Usual disclaimers... ho-hum!

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Chapter 34 - Sweet Words

Joshamee Gibbs sat worriedly at the table, surrounded by the rest of the senior crew. He was glad that Bessie was working with Ned in the galley for he knew she would not approve of what Jack was proposing.

"We'll do it Captain," Jacob assured Jack. "But are you sure that you want to do it?"

Jack took a swig from the bottle of rum he had been nursing throughout the meeting. "I'm sure," he said darkly. "He cost me m' unborn sons..."

"What does Bessie think of this?" Joshamee asked quietly.

Jack shrugged. "She doesn't know," he admitted, "but even if she did it would not change m' plans. He dies t'night!" He looked around the table, daring the crew to disagree with him, but only received a chorus of 'Aye'. "Meetin' over!" he sighed, pushing his chair back and watching the men as they left the cabin. He knew they did not like his plan, but the vengeance would be his.

"Captain..." Joshamee paused by the door. "Jack... how is Bessie? She has been awfully subdued these last few days - I thought you were going to make things up?"

Jack took another swig of rum, and then a second. "And how d' yer make up with a woman that won't believe a word yer say?" he asked sarcastically.

"Gifts and sweet words would be a start," Joshamee suggested. "Eat alone, not with the crew..." He shrugged. "Offer her something she wants..."

Jack suddenly broke into a big grin, putting the bottle of rum down on the table with such force that Joshamee feared that it would break. "Gibbs, yer an angel!" he declared, realising exactly what he could offer Bessie - the ultimate gift... he would teach her to read and write!

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Bessie knew something was up when a number of crew knocked on the cabin doors, carrying in platters laden with food. "What the..." she stuttered.

"We're eatin' in here t'night," Jack smiled, taking the last platter and sending the crew scurrying. He turned the key in the lock. "Will yer wear yer dress?" He smiled at her stunned expression. "Please?" He started to light some of the candles in the cabin. "Please Bessie?"

Reluctantly she nodded, walking into the side cabin to find the silk dress. She slipped out of the trousers and shirt, laying them neatly to one side before wriggling into the dress. When she emerged, Jack courteously did her laces without any roving hands and led her to the table. "What are you up to?" she asked suspiciously.

"Fer once, nothin'," Jack grinned. "Although I'd like a chance t' start again..." He slid a small box across the table. "Will yer wear these fer me too?"

Cautiously Bessie took the small box, opening it to reveal a dainty pair of pearl earrings. "I cannot," she said apologetically.

"Why?" Jack frowned. "Don't yer like them?"

"They are beautiful," she admitted. "But my ears are not pierced..."

Jack looked at her, startled. "I never noticed," he cursed. "I could do them fer yer? A cold cloth an' a quick needle..."

"I..." she stuttered. "I'm not sure..."

"I'd say trust me," Jack said wryly, "but I can guess yer answer..."

"You presume to know me," Bessie retorted coldly.

"Prove me wrong then... trust me an' I'll pierce yer ears..." Jack tempted. "An' then these are yours..."

Bessie realised he had boxed her, his grin proving that he knew it. To say no would be to accept that he knew her... but to say yes would mean trusting him... "I hate you," she hissed. His grin just spread wider. "Do it then!" she said defiantly.

Jack nodded, turning and rummaging in the side cabin until he emerged with a cloth and a needle. "I'll be back in a moment..." he said, unlocking the cabin door and returning a few moments later with a bucket of sea water. He locked the door again behind him and put the cloth in the cold salt water. When it was cold enough for his satisfaction he held it to her ear. He held her gaze, smiling wolfishly at the close contact.

"Ow!" Bessie protested at the sudden jab to her ear, but deft fingers fixed the earring before she could complain further.

"An' now th' other one..." Jack smiled, making the cloth as cold as he could again. Another quick jab and he was done, although Bessie did not cry out this time - expecting the pain and refusing to give him the satisfaction of making her cry out. "Yer must wash yer ears carefully fer a few weeks, but then they'll heal," he grinned, kissing her on the lips. Bessie jumped backwards, glowering at him. "Yer look beautiful..." He smiled on seeing her blush.

"I still don't trust you!" she declared. "You can't buy me with honey words and jewellery..."

Jack looked at her, chuckling to himself. "Yer wouldn't believe me if I said I wasn't trying to" he said softly. "So why don't we eat..."

Bessie held her tongue, merely nodding and reaching for the food. Jack smiled to himself, noting how she still found it hard to believe that all of the food was for them - as if she expected it to disappear before her eyes.

"Wine?" he asked, reaching for a bottle that he had selected from the hold earlier in the day. His lips twitched, teasing, wondering if she would accept.

"Thank you but no," Bessie refused, holding her hand over her glass. "I'd rather water if we still have any..."

"It's a bit stale," Jack admitted. "We won't be able t' pick up any fresh until we reach Tortuga."

"Tortuga!" Bessie gasped, paling. "But that's full of..."

"Pirates," Jack interrupted, chuckling at her. "Well, it is what we are luv," he grinned. A sharp knock sounded on the door. "It's time!"

"Time for what?" Bessie asked, worriedly looking at his eyes as they darkened.

"Time fer me t' see t' Hughes," Jack explained. "Stay here an' I'll be back when we're ready fer yer."

"I..." she stuttered.

"Yer must see his end Bessie." Jack said. "I want him t' know yer are with me!" Bessie nodded uncertainly. "I'll be back shortly."

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Jack left her, quietly locking the cabin door behind him. He trusted that his crew would not try anything, not after the example set with John Thomson, but he was not taking any chances. "Better safe than sorry," he muttered, walking alone down to the brig.

Archibald Hughes stared angrily at him from within the bars. "So you eventually grace me with your presence Sparrow," he snarled.

Jack laughed darkly. "Well I'll be relieved of yer presence after t'night Hughes... t'night yer die!" He lounged against the bulkhead, looking at his enemy. "Yer know yer shouldn't have touched Bessie... shouldn't have hurt her. Nor should yer have killed m' sons!"

"That was an accident!" Archibald Hughes tried to explain. "She tripped over that bloody cat! Could've killed both of us too!"

"Whatever yer might have meant," Jack interrupted, "th' result was their deaths! An' fer that you will die..."

Archibald Hughes laughed at Jack. "Pirates don't have families!" he snorted. "It makes them vulnerable - as her father found out!"

Jack shrugged. "Perhaps," he admitted. "But how many of us have th' chance of somethin' good, somethin' pure in our lives anymore?" He smiled. "She's m' woman, an' perhaps one day she'll even be m' wife..." He looked closely at the other pirate. "D'yer have any family Hughes? Will anyone mourn yer death? I think not!" He turned, shouting up the stairs. "Gibbs! Are yer ready?"

"Aye Captain," Joshamee replied, his voice floating from above.

Jack drew his pistol, opening the cell. "Out yer come," he ordered, forcing his enemy up the stairs to the gun deck where Joshamee was waiting with most of the crew. "Tie his hands an' feet," Jack instructed, "an' gag him!" He leaned close to Archibald. "I'd make yer peace with yer maker now," he suggested. "Yer've not much time..."

Although Archibald Hughes struggled briefly, there was little he could do and soon he was bound and gagged. The men picked him up, laying him in a waiting sailcloth and fixing a cannonball to his feet. His eyes widened with terror as he realised his fate, but Jack stitched the cloth shut until he was totally encased in the deathly shroud. "Bring 'im!" he ordered as he climbed up to the main deck to fetch Bessie.