So here's the next part. I personally liked Jack's chapter better but it
was pretty difficult coming up with two strategies so I think I can live
with this. And of course, I'm sure you can all guess who won!
**************************************************************************** ***
The following morning, Julianne and Jack awoke early to set their plans in motion for the second part of their scheme. Knowing that the Turners expected them to wait a few days before striking again, hoping they'd forget, the two captains planned to do exactly the opposite and accomplish their task right away. Having employed a softer, more round about approach with Elizabeth, Julianne intended to cut straight to the chase with Will. After speaking with the crew the night before, everyone knew what they were supposed to do in order to make this second attempt a success.
Walking out onto the deck, Jack and Juli set to work long before anyone else was awake, save for the sailor who was guarding the Turners' door. Climbing up onto the main mast, Jack and Julianne began restringing the ropes, tying them in loose knots that could be easily pulled out. After a half an hour's worth of work, they both proceeded back to Julianne's cabin in order to appear to wake at their normal hour.
A few hours later, the captain's set their plan into action. It was just around lunchtime with things began to happen. As planned, most of the crew was at lunch, with only a few remaining above deck to run the ship. At the helm Jack steered, while Juli walked the length of the deck pretending as though she was trying to decide which boards she wanted to replace in the ship when they got back to Tortuga. Will and Elizabeth sat nearby talking to Sprat, both were interested in hearing the perspective of such a young pirate.
Without warning, a loud crack resonated throughout the ship. To everyone's horror, but not necessarily surprise, the great sail of the main mast came crashing down. Scrambling to grab the loose ropes, Julianne shouted orders to everyone in sight.
"SPRAT, GET BELOW AND GET EVERYONE UP HERE! ELIZABETH, HEAD DOWN TO THE STOCK AND TRY AND FIND US SOME MORE ROPE! AND WILL, GET OVER HERE AND HELP ME!", she called tugging hard on several of the ropes.
Watching as Jack grabbed the wheel and held it with all his might, the Turners were quick to obey her orders. Elizabeth immediately shot down below following Sprat while Will bolted to Julianne's side.
All over the deck of the Renegade, ropes began to snap and swing wildly. A few men ran here and there trying to secure them, but falling sails, screaming, and running only added to the melee. Still holding tight to her ropes, Julianne found herself leaning dangerously close to the edge of the ship. Thankfully, Will was at her side within minutes, taking some of those that she held. All the pieces of her strategy in place, Julianne now concentrated on achieving her goal in all of this.
"We're going to have to grab as many loose ropes as we can and hold tight. Give the crew time to get everything set back in place ya hear?"
Will nodded.
"Alright, you keep those you've got and stay still while I gather the rest around us. Don't move."
Again he nodded. Behind him, dangled several free ropes, which upon investigation but unbeknownst to Will, clearly served no purpose whatsoever in hoisting the main sail. Regardless, Julianne began to move about him pulling them in. Still holding a shorter rope in her hand, her range of motion was intentionally limited. This meant, that in order to reach any of the ropes she intended too, she would have to move ridiculously close against Will.
Going for the first few behind him, Julianne struggled to maintain her hold on those she already held, and brushed hard across Will's body to grab at more. Two more in hand, she moved back, again across the front of Will and handed them to him, taking notice of the obvious extra color that had lit up his face. Going back for a second try, she employed the same tactic, and returned with two more ropes. Will's color deepened.
Now it was time to bring out the big guns, figuratively and literally. Having purposely twisted her jacket sleeve in one of the ropes, Julianne now became aware of the fact. Acting as though the rope was cutting off the circulation to her hand and pulling her hard towards the ship's edge, she frantically tried to shake herself free. When that did not work, she slid herself out of one jacket sleeve, then proceeded to shed the trapped sleeve. Catching her coat just before it flew over into the water, she swung herself back to reveal a loosely fit shirt that didn't leave much to the imagination. Casting her jacket aside, she went back to work.
Looking up at the sail above her, Julianne decided to push Will harder.
"We're gonna have to keep moving up the mast or the ropes will go tight and snap."
"How are we going to do that?"
"Very carefully", she answered without looking at him. "You're steadier than I am so yer gonna go first. When I say so, I want ye to hoist yerself up onto that sail beam. I'll help balance you. Once yer there, I want ye to wrap yer ropes around the main part o' the mast and hold tight so's I can come up after ye."
"You mean to say both of us are going to stand on that little beam", Will exclaimed uncomfortably. After all, it was a very small beam.
"Aye, now get goin."
