AUTHOR'S NOTES:

Sorry for the short chapter. I scribbled something down because I felt so uneasy about having only one chapter uploaded. So here it be! Thanks to all those who reviewed.

Chapter 1

"MISS PORTER!"

Kate looked up from behind the bar area. "Sorry, sir! I'll have that ale out in a moment!"

The tavern owner snarled angrily. "You better! These gents can't wait on your slow arse all day!" He slapped a cloth down on the bar. "And when you're done, clean those tankards! Merciful God above, I've never 'ad someone in my employ as empty-headed as you!"

Kate nodded obediently. "Yes, sir."

The tavern owner went out onto the floor to converse with his usual customers. Once she was sure his back was turned, Kate ducked behind the bar and mimicked his facial expressions, adopting a tone of voice as gruffly childish as his. "Miss Porter, clean the tankards and the bar and the tables AND the chairs AND the candlesticks AND while you're at it, scrub the floors and take ALL the patrons their drinks AND DO IT ALL BEFORE I'M FINISHED BLINKING!"

The past several months hadn't been much different for Kate. After leaving the cottage a year previously, she bartered most of her possessions for passage to Tortuga. She used a fake surname, Porter, to avoid being arrested for her husband's murder. Cold, penniless, and hungry, Kate immediately began looking for work after she made port. She visited tavern after tavern, begging captain after captain to take her on as a cook. She was always met with the same response.

"I've no need of galley workers! But a pretty lass such as yourself would serve well as Captain's wench..."

Kate wasn't so naive to think any more of the situation for what it was, and refused, unwilling to compromise her dignity. Luckily for her, the owner of a tavern noticed her diligence in looking for work and offered her the position of a barmaid. The pay wasn't much, but at least it kept food in her mouth. For the first two months or so, Kate couldn't afford to rent a room and had to sleep in an alley on a patch of hay and old blankets. Her arrangements would not soon improve.

The tavern owner began making advances toward her, constantly cornering her in the store room. The first three times Kate was able to dismiss him without consequence, but the next time she refused him, he flew into a fury. He grabbed her wrists and threw her to the floor, knocking her into a stack of barrels. He bellowed obscenities at her, ending his tantrum in a promise to her pay. Kate didn't believe him, until she watched him in turn give half of her dues to another barmaid named Sarah, who rarely did anything but flirt with the clientele.

From that day forward, the owner treated her with cruelty. He went out of his way to make her job harder, and ordered her to do nearly impossible jobs in less than half the necessary time to perform the task. Overworked and underfed, Kate rehearsed a speech she intended to deliver that evening after her hours, telling the owner what she thought of him and taking her permanent leave of absence. Just as she was washing her last pitcher, one of her co-workers, Roxanne, pulled her aside. Roxanne took care to make sure no one was listening and spoke in a hushed voice.

"I've seen that you've been treated poorly here and for that, I'm sorry."

Kate smiled. "Thank you, but I really must be getting back to work. After that, I'm collecting my wages and leaving, never to return."

"No!" exclaimed Roxanne, "You mustn't! I'm a steady observer, Miss Porter, and I know that you can barely afford to eat these days! Where will you go from here if you leave?"

Kate said nothing. To be honest, she really didn't know.

Roxanne nodded. "That's right. You've grown paler because you're malnourished and winter's setting in. You cannot stay in that alley."

"I haven't a choice."

"Yes you do! You can stay with me and my brother! I've set it up already, you can come home with me tonight after your shift! I'll charge you very little, and you'll still have enough to pay for your food."

Kate was dumbfounded. For the first time since she had arrived, she had encountered genuine kindness. Was this really happening? She faltered for a moment in her disbelief and chuckled. "Yes, I suppose so."

Smiling, Roxanne produced a key from her pocket. "Here. Your very own. I'll wait for you outside later." She placed it in Kate's hand.

"Thank you, Roxanne. I don't know how I'll ever repay your compassion." Kate stared at the key as she spoke.

"We'll discuss that later. Right now, you have to finish your work, otherwise we'll both be out of a job!"

