The Pirate's Gift
Part 2
Kathleen forgot everything that she ever knew when she kissed Jack. But she was quickly reminded when she heard a horse whinny behind them there on the back trail behind their house. Kathleen broke the kiss and spun ready to be caught by her Uncle. Instead, she saw the older man clench his arm in pain and slip off the started horse.
"UNCLE THOMAS!" she yelled picking up her dripping wet skirts and running through the mud towards her Uncle. Kneeling beside him on the ground, seeing him unconscious, she cried again,
"UNCLE THOMAS!" Then a hand clasped on her shoulder. She looked up and saw Jack, looking more serious than she had ever seen him.
"We have to get him inside the house!" he said taking the old man's arms. Then he looked oddly at Kathleen and said,
"You're going to trust me with him?" In shock she said without contemplation,
"Have you ever given me a reason not to trust you?" He broke a small smile and said,
"I stole from your Uncle."
"Oh. Right." she said. Turning back to Uncle Thomas, he lifted the old man up, and hefted him over his shoulder.
"Lead the way!" he said. She nodded and hastily led him back to the house. They climbed the stairs to Uncle Thomas's bedroom. Depositing Uncle Thomas on the bed, Jack said,
"It was his heart. The only thing we can do now is make him comfortable and make sure he don't catch a fever. Did he show any sign that something wasn't right?" He said all this while unbuttoning Uncle Thomas out of his clothes. Pulling off his boots, Kathleen said,
"Just a tingling in his hand." Jack nodded and said with a hint of sadness said,
"Aye that's how it starts."
"Can't we send for a doctor?" asked Kathleen pulling off her uncles stockings.
"Not in this rain. I imagine the road's washed out."
"Why do you say that?" Jack looked at her,
"Why do you think he came back early?" Kathleen thanked God that very moment. Interrupting her prayer, Jack said,
"Go fetch some cold water Luv. I'll finish getting him out of these wet clothes." She nodded clunching her Uncle's hand before running out of the room. Minutes later, she returned with a bowl of cool water and a washcloth. She saw her uncle tucked into the bed, in his nightclothes propped up by many pillows. Jack was standing looking out the window. Without saying a word, Kathleen kneeled by her Uncle's side and began to wipe down his warm face. Jack said,
"I was right. I can see the road up here. It'll be a while before we can get a doctor." Quietly, Kathleen said,
"I'm glad you're here Jack." He smiled without looking at her.
"That's the first time you've called me Jack without hesitation or changing your mind, Luv."
"I know." she said.
"Is there any wood for the fire?" asked Jack nodding to the fireplace. Gulping, Kathleen said,
"Uncle chops the wood. He likes the exercise. He hasn't done it today." Silently, Jack left the room. Watching the door for a moment, Kathleen turned to her Uncle and contemplated him for about twenty minutes. She thought of her childhood. Uncle Thomas would always bring her chocolates when he and his family came to spend the day with her family. He would read her stories about fairy tale princesses, witches, talking animals and ironically, pirates. And he adored her mother. A small, beautiful woman, she had a look that didn't deem beautiful until the light hit her a certain way, or her hair fell a certain way over her face. Uncle Thomas always told Kathleen she looked just like her. She hoped so.
"Uncle? Please...hear me. Please Uncle. Come back to us. We all need you so. Josephine needs you. I know she can be mean sometimes, and I'm sure you know she calls me names. But she loves you. And she doesn't deserve to have her father taken from her. She doesn't need to go through what I've been through. Well again, since she lost Aunt Margaret. Losing a parent is horrible. It leaves you feeling so alone. Like no one cares. But you cared. You cared about me when I needed it. Please, please Uncle. Don't go. I need you. I still need you in my life. Please come back to me! Please!" she pleaded, the tears flowing down.
"Uh-hem!" She looked over her shoulder and saw Jack standing at the door, even more wet than he was if that was possible, holding a large pile of firewood, wrapped in his coat.
