CHAPTER 11
"This seems almost too easy" Bethany mused looking as the island where the treasure was hidden loomed on the horizon.
"Stop being so pessimistic luv"
"So how much of the plunder will I be getting?" Bethany grinned savouring the feel of the word 'plunder' upon her tongue; she was even beginning to sound like a pirate - Jack's influence no doubt.
"How much do yer want?" Jack swayed from side to side slightly; Bethany took hold of his shoulders.
"Be still! You're making me feel ill, all that swaying"
"All part of my cunning plan!"
"Cunning plan. . . you know what never mind, I really don't want to know" She shook her head slightly "50 percent"
"50!" Jack squawked, then quickly recovering his wits "15!"
Bethany's mouth dropped then stony faced she stepped towards him and narrowed her eyes "40!"
"25 and ye can be kidnapped permanently, savvy?"
Bethany took Jack's hand in a handshake "Done!" and with it Jack pulled her to him.
* * * * * * * * * *
The Black Pearl lay anchor just offshore some hours later. In the still night the sound of the waves breaking against the cliffs could be clearly heard even on the Black Pearl. Bethany shivered despite the humid Mediterranean climate. Two boats were being prepared to be lowered into the sea where they'd row ashore and bring back the loot.
"Not another boat" Bethany frowned thinking of the fate of the last boat she'd been in. . . . on second thoughts that actually hadn't turned out too badly.
"I'm ready" she announced making her way over to the portion of the crew assembled ready to man the boats. All eyes turned to her and Bethany felt she was missing something. "What?"
"Cap'n" Gibbs said as he cleared his throat and the crew dispersed.
"Yer not comin' luv!"
"WHAT?!" Bethany screamed as Jack frenziedly tried to shush her "Not coming? That's my map. My father's treasure. . . NOT COMING?! IF YOU DON'T LET ME ON THAT BOAT!"
"Alright, alright"
Bethany was instantly the embodiment of calm, she nodded her head decisively. "Good!" she said and began preparations to board the boats. Jack pulled a face at Bethany's back. "Don't think I don't know what you're doing Jack Sparrow!"
Jack frowned; now that was most disconcerting. He joined Bethany and the rest of the crew quickly rejoined them; they were becoming quite adept at making themselves scarce at the appropriate moment.
The boats were lowered with 6 men apiece; 5 men and one woman in the case of Jack and Bethany's boat, and they sailed to the island. Their boat docked first, Jack jumped off into the shallow water; took a deep breath of air waving his arms in the air dramatically; much to the amusement of the crew.
"That way!" he proclaimed and ran off in an easterly direction in search of the treasure.
Bethany trailed behind him with the rest of the crew, mostly for a prime view to observe his enthusiasm for lack of a better description; now if he was this enthusiastic in everything he did - Bethany felt aghast at her train of thought. She mentally berated herself for having such thoughts chuckling softly to herself. Jack had asked if she was 'ready to turn pirate' looked like she already had; certainly she was no longer the portrait of an upper-class lady.
Jack suddenly stopped in his tracks and everyone else did likewise maintaining their current distance from the Captain as he jumped up and down slightly on the spot.
"Mr Gibbs, bring that shovel"
Bethany rolled her eyes, this was so typecast - digging for treasure what could be more stereotypical of piracy. Gibbs handed Jack the shovel, he raised it above its shoulder and thrust it into the sand with a loud clink; the sound of metal upon metal. Bethany inched forward curiously. Jack swept away some of the sand with his foot to reveal the remains of a chain. Bethany crouched down and brushed away some more of the sand to reveal some cellar doors. She grabbed one of the doors and Jack the other under the moonlit sky to reveal the glint of gold.
* * * * * * * * * *
Bethany squealed with delight and threw herself at Jack. They were back on the Black Pearl complete with the majority of the treasure; bar some which Jack insisted remain there as a store should the worst happen. She broke away from their embrace and looked at Jack curiously.
"You know, I kind of love you"
Bethany was shocked to her core when Jack uttered the words back.
"I love ye too"
"Hmm why don't we. . . go look at that map" Bethany raised one eyebrow suggestively.
"Really?" He said clearly taken aback, quickly his toned deepen "Aye, the map" he winked and led Bethany into his cabin.
