Chapter 2

Six years later . . .

Amanda wrapped her blanket tighter around her trembling body. The old shack that she lived in did not keep out the cold breeze that swept off the ocean and through the godforsaken town of Tortuga. She tried to sleep, but the old memory of the shipwreck would not let her have a moment of peace.

"She's going under!" yelled the old British Captain. "It's every man for himself. Either jump overboard or get crushed on the rocks with this old tub! I told the company that she was not Sea worthy, but did they listen to me? No. Now we will all pay for it with our very lives!

Amanda's father had one arm wrapped around Amanda's waist as he tried to steady his daughter on the rolling deck. The ship bucked with every new wave that crashed against the hull and the pouring rain made the old wooden deck slick. "Captain, I can see land! What port is that," demanded her father.

"That be Tortuga, Mr. Anderson. I would swim for shore if I were you, that is what I intend to do!" The Captain tied a rope around the ship's wheel to keep the ship from veering off if she came loose from the rocks that now held her captive.

"Amanda, dear, we have to swim for it."

"I can swim, father." Amanda was terrified, but she did not want to show it. Both she and her father jumped the deck rail and splashed into the cold water.

Amanda pushed herself to her limit. She knew the moment she stopped swimming, she would drown. She was so close to shore now . . .just a bit further.

Up ahead, Amanda saw her father pull himself out of the ocean, then look around for her. When he realised that his only daughter was still in the water, he started to wade back into the ocean and swim out to her rescue. Soon he was just an arms length away. Amanda reached out to him, but a large wave hit her from behind, pulling both her and her beloved father under. She never saw him again.

Amanda gave up on trying to sleep and got dressed. She had lost everything in that wreck. Her father, her money, and her contacts in England. She had been stranded on Tortuga ever since. She was working on earning enough money so she could sail back to Port Royal, back to James Norrington's arms. It had been six years since she had left, but she knew that she still loved him. Surly his feelings had not changed towards her. perhaps he had been promoted by now, perhaps he was ready for her.

Amanda made her way through the rowdy streets to the 'Weeping Bride' where she worked as a bar maiden. This night appeared to be no different from the rest. Pirates were engaged in betting games, bar fighting, loose women, and most of all rum.

"Manda, love! What are you doing here on your night off?" asked her boss, Larry.

"I need more money. I'm almost out of here, Larry."

"Fine, love, be friendly."

Amanda hated being "friendly." She grabbed a tray of drinks and headed across the room.

"Come here, baby!" yelled a drunk voice. A man grabbed her arm and tried to kiss her lips. He was a bit off his mark as he made out with her nose.

"You look as if you could use another drink, sir." Amanda gave him one of the drinks from her tray. She had found that offering rum was the best way to get a man off of you while still being "friendly."

Amanda noticed a sailor draining his glass in the back of the room. She made her way over to him and set another drink in front of him. This man looked like he had been through Hell. He was a mess and was drinking way too much. That's when those familiar green eyes found hers. The man gasped, "Amanda?"

"James Norrington! What has the world done to you?" Amanda set the tray of drinks down and sat by her former lover.

"What are you doing here? This is no place for a lady . . .get out."

"I cannot just up and leave, James. I work here. I would tell you why, but you would not remember it in the morning. Here give me that. . ." Amanda tried to take Norrington's drink away and he came undone.

Cussing and yelling, he yanked the drink back and fell out of his chair, onto the floor.

"A respectable gentlemen such as yourself should not be seen drinking on the floor in a pirate port," exclaimed Amanda.

"A res . . .respact . . ." Norrington gave up trying to pronounce the word. "You don't belong here either."

"Then take me away, James. I'll go with you!" Amanda helped him up off the floor.

James pointed at a man who was hiring a group of elderly men. "I got to do something first, dear."