Usual disclaimers :(
With thanks to Hilary (you're first today!), Josette, misty, lexie, MarzBar, Miss Sophia, AJ Sparrow, Mrs Depp, JHG, RosePearl, Kat Carvell and A Depp Girl. I really do appreciate you taking the trouble to review the story and your comments do help.
Josette, I wish I lived in South Texas! Hope you had fun.
Lexie, I'm glad you've written a story of your own. Hope it goes well.
…
Chapter eighteen: 'Take us to Tortola, Bisi. I've got a babe ter meet.'
'Well, Cap'n?' Peter Dawson enquired as George Farrier walked across the floor of the tavern in which he and some of the crew were drinking, keen to find out how tea with Jenny Sparrow had gone.
'Well, I don't think it can get much better than this,' Farrier grinned, raising a mug in salute. 'She wants to know if I'd be interested in joining the brotherhood.'
'That's a lucky break, Sir,' Seth Jones, master gunner of the Adventurer remarked.
'It is,' his captain agreed. 'We're to come back in ten days time to meet up with Sparrow and maybe attend the next gathering.'
'Will it be safe? What if they rumble you?' Dawson asked, alarm showing on his face.
'I'll have to make damn sure that they don't,' Farrier shrugged, still grinning. 'Right, has anyone any information on the ships in the harbour?'
'Th'schooner is stayin' fer a week or more,' one of his men informed him. 'But th'two masted sloop will be leavin' tomorrow, at dawn.'
'Excellent,' Farrier beamed. 'Extra rum for you, Pullings.'
'Much obliged, Cap'n,' the Lieutenant smiled.
'Will we be able to go after them if you're to meet Sparrow?' Dawson asked. 'There won't be enough time, surely?'
'We'll split the crews. You can take the sloop back to Port Royal and I can meet Sparrow as arranged.'
'Assuming we capture th'sloop,' Jones reminded his captain.
'Start thinking like that, Jones, and you're on shore leave – permanently!'
'Aye, Sir,' the master gunner replied meekly. 'Sorry, Sir.'
'I should think so,' his captain admonished. 'Dawson, tell the others not to get drunk, we've got an early start in the morning.'
'Aye, Cap'n Malster,' the younger man deferred. 'Are you not staying?'
'No, I'm off to see the physician,' he grinned. 'Make sure we give them a good send off.'
'Aye, Sir. I'll make sure th'men are back by four bells.' (First watch 10pm) He watched as Captain Farrier left the tavern then looked in consternation at his crewmates.
'It's all goin' ter go wrong, I can feel it,' Seth Jones lamented.
'Aye,' Dawson agreed, nodding with many of the men around the table. 'But what can we do?'
'Lambs to th'bleedin' slaughter is what we'll be if this carries on,' Bob Crow put in. 'I reckon th'Commodore is a Jonas.'
'Shh! Not so bleedin' loud,' Peter Dawson hissed. 'An' don't let anyone else hear you talk like that or you'll be swinging from Dead Man's Rock along with the pirates.'
'I just hope we capture this bloody sloop tomorrow, that's all.'
Don't we all?' Jones sighed. 'Don't we bloody all?'
…
'Sail ho!' Dan Woods called from the crow's nest. 'Cap'n, it looks like a Spanish ship.'
'That'll do me,' Jack grinned, rubbing his hands with glee. 'Let us go an' see what they have for us then, gentlemen,' he called.
'Aye!' the crew responded as one, eagerly preparing the ship to give chase.
'Jenny won't be too pleased if yer late,' John Williams chuckled from his position on the quarterdeck, having designated most of the cooking duties to Ben Watson.
'We won't be late… not too late anyway,' Jack winked. 'Nothin' I can do ter help her anyway, so might as well make us even richer.'
'Assumin' th'ship has gold on board.'
'Whatever they have, we'll profit from,' Jack shrugged, checking his sword and pistol to ensure they were as ready for battle as he was.
'They're strikin' their colours already, Cap'n,' Dan called down.
'Careful does it then,' Jack cautioned, remembering only too well the time they were tricked by the Dutch brigantine and sustained a fair amount of damage.
The Black Pearl caught up with the slower ship and approached her carefully, guns at the ready until her captain was satisfied that the Spaniards posed no threat. Jack lead the first wave of boarders as they streamed across onto the Abella.
