Usual disclaimers – drat!

Chapter 32 – Arrangements

By the time Bessie's Revenge was safely tied up alongside the Black Pearl, Jack had managed to take on seventeen new men. They would pick more men in Tortola and from other ports when they had removed the curse. Although Jack thought the curse could be useful, he had no intention of remaining so. Not only had he promised Joshamee that as soon as they had regained the Black Pearl they would return to the Isla de Muerta, he missed Bessie's cooking. He had eaten and made the right sounds of appreciation since they had been reunited, but he wished he could actually taste it.

More especially, he did not want the curse affecting him when he would finally be able to make love to Bessie. He had heard tales, years ago, about Barbossa and his crew when they had been cursed from the whores who had shaken their heads in confusion that not even the most skilled of them had been able to get any response. The last thing he wanted was Bessie thinking he was not up to it any more. The fact that Bessie was practically young enough to be his daughter had been amusing at first, but now it simply made him feel his every year.

Running out a plank, he walked across to the smaller ship, refusing to sleep in his cabin until it had been cleaned – especially the bedding. The thought of having Bessie sleeping next to him in the same bedding that the Welshman had used made him shudder. Not even the man's stale sweat was going to touch her skin. He had sent Henry and Jem ashore to find what was needed, clean bedding and whatever they felt was needed to wash the stench of Corbin from the ship.

Tomorrow, they would sail to the Isla de Muerta.

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Jack sat back, smiling contentedly to himself at two of the new crewmen, George Forthynne and Dugal MacCoul rowed him back to his ship. His ship. He savoured the words as they bumped against the hull of the Black Pearl, quickly climbing on board. The meeting with the carpenters had gone well and with their co-operation purchased by a hefty purse, they had agreed to start work on his special project as soon as the Black Pearl sailed. Constance Morgan had consented to oversee the work and, as far as he could ensure, all had been arranged.

"Cabin is all ready, Captain," Gethin assured him as he climbed over the ship's rail. "Do yer want me t' fetch Bessie and th' children for you?"

"No," Jack said, grinning. "I'll bring them across m'self," he replied, delighting in the thought of having his family on board. The new crew members had been warned about any inappropriate behaviour, although Jack was not overly worried, he knew his trusted nine men would not miss a thing.

Eagerly he ran across the plank to Bessie's Revenge, laughing to see Tabitha sitting on the end, her small bag of belongings at her feet. Carefully, he stepped over her.

"Can we go yet?" she complained, looking up at him. "You said we could go this mornin' an' it's nearly noon!"

"Aye," he agreed. "I had t' see t' a surprise fer yer mother… an' it took longer than I thought. But yer can go across now if yer like. Jem has rigged yer all some hammocks in th' master cabin…"

"Hammocks!" she grinned, grabbing her bag and dashing across the plank without thought of the drop. Jack watched, his heart in his mouth, fearful that she would fall, but she made it to the other side safely.

"How come Tabby got to go first!" Jack complained, scowling at his father.

"B'cause she was 'ere an' waiting," Jack shrugged. "But yer can all go across now…" He grabbed Frances who seemed determined to beat her older brother, reasoning she was too young to attempt the plank on her own.

Whooping with joy, Jack, Henrietta, John and Pearl hurried across the plank, running around the ship and causing chaos wherever they went. He carried Frances into the cabin, unsurprised to see Bessie still struggling to get the new twins ready.

"I'm nearly done," she assured him, looking up as he entered, handing Mark a heavy bag. He nodded to Jack and headed out of the cabin.

"I'll send Henry and Lucas back to help," he said, pausing by the door, realising that Jack and Bessie would unlikely manage the four smallest children between them.

Bessie sighed, turning to Jack. "Are you sure we will be safe on the Pearl?" she asked worriedly.

"It's only until we lift th' curse an' come back," Jack assured her.

"And then what?" Bessie pressed.

"Yer'll have t' wait an' see," Jack teased, chuckling at her indignant expression.

"Jack Sparrow…" she warned.

"Ah, Henry," Jack coughed, grateful to see his men arrive. "Lucas, if you'll take Fanny across an' you take Milly, Henry." He handed her over to Lucas, bending down to pick up Milly from the small crib and passing her to Henry. "I'll take these two," he said, cautiously taking the twins from Bessie, "and I'll come back for you…"

"I'll get it out of you somehow, Jack!" she promised.

"Ye can get it out of me any way yer like," he chuckled, laughing at her choice of words.

"Oh!" she cried, grabbing one of the pillows and threatening him with it.

Jack took that as a good cue to leave, and led his men across the plank and onto the Black Pearl. He handed the twins over to the capable care of Jem before returning to stand by the gangplank. "Now," he grinned. "Are yer still going ter threaten me with violence? I could leave yer there, you know!"

"The first dirty nappy and you'll be screaming for me!" she called back to him, undaunted by his taunt.

Jack paled at her first threat, not liking in the least the thought of the toilet needs of his smaller children. "All right, you can come on board," he conceded, returning and offering her his hand. He knew she would be frightened to cross, aware of the water below. "Just remember, I'm Captain," he hissed, pouting at her.

Bessie chuckled. "Yes, dear," she said, kissing him on the cheek. "Whatever you say, dear…"

Jack raised an eyebrow, then took her hand in his, leading her across the gangplank. He squeezed her hand reassuringly as she faltered nearly half-way across, but she regained her nerve and continued. "There!" he grinned as she finally set foot on the Black Pearl. "I knew yer could do it." A number of the new crew scurried back over to Bessie's Revenge to bring the last of her belongings over. "Now, if yer'd like t' make yourself comfortable in th' cabin, I'll get us under way…"

"What are you up to, Jack?" she puzzled.

"Nothing…" he replied, his attempt to look innocent ruined by a fit of coughing.

Bessie could not keep a straight face and, laughing, allowed him to escort her into the main cabin. It felt good to be back on board the Black Pearl and she could hardly imagine how it must feel for Jack.

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