After giving it another moment's consideration Will did as he was told. Hoisting himself up, he turned around giving himself an unexpected view directly down Julianne's shirt. Raised in proper society, his first instinct was too look away, but somehow his head refused to move, and when it did, his eyes lingered. Eventually though, he wasn't given much of a choice because it was fairly obvious that there was no way Julianne was pulling herself up with him with one arm completely incapacitated by the ropes which were getting tighter he noticed. Tying his own up as she directed, he turned back and leaned down to pull her up next to him. Again, his face darkened another three shades of crimson in doing so.
Julianne, who was now on the beam right next to him, continued acting as though her main concern was the mast. Working swiftly, she began to wrap her own ropes around the mast, which required her to lean around Will again. Pressing against him her arms moving behind him, she let out a yelp.
"What's wrong", Will asked in worry.
"Quick, in the side of my boot is a dagger, get it", she ordered.
Will's eyes grew wide. "I don't think I can reach it", he stammered back.
"Then bend over", she barked back.
Looking around, both to see if anyone else could help them and too make sure no one was watching him Will could find no way out of the situation. There wasn't a crew member within distance and it was far too noisy to hear if he were to yell anyway. Thankfully though, the huge sail was flapping wildly about in the wind blocking just about everyone's view of them. Using one hand to balance himself, he lowered himself down slowly, his face directly level with Julianne's lower front. Swallowing hard, he quickly grabbed the dagger and rose, irritated at himself for the thoughts that were beginning to play in his head at such a critical moment.
Now slightly amused at the whole situation, he relaxed a bit and thrust the dagger within Julianne's reach. Taking it, she cut another unnecessary but conveniently placed rope and handed it back to him.
"What am I supposed to do with this?"
"Put it back."
"What?"
"We're 7 feet in the air and a good 30 over the water. You really think it's a good idea to be waving a dagger around?"
"Guess not", he agreed and proceeded to put it back in the same way he had taken it. While he was down, he missed Julianne motioning to Jack. Nodding that he understood, Jack waited until Will stood back up, then turned the wheel hard causing the mast to swing violently.
As a result, Julianne was thrown against Will just as several ropes and the sail itself wrapped tightly around both them and the mast. Will, who had the advantage of leaning against the mast, threw his arms around Julianne to keep her from falling.
"Well, this is quite a predicament", Julianne commented lightly. "If you consider being stuck against an extremely handsome young man a predicament", she added with a laugh.
Surprisingly, Will's retort was just as light, and Julianne was relieved that he had relaxed when he did. As planned, her diversion had completely distracted him from their ongoing wager. "I dare say I've been in worse situations than this", he agreed smiling.
For a minute or two, neither of them spoke, just waited for everyone below to pull them out.
"You have very pretty eyes", Julianne finally spoke up, looking at him as though she'd never noticed before.
He looked at her with raised eyebrows. "Captain Amaris, are you trying to seduce me?" he joked.
"If I was trying to seduce you, do you really think that I'd pick this as my time or place?"
"I guess not", he consented.
"You wouldn't believe how much ye look like yer father Will. It's like he's standing here with me."
"Really?"
"Aye, same eyes, same face, same body."
"Same body", he cut in suspiciously.
"Aye, same body. Since I'm a woman I can say that. Yer father was one good looking man, without a doubt one of the best looking I've ever met whether pirate or not. And like I said, ye look just like 'im. Well, maybe a few differences."
"Like what?"
"Ye've got that little touch of youth that adds to yer charm. And yer modest, he was too, but yer much shier than he was. And right 'ere", she continued, tapping his left cheekbone, "there's something different right 'ere." Inspecting the spot further, she leaned close to his face and examined his cheek with narrowed eyes. Running her thumb across his cheekbone she sighed as though annoyed that she could not figure it out.
"What is it", Will questioned.
"I was wrong. Ye don't look one hundred percent exactly alike", she answered still intrigued by his cheek.
"How?"
"Your cheeks, they're more defined. And it's something else too."
"What?"
"I don't know", she answered, scanning his entire face.
Under her intent gaze, and still holding her around the waist, Will felt his self-control slowly draining from his body.
"Ahh", Julianne whispered at last. "That's it", she said smiling contently to herself and raising her gaze to meet his.
"What's it?"
"Yer lips", she answered moving her hand down and placing two fingers on Will's lower lip and lowering her gaze to follow. "They're soft, and pale, not cracked from the sun." Their faces only inches apart, Will stared at Julianne, swallowed again, and unconsciously licked his dry lips, his tongue touching her fingers in the process.
