Regrets, I May Have Had A Few

Chapter 9

As James and Jack left the tavern their attention was drawn to an unruly cluster of people gathered down the street a short ways. Upon closer inspection the group seemed to be made up of a dozen or so adolescents surrounding two younger children and doing their best to intimidate and threaten them. James, having been treated similarly more than a time or two when he was growing up immediately went on the offensive. Striding toward the group and using his most convincing no nonsense tone of command he scattered the offending youth in short order leaving only a boy of about nine standing protectively near a girl of about six, both a little worse for wear, having streaks of dirt and mud smeared across their faces and numerous rips and tears in their clothing from being tugged and pulled on by the bullies. If similarity of features was to be the judge there was no doubt in James' mind they were brother and sister. They both had hair so light it was almost transparent and eyes of such a pale blue James would be hard pressed to name when he had ever seen any paler on a human being.

Jack was only a step or two behind James and upon seeing the tears the little girl was shedding pulled a dirty lace handkerchief from his pocket, knelt down in front of her, and began dabbing at the tears, "Oye now luv, old Jacks here. No need for tears me bonny lass. The more than terrifyin Commodore here," Jack said as he nodded his head toward James, "has chased all them bloody roisterers off now so no worries lass."

James huffed at Jack's insult and then looked at the boy, "What was that all about?"

The boy, his eyes shiny with unshed tears, quickly wiped his sleeve across his face and replied, "Don't know as I know why they was doin what they was doin. We wasn't supposed to come into town. Auntie told us when we come to stay with her that we shouldn't wander off, cause bad things could happen. But Maggie, that's my sister," the boy said motioning at the girl, "she wanted some sweets and Auntie wasn't there and we couldn't find any in the house no where and we had us a few coins so we thought no harm in a quick trip to town to buy us some." After a short pause, and as if he'd suddenly remembered his manners he added, "I'm Billy, glad to meet you sir." He finished his statement by holding his hand out to shake James' hand.

James, a flicker of a smile flittering across his face, took the boy's hand, gave a nod of his head, and said, "Glad to meet you as well Master Billy, although it is a shame it could not have been under more propitious circumstances."

"Means more favorable." Jack said as he stood up and addressed the boy. He rocked back and forth a bit, hands fluttering in front of him, "So you're a William are you? Don't know whether that bodes well or ill for any manner of future association. Tell me what's your position on the whole pirate matter." Jack stopped long enough to look the boy over as if looking for weapons, and then with a moue he continued, "You don't have any manner of sword, or pistol, or knife, or other unspecified and or unmentioned manner of weaponry about your person do you boy?"

"Oh please." James huffed with a disgusted roll of his eyes.

Jack shifted his gaze from the boy to James, quickly shifted it back to the boy for a moment as if he had expected the lad to have drawn a sword on him in that brief moment, and seeing none looked back at James, "Can't never be too careful in these matters Commodore. Just because he's short 'n looks innocent enough doesn't mean he's not a bloodthirsty scalawag." Jack gave the boy another glance just to make sure there was still no sword pointed at him.

James glared at Jack, "Do you ever even listen to the bounderish words that issue from your mouth? Do you ever stop to think before you engage that mouth of yours? This is a child, not some rogue or scalawag."

Jack, looking suitably contrite, shrugged his shoulders a bit and tipped his head to the side as he looked at the boy and said, "Sorry."

"It's alright Mister." Billy said, and then held his hand out to shake Jack's. Looking up at him he asked in an awed tone, "Are you really a pirate?"

Preening and posing a bit from the tone of wonderment in the boy's voice Jack exaggeratedly shook the boy's hand as he answered, "Son, you shall always remember this as the day you met Captain Jack Sparrow!"

"Indeed!" James interjected snarkily, "And he shall forever and always rue this day because he didn't immediately turn and run as fast as he could away from Captain Jack Sparrow!"

As the two men stood there staring at each other and preparing to launch more broadsides toward each other Maggie caught their attention by pointing down the street and softly saying, "Mister Andrew is coming."

James and Jack turned to see an older man dressed in a dark suit approaching.

"Mister Andrew? Who's Mister Andrew?" Jack asked.

"He works for Auntie." Billy replied before looking at his sister, "We're probably in trouble for leaving the house without telling anybody Maggie."

Mister Andrew eyed Jack and James suspiciously as he approached but his words were to the children, "I have been searching for you two for more than an hour. Where have you been?"

Billy looked at his feet as he replied, "Maggie wanted something sweet to eat so I told her we could come into town and get her something. It was all my fault Mister Andrew, Maggie would never have left the house if it wasn't for me."

"You know very well your Aunt has told you never to leave the house without one of us accompanying you, and what has happened to your clothing, and you look as if you have wallowed in a pig pen." James scowled at Jack when he laughed as Mister Andrew said that. "I assure you your Aunt will not be pleased in the least." Mister Andrew continued.

"If I may interject Sir," James said, "The state of their appearance is not of their own doing. My companion and I found the children and were able to disperse a large group of less than respectable youths who were taunting them."

"Well I suppose their Aunt and I owe you thanks for that. If you would care to accompany me back to the house I'm sure she would like to thank you in person." Mister Andrew said.

"We shall be more than happy to accept your invitation. Lead on Mister Andrew." Jack replied.

Mister Andrew and the children headed off up the street. Jack started to follow but stopped when he noticed that James was not following.

"Not comin Commodore?" Jack said over his shoulder.

"I feel we have other matters of more import at present than being thanked in person by the children's Aunt." James replied.

Jack turned around stood there for a moment or two looking at James, then took three long swaying strides back to James, pivoted to bring himself side by side with the Commodore, leaned over and whispered, "Seems to me that if by chance the youngin's Aunt has lived in these parts for any amount of lengthy time, and if perchance that might or would be the truth of it then said Aunt might be a bit of a help if she were so inclined as it were to be noticing who and or whom or either really in this specifical region and or area might be of a suspicious or conceal-atory or in fact obnibilating nature when it comes to a certain item that we presently and or currently happen to be in the process and procedure of looking for, savvy?"

James shook his head as he looked at Jack. "You know what is really starting to bother me is the fact that I am actually starting to understand you when you launch into one of your inane monologs. Very well, we shall go see this Aunt and hope it is not a waste of our time."

To Be Continued

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