Chapter Twenty-One: Ambush



"Take Rachel back to the Pearl," Jack ordered.


"But, Jack," Rachel exclaimed.


"No, luv, it's safest if you go back to the ship. I'll arrange supplies as quickly as I can, then I'll join you."


"But, the ransom . . ." she replied.


"I've had ransoms on me before, darlin'. I'm still here. Go back with Jarod. Tell Gibbs to get ready to sail. As soon as we've taken on a few supplies, we'll head for Hispaniola. There won't be as many hotheads set to claim the bounties there. We can resupply and empty our holds in relative safety. But we've got to at least have fresh water and that goat."


"Be careful, Jack," she said. "I can't do this without you."


"Of course you can, luv. But you won't have to."


"Come on, Rachel," Jarod interrupted. "The sooner we get goin', the sooner Jack can get us what we need so we can be off. Tortuga may be a wonderful place for fun n' games, but it's a bad place to be if ye've got a price on yer head. Too many people out to take it."


Rachel stepped into Jack's embrace. "I'll see you back at the Pearl in no more than three hours. If you're not back by then, I'll come looking for you."


"That should be enough time for what I need to do. Change into yer breeches. Anyone hunting for you will be looking for a fine lady, not a sailor. Off with ye, now."


Jarod took Rachel by the arm and rushed her off toward the docks. They had made it as far as The Drunken Sailor when two men stepped out of an alley in front of them.


"What's yer hurry, friend?" asked the larger of the two. His clothing was ragged and ill fitted to his large frame. He held a large knife in his hand threateningly. "Why not stay fer a bit of a chat?"


"We'd love to, mates," Jarod replied. "Unfortunately, we're in a bit of a hurry today, maybe some other time, eh?"


"Oh, but we want t'talk now," said the smaller man as he stepped further into their path. He was a little less shabby than his friend and held a pistol in his hand. "We'd especially like t'talk to the lady. Lady Pepperidge, isn't it?"


"I don't know what you mean," Rachel told him. "I've never heard of this Lady Pepperidge. My name is Miss Finch."


"Well, then," the large man replied, "we'll just have a little stroll together, and when Lord Pepperidge's men tell us yer not her, ye can go yer merry way."


"I'm afraid me girl and I just don't have the time fer that, chaps," Jarod said. "We'll have to meet this Lord Pepperidge some other time."


"You'll have to meet him, now," growled the man with the pistol.


"Well," Rachel replied, "your argument is indeed a strong one. I suppose we'll have to follow you then."


"I think you'll have to go ahead. Don't worry. We won't let ye get lost."


They walked in silence down the street. Jarod was relieved to notice that they were heading closer to the docks. As they approached a large ship, Jarod gave Rachel a sudden push. "Run Rachel," he yelled as he pulled his cutlass, striking at the man holding the pistol.


Rachel ran toward the Pearl, drawing her own sword as she ran. If the big one came after her, she just might have to fight. She didn't think she'd be able to outrun him in full gown and slippers. She chanced a look behind her and saw that she was right. He could almost reach out and touch her. She whirled and attacked, catching him by surprise. She felt her sword bite into his flesh as it took him across the chest. He dropped his knife as he clutched at his wound and Rachel turned and ran for the Pearl. She had just made the gangplank when she heard the shot.


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Jarod's attack came up short, but it left the man off balance enough for him to dive behind a pile of crates waiting to be loaded. The man raised his pistol, aiming at Rachel, but seemed to have second thoughts and began to circle the crates warily in the direction his friend had gone. Jarod circled quickly and came out behind him. This time, his attack scored, but it was only a shallow cut and the man turned back toward him swiftly. He managed to duck behind the crates before the man could bring his gun to bear. He ducked out again and scored another slash at him. This time he connected. The man fell and Jarod took off after Rachel and her pursuer. He could see blood dripping from the man who followed after Rachel. The girl had fended him off. He came up behind the man and struck hard at his neck. As the big man fell, Jarod heard a shot fired and felt a searing pain in his side. He looked up as he fell and smiled. Rachel had made it to the Pearl.


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"Gibbs!" Rachel screamed. "Jarod's down!"


Gibbs shouted a few orders and sailors swarmed down the gangplank. "Rachel, report!" Gibbs exclaimed. "Where's Jack?"


"Jack's getting supplies," Rachel replied. "There's a ransom for us. He sent Jarod to bring me back to the ship but we were waylaid along the way."


"A ransom, eh? Nothin' new fer Jack. But you said us. What did ye mean?"


"The ransom's 20,000 gold crowns for Jack. Dead or Alive. I seem to be worth 30,000. It seems that Lord Pepperidge really wants his daughter back. Luckily enough, the reward for me says I have to be unharmed. I may not have made it back here, otherwise."


Several crewmen came up the gangplank carrying Jarod between them. He was semiconscious and his side was dripping blood. They laid him down on deck and Gibbs knelt to examine him.


"Rachel . . . ," Jarod groaned. "Is she all right?"


"I'm fine, thanks to you," Rachel told him. "Rest now. Let Gibbs tend to you."


One of the boys on board came running up bearing a wooden box. Rachel had seen the box before. It was where Gibbs kept his medical supplies.


Rachel opened the box. She removed the bottle of whiskey stored inside and the lancet that would be needed to dig out the shot. Whiskey was not the best sterilizing agent, but it was better than rum. The sugar in the rum could cause a wound to fester all by itself. She sterilized the lancet while Gibbs felt for the shot with his hands.


"It's not too deep," he said. "But he's losin' a lot o' blood."


"Then you'll need to get that shot out fast so we can get the bleeding stopped," Rachel said as she handed him the lancet.


Gibbs dug the shot out quickly. It had barely been more than a graze, but it must have hit something along the way. The wound was bleeding badly.


Rachel rolled up a cotton strip and packed the wound, covering it with another strip and applying pressure.


"What are ye doin', lass?" Gibbs asked her. "I need t'get that stitched up."


"Not until the bleeding has slowed down," she replied. "Trust me. Get your needle ready. Hopefully, he'll be ready for stitching soon."


About five minutes later, Rachel gave Gibbs the go-ahead for the stitching. The bleeding had slowed considerably and she carefully removed the bandage and packing. "Clean it well," she said. "I know that cotton wasn't as clean as I should have been."


"Where did ye learn that, lass?" Gibbs inquired as he stitched.


"I went to nursing school back home," she told him. "I broke up with my boyfriend about halfway through, and he left me with all the debts he'd accumulated. I couldn't afford to finish after that, so I dropped out."


"Well, from now on, yer my assistant," he said. "That was a fine job ye did."


"Thank you," Rachel replied. "I'd be honored."


They bandaged Jarod securely and tucked him into Jack's bed. The rest of the crew slept in hammocks and Rachel didn't think that would be good for the wound. He had saved her freedom. And perhaps more than that. Who knows what those thugs would have done to her. There's a lot you can do without actually harming someone. She intended to care for Jarod personally. He would recover fully, if she had any say in the matter.


The water sellers arrived about an hour after that, announcing a delivery for the Black Pearl. The ship's cooper checked each of the barrels for leaks. Being satisfied to their soundness, the quartermaster paid the men and the barrels were taken below.


Jack showed up soon after, pulling a goat behind him. "Stubborn creature," he snarled. "We don't have much time. I'm being followed. Get us out of here."


Gibbs gave the order and sailors rushed to follow it. Before long, they were sailing into the harbor, watching as a crowd formed on the dock.


"Anyone fer a glass of milk?" Jack grinned.