Pulling her fingers back sharply, she rubbed them with her thumb to dry them. "I thought ye were a proper boy Mr. Turna. It's not polite to tease."
"I wasn't." But he choked on the words.
Leaning her face as close to his as she possibly could without actually touching it she looked him straight in the eyes. "But you were. And now yer goin to get what ye asked for." Before Will had a chance to reply, she pressed her lips against his lightly in a kiss.
In that moment, he knew he had lost. And in light of this, he uncharacteristically allowed himself to be pulled into the moment just long enough to enjoy it. Tightening his grip around her slightly, he leaned into the kiss for only a second until Julianne broke their contact softly at his unexpected reaction.
Grinning sheepishly at her he spoke up, "I figured if I had to suffer the embarrassment that I'm about to, I might as well get something good out of the deal for myself."
Julianne smiled. "You'd betta be careful with that. Who's to say I wouldn't take complete advantage of you?"
"Would you?"
Julianne shrugged. "Let's just say I didn't have to make anything up about what I thought of you." Taking a step back, Julianne turned her head to the side. "ALRIGHT BOYS! YER GETTIN YER ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE EVENIN'. LET HER DOWN!"
Immediately, the mast swung gently back into place and the sail that had entrapped them slipped away loosely. Grabbing the ropes that bound them, Julianne gave them a hard tug and they too fell free. In front of her, Will's eyes went wide and his mouth dropped open as he realized the entire disaster had been staged.
"Oh come on luv, it wasn't all that bad now was it?" Julianne laughed giving him a quick peck on the cheek before turning and jumping back down onto the deck. Retrieving her jacket, she put it back on while all around her men began to restring the sail. Looking up at Will and giving him a wink, she smiled again and then turned and made her way across the ship and up to the helm where Jack stood.
"My compliments on a most successful effort Captain", he greeted her with a grin, wrapping one arm around her waist and pulling her to him. "Now what d'ye say you go try some o' them efforts on me?"
"I hardly think you'll put up much of a challenge luv", she answered him.
"Well, we shall see", he laughed.
"Ah, ah, ah", she stopped him as he tried to pull her in the direction of the cabin. "You know the rules, when the sun is up, we sail."
He tried to give her his best puppy dog face, but one look from her was enough to make it clear that she would not budge on this one. "Besides, ye don't want me sleepin with you and thinkin about Will now do ye?"
Jack's face twisted in disgust.
"That's what I thought."
**************************************************************************** ***
The following morning, Julianne and Jack awoke early to set their plans in motion for the second part of their scheme. Knowing that the Turners expected them to wait a few days before striking again, hoping they'd forget, the two captains planned to do exactly the opposite and accomplish their task right away. Having employed a softer, more round about approach with Elizabeth, Julianne intended to cut straight to the chase with Will. After speaking with the crew the night before, everyone knew what they were supposed to do in order to make this second attempt a success.
Walking out onto the deck, Jack and Juli set to work long before anyone else was awake, save for the sailor who was guarding the Turners' door. Climbing up onto the main mast, Jack and Julianne began restringing the ropes, tying them in loose knots that could be easily pulled out. After a half an hour's worth of work, they both proceeded back to Julianne's cabin in order to appear to wake at their normal hour.
A few hours later, the captain's set their plan into action. It was just around lunchtime with things began to happen. As planned, most of the crew was at lunch, with only a few remaining above deck to run the ship. At the helm Jack steered, while Juli walked the length of the deck pretending as though she was trying to decide which boards she wanted to replace in the ship when they got back to Tortuga. Will and Elizabeth sat nearby talking to Sprat, both were interested in hearing the perspective of such a young pirate.
Without warning, a loud crack resonated throughout the ship. To everyone's horror, but not necessarily surprise, the great sail of the main mast came crashing down. Scrambling to grab the loose ropes, Julianne shouted orders to everyone in sight.
"SPRAT, GET BELOW AND GET EVERYONE UP HERE! ELIZABETH, HEAD DOWN TO THE STOCK AND TRY AND FIND US SOME MORE ROPE! AND WILL, GET OVER HERE AND HELP ME!", she called tugging hard on several of the ropes.
Watching as Jack grabbed the wheel and held it with all his might, the Turners were quick to obey her orders. Elizabeth immediately shot down below following Sprat while Will bolted to Julianne's side.
All over the deck of the Renegade, ropes began to snap and swing wildly. A few men ran here and there trying to secure them, but falling sails, screaming, and running only added to the melee. Still holding tight to her ropes, Julianne found herself leaning dangerously close to the edge of the ship. Thankfully, Will was at her side within minutes, taking some of those that she held. All the pieces of her strategy in place, Julianne now concentrated on achieving her goal in all of this.
