Deceit and Decisions | By : JennyPugh Category: Pirates of the Caribbean (All) > General Views: 4214 -:- 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. |
He’s mine – mine I tell you! All right, maybe not… *sigh*
With thanks to Chelsey, PirateAurora, Boricua Sparrow, Mrs.
Depp, RandomGal (I wondered where you had got to), beatlechicksteph,
kissmysash, punkdpirate, Mrs Capt Jack Sparrow, A Depp Girl, Ginny (welcome
back), Miss Sophia, Pendragginink (via email) and Hils.
Kissmysash, if you lovely ladies take the time and trouble
to read and review my stories, then it is only right that I take the time to
thank you all.
A Depp Girl, of course her name is Hillier. Jenny Wren is a small British bird and is
used as a term of endearment.
I was saving all my published stories and reviews this week
and realised that many of you have been with me for a long time, some since
Another time, Another Place was first published – this chapter is for you XX
…
Chapter three: ‘How
many more’s he goin’ ter hit before he reaches me – you?’
Jenny leaned on the rail and watched as the natural harbour
entrance to Tortuga drew closer. She
hated coming back to the town, the memories of Valentine still fresh in her
mind, but the Black Pearl had come across another pirate ship a couple
of days ago that had been hit by an unknown naval vessel that had apparently
let them go, and Jack had wanted to talk with other pirates to try and find out
exactly what was going on.
‘You all right, luv?’ came Jack’s voice from behind her.
‘Yes, I’m fine,’ she assured him, resting her head on his
shoulder as he wound an arm around her.
‘Stay on th’ship if ya like.’
‘It doesn’t really make any difference where I am,’ she
shrugged. ‘Besides, I want to see if I
can find Francine, let her know that Patience is actually married and has gone
to Ireland for a while.’
‘All right. Bisi can
go with ya, he knows the way at least.’
‘He should do,’ Jenny chuckled, knowing that the black man
had been a regular visitor to the whore when Patience had first entered their
lives.
‘Cap’n, will there be full shore leave?’ Joshamee Gibbs
enquired on behalf of the crew who were chomping at the bit for some leave.
‘Aye Mr. Gibbs, full shore leave fer three days. But I want every man ter keep his
eyes an’ ears open for anything that might be of interest – not matter
how trivial it may seem ter them, savvy?’
‘Understood.’ The
quartermaster made his way below where the majority of the men were, to break
the news and tell them of their captain’s order.
‘I suppose that goes for me as well?’ Jenny asked.
‘Of course - especially you, actually. Th’whores know more about what goes on than
anyone else in this town, so find out what ya can off Francine.’
‘All right,’ she smiled, glad to be doing something
useful. ‘Would it be worth going to
other ports, one that isn’t necessarily a pirate port? You might pick up information that way too.’
‘Aye luv, I was
plannin’ on doin’ that after we’ve finished here.’ Jack watched with admiration as his helmsman, Olabisi Ba, steered
the ship into her usual anchorage; grateful of the day the man had come aboard The Black Pearl. He couldn’t remember a better
navigator at the helm, including himself.
‘Bisi,’ he called
when the anchors had been dropped. ‘I
want ya to escort Jen ter Francine’s… and back to th’ship,
savvy?’
‘Savvy, Cap’n suh,’
the former slave grinned. ‘Will I be
able t’go back afterwards?’
‘Of course ya can,’
Jack winked. ‘Just so long as Jenny is
safely on board.’
‘Don’t worry Cap’n,
I’ll take good care of her.’
‘I know ya will,’
Jack smiled. ‘That’s why I asked.’
…
‘Oo is it?’ came a
voice from inside the run-down house in the back streets of Tortuga.
‘Jenny Sparrow, I’m a friend of Patience’s.’
Sparrer? As in
Jack?’
‘Yes, I’m his wife.’
‘His what?’
The door flung open and Francine stood before Jenny, obviously dressed
for work in a very low cut, sleeveless dress, her face powdered white and her
lips scarlet red.
‘Bisi!’ she grinned, spotting him standing behind
Jenny. ‘What ya doin’ ‘ere then?’
‘Escortin’ Jenny,’ he replied with a beaming smile.