* * * * * * * * *
A shaft of sun hit Bethany's eyes; she turned her head away from it and opened her eyes to the sight of Jack's sleeping form beside her. She untangled her legs from the sheets, careful not to wake him she lay there watching him sleep and remembering last night. The way his hands had roamed over her skin; the way he'd touched her, like he'd always wanted to. She knew SHE'D always wanted him to. This was certainly different from the last time she'd awoken in Jack Sparrow's bed. Jack's eyes flickered open as if he'd heard her thoughts.
He yawned loudly "Mornin' luv"
"When did that happen?" she referred to the rising sun. "I don't remember that happening"
"We were a little busy"
"Well yes. Quite different from the last time I was in your bed, no screaming this time"
"Well I don't know about that"
Bethany's mouth dropped, she laughed and playfully hit Jack in the chest "There'll be none of that!"
Jack stood up and began gathering his clothes, "You quite sure about that luv?"
* * * * * * * * * *
"Mornin' Cap'n" Gibbs greeted Jack as he appeared on deck.
"Mr Gibbs"
Bethany emerged from Jack's cabin a few moments later which Gibb's didn't fail to observe.
"Cap'n" Gibb's nodded in the direction of Bethany "She just left yer cabin"
"I should hope so, wouldn't want her leaving Cotton's cabin would I now?" Jack said meaningfully.
"You know it be bad luck to have a woman aboard, especially a woman like 'er, it'll never work cap'n I've seen it afore"
Jack contemplated this for a moment and decided to inquire further. "Before?"
"Aye didn't yer ever hear tell of the pirate who wed an upper-class lady; they were happy enough but she started ter miss the luxuries of her past life like, returned home she did and the pirate" Gibbs made a hanging motion and Jack grimaced.
"Really?"
Gibbs nodded "Aye, t'can never work, just aint natural like, they're a different bread just look how she acted when you weren't gunna take her t'island"
Gibb's gaze rested on Bethany, Jack's followed suit. He shouted his orders to the crew - they were to change direction, it was time to test Bethany's loyalty.
* * * * * * * * * *
A/N: I know, I know I'm mean, all these evil cliff-hangers but you know you love it really. . . okay maybe not lol. Thanks for being so patient with me and for all the wonderful reviews you sweet, beautiful, lovely people! Thank you!
"This seems almost too easy" Bethany mused looking as the island where the treasure was hidden loomed on the horizon.
"Stop being so pessimistic luv"
"So how much of the plunder will I be getting?" Bethany grinned savouring the feel of the word 'plunder' upon her tongue; she was even beginning to sound like a pirate - Jack's influence no doubt.
"How much do yer want?" Jack swayed from side to side slightly; Bethany took hold of his shoulders.
"Be still! You're making me feel ill, all that swaying"
"All part of my cunning plan!"
"Cunning plan. . . you know what never mind, I really don't want to know" She shook her head slightly "50 percent"
"50!" Jack squawked, then quickly recovering his wits "15!"
Bethany's mouth dropped then stony faced she stepped towards him and narrowed her eyes "40!"
"25 and ye can be kidnapped permanently, savvy?"
Bethany took Jack's hand in a handshake "Done!" and with it Jack pulled her to him.
* * * * * * * * * *
The Black Pearl lay anchor just offshore some hours later. In the still night the sound of the waves breaking against the cliffs could be clearly heard even on the Black Pearl. Bethany shivered despite the humid Mediterranean climate. Two boats were being prepared to be lowered into the sea where they'd row ashore and bring back the loot.
"Not another boat" Bethany frowned thinking of the fate of the last boat she'd been in. . . . on second thoughts that actually hadn't turned out too badly.
"I'm ready" she announced making her way over to the portion of the crew assembled ready to man the boats. All eyes turned to her and Bethany felt she was missing something. "What?"
"Cap'n" Gibbs said as he cleared his throat and the crew dispersed.
"Yer not comin' luv!"
"WHAT?!" Bethany screamed as Jack frenziedly tried to shush her "Not coming? That's my map. My father's treasure. . . NOT COMING?! IF YOU DON'T LET ME ON THAT BOAT!"
"Alright, alright"
Bethany was instantly the embodiment of calm, she nodded her head decisively. "Good!" she said and began preparations to board the boats. Jack pulled a face at Bethany's back. "Don't think I don't know what you're doing Jack Sparrow!"
Jack frowned; now that was most disconcerting. He joined Bethany and the rest of the crew quickly rejoined them; they were becoming quite adept at making themselves scarce at the appropriate moment.
