Usual disclaimers... sob!

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Chapter 16 - To The Black Pearl

"What!" Joshamee Gibbs gasped. "This... these babies... were your investment?" He looked at the small wrapped bundle Jack had placed on his bunk in surprise. Of all the things he had been imagining, a family was not even remotely on the list.

"In a manner of speakin'," Jack sighed.

"What do you mean?" Joshamee puzzled.

"Their mother could still be an investment if we play it right!" He could never reveal, even to Joshamee, what he was beginning to think of Bessie - he would be laughed off his own ship. Better they thought he was solely after the map and that she was a pleasant distraction. "They didn't only have pirate blood from me," he grinned. He knew he would not be able to hide her identity from Joshamee for he had known Bessie's mother when she was younger, before she had met Horace, and the likeness between mother and daughter was remarkable. "Their mother is, was, Bessie Masters..."

"You found..." Joshamee gasped. "And you..." He started chuckling. "You old dog!" He frowned. "Isn't she a bit young?"

"She's old enough," Jack grinned. "A sweet little thing, trusting, naïve, although she's not too happy 'bout pirates though, havin' spent most of her life runnin' from 'em," Jack warned. "I'll be bringing her aboard this evenin' an' want th' crew t' give her a wide berth... savvy?"

"Aye Captain," Joshamee acknowledged. "I'll pass the news around the crew. She will not be bothered whilst she is onboard."

"Make sure she isn't!" Jack warned. "Fer I'll kill any man that does bother her!" Joshamee looked at Jack sharply, surprised by his remark. "She is to be treated as m' woman. I gave her m' word... I'll not have it broken!"

"Aye Captain," Joshamee replied. "I'll make sure they all understand." Jack's warning had him puzzled for the strength of it was unlike him. He decided to watch him carefully whilst the woman was onboard, suspecting that there was more to this than Jack was telling.

"How many other than yer know what her mother looked like?" Jack puzzled.

"None that I know of," Joshamee frowned. "But there is always a chance..."

"Well, while she's here I want her to be called Smith... savvy? I don't want any mention of Masters or his gold," Jack insisted.

"Do you have the map?" Joshamee asked grinning eagerly.

Jack shook his head. "No, and she does not know where it is either... I trust her on that. But if we play her right - an' she ever does realise where th' map is - then it's ours!" He paused. "Anyway, what news on Hughes?"

Joshamee Gibbs looked at Jack in surprise. "How did you..." he gasped.

"He was th' one that attacked Bessie, th' one that cost me m' sons..." Jack said darkly. "Once this is over, his death is m' priority!"

"The Winter's Dawn was a couple of bays east of here... but she left this afternoon..." Joshamee cautiously said, unsure how his news would be received. She was a smaller ship with a shallower keel and could anchor in bays that the Black Pearl could not enter. She was, however, not as fast and had fewer cannons - if they ever caught up to her it would be a one-sided battle.

"Her heading..." Jack demanded.

"Due south," Joshamee replied.

Jack sighed. "Hopefully he's headin' out fer a while now that his snatch failed..."

"What are you going to do with Bessie?" Joshamee asked, scratching his chin thoughtfully. "It's bad luck to have a woman onboard and it sounds like she doesn't want to be here anyway."

Jack shrugged. "I don't know," he admitted. "I honestly don't know, but as far as anyone is concerned she is mine now an' Hughes isn't havin' her!"

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Will led Bessie out of the town and along the path leading westwards from Port Royal along the coast. The path was rarely used now, most people travelled inland to the centre of the island leaving these narrow, winding routes to the smugglers and pirates. Even the watch only walked a short distance along them, stopping when it became too narrow to walk two abreast a mile or so from the town.

"Is it much further?" Bessie asked quietly. Although she realised the need to sail that night, she was more tired than she would admit to.

"We are about an hour away at this pace," Will said as he stopped to light the small lantern that he had brought with them. "Jack should be meeting us soon... don't let him scare you!"

"An' why would I do that?" a sarcastic voice echoed from beside them. Bessie squeaked.

