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Honour Bright

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  1. Honour gazed over the shoreline of Bridgetown as it came into view. She felt her stomach tighten up. 'Please, for all of our sakes, don't be here....' Jack came up behind her, sliding his arm around her waist. She jumped a mile. Laughing, he pushed the hair away from her ear and whispered, "Almost in port." She nodded, her eyes still darting back and forth as she skimmed her eyes over the ships that were docked. "You seem nervous, love." She shook her head. "I just want to pick up my things and head out as soon as possible. I--I miss our daughter and I don't want her to forget me." He sighed. "And she doesn't even know me." He turned Honour around to face him. "Think she will like me?" She looked at Jack's face, so hopeful and yet full of apprehension. She drew him close and laid her head against his chest. "I know she will. I can't wait to hear her call you 'Da' for the first time." Jack brightened. "You really think she will?" She laughed and said, "What do you think she will call you? Captain?" He laughed with her and said, "That would be Captain Da!" Honour still continued to look over the port. "Honour? You seem a bit distracted." She hastily replied, "Jack, I was in Bridgetown for a few days awaiting passage back to Wales when you kidnapped me. I just want to fetch my things from the inn and get out of here." "I'll go with you then." "NO!" "Pardon?" She did a quick recovery. "I mean, you have so much to do with the men. Giving them the news that we are sailing back to the Continent to pick up your child. I really hope you don't lose anyone." Jack replied, "Can't say that I blame them. And I hope that Briggs will make the decision to stay. There hasn't been much talking to him the past three days." "When will he let you know?" Jack shrugged. "I guess I will find out when he shows up on Monday." A person was clearing their throats behind them. They both turned and Eli Meredith stood there, his cap in his hand and a look of uncertainty. Honour gave him a warm smile and Jack nodded solemnly. He still did not quite trust the lad due to his small but unwilling part in the mutiny. "If I may be talking to you, Captain Wolfe? In private?" Honour gave Jack's arm a quick squeeze. "Eli needs to talk man to man with you. I'll get my things together to go ashore." ~~~~~~~~~~~ Jack led Eli to the quarterdeck. "We will have privacy here. Speak your mind, Meredith." Eli twisted his cap in his hand. "First off, I want to say how right happy I am that you and Mrs. Wolfe are together. " Jack looked at the lad and softened. He couldn't have been much older than nineteen. His blond hair kept falling over his eyes and he kept pushing it back. "Thank you, Meredith. Now what is on your mind?" Eli started but then his words came tumbling out. "I can't begin to tell you how sorry I am for what happened. Burgess was a bad lot from the beginning. And I know I should have warned you but I was afraid of him. I was hoping that he would change his mind." Jack admitted, "You did redeem yourself when you told me where Honour was. For that I am thankful. " Eli nodded solemly. "I don't think I could have forgiven myself if any harm had come to your lady, Captain. But what I would like to know is this--do you intend to leave me in Bridgetown?" Jack shook his head. "I don't rightly know, Eli. I spared your life. Is that not enough?" Eli looked down at the deck. "I overheard you talking to Mr. Briggs. I kept it all to myself but I heard that you intend to sail for Wales." Jack nodded. "I will be telling the crew in my speech before they disembark in port." Eli raised his eyes and said with trepidation tinged with hope, "I'd like to stay on and go to Wales with the ship, Captain." Jack took a deep breath. "I think that can be arranged." Eli impulsively stepped forward and grabbed his captain's hand. "Thank you, sir! Thank you!" Eli walked off and his captain said quietly, "You are welcome....Eli." Eli stood up a little taller and squared his shoulders. He had redeemed himself in his captain's eyes and he was ready to face the world again with his head held high.
  2. Briggs was directing the men on deck. "Good morning, Josiah. Where is Jack?" Briggs jerked his thumb towards the infirmary. "In there with Duckie." He barely said anything else. Honour took a deep breath and said, quietly, "He told you, didn't he?" Briggs nodded. "That he did. Told me the plans to go to Wales. And when we make port in Bridgetown, any crew member who didn't want to go was free to leave the Company." "Josiah, I don't want to disturb any arrangements that Jack may have made with any of you. I know that you and Jack have been friends for years." "If you were expecting a wee one, why didn't you have the good sense to stay and hash it out with Jack? Didn't he have the right to know and be there for the birthing?" She looked down. "I wasn't thinking clearly, Josiah. And lest you think I am a thief, I still have the ten chests of guilders. I only took them to secure the baby's future." "And what of the land you were supposed to buy?" "I did use the money that Jack had given me to buy a plantation." "In whose name? Certainly not that of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Wolfe. He did a title search, you know." She hedged a bit. "I put it in a name that made it safe and secure for Zara." Josiah shook his head. "Honour, I delivered the news to Jack when you weren't there to come home to. The man had his guts torn out of him. I don't think I could stand to see him hurt like that again." She nodded solemnly. "I can't say I blame you, Josiah. But I was young and afraid. I never had a baby before and with things the way they had been between Jack and me, I had no way of knowing how he would react. I couldn't afford to be deserted." Josiah grew indignant. "When have you ever known Jack Wolfe to not be a man of his word?" "Josiah, I am telling you something I never told anyone before. Not even Jack. But I took a risk going back to Wales. Things....had happened there in another lifetime. Please don't ask as I won't say. But I needed my family. Good Lord, you didn't want me to have a baby on a pirate ship, did you? So I did what was best. I see now how wrong I was. And I'll spend a lifetime making it up to Jack." "And how do you plan on doing that?" "By not making him sorry he married me." "So far, so good, Honour. " "And one other thing I need to do and I need to do it tonight." "You aren't going to tell him you have another kid stashed somewhere, are you?" She shook her head. "No. I need to tell him one thing." "And that would be?" "That I love him."