‘Ya mean ter tell me that Jack Sparrer is actually married?’
she asked, turning her attention back to Jenny.
‘Yes, and so is Patience – that is what I came to tell you.’
‘Patience Riley?
Married too? Oh gawd, I need ter
sit down.’ Francine scurried back
inside and sat on a rickerty chair by the table. ‘Ter that Shay I take it?’
‘Yes, to Shay.
They’ve gone to Ireland to meet his family.’ Jenny took the liberty of inviting herself into the small room,
Olabisi following behind.
‘Where’s that then – this Ireland?’
‘A long way.’ Jenny
knew it wasn’t worth trying to explain to Francine where it was. She doubted the whore would have any more
idea than Patience had when the idea was first bandied. ‘I bet she knows how far Ireland is now,’
she mused, hoping that her friend was all right.
‘In th’south?’ Francine asked.
‘No, thousands of miles across the ocean.’
‘Bleedin’ ‘ell! What
d’she want ter go there for?’
‘I told you, to meet Shay’s family.’
‘She’s bleedin’ mad, if ya ask me. Look, I’m goin’ ter work just now but I can offer ya a drink if
ya like.’ She scurried out of the back
door and quickly returned carrying a beaker.
‘Thank you,’ Jenny smiled, accepting the cracked beaker of
brackish water and drinking it as if it were fine wine. ‘Have you heard any rumours about the Navy?’
‘What sort o’rumours?’
‘What their targets are, where they seem to be hitting
hardest – those sort of rumours.’
‘They’re targettin’ pirates – they always go after
th’pirates, you should know that!’ Francine replied, a little scornfully. ‘An’ they’re hittin’ ships all over
th’place. Even Cap’n Kidd had a near
escape just th’other week.’
‘Do they have any new ships?’ Bisi asked from his position, standing in the doorway.
‘Th’Navy? Just one I
think, belongin’ ter that new Commodore fella.’
‘So he’s obviously getting them more organised than they
were under Boothe,’ Jenny mused aloud.
‘Well, thank you for the drink.’
She stood and placed the beaker on the table. ‘No doubt Patience will be along to see you when she gets back.’
‘Ta fer tellin’ me.
Appreciate that.’ Francine
looked at the gangly black man still standing by the door. ‘Ya comin’ round later?’
‘Of course I am,’ he grinned. ‘Ya still at th’Tortuga Arms?’
‘Where else?’ she sighed.
‘Goodbye, Francine.’
‘Bye Mistress Sparrer,’ she chuckled. ‘See ya later, Bisi.’
…
Ned Cotton stood on the deck of the Black Pearl,
tears glistening in his eyes. He shook
his captain’s hand then embraced Jenny, unsettling the parrot perched on his
shoulder.
‘Curse ye scurvy dogs!’ the bird screeched as it flew up to
the yardarm and safety.
‘Goodbye Ned,’ Jenny smiled sadly.
‘Bye Cotton,’ Jack added.
‘Thanks fer everythin’ ya’ve done fer every member of this crew.’
The mute nodded then turned away, giving a half wave to his
crewmates before clambering over the side where Joshamee Gibbs and John
Williams, two of his oldest friends, were waiting to row him to another pirate
ship, the Stardancer, which had agreed to take him to Antigua and his
daughter’s house.
‘Oh dear,’ Jenny sighed, dabbing away a tear. ‘I shall miss him.’
‘I shan’t miss th’bloody bird!’ Jack exclaimed as the
creature swooped mere inches above his head and landed on his master’s shoulder
once more.
…
‘Another one? Sweet
Jesus!’ Jack swore as he faced Anamaria over a table at The Faithful
Bride. ‘How many’s that he’s hit now?’
‘Five! Five
bleedin’ ships, Jack! Th’captains’ an’
crew hanged if they survived th’hammerin’ they got. What th’hell are we goin’ t’do?’ the dusky skinned woman asked,
taking a large swig of her ale.
‘There’s somethin’ else, too.’
‘Do I want ter hear it?’
‘No, you especially don’t want ter hear it. One of me crew saw this at St. John’s in
Antigua.’ She took a piece of paper
from a pocket in her breeches and put it down on the table in front of Jack.
