The following morning, Katrina woke up in the secluded barn that she had spent the night in. Now that she was back in St Lucia, there was nowhere for her to go. If she was spotted by the Navy officers then she'd be thrown in prison and hanged on the morrow. She'd hardly slept, expecting soldiers to break the door down and drag her out at any minute. But she knew she couldn't stay in there forever. Kat pushed open the door and sunlight flooded into the gloomy place. It was early in the morning and people were hustling and bustling through the market. She felt a lump rise in her throat as she realised that Jack could be stood on the gallows in Port Royal this very minute. Somehow she couldn't imagine Captain Jack Sparrow being dead – it just didn't seem possible. As she turned a corner, she felt tears in her eyes and bent her head low. She wasn't concentrating on where she was walking and felt herself collide with someone. Daniel Carpenter stood in front of her, staring.
"Katrina!" he whispered in shock, peering at her as if she were some sort of illusion that wasn't really there.
"Not you!" she exclaimed impatiently, feeling the sorrow inside her being replaced with anger. She really didn't need to see the perverted bastard when she was feeling so depressed and heartbroken. She made to walk past him, but he blocked her way.
"You've been missing for weeks! What happened to you?" he demanded, his eyes searching hers urgently.
"I was kidnapped by those pirates on the night of the attack." Kat lied.
"What did they do to you?" he asked her frantically. "How did you escape?"
"Oh, what do you care?" Katrina shouted at him furiously. "Get out of my way, Daniel."
"Where are you going to go? There are 'wanted' posters describing you all over town." Daniel told her. "They're after you, Kat and it won't be long before they find you."
"They don't even know I'm here – they think I'm still missing!" Kat told him in exasperation. She had always thought Daniel was a bit slow.
"How long do you think it will be before someone notices from the posters that you're the one they're looking for? You're in great danger, Katrina. But I can save you…if you marry me."
Kat's mouth fell open. "WHAT?" she screeched when she found her voice.
"If you agree to become my wife then I'll go to the Commodore and persuade him that you've changed your ways. That you're sorry for all the stealing and you want to start your new life as Mrs Carpenter…my devoted little wife." He smirked at her and if Kat had a cutlass on her then she probably would have run him through where he stood.
"It would never work – they want my neck and no dim-witted carpenter like you can change their minds. Besides," she eyed him with disgust, "I'd rather hang than marry you."
"Then you're a fool." Daniel replied in the same cold tone. "They'll throw you in a dirty cell with the pirates and murderers and that'll be the end of you. They're charging around the port after that pirate Jack Sparrow at the moment, so it won't be long until they run into you."
Katrina blinked. What had he just said? "But…Jack's dead!" she blurted out without thinking. Luckily, Daniel misunderstood what she meant.
"No, they never got to hang him because he escaped from prison on the night of the pirate attack. Nobody really knows how he got out – perhaps those pirates were his allies and set him free. But this morning he was discovered – here in St Lucia! From what I've heard about Sparrow, I thought he'd have more sense than to come back here."
Kat was pale from shock, her eyes shining with fresh tears. It couldn't be true, could it? Had Jack really escaped the noose for a second time and come back to find her? Daniel must be wrong…Jack wouldn't risk being caught again, would he?
"Are you sure?" she asked Daniel, struggling to keep the emotion out of her voice. "Jack Sparrow is here in St Lucia…right now?"
"Yes." Daniel's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "I saw him a while ago, running from the Navy. I think they had him cornered but he got out, somehow. They seem particularly determined to catch him, so he must have done something to anger them."
Kat couldn't keep the amazed look from her face as her eyes widened at the information. Jack was here! But how? She had to find him. But as she started to run away, Daniel roughly caught her arm.
"Wait. Why are you in such a state? What have you got to do with Jack Sparrow?" he asked her sternly, frowning hard at her.
"Let me go!" Kat's eyes flashed dangerously at him, but his grip on her tightened.
"You ran away with him that night didn't you!" he suddenly burst out, pushing her back against a wall. "You were with him all this time!"
"So what if I was? What are you going to do about it?" Kat said icily.
"You're in love with him, aren't you? You're in love with a pirate!" his face was twisted in repulsion and jealousy. "What's the matter with you, woman? I've asked you to marry me and yet you still want to run away with him to a life of damnation on the seas!"
