A few hours later Ruby Rose was ankle deep in hot sand the crew members briefly returned to their ship to begin the task of ridding the ship's hull, rudder and anchor of the pesky barnacles that latched on during the last voyage. It was a tiresome but necessary chore especially since The Oracle was slowly gaining unwanted recognition by both the Spanish and British Navies so the speed of the mighty galleon was always essential. As captain of the ship Ruby Rose did not have to tend to the job herself, she could have just observed and call out orders. But as a female mariner she always worked extra hard to keep her crew's loyalty and after the first six months their cynicism eventually faded away.
"Captain, the careening is nearly done but this heat does not bode well with hard-working men"
Ruby Rose looked up with sweat pouring down her face; some strands of hair than came loose from the ribbon were matted and coarse. She swept the strand behind her ear and wiped the sweat away with her arm, squinting up she saw Thomas Laurie waiting for her reply.
"Well then I believe some light relief is in order, tell the men to break for one hour, quench their thirsts feed their hungers. Mister Laurie; tell the crew to resume work at dusk, no later!" Ruby Rose ordered sternly.
The bedraggled man dressed in white breeches, black waistcoat and a grey tattered shirt nodded. He was still secretly annoyed that he would allow himself to be duped by the girl, he should have known better really for his employed master was taught by Caleb Sparrow – One of the best poker players in Havana. Combing a hand through his tousled auburn hair he turned back to the huddle of men and called a halt to the work. Sighs of relief were heard from all quarters as the men stumbled for the shelter of a near-by saloon.
Ruby Rose dropped the scraper she had used for the timber and pressed up her body with her elbows on the sand; she rubbed her sore neck and waited for her strength to return. She didn't notice that her role of new Captain of The Oracle was being studied and scrutinised by a sneaking Jack Sparrow.
"My word that was indeed a sight to behold, a riveting display of leadership love, I am impressed in fact I am shocked" Jack's voice rang out across the seashore.
"Morning Jack, I hope you are in earnest in what you are saying for if it's another one of your pranks be gone, for I'm not in the mood" She grumbled as she tossed her hat against her face to shield her eyes from the sun.
Jack could not resist joining the young scallywag and she longed lazily in the sand and settling into a nap. He carefully slipped down beside her and lay on his stomach and stared at the beautiful body beside him.
"You have turned into quite the capable master or should I say mistress. Even though the ship isn't really yours to begin with" –
"HA! I wondered when this subject would come up" –
Ruby Rose blurted out a sarcastic laughed and grabbed the hat from where it lay and turned her emerald green eyes to her peer.
"Jack you forfeited your inheritance when you went after The Black Pearl, the search was your obsession, everything else was unimportant" –
Ruby Rose was strong in her response at first but then she re-opened old wounds and her voice began to falter.
"Dad waited for you…for six years he hoped that you would come to your senses and return to us. He would never tell me but I knew he was hurting, when he finally retired he gave The Oracle to me" She explained, she was glad to see the guilt riddled on Jack's face – she almost revelled in it. The pirate weaker alter-ego faded away and Ruby Rose's stronger, confident persona of a true pirate princess took precedence.
"I couldn't believe my luck I had been commandeering ships since I was eighteen and now I had my very own – and she is mine Jack!" Ruby Rose scowled
"Too much bother anyway my dear, I'm the finest pirate ever to grace the pacific but I'm no miracle-worker. Besides one mutiny is enough for me thanks very much" –
"So you won't ever hound me over the boat then, you're going to let it be?" –
"My good lady I would never dream of such a dastardly deed now how about you and me get some good rum in our bellies" Jack said mischievously and scrambled to his feet and offered his hand to the damsel.
"Yeah why not, I have a few hours to kill" Said Ruby while Jack hauled her up off the beach, she dusted the sand off her and hair. Jack absent-mindedly brushed the sand from her forehead and stroked her temple. The girl froze at the touch it had been a long time since she had last felt it and was torn between feeling longing or just indifference.
She cleared her throat and stumbled back to the walkway, Jack rolled his eyes and followed her, it was clear to be that the memory of whatever it was they had was still painful. But he was oddly relieved that his action was overlooked as they enjoyed being in each other's company as they drank their rum.