'Por favor no nos dañe,' (please do not harm us) the Spanish captain pleaded, falling to his knees in front of Jack.
'Don't do anything stupid and no-one will be hurt,' Jack assured him in Spanish.
'Gracias.'
'Move out, take whatever they've got,' Jack ordered his crew, moving towards the main cabin.
'No!' his counterpart called, getting to his feet and running towards the pirate captain, not even stopping when Jack drew his pistol and pointed at him. 'Por favor.'
'Why not?' Jack enquired, looking thoughtfully at his opposite number. 'What have ya got in there?' He pulled open the cabin door and blinked in surprise as a woman and six children screamed and huddled together. 'Your family?'
'Si,' the Spaniard nodded fearfully.
'I won't hurt them,' Jack assured him. 'I mean you no harm,' he told the occupants of the cabin.
'Cap'n. There ain't much in th'hold. A few chests of coins an' bits an' pieces,' Billy Wheeler informed him. 'But it's mostly personal stuff – I reckon they're goin' back ter Spain.'
'That'll do us,' his captain confirmed. 'Get it loaded quickly.'
'Already doin' so, Cap'n, suh,' Olabisi grinned, appearing from below with a small chest in this hands.
'I always knew ya'd make a good pirate,' Jack laughed. 'Leave them food an' water,' he ordered his crew. 'We don't want ter kill them.'
'Of course not,' John Williams agreed as he appeared with a larger chest in his arms. 'We're not barbarians, despite what th'bleedin' Navy think.'
Jack stood and watched his crew as they brought up the meagre treasures from below decks, then with a doff of his hat and an elaborate bow, crossed the deck of the Spanish ship and swung back to his beloved Pearl, ordering them away as soon as his feet touched the deck.
'Adios!'' he called, waving at the Spaniards. 'Take us to Tortola, Bisi. I've got a babe ter meet.'
…
'So, Captain Beech,' George Farrier beamed, clapping the captain of the two masted sloop he hoped to procure, on the back. 'Where're you sailin' to?'
'We're headin' up north, Captain Malster,' the pirate slurred, having being plied by drink from his new-found friend all night. 'Goin' ter th'Keys.'
'Ah! Good huntin' there,' Farrier nodded. 'Plenty of Spanish ter plunder.'
'Aye, filthy bastards,' Beech spat. 'Hit me ship twice, the bleedin' Spanish have.'
'So ya like ter hit 'em back, eh?' Farrier chuckled. 'I might head up that way myself – not until you've had your share though,' he chuckled.
'Plenty ter go round,' the pirate rasped, blinking his eyes in an effort to focus them. 'Why don't ya come with us?'
'We've only just arrived in Tortola, my men want some shore leave. Thanks fer th'offer though.'
'Fair enough – maybe next time?'
'Aye, next time,' Farrier agreed, pouring some more ale from a pitcher into Beech's mug and raising his own in toast.
'Yer a generous man,' Beech garbled, swaying alarmingly in his seat. 'Buyin' me an' me crew drinks.'
'I'm relatively new in th'area,' Farrier admitted. 'It pays ter be nice an' friendly ter everyone,' he winked conspiratorially.
'Ah,' Beech chuckled. 'Yer not as green as ya look.'
'Not at all,' his companion laughed. 'Not at all,' he thought to himself, thinking Beech would find out exactly as soon as what had been slipped into the drinks took effect.
…
Jenny woke and shifted uncomfortably, wishing for the umpteenth time that she could have the baby soon. She believed that if she got any larger, she simply would not be able to move any more which resulted in much ribbing from Patience, who reckoned that she had been even bigger when carrying Erin. Jenny smiled to herself, thinking of her friend's teasing and shifted again, before admitting defeat with a sigh and struggled to get out of the bed, managing finally and padded over to the window, looking out at the ocean in the bright dawn light. She noticed a ship near the horizon, obviously having left Tortola harbour a short while ago and wished that Jack would hurry up and return home.
'Hmm…' she mused out loud as another ship appeared in view, also having just left Tortola. 'That's Malster's ship, isn't it?' she said to herself. 'I wonder where he's going in such a hurry?'
