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Chapter 51Jack watched as the landmass of the Americas stretched on and on, as far as the eye could see. They had made good time, thanks to following winds and not having run into any more trouble. Now they were less than a day away from Charles Town, and Geoffrey Bowne. Rebecca still hadn't divulged her secret, but Jack was had been content to let it go, not wanting to upset the girl again, seeing that she'd just calmed down a little. Jack watched as Eb showed Rebecca how to tie a Turks Head knot, his eyebrow raising slightly at the sight of the two of them spending yet more time together, then smiled as he felt two arms wind around his waist, and the feel of his wife's body pressing against his back.
'Ello luv, finished ya chores?' Jack turned in Maddy's arms, so he was facing her.
'Yes love, all done for now. How about we go and tidy the cabin up?' Maddy winked at Jack's puzzled frown, then smiled coyly, as his eyes lit up when he realised her true meaning.
'Ah yes luv, a right mess it is too.' Jack squeezed her bottom as Maddy led the way down the stairs and into their cabin, closing the door behind him. He gave a muffled cry as Maddy pressed him against the door, her lips covering his in an urgent kiss, her hands travelling down his body and unlacing his breeches.
'Bloody 'ell luv, you're eager aren't ya?'
'Is that a complaint I hear Jack Sparrow? Well, if that's the way you want it….' Maddy shrugged, and moved away from him with an air of mock indifference.
'No, no, no, no, no. I didn't mean it like that luv, it's just that it's been a while since you were this keen.' Jack ran his hand down Maddy's arm and took her hand, pulling her back to him.
Maddy grinned jubilantly as she wound her arms around Jack's neck, pulling him down to her, while nuzzling his neck, eliciting a low moan from him. 'It's been a while since my arm didn't hurt every time I breathed, so I suppose I've got some lost ground to make up.'
'No time like t'present.' With a growl, Jack kissed Maddy long and hard, slowly peeling off her clothes and shuddering as she did the same for him, then Jack picked Maddy up and carried her over to their bunk, lips still locked together.
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Eb looked up startled at the noise coming from the captain's quarters and tried to avoid Rebecca's gaze, concentrating on the knot he was, by now, fumbling with.
'Do they always go at it like this?' Rebecca looked at him, mischief dancing in her eyes.
'Erm, ahem, sometimes. Look you see if you can do this on your own, I've got work to do.' Eb hurried away from the young woman, not noticing her body shaking with silent laughter at his embarrassment.
Rebecca went and stood against the port rail, suddenly feeling pensive. It had been the best part of a year since she had been kidnapped by Pierre Castigne, and she wasn't sure how the situation lay at home, or even if her father was still alive. Rebecca suppressed a shudder telling herself that everything would be all right, smiling sardonically to herself at how unconvincing she sounded. Rebecca wasn't sure how long she stood there, watching the various ships going to and fro, but all too soon the port of Charles Town appeared and her stomach gave a lurch. Rebecca realised that she should have told Jack much earlier about her father, but wasn't altogether sure the pirate would have brought her home, plus there was the promise she'd made to her father.
'You all right Bec's?' Rebecca jumped at the sound of Eb's voice behind her, and forced a smile on her face as she turned to him.
'Yes Eb, I'm fine, it just feels strange to be going home after so long.' She glanced behind Eb as she saw Jack and Maddy emerge from the bowels of the ship, amid a few good natured whistles and catcalls. Jack spied Rebecca and made his way over to her, arms folded and a stern look on his face.
'Right Missy, are ya goin' ter tell me now, or do we stay on board til ya do?'
'Tell you what?' Rebecca tried to look innocent and moved slightly behind Eb.
'Don't mess me about Rebecca, ya know damn well what I mean.' Jack's mouth was set in a grim line, his eyes flashing with anger. 'I haven't pushed ya, because fer one, I've had too much on me plate, an' fer two, I was hopin' ya'd open up to either me or Eb, an' ya haven't, so now's yer opportunity, savvy?'
'There will be no reward,' Rebecca's voice was barely audible.
'Eh? What yer on about luv? Ya father's loaded.'
'No he's not, not any more.' The young woman bit her lip in an effort not to cry, and cursed as a sob escaped them.
'Why not luv, what happened?' Jack's voice softened at the sight of Rebecca's distress and he reached out and squeezed her shoulder. 'C'mon, let's go to me cabin.' Jack took her arm and led Rebecca down the stairs to his cabin, Eb and Maddy following behind.
Jack poured out a generous mug of rum and handed it to Rebecca, watching her closely in case it was another one of her games. 'Well?'
'I made a promise to my father that I would never tell anyone, Jack, and now you wish for me to break my word?' Rebecca smiled gratefully at Eb's look of sympathy, then took a mouthful of the rum.
'Well, it's break yer word or stay here, choice is yours Rebecca. What happened to yer father's wealth? He was the best pirate of his day, feared by all and richer than most monarchs, so where's it all gone?'
Rebecca was silent for long minutes, before drawing a deep breath and looking up at Jack. 'His ship was attacked by another pirate ship, a Dutch one, nearly all hands were lost. My father was… well, he was badly injured in the attack.'
'How badly?'
Rebecca gulped and screwed her eyes tight as the tears began to fall. 'One leg was blown off, and he had to have the other one removed a few weeks later.'
Jack blanched at the thought of the giant, fearsome pirate being crippled. 'Bloody hell luv, I'm sorry. How'd he get off t'ship?'
'As I said, not all hands were lost, one other survived and managed to get my father into a boat and rowed to a nearby village, where, thankfully, there was a doctor of sorts who tended my father. Word was sent to Mama and I and we fetched him, then sailed to Charles Town once he was strong enough to be moved.'
