Chapter 7:

When Jack awoke the next morning he was surprised to find Salina gone. He rolled on his back and made a quick stretch before getting up. Jack looked around for a minute when he got up but the ship was lifeless unlike the night before. But, he didn't mind, because all he needs is that beautiful horizon. Jack opened the door to the cabin and tossed the blankets and pillows in then began to walk up onto the top deck.
There was Salina, standing at the stern of the boat. "G'morning Jack." "G'morning." "Did you sleep okay last night? I hope I didn't keep you awake." "No-no. You didn't." "Okay, good. Thank you." "For what?" "Last night." "You're welcome. It was nothing.' "I know he was a loyal man to you and I'm sorry it had to turn out like this. It seems that everywhere I turn I'm always getting myself into more trouble." "Then I guess it's a good thing I know how to counter that, eh love?" "Counter my getting into trouble?" "Yes." "How?" "Well you see it's called training. Are you familiar with the word?" Salina smirked as she watched the horizon burst with the sun's light.
"Jack?" "Hmmm?" Salina turned toward the rising sun. "Have you ever known anything so beautiful?" "No." Salina looked at him. "Unless of course, you count this blond hooker I was with. Now she was a beauty." Salina hit him in his arm as he grinned. Jack looked down and noticed that her knickers and boots were back on. "You know you should go without pants more often." A huge grin crossed his face as he leaned up against the railing. Salina smacked him in his arm again, this time harder. "Come on. We're going into town today." "Which town might that be?" "Well how should I know? I just follow the wind." "Jack!" Jack picked up his hat as he walked down the stairs, Salina trailed not to far behind him.
"Come on men!" Jack banged on the stairway to the lower decks. "We're going into town today! Let's go you dirty mangy rats!" Now he backed up and walked over to Salina. "Since you reminded me of how to dance and embarrassed me in front of my crew, I am going to teach you how to drive this ol' bird." "What! Me?" Jack nodded and walked her up to the wheal. "Oh, no. Not me!" "Oh, yes." Salina tried to walk away. But, Jack blocked the exit. "Ah Ha!" He yelled it like a mad man. "Jack com'on. Please!" She frowned and then tried to barge past him. Jack grabbed her, picked her up and carried her over to the wheal. "Now that I got you over to the wheal lets begin." Salina sighed.
After twenty minutes Salina had the basics down and was ready to steer. Jack backed up slowly, letting go of the wheal all together. "There ya' go." He patted her on the back. "You want to take over completely?" "If you can teach me?" Jack nodded and stood beside her. "Aye captain." Salina began to laugh.
"I feel free." Salina pulled her braid out and let her hair blow in the wind. The men came out on deck and for the first time realized how vital this woman would be to have on board. Some thought this for different reasons but most for the simple reason that she kept Sparrow happy. Which meant everything would go smoothly for a while, as long as nothing happened to her.
Salina continued steering the ship laughing and cheering at the fact that she could. She was also excited about her new life, now she knew there was no way she would turn back, not for all the riches in the world. Jack sat on the railing watching this young beauty drive his ship; her hair glimmering in the sun. He smiled because everything felt good and at peace. Which was true, it was. "Jack take the wheal, I'm gonna' go climb the mast. Don't worry I'll be back." Salina let go of the wheal and dashed to the mast. There was a sudden sway as the wheal continued to turn, then a sharp turn as Jack grabbed the wheal. "Don't ever. Ever! Leave the wheal like that." Jack yelled to Salina. "Oops, sorry Jack." "Yeah, yeah, sorry Jack. Sorry Jack my ass." Jack continued to mumble as Salina climbed up the mast, swinging on the ropes for sport.
Salina climbed past the crow's nest to the top of the mast. She stood there looking at the Harbor in the distance. "Land Ho!" She shouted, and then made a few more enchanting hoots and yahoos. Her shirt and scarf flapping and rolling on her skin, her hair waved through the wind like spun gold. Indeed she was now a pirate and ready for a whole new adventure.