  3. Honour stretched out in the bed in the captain's quarters, the sunlight streaming through the blinds. She woke up with a smile on her face. Tenderly she reached over to hug the pillow next to her, a feeling of contentment coming over her. Contentment? More like a feeling she was finally home after a long journey. Jack had covered her with the comforter before he left to tend to business. The night had been a long one, filled with accusations and declarations, confessions and confirmations. She was relieved to finally tell Jack about Zara. It was as if a burden had been lifted from her. She smiled as she remembered the look of pride on Jack's face. And the abject terror when he realized the child was of the feminine persuasion. Honour was anxious to get back to Beaumaris. She had been away from Zara for six weeks now and every week brought about a change in her little girl that Honour could never get back. When Honour left Wales to arrange for the sale of the plantation, Zara was just starting to pull herself up on the furniture. She smiled as she thought of her tiny daughter with the dark curls and delicate features. And the set of lung she inherited from her father and her willful ways from her mother. 'Jack, I hope you are up to the challenge of dealing with a little girl.' But Honour knew that even before he had seen her, Zara would twist him around her little finger. Honour crawled out of bed and wrapped a dressing gown around her. It was the sky blue silk she had left on the ship when they had crossed from Tobago. Fortunately she had left quite a few clothes on the ship. She crossed over to the chest of drawers and looked through the drawers for a change of clothes and there she saw it. A black velvet drawstring bag. And a gold ring. She took it out very carefully and looked inside. It was a band of gold inscribed with a promise. WAIT FOR ME A dozen thoughts and a half a dozen conflicting emotions surged through her. She inexplicably teared up as she remembered the day she was given it. A brisk autumn day in a cave in Beaumaris. It was the ring that Rhys Morgan had given her before he left with the promise he would return in six months' time and marry her. But one factor worked against them. Mother Superior had her spies. She thought back to the day that Mother Superior called her into her study. There was no reasoning. She was to be sent home. What was the phrase Mother Superior had used? Oh yes....'pleasures of the flesh'. Honour was sent packing the very next day. She held the ring close to her heart as a tear trickled down her face. In her mind's eye she saw Rhys as vibrant and alive as he had been in all the times she had known him. Her mind drifted back to the first time she saw him. She had taken a skiff that was beached by the cliffs. She rowed it out to look at a ship that was docked a ways out in the bay. A seagull had swooped down on her and as she screamed and batted it away, Muir decided to leap after it. Rhys was the one to fish her out of the water. Six years later, Rhys Morgan had shown up in her life again, as a pirate captain in his own right. The Neptune Rising had become his. And so had a girl named Rhiannon Conaway. She slipped the ring on her finger. It still fit. 'Was it really that long ago that I last saw Rhys Morgan?' she wondered. Four years. He reentered her life when she was seventeen. But there were the...complications. And Rhys paid for it with his life. Honour hastily wiped the tears from her face. She took a shuddering breath. The guilt would always be there. But if not for the turn of events that had followed, she never would have met Jack. And Zara would never have come into existence. Softly she whispered, 'I'll never forget your, Rhys. Or your love. But it is time I moved on. I have a man who loves me and a daughter born of that love.' She felt the tears well up again and she pushed the feelings down like she had done for the past four years. Once and for all times. 'Good-bye Rhys. I do love you. But my life is with Jack and Zara now.' She looked at the ring one last time and put it back in the velvet bag, pushing it to the back of the drawer. She washed her face and brushed her hair, changing her clothes, heading up to the deck to greet another day. And the man who was her life now.
  4. "So what do you make of it, Josiah?" Briggs leaned over the gunwale, his pipe sending curls of smoke in the air. "Make of what?" "The missus. Think she is here to stay?" "For the moment. Until those two get to bickering and squabbling. Then it is anyone's guess." "How long you give it?" Briggs shrugged. "Can't rightly say. It's anyone's guess as to what Mad Jack has planned now. Me, I'm looking to do a fair bit o' pyracy. You don't use it, you lose it. I'd hate to see mildew get on that flag of ours." Davis took out his flask. "Maybe he will set her up in a house in Bridgetown and visit her when he is in port. He'd at least save some money." Briggs looked over at the closed door of the captain's quarters. "Don't let him hear you say that. Honour may be many things but she's no doxy. You weren't around when he married her. He changed." "How so?" "He was....happy. Like a part of him was where it should be. It was as if that part died after she was gone. Jack had gone into a few taverns to see what information he could pick up on Cade Jennings or Honour Bright. Duckie and I were in a tavern--think it was Aruba--and we got rip-roarin' drunk. We got to talkin' about the way Honour did Jack. Duckie said only one other woman did Jack that way. What was her name?---Rhonda? Rose? Rose!--that was it. I asked Duckie who she was but then Duckie passed out and I had to half-drag his arse to the ship. Next day I asked him about it and he denied it. Said he never said anything of the sort. I let it go. Figured it was Jack's business and it was before we made acquaintance. But still..." "Still waters run deep?" "NO! I was going to say that still after that, Jack Wolfe fell for a piece of fluff named Honour Bright. 'Cept one thing." "What is that?" "Honour is no piece of fluff. There in that captain's cabin perhaps lies the one woman who if she had breeches and what goes in them could very well rival Jack Wolfe. She can't tame him. But she taught him." "Taught him what?" "To feel again. He was happiest when he was with her. And there's one thing." "That is..?" "I don't think Jack can stand the heartache of losing her again. One thing that I AM grateful for." "What's that, Josiah?" "The two of them never had a wee bairn." "May keep her on land with the homefire burning." "Aye but there may be one other thing." "What?" Briggs took a deep draw on his pipe and then tapped it on the gunwale. The ash flew up and landed on the whitecaps. "Pray we don't end up putting a cradle on the crows nest!"
