�
�Yer didn�t, I offered,� the
Irishman grinned.� �An� I doubt anyone
would try an� steal food from me!�
�No,� she chuckled, feeling
glad of having a friendly face and someone to talk to.� �How long will you be staying?�
�That depends.�
�On what?� Are you stopping for supplies or business?�
�Supplies, but I might be
lookin� fer another berth.�
�Why?� Celia enquired, looking
sideways at him.
�Why d�yer think, Celia, me
darlin�?� My feelings f�yer haven�t
changed.�
�Oh� I see��
�So � is there a chance?�
�I don�t know,� she admitted,
coming to a stop and regarding him.�
�Wouldn�t you be worried that I might say yes just to secure a future
for me and my child � Jack�s child?�
�That�s a risk worth takin�,
in my opinion,� he shrugged, cupping her face with his hands.� �An� I don�t mind bringin� th�babe up as my
own.� Cap�n Sparrow is a good man � it was
just unfortunate that I happened ter love yer as well.�
�I-I�� Celia gulped, tears
welling in her eyes at the generosity of his statement and she found herself
nodding her head, a squeal of surprise being stifled by his lips closing on
hers.
�
The End
The story continues in New
Beginnings � Ani.
- 24
- 25
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Saints and Sinners