~~*~~
By late that evening, Jack Sparrow had finished his tour of the Engloria as he and Will stood about the ship's wheel speaking about the past owner of 'said' ship.
"I've heard of 'em," Jack agreed, now leaning against the railing, facing Will.
"You know what he's done to some in these parts." Will said, Jack nodded in understanding.
"Don't you find it ironic that the man responsible for sinking your ship, that his wife is giving you his, Mad Charles' ship, in return?"
Will took a deep breath. He was most pleased with the deal and found some satisfaction in owning the swindler's ship for repayment, more for past sins-but that had been earlier. As the days turned into weeks, he was finding it more difficult to live with his choice of payment, knowing most of the reasoning was because Catherine was Charles' widow. Now that he'd spent time with the woman, things were becoming blurred.
"Possibly," Will murmured.
Sounding as if a content cat had now started to purr beside him, Will turned to see Jack looking in the opposite direction towards the entry to the cabins down below.
Standing, one hand resting upon the rail, Jack Sparrow was quite intrigued with watching what was happening a few feet away.
There stood a woman with hair of darkened gold, nearly reaching half way down her back. She was curvy, just the way he liked a woman to be and his appreciation must have been apparent for Will loudly cleared his throat in a most intimidating manor.
"One of yours?" Jack asked, sensing the other's objection, but full well feeling something more.
"No," Will said a little too vehement for his taste, as well as Jack's. And Jack Sparrow being Jack Sparrow, did not miss the opportunity. "That's the widow Hyde...Catherine Kent, she's going by her family name now."
"Oh?" Bowing slightly as the woman ahead did the same, revealing her skirt covered backside to his perusal, Jack grinned impishly. "She does have nice ass-ets," the pirate gleamed, quickly wiping the appreciation from his face upon Will's displeased grunt.
Standing, turning about to go back down below after retrieving a shawl that was left topside to dry after washing, Catherine didn't notice the two men looking in her direction.
"Fine assets," Jack said lowly, staring blatantly at the silhouette of her breasts before she disappeared and before he heard Will Turner's snort and found the man looking rather upset with the remarks.
Waving his hands about to the surroundings of the ship, Jack Sparrow sighed deeply. "The ship," he reassured, but he knew something now that probably even stubborn Will Turner did not.
"Yes, the ship," Will said in a tight voice as Jack slapped him on the back then stepped around, heading to the gangplank.
"It'll be dusk soon enough. I should best be heading back to 'The Red Rose' for the evening's festivities," the pirate explained with a naughty glint in his eyes. "You be good Will Turner...and do stop being so...so...serious," he added before walking down to the docks.
Stepping closer, watching as Jack began to leave, Will placed his hand to the small leather coin purse hanging from a long leather cord about his neck. "Turner, do ye once more practice with that sword of yours for three hours a day?" Jack shouted, waving to get the other's attention.
"No!" Will half lied, for it was only two hours a day, when possible.
"Liar, heed what I told you years ago, find a woman if you already have not," the ebony haired pirate emphasized before sauntering away.
Rolling his dark eyes, Will was not happy with the comment.
"He's right ye know," Stout spoke up, suddenly appearing from the steps. "A nice woman would do ye a world of good."
Narrowing his eyes at the rotund man, Will stood toe to toe with him. "I already had one, and she died," he declared with venom.
"Then maybe it's time you started truly remembering that, lad. A ghost can't keep ye warm at night, much less fill your needs."
With those words, Will pulled back his arm, his fist clenched as if to punch the man.
"Go on, young William! If it'll take the hurt from ye, I'd gladly let you pound me into pulp," Stout swore, not backing down and watching as the other's eyes seemed to calm, the fire of anger fleeing.
Unclenching his fist, the dark-haired captain ran it roughly against the stubble on his cheek. "Mind your own business, old man," he warned, brushing by him to head toward the bow of the ship and look upon the town that was slowly flickering with light as the setting sun gave way to the kiss of the moon.
~~*~~
Sitting upon the small bunk, legs thrown over the side, Will Turner yawned tiredly while briskly rubbing his hands across his face.
He had slept fitfully that night, tossing and turning while caught once more deep amidst dreams. Odd thing was, it had finally occurred to him upon waking that morning that he'd not had a nightmare since leaving Port Royal. Furthermore, last night his unconscious had been muddled with convoluted and disjointed images, all focused most clearly on his employer, Catherine Kent.