"I'd much rather have that sort of life and be free than stuck at home with a dull sod like you day after day!" Kat spat out at him and then kicked him as hard as she could to make him release her.
She ran through the streets, her eyes searching for no one else but Jack. She had to find him before the Navy did – but they were after both of them now. Was Daniel right? Was she really in love? She had always been too proud to admit her feelings, but as she thought of Jack and how well she knew him, she realised how strong her feelings were. There was no point fighting it anymore – she was in love with Jack Sparrow.
Katrina had turned corner after corner, dodging and hiding out of sight whenever she saw one of the officers in red uniform. Her heart was pounding at the terror of being caught, but the thought of Jack drove her on. She leant against a damp wall and waited for two navy officers to trot past with their muskets and then went on her way again. She was sprinting down a deserted street when she heard the sound of clashing swords and deep voices in the distance. Curiously, she moved closer and peered round the corner. Two men were duelling, looking at each other with obvious loathing. One was Daniel Carpenter and the other was –
"Jack!"
Kat felt herself brighten inside as she saw him there before her. It felt like she hadn't seen him for months and the familiar sight of him made her heart soar. She watched as he fought with skilled, quick movements. He turned towards the sound of her voice but then jumped backwards as Daniel's sword plunged forward.
"Is he the one you punched in the nose? Well, he came looking to fight me for your hand in marriage!" Jack smiled broadly in amusement.
"And you agreed?" Kat exclaimed furiously.
"I couldn't resist, luv. Don't worry – it'll all be over in a minute." Jack said confidently, smoothly blocking Daniel's cutlass.
"Oh, will both of you just stop it! This isn't the middle ages! You can't have a battle to win me!" Katrina shouted angrily but they didn't stop.
"I'm doing this to show that I'm better for you, Kat." Daniel told her arrogantly. "He's a pirate – he can't offer you the things I can"
"You're wasting your time, Daniel. I've already told you – I'd rather rot in hell than marry you." Katrina glared at him.
They continued to swordfight, the sunlight flashing along the blades of their weapons. Kat folded her arms and leant against the wall, impatiently waiting for them to finish. They both blocked each other at the same time, the blades crossed in front of them.
"I'm telling you, Sparrow – I'm not letting her run off with you again." Daniel warned Jack through the still swords.
"We'll just see about that, lad." Jack replied dangerously, showing Daniel his gold teeth. "Nobody goes after my girl and gets away with it."
They both pulled their swords back and began to duel again more vigorously. Kat sighed, bored out of her mind. Any other woman would probably simper at being fought over, but not her. She had liked it when Jack called her his girl, though.
"Jack, we've got to get a move on!" she shouted at him urgently, peering anxiously around the corner. They were facing a dead end and the officers could appear any minute.
"Almost there…" Jack frowned as he concentrated and a few seconds later, Daniel's weapon clattered to the floor. "Bad luck, mate. I guess the bet man won, eh?"
Daniel didn't reply, his face a picture of fury and embarrassment. Jack sheathed his sword but as he and Katrina turned to leave, Daniel ran forward and grabbed her arm.
"Kat – don't go with him. I know I've acted like an idiot before but it was only because I liked you. If you stay and marry me, I'll treat you well; I promise."
For the first time ever, Kat smiled at him. "I'm sorry Daniel, but I can't. If you had ever spoken to me with respect and not treated me like you did then perhaps I would have grown to like you, but it's far too late to start being nice to me now. I'm going to go with Jack. I-I love him."
"She loves me, savvy?" Jack said proudly to Daniel from behind her.
"I could never have been someone's 'devoted little wife', as you put it. Why don't you try Mary; the fair haired one I used to live with? She's very sweet and pretty; she'd make a good wife for you."
"Good luck, Kat." Daniel said wistfully as he looked at her one last time. As Kat turned away from him, she couldn't believe that he had really liked her all along. She was glad he wasn't such a bad guy after all. He and Mary would definitely make a good couple.
Now, all she and Jack had to do was flee for their lives.
Karibbean, Norwigean Pirate, InToDepp and Goddess of Mystery – thanks so much for your reviews :) The next chapter (16) will be the last!
