Usual disclaimers, but if you aren't used to them by now then you've been living on another planet.
I'm sorry that I forgot to upload yesterday, but it is the Easter holidays here in the UK at the moment and I have my seven year old son home for a fortnight… so I'm surprised I can even remember my name... who am I?
Anyway, I am posting the final four chapters of Bessie today and there is not a follow-up story. I have just started writing with Ani Sparrow a brand new tale about a girl named Mab, but that is only in it's early days and there is a lot of typing to do before it is ready… so it will likely be a few months before you see anything new from me.
Thanks for all the reviews and for being with me through the Kitty and Bessie tales… you guys are the absolute best!
Chapter 33 – Reversal and Revenge
The Black Pearl sailed for just over a week, with either Paul, Joshamee or Jack himself at the helm. Jack watched the new crew closely, but none showed any signs of not fitting. Indeed, most ate Bessie's cooking eagerly, not being used to such good food on board. Jack wished the winds would blow stronger, wanting to taste Bessie's cooking himself. And rum… oh, how he needed a good bottle of rum!
Finally, the volcanic island of Isla de Muerta came into view and the Black Pearl carefully picked her way through the wrecks and the reefs to the safe anchorage. Jack was wary about all the cursed men leaving the ship at once, so settled for allowing five men to go first , Joshamee amongst them.
"I gave yer m' word," he said to his quartermaster, slapping him companionably on the back as he prepared to follow Mark, Jem, Gethin and Wyn who waited for him in the ship's boat below. "Now yer know what t' do…"
"Jack!" Joshamee sighed, running his hand through his hair. "You've told me a dozen times, if not more. Now, the sooner I go, the sooner I'll get back…"
Jack chuckled ruefully, knowing how eager his quartermaster was to reverse the curse upon him. "Yer'd best go then" he acknowledged, watching as the older man climbed down to the waiting boat. He paused, sensing somebody behind him, surprised to find it was Bessie. She slipped her arms around his waist, hugging him.
"I bet you can't wait either," she sighed, ducking under his arm to stand before him.
"Aye, it'll be good t' be back ter normal," he admitted. "Although I'm more than a little grateful that I took one when I did," he said, kissing her on the nose.
"So am I," she replied, hugging him tightly. "I don't know what myself or the children would have done without you…"
"Well, once yer able, p'raps we'd better try fer a nice round ten," he chuckled.
"Jack!" she protested. "I only gave birth a… but… no!"
"All right," he conceded, his eyes teasing. "P'raps we can wait a while." He held her to him, wrapping his arms about her tightly. "How does next Tuesday sound t' you?"
"Jack!" she cried, trying to get her arms free to hit him, realising how tightly he had her trapped.
"Papa! Are we going ashore?" Henrietta asked, tugging on his shirt. "I want t' see th' gold!"
"Not this time, Hetty," he said, cautiously releasing Bessie and tousling his daughter's hair.
"You know we're only here so Papa can get unskeletoned," the younger Jack reasoned, rolling his eyes at his twin. "Although it would be fun to see the cursed coins. Can we?"
"No!" both Jack and Bessie cried at once. If there was one thing that young Jack was not going to do, it was to get his hand on a coin.
"Spoilsport," he muttered, calling Cotton the macaw down from the rigging to sit upon his shoulder and stomping up the stairs to the quarterdeck so that he could get a better view of the island.
"Promise me you'll never let him near that chest," Bessie worried, looking up at Jack anxiously.
"Don't yer worry," Jack assured her. "There is no way I'm even letting him ashore!" He glanced up, relieved to see the ship's boat returning. "Right, I have t' gather th' men an' take m' turn," he said, grinning at her.
Bessie watched as the five men climb up onto the deck, rough bandages on their left hands covering the cuts. Although they could not feel the injuries now, Jack had warned them that they would once the curse was lifted. Jacob, Lucas, Henry and Paul climbed down as soon as they were on board, holding the boat steady as Jack kissed Bessie once more before following them. She watched them row towards the island, disappearing into the cave mouth, before turning to Joshamee. "I found some of Ned's salve still in his cabin the other day," she said, sadly remembering the ship's doctor. "Come, I'll smear a little on the cuts…"
The five men obediently followed her into the master cabin, allowing her to see to their hands, before returning to their duties, ensuring that the Black Pearl was ready to sail as soon as Jack and the others returned. Shortly, they felt a tingling from the cuts, momentarily unsure if it was the salve, before realising that the final five coins must have been replaced and the blood debt repaid. Joshamee paced the main deck anxiously, ensuring a seaward watch was maintained whilst the ship was forced to wait. Finally, the ship's boat could be seen, bobbing towards them, and he sighed with relief, not having realised he was holding his breath.
The boat bumped against the hull and, unsurprisingly, Jack was the first on board. The others climbed up quickly behind him, favouring their hands. "Get th' boat secure an' make fer Tortuga," he ordered, pausing only to kiss Bessie who had started seeing to the cuts. When she had finished his hand too, he wrapped his arm about her, heading towards his cabin where he had a particularly fine bottle of rum which he was more than a little eager to taste. "Ah, m' woman an' rum… what more could a man ask fer," he sighed contentedly.
"Wind in yer sails!" a voice screeched from the rigging.
Jack looked up, dodging frantically to one side, glaring at his eldest son who was nearly crying with laughter at the bird's antics. "Once more," Jack glowered, raising a fist to the macaw as he entered the safety of his cabin. "Once more an' I eat it!"