'Why move all out here? Why not settle in Tortuga or somewhere?' Jack sat opposite the young girl and rested his feet on the table.
'You said it yourself, my father was feared, respected. He couldn't bear the thought of everyone knowing he was a cripple. His pride wouldn't allow it.'
Jack shook his head slowly, looking at Eb and Maddy who were listening intently. 'So where's his money gone?' He turned his attention back to Rebecca.
Rebecca gave a derisive snort, wiping the tears from her face. 'Most of it was on the ship, he was moving it to a safer haven, can you believe that? He believes he was betrayed by someone on board, that's why they were attacked. The rest of it was used to move out here and build a house that you can push an invalid chair around.'
'So that's why he never paid the ransom? What about yer mother, why couldn't she have tried ter find ya?'
'My mother died around two years ago, my father only has me and….' Rebecca's words were cut off by a rap on the door.
'Cap'n, the port authorities want ter board, sir.'
'Aye, I'm comin' Moyles. All right luv, we'll take ya to yer father.' Jack smiled compassionately at Rebecca, then made his way to the deck, part of him cursing the fact that there was to be no gain for him out of the venture.
Jack, Eb and Maddy were busy for the next couple of hours, making sure the port authorities were never left alone for a minute as they checked every nook and cranny on The Pearl, Jack giving them an acerbic smile as they climbed over the side of the ship to their boat, having found nothing on board.
'Right yer scurvy dogs, ya got two days shore leave, do not get into any trouble, savvy? They're tough on pirates here, so behave. Well, as well as ya can behave.' Jack watched as his crew, minus those designated for watch duties, swarmed over the side and into the waiting boats, eager to get some action in a new town.
'Right young Missy, we'd best be gettin' ya home.' Jack looked appreciatively as his wife appeared from below wearing a dark green dress with a tightly fitted bodice, the plunging neckline trimmed with lace, as were the edges of the sleeves. 'Madalene, ya look good enough ter eat.' Jack walked over to Maddy and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her into a tight embrace. 'Maybe we can come back to t'ship afterwards, tell t'crew we'll take over watch,' Jack whispered, huskily.
'Or maybe we can find a nice tavern in town and stay there the night?' Maddy's eyes twinkled with anticipation.
'Yer a genius luv, we'll do that instead.' Jack kissed his wife deeply, not caring for the onlookers, and only breaking the kiss when Eb coughed impatiently. 'All right Ebenezer, we're coming.' Jack winked at Maddy, then led the way to the bosun's chair, which Maddy climbed into, not wanting to spoil her dress by climbing down to the boat.
Rebecca looked broodingly the nearer they got to the harbour, and clutched her stomach to try to stop it from churning. She was convinced after all this time her father wouldn't be alive, or at the very least, in worse health than when she'd last seen him. Rebecca took Eb's helping hand and climbed out of the boat, looking around at her new homeland, having been away for so long enough that it had grown uncomfortable for her, yet she still knew it intimately. She led the way through the dockyard and away from the town, until they reached a large, single storey house, about half a mile away.
Maddy couldn't help but notice the lack of care surrounding the house. The curtains at the windows were dirty and there was litter and debris strewn across the small, overgrown patch of garden at the front of the house. She glanced at Jack, wondering whether Geoffrey Bowne was still alive, and if he was, whether he'd want his daughter back.
Rebecca hesitated before reaching for the door knocker, but stilled her hand without knocking, so Eb reached past and knocked for her, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. They waited there for an age, before hearing noises from the other side of the door. Rebecca was sure her heart was going to pound its way out of her chest, as the door slowly opened and a frail figure sitting in an invalid chair, appeared in front of them.
'Rebecca? Dear God in heaven, is that really you?' The man peered at the young woman then held his arms out and held her tightly as she flung herself at him.
'Papa, oh Papa, I've missed you so much,' she sobbed, clinging to him as if her life depended on it.
Geoffrey Bowne looked up at the three people watching the scene from the doorway. 'Who are you? And what are you doing with my daughter?' His voice still carried authority, even though his body was broken.
'Ah, I'm Captain Jack Sparrow,' Jack held out his hand, which Bowne accepted, 'This is me wife, Madalene, an' me first mate, Ebenezer Tucker. If we can come in, we can all tell ya what happened, savvy?'
'Jack Sparrow? Yes, I've heard stories about you.' Bowne took a long look at his daughter and gave her a trembling smile, then looked back at Jack. 'Very well, come in Sparrow.'
They all followed Bowne as he led the way into a spacious room, which was sparsely furnished to allow access for his chair. Bowne indicated for them to sit down, then turned the chair to face them. 'Well?'
Geoffrey Bowne was told the story of his daughter's abduction and rescue, with Rebecca, Jack, Maddy and Eb each chipping in and adding to it, until they finally reached the present day.
'Well…. I thank you for inadvertently coming to my daughter's rescue, although I doubt you would have if you'd know what was on that island.'
'Excuse me!' Maddy stood and looked down indignantly at the old pirate. 'Just because you might not have gone to that island, doesn't mean Jack wouldn't have. Not everyone is tarred with your brush.'
'Madalene luv, sit down,' Jack pulled her hand and kept hold of it as she sat back down, still bristling with resentment. 'I'd have gone ter that island, but I wouldn't have brought her all t'way up here if I'd know you were skint mate. No wonder ya wouldn't tell me Rebecca.'
Rebecca shrugged, a rueful smile playing on her face. 'That's why Jack, all pirates are the same.'
'Rebecca, Madalene, if you would be so kind as to fetch some refreshments please. I do have an aid who helps me out, but he's out at the moment.' The women made their way to the kitchen, while the three men chatted what had been happening since Bowne had been away from the Caribbean.