"It's a little wet yet, so I got to wait for it to dry before I can start a proper fire." he explained as if answering a question. She wiped her cheeks and said,
"Of course. Thank you." He set the wood down by the fire place, taking off his coat off the pile, then turning to her he said,
"Come. Best let him rest a bit."
"Do I have to?" she asked. But then she sneezed. Laughing a short laugh he said,
"You'll do him no good catching your death too. Come." He said extending his hand towards her. She reached up and took it. She got off the floor, and they walked out, his hand giving hers a reassuring squeeze. Walking into the hall, Jack said,
"I promise you can check on him, the minute we get some dry clothes on ye!" She studied him before saying,
"Why are you doing all this Jack?" He looked into her eyes and said,
"Because I'm a ruthless pirate?" She blushed in embarrassment and looked down. He smiled and said,
"I'm still a human being Luv. And the first thing you'd better learn about pirates is that they can be good men too."
"Then why choose a profession that's so bad?" she asked innocently. As if explaining things to a child, he said,
"Because of the ways of the rich, the poor sometimes has no other way to feed his family."
"But do you have a family?" she asked.
"Not a wife and child if you're wondering..." he said watching her blush again. Continuing, he said as if a little embarrassed,
"I've got...me mum...back in England." They entered her bedroom. She said going to retrieve her most comfortable dress from it's drawer,
"Does she know you're a pirate?"
"Aye. She even shows her friends the articles they write about me. Or the wanted posters." Turning to him, Kathleen asked,
"If it's not too offensive, why is she so proud?" He smiled.
"She figures a mark on the history books is better than no mark at all. Besides, she likes bragging about how she's raised a boy who's so cunning he sacked Naussua without firing a single shot, and who has enough mercy to never hurt an innocent. And then there's my enforcing the code to consider."
"The code?"
"Pirate's code. I've developed a reputation for bringing to justice all the pirates or privateers who don't keep to the code, Savvy? That makes me a hero in Mum's eyes." he said thinking about the woman in England.
"Maybe you're a hero in more than your mother's eyes." she said. Then he sneezed and Kathleen said,
"Oh! Will you look at me going on while you must be freezing in those wet clothes! Let me find you something to wear!" She rushed out of the room as Jack said,
"Luv, I'm use to getting wet! I live on the bloody ocean!"
"So? You mean to tell me you never catch a cold at sea?" she asked.
"Well..." he said before she cut him off,
"Not another word. Just start changing out of those clothes. I'll be right back."
"Aye aye Commodore." he said. She went in her uncle's room, checked on her uncle, before turning to his closet. Pulling out a shirt and a pair of trousers, she walked back to her room. But she stopped and blushed in the doorway. He had pulled of everything except his trousers. Kathleen tried not to look, but she did notice a tanned, trim chest, hardened and developed by years at sea. A chest with also a variety of scars and faded wounds from his notorious career. Jack flashed her a cocky grin and said,
"Penny for your thoughts Luv." She laid the clothes on the chair by the door and said,
"I'll wait until you're done."
"Or..." he said taking up her dress and tossing it to her. She caught it clumsily as he continued,
"Prehaps you can go change in your cousin's room, Savvy?" Nodding, she said,
"That'll work." Then she rushed out as Jack softly chuckled to himself. Soon they met in the hallway again. Her Uncle's clothes were a little baggy and short on him, but they was dry.
"Do you want something to eat?" she asked. Jack held out his arm to her quietly. Kathleen took it and they walked down to the kitchen. Fishing out some bread and cheese, Kathleen started to cut everything when Jack asked,
"So how are you fairing Luv?"
"I'm fine."
"Liar. You just find out a pirate loves you and your Uncle may be on his death bed. All in the same day. That can't be easy on the mind, Luv." She closed her eyes and said,
"It isn't...but can I ask you something?'
"Fire away."
"Why do you love me? You've been everywhere and I know you've been with other women, you told me. Why fall for an ordinary girl who's barely been anywhere? Is it...just because you wanted to get something you couldn't get right away?" He stood up from his chair and put his hands on her shoulders and said,
'Look at me." She did.
