Yet again, usual disclaimers apply throughout this tale. If you recognise it, it probably belongs to the Mouse – else it is mine!

Chapter 70 - You Married A Pirate?

Edmund Groves was still complaining about the incident when they reached the headland overlooking the quiet bay. The Black Pearl was nowhere in sight, but a small ships boat was pulled high on the beach out of reach of the tide. She dismounted, leading her mare down the steep path and across the sand to it. A small creamy pearl had been left beside the oars. She smiled to herself as she pocketed it, recognising the signal - Jack was near.

She scanned the headland nervously. She had felt watched all afternoon and the feeling of being watched becoming stronger as she pushed the boat down to the water. "Put your bags in Papa, we're leaving…"

"But what about the horses, Catherine? We cannot just leave them!" he protested.

"They'll find a good home… and we haven't time. Please, Papa - your bags!" She looked up worriedly, the fear of discovery in her eyes.

"Catherine…" he argued, but her gaze was elsewhere.

Three figures raced down the cliff path towards them - Zeke, Jack and… the highwayman? "Wha…"

"Push the bloody boat, Kitty!" Jack hollered as he slipped and skidded his way down the steep slope. She threw the last of her father's belongings into the now bobbing boat.

"Papa - please! We are leaving!" she cried.

"But…" he stuttered.

"Now!" she shouted, fearing what was behind Jack if he was taking the steep path at that kind of speed. Her father looked at her in shock – she had shouted at him. A number of red coated soldiers appeared at the top of the path confirming her fears.. She fired, deliberately aiming at their feet, causing them to halt briefly.

"But…" Her father looked at the three people now racing across the beach towards them.

She climbed into the boat, grabbing the oars as she made ready. "Papa, please - or do you want to stay and try to explain this to those soldiers?" She pointed to the men who were steadily making their way towards the beach.

Shocked, he climbed in beside her as the others reached the boat. She handed the oars to Zeke and Jack who put their backs to their task. She looked at the frightened young man sitting next to her father. "I thought I told you to find another trade boy!" He stared at her wide eyed.

Understanding dawned in her father's eyes as the Black Pearl sailed around the headland into the bay, skull and crossbones flying proudly. "Pirates! Catherine - no? Is this what Theodore wouldn't tell me?" he gasped.

"I'm sorry Papa." They bumped against the hull of the ship, and she turned climbing up quickly despite her skirts. Zeke handed the bags up to her before the others climbed on deck.

"Catherine!" She turned to face her father, knowing the explosion was coming. "You married a pirate?" She nodded, biting her lip as he slapped her hard across the face. His second slap never landed.

"Never lay a hand on my wife again, mate!" Jack warned, nearly crushing her father's hand in his. They stared at each other angrily until Edmund broke eye contact.

"Cap'n! Sail ho!" Lonan Kree cried from aloft.

Jack released her father, beads flying as he scanned the horizon. "Damn!" he cursed. "Booth, get us out of here - fast! Gibbs - run out the sweeps!" He turned to Catherine. "Did you get it?" She nodded, her father spluttering indignantly as he kissed her. "Get your father in the cabin, we might have to fight…" He glanced at their unwilling passenger. "Do you have a name boy?"

(He is unwilling because he was simply trailing Catherine as he was intrigued by her. Caught by Jack and Zeke, they forced him to travel with them to the beach… and then the troops arrived. He didn't want to explain to the troops what he was doing with pirates, but didn't want to be on the pirate ship either – does that make sense?)

"Paul, Paul Fearnan…" he stuttered, still trying to figure out the events of the last ten minutes.

"I told you to find an honest trade Paul," Catherine sighed. "You were not a very good highwayman so we'll just have to see if you make a better pirate!"

He gulped. "Pirate! Where are we going?"

She smiled. "The Caribbean! Papa, Paul, this way please. Things might get a little rough on deck."

