CHAPTER 6
To Bethany's chagrin she actually came to enjoy her time on the Black Pearl. As the days passed on their voyage to Tortuga she came to know the crew and slowly all the little things her father had taught her about sailing came back to her.
On this particular evening Bethany was sat with the crew celebrating their last night at sea, they would dock at Tortuga the following morning.
"Aye so you see Jack took one of the coins so." Gibbs trailed off and looked up to see Jack towering over the two. "I'll tell ye the rest later"
Bethany laughed as Gibbs dashed off. Jack sat down in his place next to Bethany.
"Well, me dear. Aren't ye just full of surprises"
"And what exactly would that be in reference to Captain Sparrow" Bethany said, still refused to call him Jack; it seemed too familiar.
"Sailing with a buccaneer crew, making for the pirate stronghold of Tortuga and, it would seem, enjoying it" Jack grinned hoping to get a rise out of her with that last comment, but he was sorely disappointed.
"I know, not to mention mixing with the likes of the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow. Whatever would my Aunt and Uncle think. . ." she trailed off, she'd been quite effective in keeping thoughts of her family at bay, thoughts of her Uncle in particular and no one had pried into what had prompted her Uncles drastic course of action.
Bethany's eyes met Jack's briefly. Bethany turned her gaze away but could feel his eyes still on her. She closed her eyes stifling a laugh as she imagined how she must look: bedraggled, grubby and dishevelled sprang to mind, so at least she didn't have to worry about him looking at her in that respect.
She opened her eyes and turned back to him smiling not realising how attractive he found her at that precise moment in time.
He suddenly sprang from his seat a panic stricken look on his face, he ran in the direction of his cabin. The crew looked to Bethany for an explanation; she shrugged her shoulders slightly.
In his cabin Jack grabbed the pail of water set on the floor and tipped it over his head.
"Bloody women"
Thank God they'd be in Tortuga soon, there was only so much a man could take!
* * * * * * * *
Bethany spent the entire night constructing her argument as to why she should accompany Jack on land. She knew he was going to tell her to stay on the Black Pearl; now although she'd come to like him. . . no not like, come to respect. . . no not respect, well whatever she'd come to think of him, she still didn't think highly enough of him to entrust him with this task alone! Come daybreak she made her way out on deck to await their docking.
* * * * * * * *
"Now I know it's hard for you, but just stay here. Stay!"
"I'm not a dog Captain Sparrow and I will be accompanying you"
"No. You wont" he planted his hands firmly on Bethany's shoulders and pushed her into the nearest cabin locking the door behind her. Screaming and the sound of breakages ensued, "Sorry Mr Cotton" Jack said as Bethany trashed his cabin and he quickly dashed away.
"Jack Sparrow let me out this instance!" Bethany screamed banging on the door. She cleared the table in the middle of the room when the window of the cabin caught her eye. She poked her head out with a grin; too easy.
She swung one leg out of the window, eased herself over. There was nowhere to go from there; she looked around desperately.
"Miss Redfern!" Bethany looked back into the cabin and saw Gibbs at the door; obviously intrigued by the lack of noise. Bethany closed her eyes in a quick prayer then dove into the sea.
She was soon submerged in the seawater and emerged from the black depths of the sea several metres from the Black Pearl a few seconds later; her red hair plastered to her head. She actually felt some guilt at what she knew would get the crew into trouble as she swam to shore, pulled herself up onto the dock and set off in search of Jack.
* * * * * * * *
By the time night fell she still hadn't found Jack and she wasn't exactly eager to enquire as to his whereabouts. She wandered down the unruly streets of Tortuga; it looked like Port Royal in the midst of a Pirate assault but Bethany suspected that was what it always looked like here.
"Git! Git away" a woman shouted at her, suddenly hands were planted on her back and she was being shoved forward "This is my spot!" Bethany looked back at the prostitute and felt like screaming; she wasn't like them! She wasn't a prostitute.
Bethany next came upon a tavern; it appeared to be the liveliest she had yet encountered so she suspected that it was where she'd find Jack and wasn't disappointed.
"Darlin'" his words were slurred as he greeted a woman of a similar calibre to the one Bethany had just encountered outside. He dragged the woman on to his lap. A rough looking man was sat opposite him; balding and unshaven he looked grubbier than Jack or any of the crew of the Black Pearl. Bethany observed all this as she walked at a slow pace through the tavern. She bumped into someone; mumbled an apology as the man leered down at her. Fighting back the waves of nausea Bethany noticed a dagger hanging at his side, as she passed him she carefully removed it sliding it down one side of her own pants. Something told her she might need it before the night was over.
Now that she'd found Jack she found that she had no idea what her next course of action ought to be. It had all seemed to clear in her head. She'd find Jack, storm up to him, some insults and a slap would ensue then she'd find out what she wanted to know and. . . and then what go home? No she hadn't thought this through, none of it, not boarding the Black Pearl, coming ashore, coming into the tavern - nothing.
