Chapter 12 –The Song
Will and Jack were outside on the balcony watching the tide roll in. The sun was beginning its slow decent as Will handed Jack a lute he'd dug up somewhere then started lighting the candles that littered the balcony. The instrument felt as familiar in Jack's hands as the wheel of his ship. He began strumming it, his mind preoccupied with an important decision yet to be made. Cole and Elizabeth were in the kitchen preparing some cool drinks. They were both relaxed from their naps earlier. It had been afternoon when Will and Elizabeth discovered Jack and Cole sleeping soundly amidst the greenery after they'd partaken in their own siesta.
When the women stepped out onto the balcony bearing the lemonade and wine, Cole couldn't help but admire her surroundings. The bright red sun was slipping down to the ocean behind a beautiful pirate playing a lute, his eyes closed, long fingers caressing the strings. His shit was unbuttoned completely to his waist where it was tucked into his pants. His feet were bare and his pant legs rolled up past his knees. Elizabeth and Cole placed their trays on a table then went to sit beside their men.
Jack's eyes opened as he felt Cole sit down beside him. A slow, seductive smile graced his lips as Cole pulled her knees into her chest. Elizabeth was cuddled close to Will on the loveseat opposite Jack and Cole. They each had lemonade in hand. "Dance with me darling," Elizabeth whispered to Will.
He rose and gallantly offered Elizabeth his hand. She accepted with a curtsy, and they began to dance slowly wrapped tightly in each other's arms. Cole watched them lazily as they twirled around in the twilight. To her amazement, Jack began to sing. He didn't sound anything like the man she thought she knew.
I want to be a pirate
Sail the seven seas
A vagabond a buccaneer
Nobody badder than me
A parrot on my shoulder
A rolling deck 'neath my feat
Coloured tattoos 'n' golden rings
A pirate's life can't be beat
I wanna sail the seven seas
Just to live a life that is free
Sailing, the bounding main
Playing, a pirate's game
Sailing, the bounding main
Playing, a pirate's game
I gotta be a pirate
Sail the seven seas
A vagabond a buccaneer
Nobody badder than me
I'll fly the jolly roger
I'll live without a care
Wanna be a lovable rogue
Dashing and debonair
I wanna sail the seven seas
I've got to live a life that is free
Sailing, the bounding main
Playing, a pirate's game
Sailing, the bounding main
Playing, a pirate's game
I wanna sail the seven seas
Just to live a life that is free
Sailing, on the bounding main
Playing, a pirate's game
Sailing, on the bounding main
Playing, a pirate's game
(The pirate Song by Anderson/Leach)
Cole's green eyes darkened with lust as she watched Jack over the rim of her wineglass. The stirring in her loins was nearly unbearable. She wanted Jack inside her and beside her forever. Perhaps it was the twilight, the music, or the wine, but Cole needed to touch Jack. As Elizabeth and Will were too wrapped up in one another to notice what else was going on, Cole leaned close to Jack's ear.
"I want you to touch me," Cole whispered in his ear then rose to get more wine.
Jack's entire body tensed as his eyes widened and he fingered a wrong note. His fingers halted as he watched Cole move in the candlelight. He set the lute on the ground. Cole poured two glasses of wine then returned to his side, singing in a soft well-toned voice.
Whisky is the life of man,
Whisky Johnnie.
Oh! Whisky is the life of many,
Whisky for my Johnnie.
I'll drink whisky when I can,
Whisky Johnnie.
I'll drink it out of an old tin can,
Whisky for my Johnnie.
Whisky gave me a broken nose,
Whisky Johnnie.
Whisky made me pawn my clothes,
Whisky for my Johnnie.
Whisky drove me around Cape Horn,
Whisky Johnnie.
It was many a month when I was gone,
Whisky for my Johnnie.
I thought I heard the old man say,
Whisky Johnnie.
'I'll treat my crew in a decent way,'
Whisky for my Johnnie.
A glass of grog for every man,
Whisky Johnnie.
And a bottleful for the chanteyman,
Whisky for my Johnnie.
(Whiskey Johnnie by Lesley Nelson –Burns)
The Turners had continued to dance through Jack's blunder, but once Cole's song had commenced, they silently slipped into the darkness of the house. Jack took the glass from Cole and sipped it slowly as he watched her watch him.
"Care to dance?" Jack requested as Cole drained her glass. He set his own aside and offered her his hand.
She accepted, setting her glass beside Jack's. She fit easily into his arms as he held her close enough for her to whisper in his ear; "You are so beautiful."
Jack squeezed her tighter to him and kissed the top of her head possessively. "As are you, my treasure," he murmured. He noticed that Cole was not exactly steady on her feet yet still managed to dance better than many of the women he'd been with. She felt so right in his arms, and he reminded himself that everything he did was for the here and now.
She was humming the tune of her Whisky Johnnie song near Jack's ear and the vibrations were nearly the cause of his undoing. He coaxed her back to the loveseat where he pulled her into his lap. He offered her the rest of his nearly full wineglass and she accepted it. He watched as Cole threw her head back to gulp the wine, exposing her throat. He nibbled at her sensitive skin there, and Cole moaned at the sensation. Jack was determined to leave his mark on her, and he did.
He took the empty glass from Cole and set it next to the other then gathered her close to him. She drowsily kissed his bare chest as he sang softly. He made the decision he'd been mulling over earlier. He would do what he must to keep her safe.
Cole drifted off to sleep just as Jack hoped. He watched her for a moment with mixed feelings as he'd hoped the night would never end. He forced himself to rise from the loveseat with Cole in his arms then blew out candles as he passed them. Jack turned to look once more towards the sea. It was calling him.
Jack carried Cole carefully to the bed and tucked her in. Turning his back to her, he gathered his effects. He tied a sash about his waist, shrugged into his vest, and tucked his pistol into his breeches. Sucking in a jagged breath, Jack went to the side of the bed. He lifted Cole's new sword off the night table and held it close to the crown of his head. Jack sliced easily through the dreadlock nearest to the left side of his face then replaced the sword.
He stooped over Cole and gently tied the snippet of hair around her neck, careful not to disturb her. It was adorned with beads and medallions that flashed in the moonlight. Stepping into his boots, Jack donned his coat and hat. He gave Cole one last kiss on her parted lips then tipped his hat to her sleeping form as he disappeared out the door.