88888

"How could you Catherine!" Her father still raged, despite Jacks threat unnerving him. He paced in the main cabin as she changed in one of the side cabins, ignoring Paul who stood quietly against the doors. "After Greg I thought…"

She strode towards her father, dressed in a shirt and breeches, sword at her hip. Paul stared, never having seen a woman in breeches before. "Thought what Papa? That I'd stay a widow for the rest of my life? Marry into the Navy again? I never wanted to marry Greg - you knew that, but you insisted I accept his proposal. I may have married once to please you, Papa, but never again - this time I married for myself."

"But he's a pirate!" Edmund argued.

"So what? That doesn't mean he cannot be a good man as well!" Catherine protested.

"But look at him - he's nothing but a ruddy popinjay!" he snorted. His eyes bulged as her hand stopped mere inches from his face.

"Never, ever, call Jack that within my earshot, Papa - never!" she threatened, visibly shaking at the memories that the word recalled.

"What have you become Catherine? What have you become?" he shook his head sadly.

She stormed out of the cabin, staggering as the Black Pearl shifted alarmingly, nearly throwing her from her feet, cannon fire booming in response. "Stay here, both of you!" The cabin doors banged behind her.

Holding firmly onto the rail, she climbed up to where Jack stood at the wheel. "What's happening?"

"Stupid bugger tried to cut us off!" The Black Pearl was now in open water, and putting her sweeps to maximum use. The naval ship was already out of cannon range and falling back rapidly. "Go below luv, we'll be clear in no time…" He noticed her tears.

"I'd rather stay," she sniffed.

He opened one arm, keeping her between himself and the wheel. She wrapped her arms around him, hugging him as she cried.

88888

Only when he was sure that there were no ships within sight did Jack manage to disengage himself from Catherine and hand the wheel over to Joshamee Gibbs. Climbing down the stairs to his cabin he nodded to the new recruit, Paul who was being shown around by Oran Booth. Perhaps he would fit in, perhaps he would not… although he was not happy that the man had been trailing his wife. He would watch him carefully.

"Wait a minute, Kitty. I think yer father an' I need t' talk." She smiled, nodding. "Why don't you go and check out th' crow's nest for a while, eh?"

Only when she was half-way up the rigging did Jack enter his cabin. Edmund Groves was quietly, but not calmly, pacing its length.

"I think you an' I need t' talk mate…" He closed the doors silently behind him. "So let's get it all out now an' be done with it!"

"I raised my daughter properly, not to be some pirate's woman!" he protested.

"Kitty ain't my woman, she's my wife," Jack corrected. "An' we were married by a proper church minister…"

"So you claim!" Edmund snorted.

"Theo was on board, an' he was happy with th' ceremony - ask him." Jack shrugged.

"I will, believe me! Catherine left England a modest, decorous woman with the prospect of making another good marriage… and ended up with you!" he spluttered.

Jack looked offended. "I like t' think she made a good marriage mate…"

"Today she has shouted at me, fired a pistol at His Majesty's soldiers and nearly slapped me…" Edmund argued

Jack frowned. "Kitty slapped you?"

"Nearly…" he admitted.

Jack shrugged. "What did you say? Yer must have upset her pretty badly t' have caused that!"

"I… I called you a popinjay!" Edmund declared defensively.

Jack sighed. "Big mistake mate, big mistake. Kitty was once taken by a very nasty pirate who said the same - you probably brought back every nightmare she's had since. An' you're lucky she didn't punch yer lights out - if you weren't her father then she probably would have."

"Kitty was…" he began.

"P'raps mate if yer spoke with her rather than at her she might actually talk back. She hasn't had it easy since she left Portsmouth." He turned to leave. "But if you ever upset her again like this then you'll be swimming to Port Royal - savvy?"

Edmund narrowed his eyes angrily. "I refuse to believe she married an animal like you!"

"What will it take t' convince you then? A fresh ceremony in a church with little choirboys singing t' God?" Jack snarled.

Edmund hobbled forwards, standing nose to nose with him. "Until I see her give her vows freely to you before God with my own eyes, I will never believe it pirate!"

"Fine! First safe port we come to then!" Jack stormed out, slamming the doors behind him.