I was feeling bored, so decided to post another chapter up.
Chapter 50
Adam Wood looked around at the empty cells and pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to dispel the headache that was starting up, then looked in anger at the two guards who shrunk under his steely gaze.
'So, what you are trying to tell me, is that you were both overpowered by a man a fair bit smaller than yourselves, and a little old lady?' The harbourmaster shook his head slowly, wondering why he was surrounded by incompetent fools. He picked his way through the wreckage of the gaol, out through the doors hanging off their hinges and into the street, surveying the damage done by the rioting prisoners. 'That bloody pirate certainly knew what he was doing,' Adam Wood muttered to himself, conceding, rather reluctantly, that Jack had got the prisoners to create a brilliant diversion for his escape.
'Sir, I've just had word that Esme Davies has boarded Will Turners' ship. Do we go after them?'
Wood turned and looked at his officer, pondering for a moment, then shook his head. 'To what end? I could send the frigate out after them, but I'd need to divert men from the town, and arresting Esme Davies won't bring me Sparrow or his wife, will it? No, I'm not wasting any time or men chasing a misguided old biddy whom I wouldn't be able to imprison anyway, as it would cause an uproar amongst the self-righteous of this town.' The harbourmaster looked out to sea, watching as The Thistle and The Rose made their way from the port, wondering if they'd ever come to Nassau again.
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'Where the hell did you learn to milk a cow, Jack Sparrow?' Maddy looked with a mixture of astonishment and amusement at the sight of her husband sitting on a milking stool, squeezing on the teats of a cow.
'You'd be surprised at what I've picked up over t'years luv,' Jack grinned up at Maddy, enjoying the look on her face. 'This should be enough ter keep us goin' til morning.' Jack stood, picking the pail up and carried it up the ladder to the rafters of the barn where Maddy was sitting against some hay bales, then took a ladle that had been hanging up with the pail and dipped it into the creamy milk. 'Here luv, try this,' Jack held it to Maddy's lips, chuckling as she pulled a face at the rich, warm taste.
'How far to The Pearl, Jack and remember, I can't jump off a cliff this time.'
'Not too far luv, should reach it by mid-morning, an' don't worry, t'land's fairly flat out there, so we should find a way to t'shore without ya havin' ter jump. C'mon Madalene get some rest, ya look tired.' Jack lay down on the straw and pulled Maddy to him, so she was half lying on top of him.
'I am tired Jack,' Maddy murmured, feeling her eyelids getting heavier. 'Thank you for rescuing me….'
'What did ya think I'd do, eh luv? Madalene?' Jack smiled as he heard a gentle snore from his wife, then kissed the top of her head before closing his own eyes, feeling in the gloom that his pistol was cocked and ready, just in case.
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'Jack, wake up. Jack!' Maddy hissed, shaking her husband urgently.
'Eh? What's up Madalene?' Jack shot up and reached for his pistol.
'I can hear voices.'
'Aye, most likely t'farmer come t'milk the cows. Bloody hell!' Jack grabbed the pail and emptied it out, then bolted down the ladders to return it to the nail on which it hung. 'Madalene, throw the ladle down as well luv.'
Maddy picked the ladle up from the straw and tossed it to Jack, urging him to hurry up. The door to the barn started to open and Jack looked around, wild eyed, before spotting a stack of hay bales at the end of the barn, and dived behind them. Maddy flattened herself against the wall of the loft, not daring to breathe as the farmer entered the building, calling softly to his cows.
'What's this?' The farmer looked at the pail and ladle, spotting the milky residue in both, and looked around suspiciously. 'All right, I know there's someone here, so come out, I'm not going to hurt you.' Neither Jack nor Maddy moved an inch, so the farmer started to look around the barn, his eyes coming to rest on the ladders. He made for them, and froze as he heard a click behind him, then spun on his heels, only to find himself facing the muzzle of a pistol.
'Don't do anythin' stupid mate, I don't want ter hurt ya, savvy? Come on down Madalene.'
'What are you doing here? The farmer tried to look and see if there was anything to hand that he could use to attack his assailant with, but Jack noticed this and shook his head.
'Ah, ah, no ya don't mate.' Jack watched out the corner of his eye, as Maddy carefully climbed down the ladders and stood behind the farmer. 'Here luv, you grab this, an' I'll tie him up.'
Maddy moved to Jack and took the pistol from his grasp, then re-aimed it at the hapless man.
'Ha! You wouldn't shoot me my dear.' The farmer winced as Jack pulled his hands behind his back and tied them together.
'I wouldn't want to shoot you, but if I had to, I would.' Maddy's voice was calm and even, the glint in her eyes hard.
'You're that pirate they're hunting in town. My farmhand told me all about the riot yesterday.' The farmer looked Jack up and down in distain, as Jack tied him to a post in the middle of the barn.
'Aye mate, that I am.' Jack looked around for something to use as a gag, and took Maddys sling, as she handed it to him. 'You sure you'll be all right wi'out it luv?'
'Yes, it doesn't hurt so much since Esme's doctor took a look and dressed it.'
Jack tied the sling around the farmers' mouth, but not too tightly, then led the way out of the barn, crossing the farm quickly, then breaking into a run as the farmers' wife spied them and shouted, joining the farmhands in giving chase to the two fugitives, who were running as fast as they could through a field of cows, who stood munching lazily on the grass, glancing up at the commotion caused by the humans. Maddy winced with pain as the running jarred her arm and shoulder, but she kept going until she and Jack finally lost their pursuers. They sat behind a wall, panting and leaning on each other until they got their breath back, then Jack glanced at Maddy and grinned, then they both collapsed into helpless giggles.
'C'mon luv, Eb'll be havin' kittens.' Jack stood and helped Maddy up, then they walked towards the sea, which was a mile or so ahead of them.
'I can't see The Pearl, Jack.' Maddy scanned the sea worriedly.
'I should hope yer bloody well can't. The cove is well hidden from the land, ya have ter be on top of it before ya can see it, so it's an ideal place to hide.' Jack took Maddy's hand in his, bringing it up to his lips. 'Sorry I had ter leave ya behind luv.'
'You've nothing to apologise for Jack. They would have captured you if you hadn't gone then.' Maddy smiled at her husband, then looked around at a shout from the distance and sighed in relief at the sight of The Black Pearl anchored in the cove.
'See, told ya luv.' Jack broke into a trot, pulling Maddy along behind him, then came to rest on a small shingle beach, watching as a boat made it's way towards them.
'Tom, Freddie!' Maddy jumped up and down, waving to her crewmates as they came nearer, then she and Jack waded out to meet them, climbing gratefully aboard the boat.
'Maddy, yer lookin' better than I though sweetheart.' Tom grinned at her, thankful that Jack had managed to rescue her. 'Everything went well?' He looked at his captain, his eyebrows raised, questioningly.
'Aye Tom, better than well, it went off like a charm, I'll fill ya all in, when we've set sail, savvy?' Jack looked at Maddy as they reached the ships' side. 'Can ya climb up on yer onesies?'
'I think I can manage it Jack, but there's only one way to find out, isn't there?' Maddy grabbed a rope and slowly, but surely made her way up, with Jack watching anxiously from below. She was overwhelmed by the greeting she got from the crew, feeling close to tears, so was extremely grateful when Jack dived in the melee, which she was in the middle of, and guided her towards their cabin.
'Eb, ya know where we're goin.' Jack called over his shoulder, as he took his wife to their cabin, remembering the gleam in her eyes the night before.