  5. "What was it like, Honour?" "What?" "Having a baby. I mean, I wasn't there for the grand event. Hell, I wasn't there for any of it." "It was a pain and scary and wonderful and a joy. The only way I can describe it is like a mongoose trying to get out of a haversack! Without untying the sack." "I wish I had been there for you." "It's probably better you weren't." "Why not?" "Because I am sure the whole countryside of Wales heard me scream that your parents weren't married!" He chuckled. "That bad?" "That bad." "What day was she born?" "March 1st. During one of those dark, stormy nights. I swear, the loudest clap of thunder and the biggest flash of lightning occurred just as she made her debut." "Did it take long to kick her out?" Honour poured herself another glass of wine. "I would say about twenty hours." "That long?" "Your daughter didn't want to be born on a leap year day so she held on tightly. Poor Megan was beside herself." "Megan? That was the midwife?" "No, Nesta was the midwife. She birthed me. And my sister. Megan is my sister. She's five years older than I. She's married to Daffyd. A fine man and I like him very much. He and Megan were very good to me." "So you went to stay with Megan?" "I suppose I owe you the whole story on the last eighteen months, don't I?" Jack opened a fresh bottle of wine. "I think you owe me that much." She sighed, "I guess it is the least I could do." "Jack, it was after we had the encounter with The Mercedes. You turned away from me and when we were in port, you practically left me on my own. "That was when you decided to leave me." "No, it was when you pulled the pistol on me. With your temper, I had no idea what would set you off again." "So you went to Wales. How did you get there?" "I booked passage as soon as you left." "With whom?" She shook her head. "I'm sorry, Jack. On pain of death I promised this individual I would never reveal his name. But he was respectful and didn't lay a hand on me. And he didn't know I was pregnant. If he did, he probably would have made me stay in Bridgetown and made me work it out with you." "He's that noble?" "He's that noble. He made sure I got to a transfer spot and then booked passage for me to Wales." "Where you went to be with Megan." "I told her the entire story and I stayed with her." "One question, Honour. Does Megan have our child?" "Yes, I left her with Megan and Daffyd. She is as safe as can be there. Megan has two children of her own. And they are well to do so Megan has servants to help her." Jack ran his finger along the rim of his wine glass. Quietly, he said, "I have missed so much, Honour. I missed her first smile. Her first laugh. Her first tooth. Her first step. I wish I could blame it all on you. But I can't. It was my foolishness and my pride that drove you away. " "Is there any story you can give me to hold on to, Honour? Something to make Zara a bit more real to me? Because as of right now, she is just a name and a notion. A beautiful notion, but I'd like a bit more." Honour smiled in remembrance. "She has a habit of when she rolls over, she takes the entire blanket with her." "Like her mother." "I do not! Oh, and her laugh is something to hear! I can't really describe it. But to me, it is a laugh of sheer joy. She is truly a child in love with life. She chews on her fist when she is teething and I can tell when she is sleepy because she twists her hair around her finger." "Again, like her mother. " "What?" "You're doing it now." Honour stopped in mid-twirl. She laughed, "I guess I do." "Are you tired?" "I guess so. The whole day is catching up to me." "Well, at least you didn't have the news you have a child sprung on you." "No. I'm sorry, Jack. I intended to tell you when we got back to the ship and there was a peaceful minute. I--I wanted to do it right." "Honour, there WAS no right way. I'm sure in the next few weeks, bits and pieces will surface. And by the time we get to Wales, I will know so much about my daughter that it will be like I already met her." Honour's face glowed. "I can just picture her reaching out and tweaking your nose." Jack rose and held his hand out to her. "You have had a long day, love. Shall we?" "Shall we....what?" "WhatEVER!" Honour laughed. "That's my line."
  6. “I wanted to tell you so many times, Jack, I swear. I didn't know how.” “We really should find a middle ground between silence and blurting.” “We do spend too much time either keeping our thoughts to ourselves or saying too much, and all at the wrong times,” she agreed. He gave her a wan smile and shook his head. “It seems to be what we're best at.” He took a swallow of wine and sighed heavily. “Where do we go from here, Honour?” Usually, Jack was an easy man for her to read. Not this time. Why wasn't he asking questions about Zara? Maybe he's still in shock, she thought. She bit her lip and looked toward the windows. “You know my place is in Wales now.” Jack's body stiffened and he took a deep breath. “You're place is in Wales, and by my side. I want to see my daughter, Honour. So I'll take you home myself.” “Jack, I...” “Now, don't waste your breath trying to talk me out of it!” he interrupted. “I know what you said before about not being able to trust me, and you were right. But I'm a different man now. To be honest, I can't bear the thought of having you walk out of my life again. Even more so now that I know about Zara.” “Jack!” “I know what you're going to say, and it just won't do! I love you, Honour. I need you. And Zara needs us. Her mother and father, together. And that's how we'll be going to Wales. Together. So don't go making me kidnap you again. I'm getting pretty good at it, you know...” Honour stamped her heel hard on the deck. “Jack, would you SHUT UP?! Of course you're going to take me to Wales! Thanks to you kidnapping me, I've missed my ship! It's only reasonable that you provide me the transportation I need as compensation. Besides, this ship is half mine.” She put her fists on her hips and gave him an exasperated look. “Did you really think I wasn't going to let you see your daughter after telling you about her?” Jack looked back at her incredulously. “I... you... what?” “I said, I want you to take me back to Wales so we can fetch our little girl.” “But, you were just saying you didn't feel you could trust me.” She sighed and shook her head. “And as you said, you're a different man now. I could see it in your eyes the night of the mutiny when you showed compassion for Eli, and so many more times whilst we were in the jungle.” A tender smile came to her lips. “Deep down, you've changed. For the better.” He continued to look at her as a broad smile broke out on his face. “You're serious, aren't you?” “Yes, Jack. I'm serious.” “Then why the hell did you let me go on like that and make a fool of myself?!” Honour laughed gently. “I tried to stop you, but you were on a roll. Besides, it was adorable watching you try to be all noble.” He went back to his chair and sat heavily, and drained his glass of wine. “Dear Lord... a baby girl? You're sure about that? I mean, they dress babies up so that you can't tell what the devil they are. Boy, girl, ferret- it's tough to say some times.” “Yes, Jack. I checked, more than once. No stem on the apple,” she said with a wink. “There's a cruel twist of fate, don't you think?” he asked as he refilled their glasses. “How so?” “Jack Wolfe, the father of a little girl?” Suddenly, his eyes went wide in horror. “Oh, no...” Honour held her breath. “What's wrong? Don't tell me you're having second thoughts.” She took a sip of wine to ready her nerves. “No, no, not that,” he said quietly. Turning to her with a look of worry and concern, he explained, “Honour, I'm going to have to protect her from... men like ME!” She was barely able to swallow her wine before dissolving into laughter. “You've got a few years before you have to worry about that!” After a few moments, she cocked her head and gave her husband a puzzled look. “Are you all right? I know this is a lot for you to take in, but I can't remember ever seeing you quite like this.” “Am I all right?” he chuckled. “I'm overjoyed and terrified, all at the same time. Even more than when I realised we were married. I mean, I had no idea you might be... you know...” “Pregnant? It's all right to say the word, Jack. We are married after all. I wasn't certain myself until you left for Martinique. There was no way for you to tell as I was only a month along.” “A month? That means--” “Yes. Zara came into being on our wedding night. Or very soon after. There were lots of opportunities,” she said with a slight blush. Jack's smiled wistfully. “From the way you described her, she's beautiful.” “She is,” Honour smiled proudly. “Positively the most beautiful baby ever born. And very much your daughter. Every time she got upset, it reminded me of you. She's got your lungs.” “A hallmark of the Wolfe line,” he pronounced with mock braggadocio. “We're not always right, but we are always LOUD!” They enjoyed a hearty laugh together, and Honour lifted her glass. “To our daughter, Zara. Congratulations, Captain Wolfe. It's a girl!” “Another jewel in the family fortune, Mrs. Wolfe!” he replied. “Ah! Just a moment, Jack,” she scolded. “She's your child, not some pretty bit of swag in your collection.” Jack nodded and clinked glasses with her. “I stand corrected, my love. But I do have one question.” “And what's that?” “What do you mean, half your ship?”