"Because you normally do!" Will glowered as Jack stepped into the light. "I'm under instructions from Elizabeth to tell you to take good care of Bessie," he warned. "If not, she says she was not joking about setting the watch on you!"

"Humph!" Jack snorted. "Tell Elizabeth that I don't need tellin'... I'll be takin' th' very best care of Bessie!" He offered Bessie his arm, turning to Will and flapping his free arm. "Go on... shoo!"

Will raised an eyebrow but said nothing to Jack. "I'll see you later Bessie," he said, taking the key to her home from her outstretched hand. "Pop into the smithy when you get back."

"Thank you Will," she smiled, watching as he walked off, the soft glow of the lantern marking his progress.

"Yer okay Bessie?" Jack asked, noticing her swaying in the dim light. The night seemed darker now that Will and the lantern had gone.

"Just tired," she admitted. "Will said it would be another hour..."

"I'm afraid so," Jack sighed. "It doesn't do t' anchor too close to Port Royal. Old Norrington is a bit touchy!"

Bessie smiled as she walked with him in the darkness. Jack was relieved that she did not ask if he had a lantern for he was embarrassed to realise he had forgotten. He knew the path well, every dip and bump, but Bessie did not and she stumbled often. He made sure he had a good grip on her arm and was thankful to reach a less heavily wooded part of the path where the dim moonlight could shine through the trees.

"Not far now," he finally said, "just down here..." He guided her carefully down a steep slope. Bessie could see white sand at the bottom and she assumed that they were coming to the cove. She stopped dead when she saw the Black Pearl anchored in the moonlight, her skeletal masts outlined against the starry sky. "It's alright," Jack slurred. "I promised yer'd be safe..."

"I..." she stuttered, looking at Jack, eyes wide with fear. "I don't know that I can..." She pulled her hand from his, stepping backwards.

"I gave m' word Bessie... trust me?" Jack grinned reassuringly, reaching for her hand and leading her down the beach. "Yer can stay in m' cabin. Th' babes are onboard - in th' sick bay, readied fer tomorrow night..." He reached across to catch her as her tired feet stumbled on the sand. "Steady," he cautioned, leading her down to the waters edge where a ships boat waited them. "Come on, I'll row yer out..." He helped her carefully into the boat, pushing off before jumping in himself. "It'll be alright Bessie..."

She looked up at the dark ship as it loomed above them, black sails furled neatly. Joshamee leaned over the rail. "Miss Bessie, can I help you?" he asked, smiling as he offered her his hand. With a slight push from Jack she climbed up, standing unsteadily on her feet on the deck, looking around her wildly.

Jack climbed quickly behind her, not wanting to leave her alone too long onboard. He was relieved to see that there were few crew around, and those that were on deck were occupied with chores. He slid his arm about her waist guiding her towards his cabin - she looked so frightened he feared that she would faint. "Gibbs," he ordered, nodding that he was to follow.

Bessie looked around the cabin, surprised at how spacious it was. Indeed, if you did not count her small kitchen area, it was actually larger than her home. She found a chair and quietly sat, waiting for Jack to tell her what he wanted her to do. She was very aware that she was in his territory and eyed the other pirate beside him warily.

"Bessie, this is Gibbs," Jack introduced. "He is th' only one onboard that knows who yer truly are... an' that is only because he knew yer mother." She looked at the man sharply. "Th' rest merely know yer as m' woman. Anythin' else is none of their business... savvy?" She nodded as he turned back to Gibbs. "Weigh anchor an' set sail fer th' Windward Passage. It's nice an' deep there..."

"Aye Captain," Gibbs acknowledged. "Miss Bessie," he nodded, before leaving the cabin, closing the doors firmly behind him.

Jack clicked the lock shut. "There, yer are all safe now," he smiled. "Th' head is through there if yer need it an' m' bunk is here." He pulled back a rich red velvet curtain to reveal a large bunk with matching drapes. "I'll bring yer some water, but yer'd best sleep fer now... I'll join yer later once we're under way."

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