Apologies for such the long wait for the next chapter! I was doing for NaNoWriMo, and good news-I've finished the story and won NaNo! However, editing and submitting chapters was taking too long, and then come December, dreaded finals. But, I'm hoping to do a lot more editing over my last couple days of break to get some more chapters up.
You guys have been absolutely amazing about reviewing and favoriting, etc. It's been very encouraging, and I thank you soo much! Keep it up!
And now, without further ado...
Chapter Six: All for a Dress
Nate had his head propped up by his hands, growing wearier by the moment. Being at the top of the ship in the crow's nest, merely looking for land and other ships was his least favorite duty. He would rather be on his hands and knees, scrubbing the deck viciously, than sitting up top, trying to whilst the time away. He stood up straight and let out a long yawn, stretching his arms out wide. After the moment of drowsiness has passed that followed his stretch, Nate did a circle, checking all faces of the sea.
After seeing nothing but the deep blue of the ocean and the bright, merciless sun ahead, Nate sat back down. Brandon and him had managed to sneak a stool up to the crow's nest during the middle of the night a couple months back. The captain wanted the lookout man to stand. Apparently standing helped your vision. You were forced to stand if you wanted to see over the sides of the nest, so they brought up a stool, allowing the best of both worlds.
Or, as best as it could at least be.
Nate propped his feet up on the sides of the nest and wished he would've brought a bandana to cover his eyes. Time dragged on, and Nate figured that enough time has passed to do another full circle check. He turned around in his stool, his eyes scanning the ocean once more. He paused as his eyes focused on something white. Was it a cloud? No, it couldn't be. After a moment, Nate was certain it could be only one other thing.
"Ship!" Nate bellowed, as loud as he could so those below could hear him. "Sails on the horizon!" He shouted again.
Down at the helm, Jack's eyes flew up to Nate and then out to the ocean, searching.
"Sails to the starboard!"
Jack's eyes finally alighted on the ship, its direction parallel to theirs. He pulled out his telescope, focusing on the flag that the ship flew: the British flag. "Y'know," he spoke to his first mate, "I was just sayin' how Kate was needin' a new dress." He smiled, his gold teeth glinting in the sunlight.
"Hoist the colors!" He shouted over the ruckus below, some crew scrambling to start loading the cannons and some rushing up to the main deck to see what was going on. "Draw your weapons, ya scurvy dogs!"
Below deck, Kate was sitting in her room, trying to catch a quick nap before her daily sword lesson with Jack. The commotion above deck awoke her with a start, and she hurried to the top deck to see what was going on. Pirates rushed past, not paying the woman any notice. She noticed Jack up at the helm, steering the ship as usual, and she hurried over to him. "What is going on?" She exclaimed, her eyes wild.
Jack handed her his telescope and Kate looked at it curiously. Jack took her hand, raising the telescope to her eye, and turned her in the direction that the ship was in. "What do ya see?" He asked her. Her mouth formed a little 'o.' She moved the telescope from her eye and Jack's hand dropped to his side.
"You're…you're not going to attack it, are you?" She asked hesitantly.
"We're going to pillage the ship, not blow it ta bits." He replied. "And find ya a new dress!"
Kate frowned, looking at the ship that was growing ever closer. "You're pillaging that ship with innocent citizens traveling across the ocean so I can have a new dress?" She couldn't believe he was actually doing this.
He shrugged and then with a smirk said, "Pirate."
Her eyes were trained on the British ship as The Pearl was growing closer to it. "You're not going to hurt anyone…are you?" She asked, hesitantly, not sure if she really wanted to know the answer.
Jack could tell that Kate was genuinely concerned about the welfare of the strangers aboard the British ship and he gave her a small smile. "No, no one's going to get hurt." He replied consolingly.
Kate seemed comforted by that thought, and she stayed by Jack's side as the two ships grew even closer.
"They're surrendering, cap'n!" Gibbs called out.