‘What?’ He picked it
up and turned it over, paling as he saw it was a general notice for the
whereabouts of a one Luke Martin, former surgeon of the King’s Navy, wanted for
the murder of Captain Charles Gillette.
A ransom of one guinea was offered for information as to his
whereabouts.
‘No…’ Jack groaned, dropping the paper back on the
table and cupping his face in his hands.
‘I don’t bloody believe this.
I’ll have to go ter Newcastle, let him an’ Jen know.’
‘So what are we goin’ ter do, Jack? This new Navy man is too bleedin’ good fer
my likin’. How many more’s he goin’ ter
hit before he reaches me – you?’
‘It’s likely he’s just got lucky. We’re just goin’ ter have ter be aware that he ain’t useless like
th’last incumbant was, an’ make sure we don’t get hit. There is one good thing ter come out of all
this – th’less pirates there are, th’more treasure fer you an’ me, eh?’ he
grinned, raising his mug.
‘Maybe,’ Anamaria pondered thoughtfully. ‘Maybe…’
…
‘What?!’ Jack
stared at Jenny, a slow grin spreading across his face. ‘Are ya sure?’
‘Yes, and Luke agrees.
I’m pregnant,’ she smiled, throwing her arms around him as he scooped
her up, swinging her around.
‘Put me down!’ she laughed, feeling as if a weight had been
lifted from her shoulders. She had been
terrified that she would not fall pregnant again, it having taken so long last
time. But now, barely four months
later, she was carrying Jack’s child once more and the excitement coursed
through her body.
‘Jen,’ he murmured, putting her down and staring deeply into
her eyes. ‘It’ll be all right this
time.’
‘I know,’ she smiled sadly, knowing that no matter how many
children they may end up having, she would never forget her first child.
‘But I have some bad news fer Luke,’ Jack sighed. ‘Where is he?’
‘Up in his room.
What’s happened?’
‘You’ll know soon enough.’
Jack crossed the kitchen floor and opened the door, calling up the
stairs for Luke to come down.
‘Jack! Hello. I take it Jenny has given you the good
news?’ the bespectacled man grinned.
‘Yes, yes she has,’ Jack smiled, sitting down at the table.
‘What’s wrong?’ Luke asked, immediately sensing something
was not right.
‘This is what’s wrong,’ Jack sighed, pushing the piece of
paper across the table towards his friend.
Luke frowed as he picked it up, then nodded his head slowly
as he read it. ‘I was half expecting
this, especially given the apparent reputation of Commodore Beauchamp,’ he
said, handing it to Jenny to read.
‘Oh dear God,’ she swore, looking in panic from her husband
to the man she considered a brother.
‘What are we going to do?’
‘Yer goin’ to Ireland,’ Jack informed Luke in a tone that
brokered no arguments.
‘I am? Why?’
‘To get ya out th’way, obviously, an’ ter warn Shay ter be
careful on their return. One of th’crew
can go with ya.’
‘But they will surely still be looking for him when he
returns,’ Jenny put in.
‘Hopefully not, they might have other things on their minds
by that time.’
‘Yes, like hunting down pirates,’ Luke smiled grimly. ‘I’ll go on my own, you cannot afford to
lose a trusted member of your crew for, well, it could be four or five months.’
‘I can lose one man,’ Jack assured him. ‘I’ll ask fer a volunteer. But you’ll be leavin’ within the next couple
of days, savvy?’
‘All right,’ the former surgeon sighed, taking his glasses
off and rubbing his eyes.
‘One more thing, an’ I can tell you now,’ Jack smiled at his
wife. ‘Patience is pregnant, she could
be due soon.’
‘She’s what?’ Jenny exclaimed in shock.
‘They didn’t want ter tell ya, after…’
‘Oh. Oh, that is
wonderful news,’ she beamed, her hand automatically going to her belly. ‘There won’t be too much of an age
difference.’
‘She shouldn’t have travelled that distance,’ Luke
admonished. ‘I’m surprised at Shay for
making her do so.’
‘He did offer countless times ter not go, but ya know how
stubborn th’minx is,’ Jack grinned.