What could it mean? Those morning musings were rapidly brushed aside by the alarmed shout of his name and hurried knocking on the cabin door.
Seconds later, the door flew open as Red Roof scurried inside, bumping his head against the top of the doorframe, but that didn't stop the determined young man.
"Cap'n, she's gone!" The panicked redhead explained, rubbing his abused forehead.
Will, still wrapped momentarily in sleep's embrace shucked on his black britches. "Red, who's gone? What are you going on about?" He questioned, reaching for his shirt, sliding it over his head.
"The girl. Miss Cathie," the thin man reiterated, looking abashed at Will's momentary blindness.
"Of all the mad things..." he swore under his breath, not bothering to secure his shirt, leaving it billowing open as he hurriedly reached for his belt.
"When did she leave?"
"Don't rightly know, Cap'n Will, one o' the boys was supposed to 'ave kept watch on 'er cabin, but was told to leave to get 'er a morning meal."
"By Ark." Will finished, picking up his pistol from the small table near his bunk, holstering it in his belt.
Red Roof shifted his feet nervously. "No sir, by Miss Cathie 'erself."
"Bloody hell," the young captain intoned angrily. "Does she have any idea what she is doing?"
"I sent a couple o' the boys into town to keep their eyes and ears open" the lanky man informed, watching as Will grabbed his sword then reached for one last thing -the small leather pouch where he kept his money and the rubies.
"Good thinking. Now one last thing. I need Ark and the other two watched. Don't let them out of your sight and by damned don't let them leave this ship till I return," Turner ordered, and Red Roof could see the worry in the captain's face.
"Sir, what would they do to 'er if they...caught up with 'er?"
Will shook his head. "She probably wouldn't come back alive...or if she did, it would be only until they got what they wanted from her."
"Would ye like me to join ye in lookin' for Miss Cathie?" Red Roof requested, his worry too, worn well upon his features, for he'd grown to like the woman.
Stopping in his track, Will turned to look at the gangly man. "No, I need you here where you're most needed. Besides, I'd rather there be no witnesses for what I might do to Miss Kent once I catch up to her," he informed, leaving Red Roof speechless as the annoyed captain hurried onto the deck.
~~*~~
By late that evening, Jack Sparrow had finished his tour of the Engloria as he and Will stood about the ship's wheel speaking about the past owner of 'said' ship.
"I've heard of 'em," Jack agreed, now leaning against the railing, facing Will.
"You know what he's done to some in these parts." Will said, Jack nodded in understanding.
"Don't you find it ironic that the man responsible for sinking your ship, that his wife is giving you his, Mad Charles' ship, in return?"
Will took a deep breath. He was most pleased with the deal and found some satisfaction in owning the swindler's ship for repayment, more for past sins-but that had been earlier. As the days turned into weeks, he was finding it more difficult to live with his choice of payment, knowing most of the reasoning was because Catherine was Charles' widow. Now that he'd spent time with the woman, things were becoming blurred.
"Possibly," Will murmured.
Sounding as if a content cat had now started to purr beside him, Will turned to see Jack looking in the opposite direction towards the entry to the cabins down below.
Standing, one hand resting upon the rail, Jack Sparrow was quite intrigued with watching what was happening a few feet away.
There stood a woman with hair of darkened gold, nearly reaching half way down her back. She was curvy, just the way he liked a woman to be and his appreciation must have been apparent for Will loudly cleared his throat in a most intimidating manor.
"One of yours?" Jack asked, sensing the other's objection, but full well feeling something more.
"No," Will said a little too vehement for his taste, as well as Jack's. And Jack Sparrow being Jack Sparrow, did not miss the opportunity. "That's the widow Hyde...Catherine Kent, she's going by her family name now."
"Oh?" Bowing slightly as the woman ahead did the same, revealing her skirt covered backside to his perusal, Jack grinned impishly. "She does have nice ass-ets," the pirate gleamed, quickly wiping the appreciation from his face upon Will's displeased grunt.
Standing, turning about to go back down below after retrieving a shawl that was left topside to dry after washing, Catherine didn't notice the two men looking in her direction.
"Fine assets," Jack said lowly, staring blatantly at the silhouette of her breasts before she disappeared and before he heard Will Turner's snort and found the man looking rather upset with the remarks.
Waving his hands about to the surroundings of the ship, Jack Sparrow sighed deeply. "The ship," he reassured, but he knew something now that probably even stubborn Will Turner did not.