Jack nodded, watching as the sailors on the other boat raised their white flag. "An' we will honor that." Jack replied.
The sailors aboard the ship were also ushering the women and children beneath the deck to their cabins and to safety. The two ships slowly pulled up to each other, side by side. The crew of the Pearl raised the gangplank and Jack crossed to the other ship with ease.
"Where is yer captain?" He inquired, looking around at the handful of sailors that were brave enough to stay above deck. An older man, who looked like he was in his late fifties, stepped forward.
"I am the captain. What do you pirates want?" Despite the fearful sailors next to him, the captain looked calm.
"Just the treasures that yer passengers are carrying." Jack glanced around the ship. "Are ye headin' to the 'mericas?" He inquired.
The captain silently nodded.
Jack turned and crossed the gangplank back to the Pearl. "Ya know the drill, boys."
Kate watched as most of the crew headed over to the other ship. She hugged herself, feeling a little queasy.
"Doin' alright love?" Jack asked, arriving at her side back at the helm.
Kate nodded silently.
"We steal. We don't murder and rape." Jack said, knowing what was troubling her.
"You killed my governor." Kate snapped.
"Aye, but you don't know the whole story on tha' one." Jack replied quickly.
"No? Then explain." Kate retorted, growing tired of the games the captain was playing; she wanted answers.
"Yer… not allowed ta know!"
"Oh? Is it none of my business?" Kate baited.
"Now yer catchin' on!" Jack was unaware of the trap Kate had just caught him in.
"It's none of my business why my governor was shot and killed in front of my very own eyes? It's none of my business why I was taken captive by pirates, with no explanation, and had to say goodbye to my old life forever?" Kate's voice steadily grew louder with each word and her finger jabbed at Jack's chest. Jack tried to calm Kate down, but there was no stopping her. "It's none of my business why you won't drop me off at another port? Explain to me how none of that is my business!"
By now, the inhabitants of the other ship had caught on to Kate's tirade and were curiously trying to listen in. "How about we discuss this at some other time…" Jack said, trying to calm her and retain his dignity and pride in front of the other ship and his own crew, but his answer did not appease her.
"If I'm not getting answers, I refuse to do any more work and….I will leave!" She threatened.
Jack stared at her. "Where might ya plan on goin'?" He opened his arms wide, looking around him, and motioning to nothing but the deep blue sea.
Kate pursed her lips. "I'll join the other ship!" She started to march in the British ship's direction, but Jack grabbed her arm.
"I think not." Jack half led, half dragged Kate towards his cabin. "I will give ya details, but not now. So how about ya make yerself at home for tha moment. Savvy?" Jack gently pushed Kate into his cabin and turned to address the current issue at hand. "Bloody women," he mumbled.
By then, most of the pirates had returned to the Black Pearl, carrying pillowcases of loot or chests full of unknown treasures. Jack happily overlooked his crew and stepped towards the railing. The gangplank had been removed and the ships were starting to sail in opposite directions. "We thank ye, ya humble people!" Jack tipped his hat to the sailors and the captain of the British ship and smiled to himself.
"Oi! Simon!" Jack snapped his fingers at the pirate lugging a chest towards the stairs. "Lemme have a look through there first." Jack kicked open the trunk, only to find it full of cooking supplies. "Take that ta Bigs." He directed. He looked around for another trunk.
"Conrad!" The captain sauntered over to the blonde pirate. Conrad moved out of the way as Jack opened this trunk. He grinned as his eyes focused on the pastel colored cloths that filled the trunk.
"I knew we shoulda left that one!" Conrad complained.
"I'll take it!" Jack picked up the light trunk full of dresses, after closing the lid, leaving the few pirates around each other to exchange puzzled looks. Why their captain would want a chest full of dresses was beyond them, but they had experienced things odder than that.
Jack carried the trunk into his cabin, finding Kate sitting at his desk, looking over the charts and maps that were laid out before her. Jack dropped the trunk with a soft thud, and Kate looked up at Jack, her lips turning into a frown. "What's that?" She asked curiously, despite still trying to act angry.