"It wasn't about getting something I couldn't have. I wanted to love you. I choose to love you. And as for why...you're like...the first breath of Caribbean air I ever breathed in. You refresh me and give me strenght. You make me feel like I'm home. You know I've had mates tell me that keeping thoughts of their girl while at sea made them want to go on? I've never believed them. I thought all you needed to go on was a good bottle of rum and the promise of a wench in Tortuga for the right price. I thought all I needed was the Pearl beneath me feet, the horizon before me and the wind to my back. But ever since that night I first saw you in the garden, with your ill fitted dress, and your frizzy hair falling out of place, and your sad far away eyes that never seemed to have life in them, I knew something was different about you. But that night I stole from your Uncle and kissed you, I was ready to forget all about you. Then I had that dream. That dream told me, I couldn't let you out of me life. So if I never hear you return my love, Kathleen, I'll still keep my thoughts on ye. I need them now to keep going. And when the nights at sea get long, cold and lonely, I'll think of you, and that kiss in the rain. And I'll go on." Jack finished as Kathleen said,
"That's the most beautiful thing I've ever heard." Wiping the tears of her cheeks he said,
"Don't go around telling folk. I've got a reputation to uphold you know!" Laughing, she said,
"Some reputation!" He smiled and said,
"Pirate!" He was about to go sit down again, when she held his hand to her cheek.
"Jack..I don't know what I'm feeling. I keep thinking any minute I'll wake up and my hair is still long and frizzy, I'm still fat, and you were just a wonderful dream."
"Then stay sleeping Luv." Then they ate their bread and cheese quietly.
The next two days, they cared for Uncle Thomas. They made sure no fever developed, and his bed was as comfortable as ever. Meanwhile, the rain keep pouring down. Jack told Kathleen all about his adventures. From Nassua to the Isle de Muerta, to pretending to be a cleric to becoming an Indian cheiftain, he led a absolutly facinating life. On the third day, they watched it rain from Kathleen's bay window. She was more comfortable with Jack in her room since he never suggested anything improper.
"Must be off of a hurricaine." said Jack breaking the silence.
"Hmm?" she said.
"A hurricaine comes with plenty of rain." he said.
"Jack. Tell me more about your mother." said Kathleen.
"Me mum?" he asked with confusion.
"Please?" she said pouting a little. Not resisting that pout, he said reluctantly,
"There never was a more scatterbrained, opinionated and wonderful woman. She always loses her reading specticals on the top of her head, and instead of spending the money I send her on food or a new house and clothing, she buys the most ridiculous things."
"Like what?"
"Like last month, I received word she'd bought herself a pet pig that she named Winston."
"Winston?" asked Kathleen.
"Aye with a huge pot belly. She said it reminded her of me dad." he said.
"And what does your Father think about that?" she asked. He shifted in his seat and said uncomfortably, while avoiding her eyes,
"I wouldn't know. He died when I was ten." Kathleen's face fell.
"Of a weak heart?" she asked. He nodded slowly.
"So that's how you knew about how to care for my Uncle. You've already been through it before." she said as he nodded again.
"But your Father didn't make it." she said.
"That's right. And two years later, I became a cabin boy on a merchant ship that was soon ransacked by pirates. Thus began the infamous career of Captain Jack Sparrow." he said.
"You became a pirate to help your mother just as you had done so to be a cabin boy." said Kathleen.
"No I became a pirate because it meant freedom. Freedom to become whoever I wanted to be. Before he died, me Dad told me that the powers that be had forced him to not be his own man thus being a slave to society's ideals. As far as the world was concerned, he was born on the East End a poor man, and he could die on the East End a poor man. He told me that if he could choose all over again, he'd tried to become more than what people expected of him. That's true freedom Luv. That's why I'm the man you see before you today." he said looking intently into her eyes.
"I want to thank you Jack." said Kathleen.
