Chapter 7

"And why would I want to join your crew again?" Mimosa questioned after Jake brought the proposition up.

"Well, for one thing, it would be better than just you retiring to a boring little island in the middle of nowhere by yourself."

"I am fully capable of living by myself," he protested.

"Sure, maybe for a month or two, but you would go insane before then. You used to love going out and seeing new places, swashbuckling, solving the obscure riddles of treasure maps. I would hate to see somebody who was once a pretty good pirate quit just because being a captain wasn't all it was cracked up to be."

"I do think that I made a better pirate than a captain," Matthew admitted. "And I can see how some of your pirating methods of not being so brutal can work. And perhaps I did not give you enough time to gather a very large reputation; after all, I only stayed with you for two years. It took me about three for somebody to at least recognize who I was."

"Yeah, once I got the Scarlett Ruby and a new crew, I built up a good reputation," Jake said proudly and adjusted his hat.

"And you would assure me that I wouldn't get harassed for the rest of my life for being a past mutineer after this month of probation has passed?"

"You have my word as a captain."

"Well, I suppose I could join again," Matthew finally said. "Now, what about the sword?"

"I was planning on making it the centerpiece on my hearth."

"Your hearth? Without me, you would have never gotten it!"

"Yeah, but I'm the captain, and you are the mutineer, remember? Call it a compensation gift. My previous offer still stands about me giving you some of my own treasure. And you can have visiting privileges."

"If that is really the best you can supply, I suppose it will have to do. By the way, where is this 'hearth' you claim to have?"

"Oh, that's right, you don't know about that. You see, about a year and a half ago I bought an island in the Atlantic; and I welcomed all of the families of my crew to come live on it. A good majority agreed to come, and I started my very own island town. I have my own house in the center of all the others."

Matthew's jaw dropped.

"It's called Jakeston."

"Of course you would call it that," Mimosa scoffed. "Would I get my own house?"

"You might eventually be able to have your own. But we usually bunk four bachelors in the same house to reduce the clutter."

"You've got yourself a deal!" Matthew held out his hand to shake Jake's hand to seal the agreement. "There's just one thing, however: what about my two men?"

"You may give them the option to join my crew, but if they decide against it, they must walk the plank."

"I will go ask them now."

A couple minutes later, Jake heard a very loud splash, and somebody knocked on his door.

"Enter!" Jake called out.

Muggins appeared in his doorway. "I would just like to say thank you very much for the opportunity to join your crew! I would be honored to become a pirate on your ship!"

Mimosa was standing behind Muggins. "Vinegar Stan decided not to join."

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They arrived in Jakeston in the night, and the next morning they left with a fresh crew and ship after giving Mimosa an abbreviated tour of the island. Nora and Mimosa also came along to see Allison return safely to her home. It was roughly only a day's journey to Wales from Jakeston. Once they reached the coast of Wales, they began travelling on foot to Allison's home.

"Everything looks so different now," Allison would say every time she saw each town she recognized. The last time she had been in her home city, everything was nearly destroyed by Senoj and his merciless crew. Practically everyone she used to know had moved away or did not survive the attack. Soon they arrived on the street Allison lived on.

"There it is. I don't even know how I should announce myself. Should I look around to see if one of my parents is outside; should I knock on the door; or should I just walk right into the house?"

"I would suggest knocking. The other two methods might startle them too much," Matthew volunteered.

"Do you think you could-come up to the door with me?" she asked Matthew. "I would rather not do it alone."

"Of course," he responded and walked up to the door with her. Allison knocked, and a woman around the age of thirty answered the door.

"Yes, how may I help you?"

Allison stared blankly at this stranger. Matthew, seeing her expression, answered for her. "Yes, is this the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Fairchild?"

"No, I'm sorry. I have never heard of them. This is the home of the Smithsons."

"Uh, thank you," Matthew said and lead Allison back to the rest of the group."

"They aren't there anymore," Allison said weakly.

"What?" Becky exclaimed. "Maybe they just moved down a street or something. Let's knock on other people's doors. Who else do you know that lives down here?"

"Well, I-I used to clean house for Mrs. Tuttlesworth. I'm sure she still lives here."

They tried Mrs. Tuttlesworth's house, and sure enough, she was still there. She said that Allison's parents moved away with no warning about six months after Allison was kidnapped by Senoj. They never mentioned where they were going, but they had always wanted to see the colonies of New England. After saying "Thank you" and "Good day" to Mrs. Tuttlesworth, Allison sat on the edge of the street and began to sob quietly into her hands.

"If you want, Allison, you can stay in Jakeston until you decide if you want to continue searching for your parents," Jake offered.

"Thank you, I would like that," she sniffed.

"I'll go tell Mrs. Tuttlesworth that you have decided to stay somewhere else," Mimosa volunteered. After telling Mrs. Tuttlesworth, he came back and took Allison aside from the group of people consoling her. "Allison, I am so sorry that your parents weren't here. I have come to care for you very deeply lately, and it pains me to see you so sad."

"Thank you for caring," she said with a faint smile.

"I-I think-"he started out slowly, "if you would have me- that is, if you were to marry me, I would be able to take good care of you."

"Oh, Matthew, I-I don't know what to say," Allison gasped. "Even though I have known you for two years, I hardly know the real you. Don't think that this is a "no" just yet. Give me some more time to get to know you better, and then I will tell you for certain."

"Okay, th-that sounds fair to me."

The ship arrived in Jakeston yet again. Captain Cardinal and Becky rested at home for a couple of days, and on the third day back home, Jake dragged Becky down to the docks.

"Jake, where are we going?" Becky demanded, getting annoyed that he wasn't giving her any clues along the way.

"You'll see; just be patient!" He led her over to a cog, which is a small ship with only one mast. "This is our honeymoon getaway ship! Only you and I are going on this trip. It's long overdue, too!"

Becky squealed with delight. "Nobody else? Really? Ooh, Jake I'm so excited! I need to pack my things and get-"

"There's no need;" Jake interrupted. "Everything we need is already in here. Except us, of course."

"Oh, Jake, this is going to be wonderful!" Becky hugged him and gave him a kiss.