"Clothes," Jack said, opened the trunk again, "fer you."
Kate frowned, realizing that Jack really did plunder another ship for her to have some dresses. "Ya know they have these things called stores. You buy clothes from them." Kate commented wryly.
"Pirate," Jack murmured in reply for the second time that day, rummaging through the dresses. He finally picked one out and held it up for Kate to see. It was yellow, extremely frilly and poofy, and Kate couldn't help but look at it in disgust. "Try this one," Jack tossed the dress to Kate, and she had no choice but to attempt to catch it.
"Call if ya need help." Jack winked at Kate before leaving his cabin.
Kate rolled her eyes, examining the lump of cloth before her. Once she figured out where her arms were supposed to go, Kate quickly changed into the frock. She had to tug quite a bit to get it past her waist. "Urgh, friggin' Brits must starve themselves." She muttered. She figured she had it on alright, after a discomforting ripping sound once she had finally pulled the dress over her hips, but now but couldn't help but feel uncomfortable. The dress was too tight in the waist and all the frills and poofs were making her skin itch. She took the dress off much quicker than she had put it on. She left the dress in a heap on the floor and put on her old brown dress.
Kate sat back down at Jack's desk, trying to decipher the lines and scrawls that were scribbled on the parchment of the maps the captain had laid out. Jack knocked on the door. "Are ya decent?"
"Yes." Kate replied.
Jack sauntered into the room, expecting Kate to be wearing the new dress only to be surprised that it was left in a heap on the floor. He pointed at the dress on the ground and gave her a questioning look.
"It was itchy," she mumbled, "and tight."
Jack raised an eyebrow. "Well, must be somethin' in here." He murmured, returning to the trunk, tossing dresses out as he searched through it. He finally found one that seemed to fancy Kate's simpler style. "How 'bout this one?" He held up the dress for her to see.
Kate looked over the dress. It was a light green and didn't have as much frill or lace as the last one did. "I'll try it." She said. Jack left the cabin again for her to try on the dress. After Kate had checked that the door was shut and that Jack wasn't trying to peek, Kate fitted into the new dress. This one was much easier to put on and, while still a little tight, fitted much more comfortably around Kate's waist. The fabric seemed to be made of cotton, and though it was much nicer than anything Kate was used to wearing, she liked it.
Jack knocked before entering his cabin again and he grinned. "Oh, ya put it on this time!"
Kate stuck her tongue out at him. "This one fits much better." She said with a small smile. Only then did she notice the other clothes that Jack was holding in his hand. "What's that?" She questioned, pointing at what he was holding.
"Some britches an' a shirt." He handed her the clothes.
Kate raised an eyebrow.
"It'd be easier wearing those clothes than a dress on the ship." He explained. "Especially for our lessons. You seem to be a bit…restricted, with a dress."
Kate wasn't too sure she liked the idea of wearing the pants and the loose shirt, but she figured she would have no other choice but to just get used to it. Kate dropped the clothes on the floor and crossed her arms, a serious expression crossing her face. "Don't think I forgot why I was stuck in here." She said. "I want details."
Jack frowned. He had been hoping that she would've forgotten in the excitement of trying on the new clothes. Apparently she wasn't as materialistic as he was hoping. He motioned towards his desk and Kate took a seat in his cushiony chair. He realized he had no choice but to sit in one of the hard chairs across from her. He plopped down into the chair and put his feet up on the desk. Kate looked at his feet in disdain.
"Which of the particulars would ya like ta know?" Jack started.
"Why did you kill my governor?" Kate cut straight to the point.
"Can't tell ya that one." Jack replied.
Kate narrowed her eyes. "You said you would give me details." She said icily.
"Some details." Jack held up his finger. "Not all."
"Fine," Kate said, crossing her arms. "Why didn't you kill me?"
Jack pursed his lips, debating whether or not he should tell her that. He decided on half the truth.