"We're going to have to grab as many loose ropes as we can and hold tight. Give the crew time to get everything set back in place ya hear?"
Will nodded.
"Alright, you keep those you've got and stay still while I gather the rest around us. Don't move."
Again he nodded. Behind him, dangled several free ropes, which upon investigation but unbeknownst to Will, clearly served no purpose whatsoever in hoisting the main sail. Regardless, Julianne began to move about him pulling them in. Still holding a shorter rope in her hand, her range of motion was intentionally limited. This meant, that in order to reach any of the ropes she intended too, she would have to move ridiculously close against Will.
Going for the first few behind him, Julianne struggled to maintain her hold on those she already held, and brushed hard across Will's body to grab at more. Two more in hand, she moved back, again across the front of Will and handed them to him, taking notice of the obvious extra color that had lit up his face. Going back for a second try, she employed the same tactic, and returned with two more ropes. Will's color deepened.
Now it was time to bring out the big guns, figuratively and literally. Having purposely twisted her jacket sleeve in one of the ropes, Julianne now became aware of the fact. Acting as though the rope was cutting off the circulation to her hand and pulling her hard towards the ship's edge, she frantically tried to shake herself free. When that did not work, she slid herself out of one jacket sleeve, then proceeded to shed the trapped sleeve. Catching her coat just before it flew over into the water, she swung herself back to reveal a loosely fit shirt that didn't leave much to the imagination. Casting her jacket aside, she went back to work.
Looking up at the sail above her, Julianne decided to push Will harder.
"We're gonna have to keep moving up the mast or the ropes will go tight and snap."
"How are we going to do that?"
"Very carefully", she answered without looking at him. "You're steadier than I am so yer gonna go first. When I say so, I want ye to hoist yerself up onto that sail beam. I'll help balance you. Once yer there, I want ye to wrap yer ropes around the main part o' the mast and hold tight so's I can come up after ye."
"You mean to say both of us are going to stand on that little beam", Will exclaimed uncomfortably. After all, it was a very small beam.
"Aye, now get goin."
After giving it another moment's consideration Will did as he was told. Hoisting himself up, he turned around giving himself an unexpected view directly down Julianne's shirt. Raised in proper society, his first instinct was too look away, but somehow his head refused to move, and when it did, his eyes lingered. Eventually though, he wasn't given much of a choice because it was fairly obvious that there was no way Julianne was pulling herself up with him with one arm completely incapacitated by the ropes which were getting tighter he noticed. Tying his own up as she directed, he turned back and leaned down to pull her up next to him. Again, his face darkened another three shades of crimson in doing so.
Julianne, who was now on the beam right next to him, continued acting as though her main concern was the mast. Working swiftly, she began to wrap her own ropes around the mast, which required her to lean around Will again. Pressing against him her arms moving behind him, she let out a yelp.
"What's wrong", Will asked in worry.
"Quick, in the side of my boot is a dagger, get it", she ordered.
Will's eyes grew wide. "I don't think I can reach it", he stammered back.
"Then bend over", she barked back.
Looking around, both to see if anyone else could help them and too make sure no one was watching him Will could find no way out of the situation. There wasn't a crew member within distance and it was far too noisy to hear if he were to yell anyway. Thankfully though, the huge sail was flapping wildly about in the wind blocking just about everyone's view of them. Using one hand to balance himself, he lowered himself down slowly, his face directly level with Julianne's lower front. Swallowing hard, he quickly grabbed the dagger and rose, irritated at himself for the thoughts that were beginning to play in his head at such a critical moment.
Now slightly amused at the whole situation, he relaxed a bit and thrust the dagger within Julianne's reach. Taking it, she cut another unnecessary but conveniently placed rope and handed it back to him.
"What am I supposed to do with this?"
"Put it back."
"What?"
"We're 7 feet in the air and a good 30 over the water. You really think it's a good idea to be waving a dagger around?"
"Guess not", he agreed and proceeded to put it back in the same way he had taken it. While he was down, he missed Julianne motioning to Jack. Nodding that he understood, Jack waited until Will stood back up, then turned the wheel hard causing the mast to swing violently.
As a result, Julianne was thrown against Will just as several ropes and the sail itself wrapped tightly around both them and the mast. Will, who had the advantage of leaning against the mast, threw his arms around Julianne to keep her from falling.
"Well, this is quite a predicament", Julianne commented lightly. "If you consider being stuck against an extremely handsome young man a predicament", she added with a laugh.