The boats were lowered with 6 men apiece; 5 men and one woman in the case of Jack and Bethany's boat, and they sailed to the island. Their boat docked first, Jack jumped off into the shallow water; took a deep breath of air waving his arms in the air dramatically; much to the amusement of the crew.
"That way!" he proclaimed and ran off in an easterly direction in search of the treasure.
Bethany trailed behind him with the rest of the crew, mostly for a prime view to observe his enthusiasm for lack of a better description; now if he was this enthusiastic in everything he did - Bethany felt aghast at her train of thought. She mentally berated herself for having such thoughts chuckling softly to herself. Jack had asked if she was 'ready to turn pirate' looked like she already had; certainly she was no longer the portrait of an upper-class lady.
Jack suddenly stopped in his tracks and everyone else did likewise maintaining their current distance from the Captain as he jumped up and down slightly on the spot.
"Mr Gibbs, bring that shovel"
Bethany rolled her eyes, this was so typecast - digging for treasure what could be more stereotypical of piracy. Gibbs handed Jack the shovel, he raised it above its shoulder and thrust it into the sand with a loud clink; the sound of metal upon metal. Bethany inched forward curiously. Jack swept away some of the sand with his foot to reveal the remains of a chain. Bethany crouched down and brushed away some more of the sand to reveal some cellar doors. She grabbed one of the doors and Jack the other under the moonlit sky to reveal the glint of gold.
* * * * * * * * * *
Bethany squealed with delight and threw herself at Jack. They were back on the Black Pearl complete with the majority of the treasure; bar some which Jack insisted remain there as a store should the worst happen. She broke away from their embrace and looked at Jack curiously.
"You know, I kind of love you"
Bethany was shocked to her core when Jack uttered the words back.
"I love ye too"
"Hmm why don't we. . . go look at that map" Bethany raised one eyebrow suggestively.
"Really?" He said clearly taken aback, quickly his toned deepen "Aye, the map" he winked and led Bethany into his cabin.
* * * * * * * * *
A shaft of sun hit Bethany's eyes; she turned her head away from it and opened her eyes to the sight of Jack's sleeping form beside her. She untangled her legs from the sheets, careful not to wake him she lay there watching him sleep and remembering last night. The way his hands had roamed over her skin; the way he'd touched her, like he'd always wanted to. She knew SHE'D always wanted him to. This was certainly different from the last time she'd awoken in Jack Sparrow's bed. Jack's eyes flickered open as if he'd heard her thoughts.
He yawned loudly "Mornin' luv"
"When did that happen?" she referred to the rising sun. "I don't remember that happening"
"We were a little busy"
"Well yes. Quite different from the last time I was in your bed, no screaming this time"
"Well I don't know about that"
Bethany's mouth dropped, she laughed and playfully hit Jack in the chest "There'll be none of that!"
Jack stood up and began gathering his clothes, "You quite sure about that luv?"
* * * * * * * * * *
"Mornin' Cap'n" Gibbs greeted Jack as he appeared on deck.
"Mr Gibbs"
Bethany emerged from Jack's cabin a few moments later which Gibb's didn't fail to observe.
"Cap'n" Gibb's nodded in the direction of Bethany "She just left yer cabin"
"I should hope so, wouldn't want her leaving Cotton's cabin would I now?" Jack said meaningfully.
"You know it be bad luck to have a woman aboard, especially a woman like 'er, it'll never work cap'n I've seen it afore"
Jack contemplated this for a moment and decided to inquire further. "Before?"
"Aye didn't yer ever hear tell of the pirate who wed an upper-class lady; they were happy enough but she started ter miss the luxuries of her past life like, returned home she did and the pirate" Gibbs made a hanging motion and Jack grimaced.
"Really?"
Gibbs nodded "Aye, t'can never work, just aint natural like, they're a different bread just look how she acted when you weren't gunna take her t'island"
Gibb's gaze rested on Bethany, Jack's followed suit. He shouted his orders to the crew - they were to change direction, it was time to test Bethany's loyalty.
* * * * * * * * * *
A/N: I know, I know I'm mean, all these evil cliff-hangers but you know you love it really. . . okay maybe not lol. Thanks for being so patient with me and for all the wonderful reviews you sweet, beautiful, lovely people! Thank you!