  7. “I wanted to tell you so many times, Jack, I swear. I didn't know how.” “We really should find a middle ground between silence and blurting.” “We do spend too much time either keeping our thoughts to ourselves or saying too much, and all at the wrong times,” she agreed. He gave her a wan smile and shook his head. “It seems to be what we're best at.” He took a swallow of wine and sighed heavily. “Where do we go from here, Honour?” Usually, Jack was an easy man for her to read. Not this time. Why wasn't he asking questions about Zara? Maybe he's still in shock, she thought. She bit her lip and looked toward the windows. “You know my place is in Wales now.” Jack's body stiffened and he took a deep breath. “You're place is in Wales, and by my side. I want to see my daughter, Honour. So I'll take you home myself.” “Jack, I...” “Now, don't waste your breath trying to talk me out of it!” he interrupted. “I know what you said before about not being able to trust me, and you were right. But I'm a different man now. To be honest, I can't bear the thought of having you walk out of my life again. Even more so now that I know about Zara.” “Jack!” “I know what you're going to say, and it just won't do! I love you, Honour. I need you. And Zara needs us. Her mother and father, together. And that's how we'll be going to Wales. Together. So don't go making me kidnap you again. I'm getting pretty good at it, you know...” Honour stamped her heel hard on the deck. “Jack, would you SHUT UP?! Of course you're going to take me to Wales! Thanks to you kidnapping me, I've missed my ship! It's only reasonable that you provide me the transportation I need as compensation. Besides, this ship is half mine.” She put her fists on her hips and gave him an exasperated look. “Did you really think I wasn't going to let you see your daughter after telling you about her?” Jack looked back at her incredulously. “I... you... what?” “I said, I want you to take me back to Wales so we can fetch our little girl.” “But, you were just saying you didn't feel you could trust me.” She sighed and shook her head. “And as you said, you're a different man now. I could see it in your eyes the night of the mutiny when you showed compassion for Eli, and so many more times whilst we were in the jungle.” A tender smile came to her lips. “Deep down, you've changed. For the better.” He continued to look at her as a broad smile broke out on his face. “You're serious, aren't you?” “Yes, Jack. I'm serious.” “Then why the hell did you let me go on like that and make a fool of myself?!” Honour laughed gently. “I tried to stop you, but you were on a roll. Besides, it was adorable watching you try to be all noble.” He went back to his chair and sat heavily, and drained his glass of wine. “Dear Lord... a baby girl? You're sure about that? I mean, they dress babies up so that you can't tell what the devil they are. Boy, girl, ferret- it's tough to say some times.” “Yes, Jack. I checked, more than once. No stem on the apple,” she said with a wink. “There's a cruel twist of fate, don't you think?” he asked as he refilled their glasses. “How so?” “Jack Wolfe, the father of a little girl?” Suddenly, his eyes went wide in horror. “Oh, no...” Honour held her breath. “What's wrong? Don't tell me you're having second thoughts.” She took a sip of wine to ready her nerves. “No, no, not that,” he said quietly. Turning to her with a look of worry and concern, he explained, “Honour, I'm going to have to protect her from... men like ME!” She was barely able to swallow her wine before dissolving into laughter. “You've got a few years before you have to worry about that!” After a few moments, she cocked her head and gave her husband a puzzled look. “Are you all right? I know this is a lot for you to take in, but I can't remember ever seeing you quite like this.” “Am I all right?” he chuckled. “I'm overjoyed and terrified, all at the same time. Even more than when I realised we were married. I mean, I had no idea you might be... you know...” “Pregnant? It's all right to say the word, Jack. We are married after all. I wasn't certain myself until you left for Martinique. There was no way for you to tell as I was only a month along.” “A month? That means--” “Yes. Zara came into being on our wedding night. Or very soon after. There were lots of opportunities,” she said with a slight blush. Jack's smiled wistfully. “From the way you described her, she's beautiful.” “She is,” Honour smiled proudly. “Positively the most beautiful baby ever born. And very much your daughter. Every time she got upset, it reminded me of you. She's got your lungs.” “A hallmark of the Wolfe line,” he pronounced with mock braggadocio. “We're not always right, but we are always LOUD!” They enjoyed a hearty laugh together, and Honour lifted her glass. “To our daughter, Zara. Congratulations, Captain Wolfe. It's a girl!” “Another jewel in the family fortune, Mrs. Wolfe!” he replied. “Ah! Just a moment, Jack,” she scolded. “She's your child, not some pretty bit of swag in your collection.” Jack nodded and clinked glasses with her. “I stand corrected, my love. But I do have one question.” “And what's that?” “What do you mean, half your ship?”