Surprisingly, Will's retort was just as light, and Julianne was relieved that he had relaxed when he did. As planned, her diversion had completely distracted him from their ongoing wager. "I dare say I've been in worse situations than this", he agreed smiling.
For a minute or two, neither of them spoke, just waited for everyone below to pull them out.
"You have very pretty eyes", Julianne finally spoke up, looking at him as though she'd never noticed before.
He looked at her with raised eyebrows. "Captain Amaris, are you trying to seduce me?" he joked.
"If I was trying to seduce you, do you really think that I'd pick this as my time or place?"
"I guess not", he consented.
"You wouldn't believe how much ye look like yer father Will. It's like he's standing here with me."
"Really?"
"Aye, same eyes, same face, same body."
"Same body", he cut in suspiciously.
"Aye, same body. Since I'm a woman I can say that. Yer father was one good looking man, without a doubt one of the best looking I've ever met whether pirate or not. And like I said, ye look just like 'im. Well, maybe a few differences."
"Like what?"
"Ye've got that little touch of youth that adds to yer charm. And yer modest, he was too, but yer much shier than he was. And right 'ere", she continued, tapping his left cheekbone, "there's something different right 'ere." Inspecting the spot further, she leaned close to his face and examined his cheek with narrowed eyes. Running her thumb across his cheekbone she sighed as though annoyed that she could not figure it out.
"What is it", Will questioned.
"I was wrong. Ye don't look one hundred percent exactly alike", she answered still intrigued by his cheek.
"How?"
"Your cheeks, they're more defined. And it's something else too."
"What?"
"I don't know", she answered, scanning his entire face.
Under her intent gaze, and still holding her around the waist, Will felt his self-control slowly draining from his body.
"Ahh", Julianne whispered at last. "That's it", she said smiling contently to herself and raising her gaze to meet his.
"What's it?"
"Yer lips", she answered moving her hand down and placing two fingers on Will's lower lip and lowering her gaze to follow. "They're soft, and pale, not cracked from the sun." Their faces only inches apart, Will stared at Julianne, swallowed again, and unconsciously licked his dry lips, his tongue touching her fingers in the process.
Pulling her fingers back sharply, she rubbed them with her thumb to dry them. "I thought ye were a proper boy Mr. Turna. It's not polite to tease."
"I wasn't." But he choked on the words.
Leaning her face as close to his as she possibly could without actually touching it she looked him straight in the eyes. "But you were. And now yer goin to get what ye asked for." Before Will had a chance to reply, she pressed her lips against his lightly in a kiss.
In that moment, he knew he had lost. And in light of this, he uncharacteristically allowed himself to be pulled into the moment just long enough to enjoy it. Tightening his grip around her slightly, he leaned into the kiss for only a second until Julianne broke their contact softly at his unexpected reaction.
Grinning sheepishly at her he spoke up, "I figured if I had to suffer the embarrassment that I'm about to, I might as well get something good out of the deal for myself."
Julianne smiled. "You'd betta be careful with that. Who's to say I wouldn't take complete advantage of you?"
"Would you?"
Julianne shrugged. "Let's just say I didn't have to make anything up about what I thought of you." Taking a step back, Julianne turned her head to the side. "ALRIGHT BOYS! YER GETTIN YER ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE EVENIN'. LET HER DOWN!"
Immediately, the mast swung gently back into place and the sail that had entrapped them slipped away loosely. Grabbing the ropes that bound them, Julianne gave them a hard tug and they too fell free. In front of her, Will's eyes went wide and his mouth dropped open as he realized the entire disaster had been staged.
"Oh come on luv, it wasn't all that bad now was it?" Julianne laughed giving him a quick peck on the cheek before turning and jumping back down onto the deck. Retrieving her jacket, she put it back on while all around her men began to restring the sail. Looking up at Will and giving him a wink, she smiled again and then turned and made her way across the ship and up to the helm where Jack stood.
"My compliments on a most successful effort Captain", he greeted her with a grin, wrapping one arm around her waist and pulling her to him. "Now what d'ye say you go try some o' them efforts on me?"
"I hardly think you'll put up much of a challenge luv", she answered him.
"Well, we shall see", he laughed.
"Ah, ah, ah", she stopped him as he tried to pull her in the direction of the cabin. "You know the rules, when the sun is up, we sail."
He tried to give her his best puppy dog face, but one look from her was enough to make it clear that she would not budge on this one. "Besides, ye don't want me sleepin with you and thinkin about Will now do ye?"
Jack's face twisted in disgust.
"That's what I thought."