Commandeering Commodore
Chapter 60
Teague left Mr. Bergeron slumped against the log they had been sitting on figuring the man would eventually sober up and make his way back to camp. As he walked towards the beach his mind ran over what he had just learned from his little talk with Mr. Bergeron. There were some sort of documents, French documents of some import if Mrs. Turner had indeed been in the danger Mr. Bergeron had implied and was forced to flee the island. Teague didn't doubt this the more he thought about it, something of a drastic nature had happened or they would not have set out in that sloop as they had. He only wished he knew the lass a bit better so he could judge where said documents might have been hidden away. Now if Mrs. Turner was indeed in possession of documents of a sensitive nature what he'd heard about the Commodore's business in Tortuga could also be true. Interesting. Well now, he would just have to find out where those documents might be now wouldn't he. As he'd told Mr. Bergeron, truthfully as a matter of fact, there were people who would pay handsomely for such.
He came out of the woods and spying Mrs. Turner sauntered towards her with a smile and a wave.
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James, finally feeling more like himself, a fact he was loath, in fact refused to give credit to Sparrow and his rum for, had approached the fire to see what there was to fill his now growling stomach. Will walked over, and more hesitantly Josette, although she stood a bit back eyeing him with uncertainty.
"Find anything worth eating Commodore? I don't mind saying chopping all that wood has given me a monstrous appetite." Will said as he too perused the area.
"I'm afraid all I've come across is this bowl of fruit Mr. Turner." James answered as he picked an orange up and started to peel it. "Not nearly enough to fill a man's stomach by any means."
James caught Josette's backward movement out of the corner of his eye and remembering what she had been told and the slim to none chance that Sparrow had actually told the girl he had been joking when he said what he did about him. James met her eyes in a most unCommodorely, and what he hoped was a friendly look, and tried for what he hoped was a kind smile as he said, "Would you care for some fruit Miss…ah…Miss…." He paused as Will whispered, "Josette." "Josette?" he finished as he held the bowl out towards her. She still looked like she was about to turn and run, but held her place looking from the bowl to the Commodore and back several times. "I once knew a girl named Josette." James said in what he hoped was a casual tone as he continued to offer the fruit. "A lovely young lass whom I was quite fond of to tell the truth. She looked quite a bit like you." James stopped for a moment to judge the effect he was having. He was no where near confident in his people skills or his conversational skills, especially with this young of a person. He did not have a problem when it was a superior, or someone under his command because there were rules and standards in force, or if the subject had anything to do with the good of Port Royal and her citizens, or if it had anything to do with ships, sailing, or the sea which were all subjects dear to his heart. But he was at a loss when it came to a general conversation, usually allowing whom ever it was he was conversing with to lead the way and he follow or not allow the conversation to begin in the first place.
He noticed she looked like she was thinking less of running and had actually started to reach for a piece of fruit. "Well," he said to himself, "so far so good." She also picked an orange from the bowl and James asked with a slight bow towards her, "I would be honored if you would allow me to help you with that." She looked at him and he could tell she was once again contemplating running but she took a deep breath and stepped forward and placed the orange in his hand and said, "Thank you."
He smiled a genuine smile then and said, "Shall we find a more comfortable place to eat Miss Josette?" She nodded, took the bowl from his hand and set it down, then took his hand and headed for the barrels on the other side of the fire. He heard William whisper, "Well done Commodore." as he passed.
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Jack came around the Pearl after having checked on the progress of the repairs. They would be able to sail with the tide. As he saw Josette and the Commodore sitting together in a companionable way and Teague and Lizzie talking and laughing together he couldn't help but think how could things have gone all screwy. He shook his head and thought to himself it would be good to have the Pearl back on the sea. He wasn't much for staying landlocked for long, at least not in a voluntary manner. He felt the longing of having his Pearl's wheel in his hands, her deck underneath his feet, and the wind in his face and hair as she carried him towards the horizon. Walking over to the crate of rum he grabbed a bottle and settled by the base of one of the palm trees near by, uncorked and raised the bottle and saluted his lady, "Won't be long now luv n we'll be back where we belong." She gave a little moan of her timbers in return.
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"Mrs. Turner, ya be the most delightful bit o company fer an old salt like meself. Listenin ta the stories I been spoutin with narry a word of complaint nor apparent lack of interest." Teague said with a wide smile. "'m sorry I haven't taken the time before ta get ta know ya better."
"Thank you Captain Teague, you are fine company yourself. And I have always loved pirate tales, ever since I was a small girl. The way you tell them I can almost make believe I am right there in the midst of it all." She looked at the ground for a moment and then back at Teague, "I don't think I thanked you yet for saving us from that scurrilous pirate Barbossa. Thank you." Elizabeth replied.
"Ah no need ta thank me Mrs. Turner. I assure you it was my pleasure." Teague replied with a shrug. After a moment he started telling another tale,
"Well Mrs. Turner, make yerself comfortable cause with yer permission I have another tale that's popped ta mind."
"I would love to hear it Captain Teague." Elizabeth replied with a smile.
"Seems there was this sailor by the name of Higgins if I'm not mistaken and he'd gotten ahold of somethin quite valuable ta certain parties in the port he and his ship had just departed, and of value ta certain parties he knew in other ports. Not swag nor shiny mind ya but a bit o parchment. I know what yer thinkin Mrs. Turner, yer thinkin a treasure map and ya'd be far off the mark in that assumption. Twas a right important piece o paper Higgins had acquired and he looked around his cabin fer the perfect place ta hide it away as it were till they reached the proper time and place for exchanging said parchment fer what he hoped would be a large amount of coin. And where do ya think he chose?" Teague said as he looked at Elizabeth expectantly.
"I don't know Captain Teague," Elizabeth said as she thought over what Teague had said. "I wouldn't hide it under the mattress as that's the first place I would look if I were looking for it, nor in any drawer or sea chest for the same reason. I think he would have been smart to find a loose board on the wall or the floor and put it there." Elizabeth said with a smile, "Yes not many would think to look in such a place, and for that matter how long would it take to check out every loose board on a ship if you were looking for such a thing. You would surely be caught before finding the right one." She looked at Teague still smiling and in a tone that said she was very happy with herself for figuring it out, "Was I right? Is that where he hid this valuable item?"
"Aye Mrs. Turner, no pullin the wool over yer eyes now is there. Good thing you wasn't around when the happinin of this took place. You'd a had it in yer possession in a thrice." Teague said as he smiled and nodded his head. "So he hides his bit o scrap and the next port he starts askin around ta see what interest he can generate, and sure nuff that very night he finds someone who shows quite a bit o interest in what he has ta offer."
"So he sold it and made off with a tidy profit?" Elizabeth asked.
"Twernt ta turn out as simple as that Mrs. Turner. No seems he'd run into a baddun with a heart black as sin. Forced 'im back aboard his ship, threatened him till he produced the item of value and then shot 'im right between the eyes…..with his own pistol as it happens." As he said this Teague pulled his pistol and mimicked the words he was saying, then put the pistol back in his waistband.
"I think I should go see how Josette is getting along, and it will soon be time to fix a meal for the crew. You will excuse me Captain Teague?" She didn't wait for an answer before heading off towards Will.
Teague sat back and smiled as he watched her walk away.
To Be Continued
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