‘Well, I’d best start getting some things together.’ Luke nodded briefly at Jack before exiting
the kitchen. Thanks to Jack’s
generousity, he at least had some clothes to pack.
‘How d’ya feel?’ Jack asked once they were alone.
‘I feel fine,’ Jenny smiled, sitting on his lap. ‘Better than fine actually.’
‘Ya could really do with Luke stayin’ here ter look after
ya, ’ he sighed, hugging her close.
‘Damn!’
‘Don’t worry, I’ll be all right.’
‘One of th’men will be livin’ here,’ Jack decided, mentally
going through who he trusted the most for the task.
‘No, Jack. You’re
already going to be losing one crewman to go with Luke, you can’t afford to
lose another, not when you need to be alert.’
‘If needs be, Luke can go on his own, I’d rather know
you were safe.’
‘But Jack…’
‘No, my mind’s made up,’ he declared.
‘It won’t be fair on whoever you chose to have to stay on
land with me all these months. At least
rota it so they take it turns if you really must do this,’ Jenny
reasoned.
‘I’ll see but I’m not promising anythin’, savvy?’
‘Savvy,’ she sighed, knowing when he had made his mind up,
there was no shifting him.
‘Who is it?’ Jenny called as a rap sounded on the kitchen
door.
‘Only me, Jenny,’ John Williams smiled, entering the
room. ‘Ah good, I was hopin’ ter catch
ya, Cap’n. Thought ya might like ter
know, there’s a ship sailin’ fer Nassau Port tomorrow. I reckon Luke’d be able ter get to Ireland,
or England at least, from there.’
‘That soon? Right,
I’ll get th’men an’ ask fer a volunteer ter go with him.’
‘I’ll hit th’taverns an’ round those in there up, an’ head
back fer th’ship.’
‘All right, Cookie.
Sorry luv, I’m goin’ ter have ter leave ya a while. Will ya tell Luke for me?’
‘Of course I will.
I’ll see you later.’ Jenny planted a kiss on Jack’s cheek and headed up
the stairs, knocking on the door of Luke’s bedroom and entering when he
beckoned her.
‘There’s a ship going to Nassau Port tomorrow. Jack is going to find a volunteer now.’
‘At least the Navy are not based there,’ he replied,
shrugging his shoulders. ‘Will you be
all right?’
‘Jack is going to get someone to stay with me the whole
time. If they don’t go mad with
boredom, I’ll probably go mad with having a drunken pirate to cook for and
clean up after,’ she sighed, rolling her eyes.
‘You can’t blame Jack.
Not after what happened.’ He
picked up his knapsack, testing it for weight, then removed a couple of books
from within before deciding it was a comfortable weight to carry any distance.
‘I know. I can’t
even stay on board now - he won’t let me, what with the new Commodore.’
‘Now there I definitely don’t blame him. It’s dangerous times for pirates… sorry,’ he
apologised, pulling a rueful face at Jenny’s worried expression. ‘Look, Jack is the best there is and
he has the fastest ship on the ocean.
He’ll be fine, that I’m sure of.’
‘I know,’ she smiled uncertainly.
…
While AFF and its agents attempt to remove all illegal works from the site as quickly and thoroughly as possible, there is always the possibility that some submissions may be overlooked or dismissed in error. The AFF system includes a rigorous and complex abuse control system in order to prevent improper use of the AFF service, and we hope that its deployment indicates a good-faith effort to eliminate any illegal material on the site in a fair and unbiased manner. This abuse control system is run in accordance with the strict guidelines specified above.
All works displayed here, whether pictorial or literary, are the property of their owners and not Adult-FanFiction.org. Opinions stated in profiles of users may not reflect the opinions or views of Adult-FanFiction.org or any of its owners, agents, or related entities.
Website Domain ©2002-2017 by Apollo. PHP scripting, CSS style sheets, Database layout & Original artwork ©2005-2017 C. Kennington. Restructured Database & Forum skins ©2007-2017 J. Salva. Images, coding, and any other potentially liftable content may not be used without express written permission from their respective creator(s). Thank you for visiting!
Powered by Fiction Portal 2.0
Modifications © Manta2g, DemonGoddess
Site Owner - Apollo