"Luv, I already know how much you appreciate me helping you with you Uncle..."sighed Jack. She scooted over and took his hand, shaking her head,
"No! I want to thank you because, I see now that you gave me something that neither one of us expected to be given. You became your own man by believing you could be whatever you wanted to be. You helped me realize that Jack...you helped me become a woman who believes she can be whatever she wants to be." Brushing her hand with his fingers he said,
"And what to you want to be, Milady?" She whispered,
"I want to be in love with you Jack Sparrow!" Then she kissed his lips in a long, passionate way. He wrapped his arms around her returning the kiss with all the love he had for her. When they broke the kiss, she giggled and snuggled up in Jack's arms. He stroked her hair and said,
"I knew you'd warm up to me!"
"So what exactly did you dream about me Jack?" she asked.
"Well, I could show you Luv..."
"Jack!" warned Kathleen.
"Or I could tell you!" he said.
"Well?"
"I dreamt about you with that cream puff in your mouth." he said.
"Oh Lord! I must have looked so silly!" she laughed.
"Aye but when matching a pretty lass in her nightgown with creme is a rather tempting looking image!" he said.
"I best go check on Uncle Thomas." she said yawning. But she didn't move.
"Luv?' he asked looking down. He smiled when he saw her fast asleep. Shifting her to get up, he gently laided her back down on the window seat before brushing her hair out of her eyes and whispered,
"Allow me Milady!" Then Jack kissed her head and he stood up and walked out of the room. After seeing the old man was still breathing, Jack was about to walk out of the room when he heard from the bed,
"So...mind telling me why you were kissing my niece...pirate?" Jack stopped dead in his tracks. He spun on his heel to face the old man who was staring at him through half shut lids. Jack straightened up and said,
"Because I've fallen in love with your niece sir."
"Uh-huh. And how'd that come about? Was it before when you danced with her in the gardens?" asked Uncle Thomas shifting to sit up. Jack smirked at the old man.
"So you did see us."
"Aye I saw you. But I saw the look in her eyes more. You do realize a man has never paid her that kind of attention before?" said Thomas.
"I did sir. And to answer your question from before, I started to fall in love with her the night after I robbed you." said Jack.
"Aw, so you didn't rob us to give yourself an excuse to see her again." said Thomas.
"No, that's half right. That night part of me wanted to see her again, but not to fall in love. I thought she could use a little romance in her life. And I said to myself if I saw her, I'd be sure to give her that." said Jack.
"But it backfired and you ended up in love with her." said Thomas. Pointing a finger at the man in the bed, Jack said,
"Exactly. But now the question I have for you my Lord, is why you ain't very upset about the fact that the same man who stole your property, a pirate, is in fact in love with your niece?" Thomas smiled,
"Because it brought life into her. Just by meeting you, she's become the woman I tried to raise for my sweet sister. Just imagine what loving a man like you will do for her."
"But I am still a pirate sir. And I'm not going to change me occupation anytime soon. That would make life with me very difficult for a lady born to privilage." said Jack.
"My dear Captain. It sounds to me that you are more afraid about her making the wrong choice than I am. Afraid she may leave you the moment she sets foot upon the deck? That she may call it off when she has to do her share of the work? Afraid you may lose her to an enemy or a battle?" asked Thomas.
Not batting an eye, Jack said,
"I suppose it did cross me mind...only a little."
"Well it better. That would be my niece now then wouldn't it? But let me tell you something Captain Sparrow. If Kathleen decides she wants to go away with you, I won't stand in her way. I love the girl, but I know you have to give people their freedom. And if I didn't see the love and respect you have in your eyes right now, I'd never consent. And don't you worry about Kathleen. Once she decides to do something, she follows through." finished Thomas.
"Even if it's following a pirate to the ends of the earth?" asked Jack.
"Especially if it's following the man she loves to the end of the earth." said Thomas pointing a finger at him.
"So how do you know she loves me, sir? I only just heard her say it not ten minutes ago." asked Jack.
"I already told you. I saw the look in her eyes in the garden." said Thomas.
"I best go get Kathleen. She'll skin me alive if I didn't wake her to let her speak with her Uncle." said Jack starting to walk out.
"Let her sleep. I won't tell if you won't!" said Thomas.