IMPORTANT AUTHOR'S NOTE: To avoid confusion, I suggest you readers skim over the last three chapters, because I've made a few changes. They won't be apparent in this chapter, but certainly will be in all the following chapters. So, please, don't ignore this note. Please check the chapters to make sure you've seen the changes, otherwise you will be very confused. Thank you!
Chapter 4: Leah
"Alright, honey, you can open your eyes!" my father said, his voice excited.
I opened my eyes, and I was almost blinded by the bright sun. I blinked repeatedly to clear my eyes, then gasped at the sight before me.
There in the clear Caribbean waters stood the most magnificent sailing boat I had ever seen. "This is yours, Leah! Yours to sail anytime you wish, so long as you have someone with you," my father announced. So this was the mysterious "project" that he had been working on! I squealed with delight.
"Thank you Father! I love it! Thank you, thank you, thank you!" I ran up the plank set out on the pier and raced on deck. I walked around. It was magnificent. It had one deck, since it was only a sailboat, and I had no need for a crew. The ivory-white sails billowed in the breeze. I walked along the newly-scrubbed deck, running my hand along the side railing. It was smooth, and warm from the sunlight. My footsteps echoed, and my long brown hair billowed out behind me. It was beautiful, and it was all mine!
I turned to my father. "Can I sail it now?" I asked hopefully.
"Of course! We'll set out right now! The weather is perfect for sailing!"
He started up the deck, but he stopped as we heard a voice call out, "Commodore O'Connor!" A soldier was running toward the dock, his bright red uniform making him easily visible in the crowd in the marketplace. My father turned and waited on the dock for the soldier. The young soldier ran up to him and whispered something in my father's ear. My father nodded grimly, and the soldier ran off. My heart fell. I knew that look. Father was being called off to work. He probably wouldn't be back until after dark.
My father turned slowly and faced me. "I'm sorry, Leah, but there's something in town that I need to deal with. Can sailing wait?"
I hung my head and said softly, "Yes. They need you. Go."
He hesitated, then I heard his heavy boots fading away. I looked up at his retreating back. He always does this. He promises to spend time with me, then gets called off to work. Can't he just tell them he can't once in a while? A voice inside my head said angrily.
You know that's not fair. He tries to spend time with the family, but he has a demanding job! He's earning a good life for you! Another voice cut in.
I sighed and headed back towards my home. I wouldn't be going sailing today.
******
The next day I walked over to my friend Jade Cartley's house after my ballet class. She was my best friend in the world, and I had known her since we were both little. She was the same age as me, 17. She was the daughter of a naval captain.
I reached the door and knocked three times. Soon a young maid opened the door, and I asked to see Ms. Cartley. The maid nodded and beckoned me to follow her. She led me down bright hallways to the parlor, and opened the door to let me in. Jade turned as I came in, and jumped up to hug me.
"Happy birthday! So have you found out what the mysterious "project" of your father's was?"
I smiled. "Yes, I have."
She sighed exasperatedly. "Well, aren't you going to tell me?!"
"It was a sailboat! My very own sailboat!" I said, jumping in excitement. She squealed and hugged me again. When we had calmed down, I asked her, "Would you like to come sailing with me today?"
She looked at me like I was crazy. "Of course I would!"
She ran up to her room and her maid helped her change into a dress to sail and to pin up her hair. She came back down and we headed towards the docks. The soldier that Father had asked to accompany us was waiting on the boat. We climbed aboard, and I put my brother's sailing lessons to work. The sun was shining bright, there was a light breeze, and we laughed and joked the whole time.
Jade fixed her straight dark brown hair and looked over at the soldier. "He is awfully quiet."
I nodded. "But he's soft on the eyes."
We both laughed and continued talking. We sailed for an hour or two, and I noticed that the wind was getting harder and the sky was darkening. We should head back, I thought. "I'm going to start heading back, Jade. There's a storm coming." I informed her. She agreed.
But before I could turn the boat around, I spotted a large ship on horizon. My eyes widened in fear. It was a pirate ship. I rushed to get turned around and to head back to Port Royal. The soldier came up to me to get a better look at the ship. "Oh no…" he breathed.
I urged the little boat to go faster, but it was no use. It was only a sailboat, and the pirate ship was much faster. It quickly floated up beside us. Pirates leaned over the side and catcalled to Jade and I. Then two jumped over and onto our boat. My little sailboat rocked with the collision. The soldier stepped up to defend us, but one of the pirates pulled out his pistol and aimed it at the soldier's head.
And he shot him.
Jade and I screamed. I started to feel sick. A man had just been killed right before my eyes. I leaned over the railing and heaved. I faintly heard Jade screaming for help before I felt myself being lifted up, and I fainted.
My name is Leah O'Connor, and this is my story.
Well, there's the fourth chap! Please review!
-Moony