  8. Jack knew it was a matter of time before Honour's tears were spent and it was futile to rush the process. All he could do was hold her. As she started to cease her tears and replace it with hiccups, he gently wiped the tears off her face with a napkin. He led her over to the bed and sat her down. "So, Honour....I think we need to have a real heart-to-heart talk. No more skirting issues and blurting news out." He handed her a glass of merlot. With shaking hands, she took the glass and took a sip. "Alright," she said quietly. "So this is the family you were going back to Wales for? Our child?" She nodded yes as she looked down at the floor, suddenly afraid to look him in the face. "In the middle of a civil war?" "Which one--England or ours?" "England will have peace eventually. Ours? It remains to be seen. So you were going to raise our daughter in a country of complete unrest? Why did you come back to Barbados then?" "I wanted to clear up any loose ends. I wanted to get a divorce from you and get on with my life. I was going to make a life in Scotland. I thought it would be a nice place for a fresh start." "But why a divorce? Why not just an annulment?" She looked up at him. "So she would not be illegitimate. An annulment makes that so but by rights a divorce means we were married when she was born. I couldn't do that to her. So I came down here to clear up all legal matters." "You thought I wouldn't find out about a divorce? I have eyes and ears all over this port. The ink wouldn't be dry before I would find out." "I---I planned on paying off the magistrate so that you would get your copy when I was out of port and safely out of reach. I--oh, I don't know what I was thinking anymore." "When did you plan on telling me about our child, Honour?" There it was. The question she knew was coming and she dreaded the answer because she had none. None that he wanted to hear. "I was waiting for the right moment." He got up and walked over to the ship's window, looking out of the harbor. "The right moment? We've been together on this ship for four day now and another two by ourselves in the jungle. You managed to talk about everything BUT our daughter. I could have died from that bloody snake and never known I was a father Were you waiting for the death rattle before telling me? For God's sake, Honour, you could have died in the mutiny. I would be none the wiser and there would be an orphaned little girl in Wales who never knew her mummy or daddy." Honour was used to Jack's temper but the quiet way he talked had her unnerved. She took a deep breath. "Jack, please, you aren't being fair." He turned to her and looked at her sadly. Softly he said, "You never had any intention of telling me about her, did you? You were content to disappear again and deny me the knowledge of my own flesh and blood. Just like you vanished from Barbados all those months ago. You were going to leave again and take the knowledge of the child. You were cutting me out of her life." She felt her face redden with shame and she willed her voice to stop shaking. "I wasn't cutting you out of her life. You were never there to begin with. Jack, you pushed me away after your little grudge match with Mendoza. Everything fell apart and you took it all out on me. When we had the chance to set things right, you had to run off to Martinique to get your journal." "That journal netted us a find of a lifetime. Who knows what other treasures are out there, Honour?" She felt the tear starting up again and willed them away. "You had a treasure right here, Jack. Right here! But I guess I didn't glitter enough to hold your attention." "That's not true, Honour." "Isn't it? You had a strange way of showing it," she said sadly. "By the time I left Barbados, I knew I was pregnant. I had suspicions of it on the crossing from Tobago. I was queasy and dizzy on the return trip. When I dug that bullet out of your shoulder, I got sick. I now know why. But you went off to Martinique and left me in port for over ten days. I couldn't trust you anymore, Jack. I couldn't trust you would be around when I needed you and I certainly couldn't trust your temper." "Now you are the one not being fair, Honour." "Am I? Jack, if you had fired your pistol that night, you would have killed me and our unborn child. Think about that." Jack looked stricken as she continued. "How was I supposed to trust you after that, Jack? I knew then that I had to leave, to protect the baby and myself. I'm sorry but it is true. I didn't want to, but you left me no choice." A wave of guilt washed over Jack in the face of his temper being brought to light. Honour was right, of course., no matter how it stung to acknowledge the fact. It was clear his selfishness had cost him dearly. Not only had he driven away the woman he loved, but he missed out on the birth of his daughter. Ever since Honour had mentioned wanting children on their honeymoon in Castara, he had it in the back of his mind children and a family life would be what he needed. Faced with the knowledge he had a child with her, if felt surreal. But one thing was certain. This was his last chance.
  9. Jack stared at Honour in disbelief. He blinked a few times before he finally found his voice. “Honour, are... are you sure?” “Yes, Jack, I'm quite certain that what popped out of me wasn't a salamander,” she retorted. “It was a baby. Your child. There certainly were enough opportunities to conceive a child and you were always impetuous. I only wish you had been there to share in the pain! It was like trying to shove Briggs through a porthole. Good God, Jack! Didn't your parents explain any of this to you?” “They did, after a fashion. The chalk drawings left a lot to the imagination, and I never could figure out how the stork fit in. What makes you so certain the child is mine?" A shocked look crossed her face. “Damn you! Damn you for asking me that question!” Fury painted every word. “What would you make of her? She has beautiful bright blue eyes, delicate features, skin the colour of almond butter, and thick, curling brown hair, almost long enough to braid when she was born. Sound like a couple of people you know?” He put his elbows on the table, steepling his index fingers as he pressed them against his lips in thought. He stared somewhere in the middle of the table for a while as Honour waited for his response. When none was forthcoming, she said furiously, "Don't just sit there like the Spanish Armada was coming and you are caught with your pants down." "Well, you aren't exactly Spain." "But I got the pants down part right, didn't I?" "If you only had some proof...." Honour's face burned with fury. "You want proof. You want PROOF? Well, I will show you PROOF!" She marched over to the top drawer of the dresser and pulled out a silver box. Angrily she threw it at Jack, hitting him squarely on the nose. The box tumbled to the table. "This is your proof, you bastard!" Jack picked the box up and hesitantly opened it. He knew whatever the box contained, it had the probability to change his life forever. He reached in and carefully picked up the contents. It was a pink ribbon which held a lock of auburn hair, curling around his finger. He held it up and knew right away. It was the same hair colour and curl of the hair he had been dealing with most of his life. "Honour....I...I don't know what to say." "That you are an idiot? A bastard for ever doubting me?" "It...it's just that the possibility of a child...well, I never gave it much thought. I mean, no one has ever appeared on the docks waiting for me and calling me Daddy." "Maybe because you didn't stick around long enough to find out. Maybe the Caribbean is filled with Wolfes. Maybe you should check that establishment with the red door. There may be a regular nursery wing filled with little urchins with your face stamped on them." Jack took a step towards Honour but she took a step back. Her voice rose in defiance and despair. "I was unloved as a child. I had no one. So I was going to make damn well sure my child would always know love. I had no idea how you were going to react. Well, I must say I am not surprised. But how dare--HOW DARE!--you ever try to doubt that you fathered a child by me!" He brought his hands to her shoulders but she angrily shrugged him off. Her voice took on an edge of hysteria. "I even have a baptismal certificate to prove it. I made sure she would never bear the label of bastard child. Her legal name is Zara Jane Wolfe. Her father's name is listed as John Michael Wolfe. She's legitimate in both the eyes of the church and the laws of the land. So like it or not, you are the father both legally and divinely. I was going to tell you in my own way tonight, Jack. Quietly and ease you into it. But you ruined it....you ruined it..." With that, Honour put her hands over her face and dissolved into weeping. Jack took her in his arms. She put her arms around his neck and sobbed. He held her close and whispered, "I'm sorry, Honour. I am so very, very sorry."