A stool smashed against the floor beside her, she jumped aside just in time to avoid injury.
Bethany felt the anger build inside her, like a small ball of fire in her stomach building momentum with every passing moment she watched Jack. The man stood up and left, leaving Jack and the woman on his lap who was giggling madly. They kissed passionately; Bethany was about to storm over but stopped. Why was she so angry, because he hadn't let her come with him or because of the way he was behaving with that woman. Bethany shook away the last thought, took a deep breath. She'd go back to the Black Pearl and wait till morning to learn what he'd find out, till after he'd. . . been with that woman. And suddenly there it was again; the burning feeling in the pit of her stomach.
Oh dear God she liked Jack Sparrow.
* * * * * * * *
Bethany raced out of the tavern as fast as she could grabbing an unattended bottle from the bar top; the cold blast of night air that greeted her was a welcome relief from the stifling heat of the tavern.
She settled down on the cobbled street and opened the bottle, took a tentative sniff followed by a long drink.
* * * * * * * *
Jack's eyes followed Bethany as she made a mad dash for the door.
"Excuse me luv," he said to the woman on his lap, who looked at him indignantly but rose none the less.
Jack followed Bethany's path, emerging on the street he looked in both directions for her, then down and his eyes rested on her slight figure sat on the ground in front of him.
"'Ello luv" he swayed slightly as he sat down beside her.
Bethany looked at to him in astonishment; shocked that he'd left his company to find her, which meant he must have seen her in the tavern. Bethany inwardly groaned.
"Jenkins is after ye. Because. He thinks you know where t'treasure is" Jack declared, speaking slowly and purposefully, his hands lifting with every word.
"Treasure?"
"T'treasure your father was after"
Bethany laughed "My father, seeking treasure!" she continued to laugh.
"He was a pirate ye know"
Bethany stopped laughing, her smile fading but not quite departed, she nodded, a moments silence followed "I guess I kind of did" she confessed.
Funny how if she'd learned that a month or so back she would have been horrified, but now it didn't seem half bad.
* * * * * * * *
A/N: Aww thanks for all the reviews! So kind of you! To quote the great Jack "I'm actually feeling rather good about this" so of course I'll be continuing to add now I know people want me to. Thank you!!
JaneBooth - You spotted a little error of mine in regards to the first chapter, I hadn't realised till now that I hadn't explained. I'll try and work the explanation into a future chapter. Thanks for pointing that out.
To Bethany's chagrin she actually came to enjoy her time on the Black Pearl. As the days passed on their voyage to Tortuga she came to know the crew and slowly all the little things her father had taught her about sailing came back to her.
On this particular evening Bethany was sat with the crew celebrating their last night at sea, they would dock at Tortuga the following morning.
"Aye so you see Jack took one of the coins so." Gibbs trailed off and looked up to see Jack towering over the two. "I'll tell ye the rest later"
Bethany laughed as Gibbs dashed off. Jack sat down in his place next to Bethany.
"Well, me dear. Aren't ye just full of surprises"
"And what exactly would that be in reference to Captain Sparrow" Bethany said, still refused to call him Jack; it seemed too familiar.
"Sailing with a buccaneer crew, making for the pirate stronghold of Tortuga and, it would seem, enjoying it" Jack grinned hoping to get a rise out of her with that last comment, but he was sorely disappointed.
"I know, not to mention mixing with the likes of the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow. Whatever would my Aunt and Uncle think. . ." she trailed off, she'd been quite effective in keeping thoughts of her family at bay, thoughts of her Uncle in particular and no one had pried into what had prompted her Uncles drastic course of action.
Bethany's eyes met Jack's briefly. Bethany turned her gaze away but could feel his eyes still on her. She closed her eyes stifling a laugh as she imagined how she must look: bedraggled, grubby and dishevelled sprang to mind, so at least she didn't have to worry about him looking at her in that respect.
She opened her eyes and turned back to him smiling not realising how attractive he found her at that precise moment in time.
He suddenly sprang from his seat a panic stricken look on his face, he ran in the direction of his cabin. The crew looked to Bethany for an explanation; she shrugged her shoulders slightly.
In his cabin Jack grabbed the pail of water set on the floor and tipped it over his head.
"Bloody women"
Thank God they'd be in Tortuga soon, there was only so much a man could take!
* * * * * * * *
Bethany spent the entire night constructing her argument as to why she should accompany Jack on land. She knew he was going to tell her to stay on the Black Pearl; now although she'd come to like him. . . no not like, come to respect. . . no not respect, well whatever she'd come to think of him, she still didn't think highly enough of him to entrust him with this task alone! Come daybreak she made her way out on deck to await their docking.
* * * * * * * *
"Now I know it's hard for you, but just stay here. Stay!"