"I'm not a blood-thirsty pirate who kills everyone in his way," he said, "despite what you may think."
"Yet you killed my governor." Kate argued back.
"Yes, I did," Jack conceded, "under different circumstances."
"Why won't you let me go home?" Kate asked in a softer, less harsh voice.
"We run the risk of you telling the Royal Navy what you saw." Jack answered simply.
"But, I don't understand. You're pirates! They're already searching for you!" Kate could not understand why this situation was so double-sided. Jack remained silent as she continued. "Why wouldn't you want them to know it was you? It's as if, as if—" Kate suddenly stopped, her mouth open in the shape of a circle.
Jack leaned forward. "Figure it out yet?"
"You're framing someone." Kate said decisively. "Making it look like someone else killed my governor."
Jack nodded silently, leaning back in his chair. "Yer a smart girl. I was surprised it took you so long."
Kate stared at him for a moment. She then leapt to her feet. "Are you crazy? Are you trying to start a war? What is wrong with you people?" Kate shouted and pointed her finger accusingly in Jack's face.
Jack just stared at her in bewilderment before jumping to his own feet. "Ye don't even know what yet talkin' 'bout!" He shouted back.
"Are you mental?" Kate shouted back.
"Are ya mental?" Jack replied quickly, just as loud.
"You ruined my life and you won't even tell me why!" Kate cried out.
"You were… eavesdropping!"
"I thought you were a homeless man!"
"Well it's yer own fault!"
Before Kate could reply, there was a knock at the cabin door. "What is it?" Jack shouted irritably. Gibbs poked his head around the door, fearing what he might find with the shouting match he had heard beforehand.
"Bigs told me ta tell ye we're runnin' short on rum." Gibbs said, quickly closing the door after him, not wanting to be in the line of fire of either words or objects.
"Bugger," Jack mumbled, sitting down.
"Who did you frame?" Kate said, still standing as she tapped her foot on the floor in impatience, her arms crossed in determination.
Jack looked up at her. "If I can't tell you why I killed the governor, why would I tell ya who I'm framin'?" He asked.
Kate pursed her lips. "Well why can't you tell me?" She threw her hands up in the air. She walked over to the window in Jack's cabin, looking out at the calm ocean before her.
Jack remained where he sat. "I told ye, if the Navy ever caught ya, our plans would be ruined."
"Well, looks like that Navy won't catch me if I'm stuck here for the rest of my life." Kate said bitterly.
"Oh, it can't be that bad!" Jack said cheerfully, standing and walking over to Kate's side, looking out at the ocean with her. "Nothin' beats this view every day!" He grinned.
Kate turned, looking at his face and the genuine happiness. "There is something wrong with you." She mumbled, turning to go take a seat again.
Jack frowned. "Most women don't say that. They usually remark on my rugged good looks and talents…" He trailed off, wiggling his eyebrows.
Kate shook her head. "Is there anything else you might be able to tell me?" She questioned, hoping the pirate captain would give her at least one more little sliver of information, perhaps just enough so she could figure it out on her own.
Jack stared at Kate for a moment, the expression on his face unreadable. "Being a pirate's not all that bad, and neither is livin' with 'em." He said after a moment.
Neither Kate nor Jack said anything as they both looked at each other.
"I've got business to do…" Jack finally said. He headed to the door, and right before he left, he turned to Kate. "An', I'm sorry fer ruining yer life…" With that, Jack turned and left the cabin.
Kate looked at the space he had just been standing. She couldn't help but feel awful. Jack had made sure she stayed safe aboard the ship, treated her to her own quarters, supplied her with food and clothing, and this is how she repaid him?
Well, he did ruin my life. She thought.
Yeah, and he's also doing a good job of fixing it.
I hope you enjoyed the chapter! I thought this one was a bit funny, had some more of Jack's lovable wit. Agree? or no? Anyhow, tell me what you thought about it in the review! Reviews make my day. :)
Always,
Becca xoxo