Sorry guys, but here it finally is!
Chapter 6Katherine disappeared out into the night through the kitchen door, making her way silently across the wet grass to the side of the estate where the road into town lay.
She had packed. Enough clothing to last her for up to a month. But her bag still sat on her bed back in the Turners' guest room. Her intention had never really been to run away. No, for now a walk would do. A little freedom from her concerned mother.
She skipped Port Royal's main square, traveling around the majority of the town itself and heading toward the pier. The streets were rather crowded for so late in the evening, most naval officers moving to their posts on the battlements.
Other civilians pushed past her as well, including two older men who didn't appear as though they quiet belonged in such a village. They were walking as briskly as she herself was, though their route seemed to be in the opposite direction-the way she had come. The shorter of the two brushed past her, mumbling a slurred "'scuse me lass" and continuing on his way. She ignored them, moving on herself and thinking no more of it.
She reached the docks, stumbling down the little hill to the side of them and landing in the soft, white sand. She dusted her skirts off and proceeded to remove her laced up shoes, setting them off to the side. Then she strolled down toward the water. She had just dipped one foot in to wade when she heard voices back in the woods to her left. Her ears perked up and she listened carefully, wishing whoever it was would simply head off back toward town.
But they didn't. Rather, they drew closer still from what she could tell. The only comfort was that she only heard two of them.
She briefly concerned herself with the realization that a lady should not be seen walking alone at night, and shoeless no less, but she quickly dismissed it as the least of her problems.
But when two men, different from the ones that had bumped into her in the street emerged from the foliage, her danger instinct kicked in and she began searching the area around her for a suitable place to hide. She saw nothing. And they were close enough now that she could make out everything they were saying.
"The Cap'n said t'stay low!" one told the other with the tone of someone who had explained what they were saying more than once and was exasperated at having to say it again.
The taller one looked as if he were about to respond before his eyes-at least the one good one of the two-focused on Katherine. His eyebrows shot up and his face split into a stupid grin. Seeing this simper, the other turned and spotted her as well.
"Well, well, well," he began, approaching her, the second following him. He smirked as well upon reaching her. "What d'we have 'ere?"
* * * * *
"Now where's she off to in such a hurry?" Jack demanded, glancing back over his shoulder in the direction the young woman who had bustled past them had headed.
Gibbs followed his gaze curiously, then shrugged it off. Jack stopped walking suddenly and turned back around. "She shouldn't be out 'ere alone," he told his companion, his brow furrowing.
Gibbs now turned as well, disinterested this time, glancing back and forth between the former captain and the road he was staring at. "You're not thinkin' o' followin' her?" he asked, disapprovingly. "There're soldiers everywhere. An' she'd be more 'fraid of us than any other she'll be findin' out here."
"No, I ain't gonna follow 'er," Jack assured him and the older pirate gave a satisfied nod, beginning to move forward again. But Jack clapped a hand on his shoulder, halting him. "You are." Gibbs opened his mouth to protest but Jack cut him off. "Got somewhere I gotta be."
* * * * *
"How is she?" Elizabeth questioned upon spotting her husband descending the stairs.
Will sighed and shook his head. "Angry." He turned and headed for the parlor, wondering if Elizabeth had already put the girls to bed. "Where's Gin?" he inquired, glancing around him as though searching for her.
"Upstairs," she informed him. "She's not feeling well."
He nodded in understanding. "I don't know what else to do for them. I would hardly suggest she tell Richard after the way Katherine reacted."
"Tell me what?" Richard's voice preceded him as he entered the sitting room from the direction of the foyer, no doubt returning from his meeting with Governor Swann.
Elizabeth visibly paled and looked immediately to Will for help. He hesitated, watching as Richard looked to both of them for an answer.
Luckily a pounding on the front doors saved them from having to reply. Elizabeth pushed past both men to the front hall, eager for the escape and desperate to reach her destination before one of the maids stole the opportunity of slipping away by answering the door.
She pulled the right door open, shooing a servant backwards just in time, then turned to greet the visitor.
"Evenin' Miss Swann," the dark pirate standing before he grinned, pleased with the obvious shock written on her face. "Or is it Turner now?"
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Heeee's baaack!!!!!!