"Will? Will are you down here?" Elizabeth walked through the narrow hallway below deck.

"In here, Liz. Almost done."

She followed his voice into Annemaria's room. When she walked in he was putting his shirt back on his bandaged side.

"So will you live?" she joked, leaning slightly on his shoulder

He took her hand in his and kissed it lightly. "I do believe I will make it."

"Yeh, his rib seemed fractured a bit, and I had to sew up that cut above his eye there. Not bad, just about four stitches." Anna said as she put her large black hat back on.

"Thanks Anna." Will said patting her on the back

she gave him the biggest smile he had ever seen Anna show."think nothin' of it mate"

Will! Will me boy get yer bloody cursed hide out here!"

"Hmm…that sounds like Jack. I better go see what he needs." Then Will took off up the stairs.

Liz turned back to Anna who was putting away her sewing needle and bandages back under her bunk.

"Anna how do u know how to do all that?"

She looked hesitantly at Elizabeth then sat down next to her. She leaned in close and spoke in a low tone. Liz had to move in closer and strain to hear her.

"I 'ave never told this to anyone before, but I tink I can trust you."

Liz nodded.

"My mum was a slave in England and 'er master used 'er as he liked, if u catch me…"

Liz looked straight at her, never missing a look and nodded again. "I think I have an idea."

"My father was her master-Master Edwards. A few of the other slave children were his too. When I became of age Edward's oldest son, Patrick took a'liken to me. But one night I just got tired of it. So while he tried to undress me I took his pistol and shot 'em right in the head. A'course the whole house and farm heard the shot so I ran and ran 'till I couldn't run no further. I passed out in front a house that belonged to a doctor. He took care of me. Dr.Cleary had 2 other children all older than me but he had no wife, she died given birth to the last of 'em. I lived with that family for a year and he showed me a few things. That's how I know what I'm doin'. "

"Wow." Elizabeth felt a little funny, knoing that Anna had just split her whole life story to her. "So why did u become I pirate?"

Anna looked down sadly.

"When I got older I left to go get my mother and try to buy her back from Edwards. So I went and found Miss Tessie, she told me that after Master Edwards had found what I had killed Patrick, he went and beat my mother to death. I felt so much anger, like I had never felt before. I went in his house and shot'em and his wife then burned the house to the ground. All of his slaves were set free and I got a job on a ship. I just couldn't stay in that place no more." Her voice was hard, and the sad look she had earlier had quickly faded.

"I'm so sorry, Anna." Liz said as she took her hand.

"Not your fault, not nobody's fault."

"but…what about the doctor?" she asked apprehensively

"Before I went to the ship I went back hom to find the doctor dead and his kids in rough shape. The oldest, Jane died a few days later, from typhus I was told." She started to tear up but quickly pushed away her emotions.

"Oh Anna, I am so sorry you had to go through all of that." Now Elizabeth was almost on the verge of tears listening to this womans hard life.

"Well that was just my life, everyone died and life goes on."

Anna was a strong person, just as Liz was. But Anna was hardened by her life, an emotional wall was built up of years of hurt and pain, Elizabeth wanted to help her so bad, she didn't know what to say to the young woman…then it occurred to her.

"What about Jack?"

She quickly glanced at her "Jack? I don't love him?"

"No?"

"No, 'course not. Why? Did he say somthin' bout me?" she asked turning her head to the side.

"He might have mentioned something. Come on Anna, tell me your feelings about him" she pleaded

"Well…he is a nice lookin' bloke" she said with a slight wink

"I knew it." She beamed

"Don't say anything to him…Um, look, I should get back out there."

Before she left Elizabeth stopped her

"Anna, thank you for trusting me. If you ever need anyone to talk to you can come to me"

She didn't know quite what to say, she just nodded and adjusted her hat, and gave a small smile.

Elizabeth found Will above deck leaning on the side again with a far off look in his eyes. She came up behind him then rested her elbows on the railing as well, next to him

"What did Jack want so badly?"

he cocked an eyebrow and glanced at her.

"He couldn't remember if he had put his rum in the crows nest or in his room. You would think that the world was ending."

"So let me guess, because he was already a little tipsy, you had to climb all the way up there and find it."

He nodded with a laugh, knowing how stupid it was.