Chapter 3-A Proposition

"Ana, no." Jack replied.

"But Jack, why not? She would make a good pirate. She could be Ben's replacement; at least let her come on and give her a chance."

"Ana, I can't have me a ship full of women. And to be honest..." Jack paused long enough to take a sip of rum and wondered just how he should put what he wanted to say to Ana without having a sore cheek.

"To be honest what? Tell me." Ana said.

Jack sat there and fiddled with his compass on his desk. He knew what he had to say, he just didn't want to say it to Ana. He then put the compass down and looked his first mate in the eye.

"To be honest, luv, I really don't think she would make a good pirate, savvy?" Jack quickly picked up the compass and studied it intently so as not to see Ana's reaction to his opinion.

"And why not? What makes her less capable in your eyes, Captain?"

Jack cringed, yes Ana's temper was rising, he had to say something.

"Ana, I know good pirates, you're a good pirate. But your friend, she doesn't exactly have the spunk. She couldn't even defend 'erself from that man in the tavern."

"But she could learn, I could teach her."

"Ana, no and as I said before I can't handle but one woman aboard a ship and that happens to be you."

Ana spun her heel to go but stopped as she realized that Jack, even though he was the Captain did not have absolute authority. The crew had to agree on matters.

"Jack, ye know the code, don't ye?"

"Yes, Ana, every pirate knows the code."

"Then ye know the crew gets to vote on who signs on with us. This matter must be taken before the whole crew."

"Fine Ana, you want your strumpet friend to come on board, bring it before the crew. But I'm warning ye, she isn't exactly the pirate type. She doesn't have the strength or the stubbornness. So, don't come crying to me when she gets her pretty little self killed, savvy? Now where's the rest of my rum?"

"Thank ye Jack and don't worry, she won't get herself killed I promise. I'll be back later tonight."

Jack simply sighed but his thoughts turned to Ana's last sentence, "I'll be back later..." Well, she couldn't have been that upset with me, now could she?

Later that night:

Ana lay cuddled in Jack's arms, half asleep when she heard Jack mumble something.

'What was that?" She sleepily asked.

"I asked how you and your friend met." Jack replied.

"Tis a long story Jack."

"I 'ave the time and the rum, luv. I really would like to know."

"You know, you never would tell me about your past, why should I tell you a little of mine?"

"Because, I asked ye first." Jack said with a gold-toothed grin.

"Alright then, it was back after me parents died. I met up with her on the street...

Flashback

"'Hello my name is Christine, what might yours be?"

"Ana-Maria and how old are ye Christine?"

"Ten and yourself?"

"I'm ten as well..."

"Well, perhaps we should get together for tea sometime. I really must be going."

Christine happened to be one of the wealthiest young girls in the seafaring town of Bristol. Her father was a merchant, who had plenty of ships. Ana happened to be an orphan, a black one at that, yet she knew that day she had made a lifelong friend. After the introductions, she would meet up with Christine almost everyday and play.

"And what shall we play today, Ana?"

"I say that we shall pretend we're pirates!" Ana said and quickly pulled out a stick 'sword'.

"Pirates?"

"Aye that we shall be and sail the seven seas, plundering and pillaging wherever the winds take us."

Christine's face was filled with horror. "Can't we play something a little less, boy-like? How about tea party or a 'ball' at a mansion?"

Ana's face was filled with disbelief, "And why ever would we want to play that? That sounds so...boring. 'Tis much more exciting to sail a ship and be a pirate."

"Oh no, father hates pirates, sometimes we will get word that one of his ships was plundered by pirates and he loses money."

"I'm truly sorry for your father, but pirates are pirates. They do those things to survive and live just as your father sends his ships out."

"Ana, not to change the subject or anything, I really do not want to talk about pirates. But where do you live?"

"Well, this lady who owns a tavern lets me stay there if I can't find anywhere else to stay."

"Oh, Ana, you must stay at my house, Father will let you I promise."

"I'm not sure Christine...I mean I'm not exactly like you."

From that day on Ana was given a room in the servants quarters, though she was never made a servant. She was Christine's constant companion, until that one fateful day three years later.

Ana found out that three years changes a person and Christine had changed. She always carried a parasol or something to shield her face from the sun, so she was extremely pale. But her governess would tell her it was the style to have such a beautiful white complexion. That was the beginning of the separation of he two girls.

The other was boys. Christine was noticed by them all and she loved the attention. That one fateful day she was talking to Ana about her favorite boy this certain week, Peter. When her father rushed in the room and told Christine the awful news. He was ruined, apparently the ships that were heading to the America's were attacked by pirates and the ones who made it were caught in a storm. He had to go to the America's and see what was left of his wealth.

Since Christine's mother had passed away when she was little, her Governess would be in charge. Christine, Ana and her Governess would follow a few weeks behind her father. It was a tearful goodbye for Christine and thus began the adventure that would separate the girls for years.

Ok, there is deff. more to this story, I'm not finished...let me know if you want to find out about their adventure and how Christine changed her mind about pirates and wanting to sail the seven seas..the sooner you let me know, the sooner I'll write it.