"I'm not a dog Captain Sparrow and I will be accompanying you"
"No. You wont" he planted his hands firmly on Bethany's shoulders and pushed her into the nearest cabin locking the door behind her. Screaming and the sound of breakages ensued, "Sorry Mr Cotton" Jack said as Bethany trashed his cabin and he quickly dashed away.
"Jack Sparrow let me out this instance!" Bethany screamed banging on the door. She cleared the table in the middle of the room when the window of the cabin caught her eye. She poked her head out with a grin; too easy.
She swung one leg out of the window, eased herself over. There was nowhere to go from there; she looked around desperately.
"Miss Redfern!" Bethany looked back into the cabin and saw Gibbs at the door; obviously intrigued by the lack of noise. Bethany closed her eyes in a quick prayer then dove into the sea.
She was soon submerged in the seawater and emerged from the black depths of the sea several metres from the Black Pearl a few seconds later; her red hair plastered to her head. She actually felt some guilt at what she knew would get the crew into trouble as she swam to shore, pulled herself up onto the dock and set off in search of Jack.
* * * * * * * *
By the time night fell she still hadn't found Jack and she wasn't exactly eager to enquire as to his whereabouts. She wandered down the unruly streets of Tortuga; it looked like Port Royal in the midst of a Pirate assault but Bethany suspected that was what it always looked like here.
"Git! Git away" a woman shouted at her, suddenly hands were planted on her back and she was being shoved forward "This is my spot!" Bethany looked back at the prostitute and felt like screaming; she wasn't like them! She wasn't a prostitute.
Bethany next came upon a tavern; it appeared to be the liveliest she had yet encountered so she suspected that it was where she'd find Jack and wasn't disappointed.
"Darlin'" his words were slurred as he greeted a woman of a similar calibre to the one Bethany had just encountered outside. He dragged the woman on to his lap. A rough looking man was sat opposite him; balding and unshaven he looked grubbier than Jack or any of the crew of the Black Pearl. Bethany observed all this as she walked at a slow pace through the tavern. She bumped into someone; mumbled an apology as the man leered down at her. Fighting back the waves of nausea Bethany noticed a dagger hanging at his side, as she passed him she carefully removed it sliding it down one side of her own pants. Something told her she might need it before the night was over.
Now that she'd found Jack she found that she had no idea what her next course of action ought to be. It had all seemed to clear in her head. She'd find Jack, storm up to him, some insults and a slap would ensue then she'd find out what she wanted to know and. . . and then what go home? No she hadn't thought this through, none of it, not boarding the Black Pearl, coming ashore, coming into the tavern - nothing.
A stool smashed against the floor beside her, she jumped aside just in time to avoid injury.
Bethany felt the anger build inside her, like a small ball of fire in her stomach building momentum with every passing moment she watched Jack. The man stood up and left, leaving Jack and the woman on his lap who was giggling madly. They kissed passionately; Bethany was about to storm over but stopped. Why was she so angry, because he hadn't let her come with him or because of the way he was behaving with that woman. Bethany shook away the last thought, took a deep breath. She'd go back to the Black Pearl and wait till morning to learn what he'd find out, till after he'd. . . been with that woman. And suddenly there it was again; the burning feeling in the pit of her stomach.
Oh dear God she liked Jack Sparrow.
* * * * * * * *
Bethany raced out of the tavern as fast as she could grabbing an unattended bottle from the bar top; the cold blast of night air that greeted her was a welcome relief from the stifling heat of the tavern.
She settled down on the cobbled street and opened the bottle, took a tentative sniff followed by a long drink.
* * * * * * * *
Jack's eyes followed Bethany as she made a mad dash for the door.
"Excuse me luv," he said to the woman on his lap, who looked at him indignantly but rose none the less.
Jack followed Bethany's path, emerging on the street he looked in both directions for her, then down and his eyes rested on her slight figure sat on the ground in front of him.
"'Ello luv" he swayed slightly as he sat down beside her.
Bethany looked at to him in astonishment; shocked that he'd left his company to find her, which meant he must have seen her in the tavern. Bethany inwardly groaned.
"Jenkins is after ye. Because. He thinks you know where t'treasure is" Jack declared, speaking slowly and purposefully, his hands lifting with every word.
"Treasure?"
"T'treasure your father was after"
Bethany laughed "My father, seeking treasure!" she continued to laugh.
"He was a pirate ye know"
Bethany stopped laughing, her smile fading but not quite departed, she nodded, a moments silence followed "I guess I kind of did" she confessed.
Funny how if she'd learned that a month or so back she would have been horrified, but now it didn't seem half bad.
* * * * * * * *
A/N: Aww thanks for all the reviews! So kind of you! To quote the great Jack "I'm actually feeling rather good about this" so of course I'll be continuing to add now I know people want me to. Thank you!!
JaneBooth - You spotted a little error of mine in regards to the first chapter, I hadn't realised till now that I hadn't explained. I'll try and work the explanation into a future chapter. Thanks for pointing that out.