  10. Jack stared at Honour in disbelief. He blinked a few times before he finally found his voice. “Honour, are... are you sure?” “Yes, Jack, I'm quite certain that what popped out of me wasn't a salamander,” she retorted. “It was a baby. Your child. There certainly were enough opportunities to conceive a child and you were always impetuous. I only wish you had been there to share in the pain! It was like trying to shove Briggs through a porthole. Good God, Jack! Didn't your parents explain any of this to you?” “They did, after a fashion. The chalk drawings left a lot to the imagination, and I never could figure out how the stork fit in. What makes you so certain the child is mine?" A shocked look crossed her face. “Damn you! Damn you for asking me that question!” Fury painted every word. “What would you make of her? She has beautiful bright blue eyes, delicate features, skin the colour of almond butter, and thick, curling brown hair, almost long enough to braid when she was born. Sound like a couple of people you know?” He put his elbows on the table, steepling his index fingers as he pressed them against his lips in thought. He stared somewhere in the middle of the table for a while as Honour waited for his response. When none was forthcoming, she said furiously, "Don't just sit there like the Spanish Armada was coming and you are caught with your pants down." "Well, you aren't exactly Spain." "But I got the pants down part right, didn't I?" "If you only had some proof...." Honour's face burned with fury. "You want proof. You want PROOF? Well, I will show you PROOF!" She marched over to the top drawer of the dresser and pulled out a silver box. Angrily she threw it at Jack, hitting him squarely on the nose. The box tumbled to the table. "This is your proof, you bastard!" Jack picked the box up and hesitantly opened it. He knew whatever the box contained, it had the probability to change his life forever. He reached in and carefully picked up the contents. It was a pink ribbon which held a lock of auburn hair, curling around his finger. He held it up and knew right away. It was the same hair colour and curl of the hair he had been dealing with most of his life. "Honour....I...I don't know what to say." "That you are an idiot? A bastard for ever doubting me?" "It...it's just that the possibility of a child...well, I never gave it much thought. I mean, no one has ever appeared on the docks waiting for me and calling me Daddy." "Maybe because you didn't stick around long enough to find out. Maybe the Caribbean is filled with Wolfes. Maybe you should check that establishment with the red door. There may be a regular nursery wing filled with little urchins with your face stamped on them." Jack took a step towards Honour but she took a step back. Her voice rose in defiance and despair. "I was unloved as a child. I had no one. So I was going to make damn well sure my child would always know love. I had no idea how you were going to react. Well, I must say I am not surprised. But how dare--HOW DARE!--you ever try to doubt that you fathered a child by me!" He brought his hands to her shoulders but she angrily shrugged him off. Her voice took on an edge of hysteria. "I even have a baptismal certificate to prove it. I made sure she would never bear the label of bastard child. Her legal name is Zara Jane Wolfe. Her father's name is listed as John Michael Wolfe. She's legitimate in both the eyes of the church and the laws of the land. So like it or not, you are the father both legally and divinely. I was going to tell you in my own way tonight, Jack. Quietly and ease you into it. But you ruined it....you ruined it..." With that, Honour put her hands over her face and dissolved into weeping. Jack took her in his arms. She put her arms around his neck and sobbed. He held her close and whispered, "I'm sorry, Honour. I am so very, very sorry." Jack stared at Honour in disbelief. He blinked a few times before he finally found his voice. “Honour, are... are you sure?” “Yes, Jack, I'm quite certain that what popped out of me wasn't a salamander,” she retorted. “It was a baby. Your child. There certainly were enough opportunities to conceive a child and you were always impetuous. I only wish you had been there to share in the pain! It was like trying to shove Briggs through a porthole. Good God, Jack! Didn't your parents explain any of this to you?” “They did, after a fashion. The chalk drawings left a lot to the imagination, and I never could figure out how the stork fit in. What makes you so certain the child is mine?" A shocked look crossed her face. “Damn you! Damn you for asking me that question!” Fury painted every word. “What would you make of her? She has beautiful bright blue eyes, delicate features, skin the colour of almond butter, and thick, curling brown hair, almost long enough to braid when she was born. Sound like a couple of people you know?” He put his elbows on the table, steepling his index fingers as he pressed them against his lips in thought. He stared somewhere in the middle of the table for a while as Honour waited for his response. When none was forthcoming, she said furiously, "Don't just sit there like the Spanish Armada was coming and you are caught with your pants down." "Well, you aren't exactly Spain." "But I got the pants down part right, didn't I?" "If you only had some proof...." Honour's face burned with fury. "You want proof. You want PROOF? Well, I will show you PROOF!" She marched over to the top drawer of the dresser and pulled out a silver box. Angrily she threw it at Jack, hitting him squarely on the nose. The box tumbled to the table. "This is your proof, you bastard!" Jack picked the box up and hesitantly opened it. He knew whatever the box contained, it had the probability to change his life forever. He reached