You Forget One Very Important Thing Mate – (33)
The Black Pearl was still docked in Tortuga, and it had been for many days. Elizabeth and Will had not left the ship once; most Of The crew had hardly been on board since their arrival and Ashley and Jack sauntered on and off as they pleased.
Ashley was still rather distraught on this particular morning, Jack had tried to cheer her up but nothing, it seemed, would work. Except a letter. A very important letter. One from Ana-Maria.
Now Jack, despite the clever man he was, had not read the letter before showing it to Ashley, little did he know he would regret it.
"Ashley! Ashley! Ana-Maria...your mother replied to the letter I sent in Port Royal...she must know this is one of my favorite places!" Jack grinned, walking up to Ashley who was sat on the side of the ship, looking out at Tortuga.
"Has she?" Ashley said glumly.
"Aye, read It!" Jack handed her the letter.
Ashley looked at the front for a brief second and then opened the letter, reading it in her mind:
'Jack,
I did receive your letter and I do know about the girl, her name is Ashley you say? I didn't name her, I suppose one of those street children I left her with did. I have no interest in seeing this girl or making any contact with her at all. I have a new life, and I don't need it to be messed up by some girl. Daughter or not. You may have told me because you don't want her either, if that's the case put her back on the streets, maroon her. Do whatever you want as long as she comes nowhere near me or my family.
Ana-Maria.'
Ashley dropped the letter onto the deck and ran into her cabin, slamming the door behind her and kicking the wall.
Meanwhile Jack was stunned, he bent down and picked up the letter, reading it himself.
'Dammit Jack!'
He cursed himself as he shoved the letter into his pocket and walked to Ashley's cabin.
"Ashley?" He asked, walking in and closing her door behind him.
"Well, its not as though I could expect anything else," Ashley shrugged, trying to sound completely unconcerned but failing miserably.
"Don't worry about it," Jack said, he didn't really know how to comfort her.
"And I suppose it would have been worse If I actually knew who she was," Ashley said.
"Aye, I reckon so too lass, but don't grieve about Ana-Maria, she really never was a nice person. She must have slapped me thousands of times for absolutely no reason at all...or maybe…some reasons..but that's an entirely different story,"
"Are we leaving Tortuga soon?"
"Aye, If ye want to, the crew have been having much to much fun for my liking," Jack grinned.