Chapter Six: Tortuga


The next two days passed uneventfully. Rachel's condition continued to improve. Gibbs came to see her twice a day, checking on her general state of health. Even Annamaria dropped in a few times just to visit. Rachel found that she enjoyed the young mulatto girl's company. She was a bit rough around the edges, but it was still nice to have another girl around. Jack continued to visit her and to sleep beside her at night, but, true to his word, he was the almost perfect gentleman. He never touched her in any way that a gentleman wouldn't. But his eyes. The look in his eyes sometimes was enough to make her almost wish he would. And, of course, he just couldn't seem to hold back on the lascivious commentary. The man seemed to be able to turn almost anything she said into a sexual comment. She also noticed that, now that she was spending more time awake, she could hear all the little sounds that the ship made. The creaking of the boards. The wind in the sails. And, of course, the sailors as they called to one another on deck. She could smell the salty sea air. She found that she liked the assortment of sounds and smells that was life on board ship. She also took some time to study the new body she found herself with. Jack was right. She did good. She had always considered herself to be a bit of a looker, but the girl that looked back from the mirror was a raving beauty. She had soft, red hair that hung in large curls halfway down her back. Her eyes were indeed a startling shade of sea- green. She'd never seen eyes quite like them. Her skin was pale and flawless. And the body that went with it was just as good. But there were still a few questions that plagued her. Where was the girl that normally inhabited this body? She had been shot. Was she dead? And what happened to her own body, back in 2003? Could they have just switched places? She hoped that she would get some answers to her questions when they made port.


She was awakened on the third day by the sounds of boots tromping into her room. She opened her eyes to see four men carrying two large trunks into the room, followed by two others bearing a long basin that was reminiscent of a horse trough. Those were followed in turn by several young men carrying steaming barrels.


"Now, lads, put everything out of the way," Jack called out. "We wouldn't want the lady t'trip over it."


The trunks were placed against the wall, while the basin was left in the middle of the floor. The barrels were upended into the basin and the room was suddenly as quiet as it had been before she awoke.


"What's going on here?" she asked.


"We dock in one hour," Jack told her. " I thought you might like t'clean up a bit. So I had my men bring you up my bathtub."


"Thank you, Captain. I would love to get cleaned up. I didn't know you had a bathtub on board."


"It was in the hold. We were usin' it t'hold potatoes. We're out of potatoes, so you get t'use it. I'll get my turn tonight. Maybe you can wash my back," he purred. "But for now, we brought up yer trunks. There should be something in there for ye t'put on. I'll send Annamaria around t'help ye out. I'd do it myself but, if I did, I might not be able to continue playing the gentleman."


There was a light knock on the door. Annamaria stuck her head in. "Mornin' miss. Captain," she nodded. "Just thought ye might need a hand with gettin yerself up and about."


"Thank you, Anna," Rachel told her. "That would be appreciated."


"Oh, one more thing," Jack said. "The rest of yer set." He produced a comb and brush that matched the mirror that he had given her. "I thought you might like t'have these." He reached out and ran his fingers through her curls. "Such fine hair as this needs t'be cared for."


"Thank you, captain," she said, taking the implements. "I'll be quite lucky if I can get all the tangles out."


"I can help ye with that," Annamaria told her. "Now shoo this man outta here so's we can get t'work on getting ye dressed."


"I'm goin," he said. "And I won't even be peekin' through the keyhole."


Jack stepped through the door, leaving Rachel and Annamaria to themselves. Annamaria opened one of the trunks.


"Here be yer things," she said. "Would ye like t'lay out yer clothes before yer bath or pick 'em out after?"


"That water still looks very hot, so I guess now would be best," Rachel replied. She lifted the first gown from the top of the trunk. It was a beautiful dove gray taffeta with a full skirt and a low square cut bodice. It was trimmed in pale pink, which seemed to touch off the gray rather nicely. "How lovely," she said. "This would look simply marvelous on you, Anna."


"Oh, no," Annamaria replied. "I haven't worn a dress since I was but a wee girl. I wouldn't even remember how."


"Anna, you're a woman. Don't you ever want to be seen as one. I bet the men on board just think of you as one of the guys."


"And it be safer that way. That way I don't have t'go killin' anyone fer bein' too friendly, if ye know what I mean."


"Haven't you ever looked at the fine ladies and wondered what you were missing?" Rachel asked.


"Well, maybe once or twice," Annamaria replied. "But I don't be a fine lady, now do I? I wouldn't even know how."


"Tell you what?" Rachel's eyes sparkled. "You teach me how to be a pirate, and I'll teach you how to be a lady."


"The rest o' the crew would laugh at me. Bein' the only woman aboard means I have t'be twice as tough as the men. That's the only way I'll get any respect."


"That's the beauty of it, though. The crew doesn't have to know a thing about it unless you want them to," Rachel replied. "And being able to fit in where you're least expected can be a useful thing."


"Aye, that's true. Then we have an accord. You teach me to act like a lady, and I'll teach you to act like a pirate."


"Then this gown will be for you, when you're ready for it." Rachel laid the gown aside and moved on to the next one in the chest. Her face lit up. "Oh, it's lovely," she gasped. The next gown was a deep teal silk, a shade of sea green only a little darker than her eyes. There was an ivory insert in the skirt with matching slashes in the sleeves. The low-cut v-line bodice dripped in sea-foam lace, as did the wrists. There was a hat to match with a sea-foam green plume and lace forming a veil that could be draped over the face or arranged along the brim. "Jack will love it."


The other trunk contained all the accouterments necessary to a lady. Shoes, underdresses, stockings, and, of course, corsets.


"Ugh!" Rachel exclaimed. "Do I really have to wear that thing?"


"I wouldn't be caught dead in one," Annamaria replied, "but if ye want t'be wearin' that dress ye picked, I think ye be stuck wi' it."


"I guess. Just try not to cinch it too tight, huh?"


Having gathered everything that was needed, Rachel prepared for her bath. The water had cooled to the right temperature and she allowed herself a few minutes to just luxuriate.


"So," she said. "When would you like to begin the lessons?"


"I think tomorrow will do," Annamaria replied. "I think the captain has plans for ye for today."


"Well, then, tomorrow it is."


"We'll start you off with knot tying in the morning and move on from there. We can't teach ye how to fight until ye're a bit stronger yet."


Rachel finished her bath, and dressed with a lot of help from Annamaria. She discovered that she hated the corset but, wow, what it did to her body. Her waist became even more narrow than it already was and her breasts were pushed up to reveal an impressive cleavage. The dress fit like it was made for her, which she supposed, after all, it was. Annamaria helped her to comb the tangles from her hair and she pulled it up and secured it with a few pins before putting on her hat.


"How do I look?", she asked with a twirl.


"Beautiful," said Jack from the doorway.


She gasped as she turned toward him. "How long have you been there?" she asked.


"Just came in, luv," he replied.


Annamaria turned to her. "Tomorrow," she said and disappeared through the door.


"And actually," he continued, "the word beautiful does not do you justice. I think I would need to invent a new word, but then it, too, would be inadequate, I'm sure."


He began to walk slowly toward her. She began to hastily back away. Finally, her back was against the wall and she had nowhere else to go. He moved in toward her and put his hands on her waist. "I won't hurt you, luv," he told her. "But when you look like this a man can't help but steal a kiss." He leaned in and gently brushed her lips with his own. " Now, off to Tortuga."