She watched as the second ship headed in the same direction as the first and frowned. 'It's just coincidence, that's all,' she murmured. 'I wish I knew where I knew Malster's ship from though…'
Jenny went cold as the ship tacked and turned at an angle to her. 'It can't be?' she breathed, seeing in her minds eye the Navy ship that she and Davy had come across when they sailed alone to San Juan, the same ship that was before her eyes now. 'It can't be…?' she repeated, hugging herself as she started to shiver.
She hurried across the floor and flung the bedroom door open, running as best she could down the stairs opposite her room. Jenny grabbed a cape that was hanging on the stand in the hallway and unbolted the front door and rushed down the path.
'Jenny!' Luke called, running after her in only his breeches, having heard her running down the stairs. 'Wait! What's wrong?'
'It's the Navy!' she sobbed. 'He's the damned Navy!'
'What? Who is?' Luke caught up with her and grabbed her arm, stopping her in her tracks. 'You're in no state to be running around, especially in your nightclothes. Now what is going on?'
'Malster is the Navy – most probably Farrier,' she spat, trying to wrestle her arm free. 'I have to warn Condent before he makes too much headway.'
'What?' the former surgeon exclaimed. 'How do you know?'
'You remember I told you about when Davy and I sailed the dory to San Juan to warn Jack about the increase in troops in Charlestown? We saw a naval ship in the distance but weren't close enough to make out details. When we got to San Juan, Malster's ship was berthed there and I couldn't understand why it looked vaugely familiar.'
'Go on,' Luke urged.
'There is a ship on the horizon, the two masted sloop that was here during the week, I believe. Malster's ship is heading in the same direction – he's obviously going after him. I must get to Condent before Malster succeeds.'
'But how do you know it's the naval ship that you and Davy saw?'
'It turned starboard, I recognised the rigging and shape of it. It is them, Luke. I swear on Jack's life.'
'Bloody hell,' Luke swore, pushing his spectacles up and rubbing his eyes. 'You've arranged a meeting with him, yes?'
'Yes, he's coming back next week – oh God, Luke! What have I done?'
'Probably put the final nail in the Commodore's coffin,' Luke replied. 'This is what Jack would call, the opportune moment to get Farrier. If Condent goes after the ship and it is the Navy, they won't come back. But if Malster believes that you believe him and comes to meet Jack as arranged…'
'Jack captures him and Bob's your uncle, Fanny's your aunt,' she grinned. 'But what about the ship they're going after?'
'We leave them to look after themselves. They're too far ahead now, anyway. Condent would never catch up.'
'All right,' Jenny agreed reluctantly. 'Oh!' she exclaimed, doubling up and clutching at her stomach. 'Luke…' she gasped. 'It hurts.'
'Oh no,' Luke sighed, supporting her weight. 'Patience!' he yelled, hoping that she would hear him from her house just down the path. 'Let's get you home,' he advised, helping Jenny as best he could.
'What?' came Patience's voice from down the hill. 'Ya woke Erin, ya idiot!'
'Jenny's baby could be on the way,' he called back as they reached the still open front door of the house.
'Bleedin' hell! I'll take Erin ter Sive an' be right with ya,' she replied.
'Oh, Luke!' Jenny wailed, stopping dead in the hall and looking down in horror at the puddle on the floor.
'It's definitely coming,' he nodded. 'Can you manage the stairs?'
'I'll have to, won't I?' Jenny gasped, clinging to the railing as she climbed the first couple of steps before stopping and doubling over again, grimacing in pain. 'Should. it. hurt. this. much?' she panted as she managed a few more steps before stopping once more.
'I'm afraid it does,' Luke informed her. 'But I believe subsequent births are less painful.'
'Good,' she wheezed. 'Otherwise this would be the only one…'
'I'll heat th'water,' Patience said as she entered the house. 'An' bring th'towels an'sheets.'
'Are you sure you don't want the midwife?' Luke asked Jenny as he continued to support her.
'No, just you and Patience – bloody hell!' she cursed as a particularly sharp pain coursed through her body.
'We need to get you upstairs as quickly as we can. Your pains are getting more frequent.'
'I'm going as fast as I bloody well can!' Jenny snapped, gritting her teeth and climbing half a dozen steps before having to stop.
'Come on, nearly there,' Patience cajoled as she joined them on the stairs, arms laden with towels from the laundry.
