CHAPTER FIFTEEN

RESCUED

It was nearly midnight when Jack saw the smoke and fire on the island in the distance. It was pure coincidence that they stumbled upon it. Jack, Will, Nicholas and Bootstrap took the dingy ashore to find Samantha huddled in a ball on the sand next to her campfire. Will rushed to her and picked her up, holding her as tightly as possible. She was startled, but then she saw Jack, Nicholas and Bootstrap, and realized the person holding her was her father. Nicholas took off his jacket and put it around her shoulders in the boat, on the way back to the Pearl, she smiled at him gratefully, and turned back to her father.

"How did you find me?" she asked.

"You did a smart thing, building that fire, Miss Turner." Nicholas said.

"Aye, if it weren't for that, we'd have sailed right by." Jack said.

"What were you thinking, running off like that? You had your mother and I worried sick." Will asked her. Samantha bowed her head, knowing she was in big trouble.

"I had to return the medallion...oh no! The medallion! I gave it to that man...the captain of the Navigator. He said that he'd let me go if I did. We have to get it back!"

"No! You're safe now. The medallion isn't our problem anymore. We will return to Port Royal immediately." Will said. "And believe me, you are in big trouble when we get home young lady." Jack and Nicholas exchanged glances.

"Mr. Turner, she's right. We have to get that medallion back. Who knows what they'll do if they become immortal. They could destroy everything." Nicholas said.

"Well, then I'll leave that up to you two. As for my daughter, my wife and I, we will be going home immediately." Will said firmly.

"Why did they take you? Did they tell you?" Nicholas asked.

"They thought I was Jack's daughter. They took me because they thought I'd know the way to Isla De Muerta." she said.

"What did you tell them?"

"I told them who I was, I said I'd never been there."

"Did you tell them about Nicholas?" Jack asked.

"No, why?" Samantha asked.

"Because I have a feeling they'd be after him if they knew." Jack explained. "So it's a good thing you didn't." The rest of the way back to the Black Pearl, everyone was silent. And once they had pulled Samantha aboard, Elizabeth rushed forward and took her daughter in her arms. Jack told Nicholas to take Samantha below decks to get her something to eat and drink while he tried to convince Will and Elizabeth to stay and try to get the medallion back from the Navigator. Nicholas gave her some water and fresh food that they had gotten the night before in Tortuga. She had never been so hungry in her life, but lady as she was, she only nibbled at the food.

"You don't need to try and impress me." Nicholas said. "I'm sure you're hungry."

"I'm fine." she said. "Really." Nicholas nodded, and took a seat next to her. "How's your arm?" she asked. Nicholas smiled.

"Better. Thank you...I am sorry I didn't act more gracious before. I didn't mean to be so--"

"I understand..." Samantha said. "No need to explain to me."

"What's that on your face?" Nicholas said. "You've got a scratch there." he reached across and brushed his thumb across the scratch on her cheek. She jumped back and away from him, startled. "Sorry. I didn't mean to--"

"No it's fine. I just--" both leaned forward, inches from each other.

"We're coming up on the Navigator!" Jack called. Nicholas pulled away and stood. "Get up here lad!" Samantha and Nicholas gave each other one last glance and Nicholas left the room and ran up the stairs to the top deck. Samantha sighed and looked back at her plate, but for some reason, she just wasn't hungry anymore. She pushed it away and made her way to the top deck where the crew, Jack, Nicholas and her parents and grandfather were gathered. She spotted the Navigator in the distance. The Black Pearl was gaining steadily.