in and carefully picked up the contents. It was a pink ribbon which held a lock of auburn hair, curling around his finger. He held it up and knew right away. It was the same hair colour and curl of the hair he had been dealing with most of his life. "Honour....I...I don't know what to say." "That you are an idiot? A bastard for ever doubting me?" "It...it's just that the possibility of a child...well, I never gave it much thought. I mean, no one has ever appeared on the docks waiting for me and calling me Daddy." "Maybe because you didn't stick around long enough to find out. Maybe the Caribbean is filled with Wolfes. Maybe you should check that establishment with the red door. There may be a regular nursery wing filled with little urchins with your face stamped on them." Jack took a step towards Honour but she took a step back. Her voice rose in defiance and despair. "I was unloved as a child. I had no one. So I was going to make damn well sure my child would always know love. I had no idea how you were going to react. Well, I must say I am not surprised. But how dare--HOW DARE!--you ever try to doubt that you fathered a child by me!" He brought his hands to her shoulders but she angrily shrugged him off. Her voice took on an edge of hysteria. "I even have a baptismal certificate to prove it. I made sure she would never bear the label of bastard child. Her legal name is Zara Jane Wolfe. Her father's name is listed as John Michael Wolfe. She's legitimate in both the eyes of the church and the laws of the land. So like it or not, you are the father both legally and divinely. I was going to tell you in my own way tonight, Jack. Quietly and ease you into it. But you ruined it....you ruined it..." With that, Honour put her hands over her face and dissolved into weeping. Jack took her in his arms. She put her arms around his neck and sobbed. He held her close and whispered, "I'm sorry, Honour. I am so very, very sorry." Jack stared at Honour in disbelief. He blinked a few times before he finally found his voice. “Honour, are... are you sure?” “Yes, Jack, I'm quite certain that what popped out of me wasn't a salamander,” she retorted. “It was a baby. Your child. There certainly were enough opportunities to conceive a child and you were always impetuous. I only wish you had been there to share in the pain! It was like trying to shove Briggs through a porthole. Good God, Jack! Didn't your parents explain any of this to you?” “They did, after a fashion. The chalk drawings left a lot to the imagination, and I never could figure out how the stork fit in. What makes you so certain the child is mine?" A shocked look crossed her face. “Damn you! Damn you for asking me that question!” Fury painted every word. “What would you make of her? She has beautiful bright blue eyes, delicate features, skin the colour of almond butter, and thick, curling brown hair, almost long enough to braid when she was born. Sound like a couple of people you know?” He put his elbows on the table, steepling his index fingers as he pressed them against his lips in thought. He stared somewhere in the middle of the table for a while as Honour waited for his response. When none was forthcoming, she said furiously, "Don't just sit there like the Spanish Armada was coming and you are caught with your pants down." "Well, you aren't exactly Spain." "But I got the pants down part right, didn't I?" "If you only had some proof...." Honour's face burned with fury. "You want proof. You want PROOF? Well, I will show you PROOF!" She marched over to the top drawer of the dresser and pulled out a silver box. Angrily she threw it at Jack, hitting him squarely on the nose. The box tumbled to the table. "This is your proof, you bastard!" Jack picked the box up and hesitantly opened it. He knew whatever the box contained, it had the probability to change his life forever. He reached in and carefully picked up the contents. It was a pink ribbon which held a lock of auburn hair, curling around his finger. He held it up and knew right away. It was the same hair colour and curl of the hair he had been dealing with most of his life. "Honour....I...I don't know what to say." "That you are an idiot? A bastard for ever doubting me?" "It...it's just that the possibility of a child...well, I never gave it much thought. I mean, no one has ever appeared on the docks waiting for me and calling me Daddy." "Maybe because you didn't stick around long enough to find out. Maybe the Caribbean is filled with Wolfes. Maybe you should check that establishment with the red door. There may be a regular nursery wing filled with little urchins with your face stamped on them." Jack took a step towards Honour but she took a step back. Her voice rose in defiance and despair. "I was unloved as a child. I had no one. So I was going to make damn well sure my child would always know love. I had no idea how you were going to react. Well, I must say I am not surprised. But how dare--HOW DARE!--you ever try to doubt that you fathered a child by me!" He brought his hands to her shoulders but she angrily shrugged him off. Her voice took on an edge of hysteria. "I even have a baptismal certificate to prove it. I made sure she would never bear the label of bastard child. Her legal name is Zara Jane Wolfe. Her father's name is listed as John Michael Wolfe. She's legitimate in both the eyes of the church and the laws of the land. So like it or not, you are the father both legally and divinely. I was going to tell you in my own way tonight, Jack. Quietly and ease you into it. But you ruined it....you ruined it..." With that, Honour put her hands over her face and dissolved into weeping. Jack took her in his arms. She put her arms around his neck and sobbed. He held her close and whispered, "I'm sorry, Honour. I am so very, very sorry."