'You could have damn well warned me,' Jenny hissed.
'And sour things for ya? Make it so yer were dreadin' th'birth? Th'end result'll be worth it, I promise ya that.'
Jenny looked up at the last seven or eight stairs left to climb and took a deep breath before heaving herself up them, stopping at the top, panting hard.
'Well done,' Luke smiled, moving aside to let Patience through to sort things in the bedroom.
'Ya got some old sheets?' the younger woman asked as she stripped the good linen sheets from the bed.
'In the chest by the nursery door,' Jenny replied, leaning on Luke as they walked slowly across the room whilst Patience quickly fetched the sheets and fitted them onto the bed.
'What was all th'fuss about earlier? I heard a commotion before Luke shouted.'
'I believe Malster is Farrier,' Jenny informed her friend. 'I recognise the ship.'
'What?' Patience gasped. 'But… he was here, havin' tea in th'sittin' room!'
'I know,' Jenny sighed as she removed the cape and eased herself onto the bed, gratefully. 'I was on my way to inform Condent, but Luke persuaded me otherwise.'
'Ya wouldn't have got far anyway,' Patience commented wryly. 'Bloody hell,' she muttered to herself as she left the room to fetch the water from the kitchen. 'So that's how he does it…?'
'That's how he does it indeed,' Jenny murmured.
'Never mind Malster or Farrier. Concentrate on the matter in hand,' Luke chided.
'What if he comes across Jack and mentions that he had been here. Jack would believe that he was genuine,' she worried.
'Jack is far more astute than that, as well you know. Now, forget your dignity and hitch your gown up,' he chuckled.
'Just don't let my husband know,' Jenny smiled which turned into a wince as another sharp pain wracked her body.
'As if I would,' Luke teased as he examined her. 'Good Lord! I don't think you'll have long to go.'
'In a hurry – just like Jack,' she panted, pushing down as the pain started again.
…
'Push!' Luke urged from his position at the end of the bed.
'I am bleeding pushing!' Jenny snapped, wiping a strand of damp hair from her eyes. 'I need a drink,' she rasped, sipping gratefully as Patience held a beaker of water to her lips.
'Come on, Jen. I can see the crown,' he encouraged.
'Gawd blimey!' Patience chuckled. 'Definitely takes after its father if it's wearin' a crown already.'
'No wonder it sodding well hurts then,' Jenny gasped, managing a weak smile before pushing once more.
'Good girl,' Luke beamed as he cradled the baby's head in one hand whilst checking its mouth with his fingers. 'And again…'
'Damn you, Luke Martin,' Jenny hissed through gritted teeth.
'No, it's Jack you want to be cursing, actually,' he reminded her. 'Now come on, stop wasting your energy on talking.'
Jenny took a deep breath and pushed as hard as she could, until she felt her body would burst. 'Arrgh!' she gasped, panting rapidly. 'Oh…'
'It's a boy!' Luke grinned. 'A big, bonny boy!' He placed the baby in his mother's arms whilst he dealt with the cord.
'A boy!' Patience exclaimed, a grin splitting her face. 'That'll please his lordship.'
Jenny looked down at the lustily crying child in wonderment, gently brushing his cheek with the back of a finger. 'Hello, darling,' she whispered, kissing his forehead and chuckling as he cried even more.
'Noisy as his father an' all,' Patience commented dryly.
'He's beautiful,' Jenny murmured. 'I hope Jack hurries home.'
'He'll be here soon enough,' Luke assured her. 'He won't leave it too long.'
'I know, I just miss him so much.'
'Ya wanted ter bash him with a broom not five minutes ago – make yer mind up!' Patience teased. 'Here, give him ter me an' I'll clean him up for ya.'
'Thanks,' Jenny smiled, handing over her precious bundle and watching as her friend carefully cleaned the protesting baby up. 'He likes washing as much as his father, as well,' she chuckled, sinking back into the pillows and closing her eyes briefly.
'Here, here's yer son back,' the young Tortugan woman smiled, handing the now clean but still complaining baby back to his mother.
'Hello, sweetheart,' Jenny murmured, rocking him gently and singing softly to him as his father had done to her many times before, until he finally quietened down and dozed in her arms.
…
Happy now? ;)