"Yes, the ship," Will said in a tight voice as Jack slapped him on the back then stepped around, heading to the gangplank.
"It'll be dusk soon enough. I should best be heading back to 'The Red Rose' for the evening's festivities," the pirate explained with a naughty glint in his eyes. "You be good Will Turner...and do stop being so...so...serious," he added before walking down to the docks.
Stepping closer, watching as Jack began to leave, Will placed his hand to the small leather coin purse hanging from a long leather cord about his neck. "Turner, do ye once more practice with that sword of yours for three hours a day?" Jack shouted, waving to get the other's attention.
"No!" Will half lied, for it was only two hours a day, when possible.
"Liar, heed what I told you years ago, find a woman if you already have not," the ebony haired pirate emphasized before sauntering away.
Rolling his dark eyes, Will was not happy with the comment.
"He's right ye know," Stout spoke up, suddenly appearing from the steps. "A nice woman would do ye a world of good."
Narrowing his eyes at the rotund man, Will stood toe to toe with him. "I already had one, and she died," he declared with venom.
"Then maybe it's time you started truly remembering that, lad. A ghost can't keep ye warm at night, much less fill your needs."
With those words, Will pulled back his arm, his fist clenched as if to punch the man.
"Go on, young William! If it'll take the hurt from ye, I'd gladly let you pound me into pulp," Stout swore, not backing down and watching as the other's eyes seemed to calm, the fire of anger fleeing.
Unclenching his fist, the dark-haired captain ran it roughly against the stubble on his cheek. "Mind your own business, old man," he warned, brushing by him to head toward the bow of the ship and look upon the town that was slowly flickering with light as the setting sun gave way to the kiss of the moon.
~~*~~
Sitting upon the small bunk, legs thrown over the side, Will Turner yawned tiredly while briskly rubbing his hands across his face.
He had slept fitfully that night, tossing and turning while caught once more deep amidst dreams. Odd thing was, it had finally occurred to him upon waking that morning that he'd not had a nightmare since leaving Port Royal. Furthermore, last night his unconscious had been muddled with convoluted and disjointed images, all focused most clearly on his employer, Catherine Kent.
What could it mean? Those morning musings were rapidly brushed aside by the alarmed shout of his name and hurried knocking on the cabin door.
Seconds later, the door flew open as Red Roof scurried inside, bumping his head against the top of the doorframe, but that didn't stop the determined young man.
"Cap'n, she's gone!" The panicked redhead explained, rubbing his abused forehead.
Will, still wrapped momentarily in sleep's embrace shucked on his black britches. "Red, who's gone? What are you going on about?" He questioned, reaching for his shirt, sliding it over his head.
"The girl. Miss Cathie," the thin man reiterated, looking abashed at Will's momentary blindness.
"Of all the mad things..." he swore under his breath, not bothering to secure his shirt, leaving it billowing open as he hurriedly reached for his belt.
"When did she leave?"
"Don't rightly know, Cap'n Will, one o' the boys was supposed to 'ave kept watch on 'er cabin, but was told to leave to get 'er a morning meal."
"By Ark." Will finished, picking up his pistol from the small table near his bunk, holstering it in his belt.
Red Roof shifted his feet nervously. "No sir, by Miss Cathie 'erself."
"Bloody hell," the young captain intoned angrily. "Does she have any idea what she is doing?"
"I sent a couple o' the boys into town to keep their eyes and ears open" the lanky man informed, watching as Will grabbed his sword then reached for one last thing -the small leather pouch where he kept his money and the rubies.
"Good thinking. Now one last thing. I need Ark and the other two watched. Don't let them out of your sight and by damned don't let them leave this ship till I return," Turner ordered, and Red Roof could see the worry in the captain's face.
"Sir, what would they do to 'er if they...caught up with 'er?"
Will shook his head. "She probably wouldn't come back alive...or if she did, it would be only until they got what they wanted from her."
"Would ye like me to join ye in lookin' for Miss Cathie?" Red Roof requested, his worry too, worn well upon his features, for he'd grown to like the woman.
Stopping in his track, Will turned to look at the gangly man. "No, I need you here where you're most needed. Besides, I'd rather there be no witnesses for what I might do to Miss Kent once I catch up to her," he informed, leaving Red Roof speechless as the annoyed captain hurried onto the deck.
~~*~~