That night, Kate followed Roxanne to a dilapidated old building just outside the docks. The shutters were falling off and dangling, and Kate was certain she heard windows breaking. The grass was terribly overgrown, a miniature forest stretching all the way to the beach. Kate quickly pushed her discomfort from her mind. Any roof over her head was better than none.

She settled into her room as nicely as possible. Roxanne and her brother had provided for her within their means amply, giving her a relatively comfortable cot, a wobbly table, two wooden chairs, and two lamps. In return, Kate would give them a third of whatever pay she received working in the pub. The three lived harmoniously, without any complaint.

This was Kate's story until the present. Her only wish was that she would be a little more appreciated at work, and prayed every night that she would be led somewhere else. Even this night, as she filled two tankards with rum, she closed her eyes and begged God above to bless her with a new opportunity. It was at this moment that fate smiled down on her, and unbeknownst to her gave her the chance she desperately wanted.

Kate smiled at the two gentlemen she was serving. The first man, who was very dirty and scraggly, grinned warmly back at her and nodded his thanks before taking a large gulp. The second man flashed a wide grin at her, revealing a number of gold-capped teeth. Kate stared at this man, somewhat entranced by his mannerisms. His eyes were lined heavily in kohl and sparkled at her like polished onyx. The man raised his tankard to her and winked. "Thank you, love." He took a long drink and smacked his lips.

Kate couldn't speak. She'd never seen anyone, especially in this tavern, as captivating as this man. Her jaw dropped and her eyebrows furrowed. The man squinted and cleared his throat. "'Scuse me," he said, "something wrong?"

Her reverie was broken when she heard him speak again. "What?"

The man smiled again. "Had me scared there for a minute, pet. You think you could spare another round of rum for me and my esteemed companion? These won't last long, I'm sure."

Kate stuttered and nodded. "Of course. I'll return in a moment."

The man winked again as Kate shuffled off to the bar and filled two more tankards. Something about him made her feel uneasy...but not in a bad way. She felt as if he could see right through her and into the very depths of her soul. Yet, the same eyes that made her feel so exposed gave her an air of warmth and protection. This stranger merited a bit more investigation.

"Roxanne," Kate whispered to her friend, "Who is that over there? In the corner sitting opposite the dirty, heavy man?"

"Oh, him? He's a regular here. Or he used to be, he hasn't been in for a while. Goes by the name of Jack Spar--sorry, Captain Jack Sparrow."

"Who?"

"You're joking. He's one of the most celebrated pirates in these waters! That with him is his first mate, Pibbs or Griggs or something, I can't recall..."

Roxanne looked over at the table where Captain Jack and his friend were sitting and giggled a bit. "He's got quite a reputation, Jack Sparrow. I'm surprised you've never heard of him 'til now."

Kate exhaled sharply. "Well, I suppose he's expecting for his rum, eh? Best not keep him waiting."

Picking up the two overflowing tankards of rum, Kate hobbled over to the table. Sarah was seductively leaning on the table, in the middle of an engaging conversation with the first mate. Kate scoffed and set the tankards down, picking up the empty ones.

"I'm amazed she's not slobbering in your lap, Captain, as renowned as you are."

Jack chuckled and shook his head. "Nah...Ol' Sarah here's a wee bit infuriated with me at the moment. Thanks again, darling." He picked up the fresh rum and drank as Sarah turned around to glare at him momentarily.

"I see. Well, Captain Sparrow, if you need anything else this evening, I'd be more than happy to oblige."

He downed his rum and handed her the empty tankard. "Another, if you please. And when you return, I could use some company, as my cohort here has been shanghaied into banter by the charms of this lovely lady."

Kate grinned and took the tankard. "Right away, Captain."

As she turned to walk away, Jack cleared his throat. "One more thing, love. Call me Jack." He flashed his teeth again in what Kate believed to be the most charismatic smile she'd ever seen. She went behind the bar again and filled the tankards, one for Jack and one for herself. While she set them on the bar to look for a clean cloth, she caught Jack's eye. His face was composed into a simper, and he tipped his hat to her. Kate began to grin goofily, and probably would have made a fool out of herself if it weren't for two pirates instigating a brawl in front of her. She laughed, cleaning the sides off the tankards, and waited for her heartbeat to slow down before walking over to join Jack for a pleasant drink.