  11. Jack lit the candles as Honour came out of the dressing area. "Jack! How lovely!" She stood there in a dress of emerald green silk, her hair swept up and away from her face. He found himself staring at her. "I don't know what is more attractive, Honour. You wrapped in silk, all brushed and scented, or in the jungle in a wet, dirty chemise with dirt streaked on your face." She laughed and said, "Jack, you say the most unusual things. But I guess I'll take that as 'sweet talk' coming from a pirate!" They each took helpings of the food, making small talk, talking about everything and nothing. And avoiding what seemed to be the question hanging between them. What do they do now? Jack poured the merlot. "We never did discuss what you were doing in Bridgetown, Honour." "I was heading back to Wales." "Wales. And what is in Wales?" "My family." "I did alot of thinking last night after we...got close. And it all comes down to one thing, Honour. We belong together. There hasn't been a day that's gone by that I didn't think of you. When I saw you on your hands and knees trying to crawl out of the tavern, I almost couldn't breathe. I believe fate has brought us back together. And who are we to laugh in the face of the goddesses?" Honour took a sip of her wine and looked down. "Jack, I don't know. So much has happened. Last night we were caught in a moment." "A moment. Is that all it was to you? A moment?" She shook her head. "Of course not. It meant so much more. It was just like the last time we were together. Only better." Jack took her hand and looked into her eyes. "I want you back. Is there any reason why you can't come back to me?" She felt her breath stop and she consciously willed it to resume. "When we made our way back to Bridgetown, after you had been shot, you rejected me. You changed. We both said alot of hurtful things. But Jack, I never meant to hurt you." "What are you trying to say?" "That we are not the same people we were eighteen months ago. Alot has changed. And right now, my place is to go to Wales." "Why?" "I can't tell you." Jack's eyes hardened. "Since when can't you tell me? Lord help me, Honour. I'm your husband! I have been your husband for the last eighteen months. Alright, so we had a bit of a separation. Alot of marriages have rocky spots." "Rocky spots? Try Gibraltar, Jack. You pulled a gun on me and I had to kick it out of your hand in order to stay alive. A wife doesn't forget a little thing like that. I couldn't trust that it wouldn't happen again. If I didn't leave, there was a chance I never would have had..." She stopped short. "You never told me where you went that night, Honour. But I found out. A friend of mine who happened to know you from the tavern days told me he saw you coming out of the very same inn where Cade Jennings was staying. No use denying it. Turns out that Cade happened to brag about it to someone and he was overheard." She shook her head. "I don't expect you to understand. Or even forgive me for the way I left." "You left without a trace. Not even a note. What was I supposed to think?" Honour knew from the change in his tone that the Wolfe temper was about to be engaged. She braced herself for it. "I was confused. I had alot going on just then." "You mean you had Cade going on just then." "Leave Cade Jennings out of it." "I would if I could." "Cade has nothing to do with my decision to go back to Wales, Jack." "Then why are you going?" "I told you. Family." Jack stood up and slammed his fist on the table. "You know what I think?" She stood up and met his anger. "I'm sure you are about to tell me, Jack. You always do." "The plantation you were sent out to purchase had been sold to another person. Someone named R. C. Castlemaine. I tried to find out who this man was but no one ever heard of him. Ten chests of my guilders were missing the day you disappeared. Cade then purchases a ship. The Gryphon. He then leaves the smuggling operation and I am left picking up the pieces. I think you arranged to meet him, gave him my money to buy his ship and then you two sailed off to Wales together. And I think you still have plans. I heard from the captain of the Scarlet Fox that Cade was due in Bridgetown any day. And strange that I should find you there too. What were you doing, keeping the bed warm for him?" "IT'S NOT TRUE! I had a good reason for that money. And it wasn't for me!" "Right. It was for Cade. Or was it for another lover?" "I can't believe you said that. I should have trusted my first instincts. I should have given you the key right away and kept walking! You haven't changed. You will never change!" Jack looked at her intensely and said in a measured tone, "Where are the chests of guilders, Honour? WHERE ARE THEY?" She felt her eyes welling up with tears. "They are for a little girl." "WHAT?" She looked up at him defiantly, "A little girl who is waiting for her mama to come back for her." Jack stared at her in disbelief. She could barely whisper, "A little girl named Zara Wolfe."
  12. Honour's eyes fluttered open. It took her a few moments to get her bearings. They were still in the cave, and she was curled up in her husband's arms. She looked up to find Jack smiling at her. “Good morning,” he softly said. The look on his face reminded her of those idyllic mornings at Castara. “Good morning,” she said dreamily. “Have you been awake long?” “About half an hour. I was watching you dream. You had the sweetest smile on your face. What was it about?” Indeed she had been dreaming, of little Zara. She touched one of his loose brown curls, so like their daughter's. “Wales, and family,” she replied, and yawned. “I guess we should pack up and leave our private little Eden?” “You'll forgive me if I leave the serpent behind!” Jack laughed. “You know, it's funny you should mention Eden. I think I understand how Adam must have felt, having the most beautiful woman in the world all to himself.” “Eve was the only woman in the world, silly!” “That's why I'm luckier than he ever was. You're the only woman in my world, Honour.” She beamed at him, then in a teasing voice asked, “Are you sure about that?” “Positive! I can't imagine there being a woman capable of bewitching me the way you have.” “I can,” she chuckled under her breath. “I'm sorry?” “Nothing!” She took him by the chin. “I'll keep you to that, you know.” Jack smiled tenderly. “You have my word, darling.” “Ha! The word of a pirate?” she teased. “You'll have to do better than that.” “Would the word of your husband suit you better?” “Yes,” she answered softly. “Yes, that would suit me just fine.” Jack began to draw her close for a kiss, but Honour patted him sharply on the chest. “Save some for later! Even Adam took a day off every now and again. Besides, we should get you back and have Duckie check your hand.” “But you healed me!” he protested. She retrieved her chemise and got up. “I'd like a second opinion, just to be on the safe side.” “You're gorgeous, too,” Jack quipped. Honour stuck her tongue out at him. She went about getting dressed while Jack did the same. “I'm so hungry!” he said. “I don't doubt it,” she said with a little laugh. “I'm starved, too. Should I go find some fruit?” “This is where the apple comes in, isn't it? I knew it was too good to be true!” “Oh, fine then. Out of respect to your tender sensibilities, I'll bring back oranges or something.” “My sensibilities and I thank you,” he said with a sweeping mock bow. “I'll get the meat and cheese whilst you're away.” “Be sure to shake that sack first! I swear, I only save your life once a voyage. Any more than that and I shall think you're doing it for attention,” she admonished. “Listen to you!” laughed Jack. “You'll make a fine mother!” “And who said anything about children?” He gave her a lusty smile. “Come over here, and we'll discuss the matter...” Honour gave a girlish squeal and ran from the cave. Her laughter came drifting back to him like chimes on the wind.
  13. Honour continued to cut the leaves and plaster them over Jack's hand. What was only ten minute increments seemed like hours. She wrapped blankets around him to keep him from going into shock. She kept watching his breathing as he dozed off and on, touching his skin to denote any kind of change. Finally it happened. His breathing became less shallow and his skin regained its colour. She breathed a sigh of relief and sent up a prayer of thanks. "Honour?" She could fill the tears of relief fill her eyes. Quickly she wiped them away so Jack wouldnt see them. "Yes, Jack?" Jack looked over at her and asked, "I'm not dead, am I?" She shook her head and said, "Why would you ask that?" "You are here with me and I am alive. Feels like heaven on earth." She took his hand in hers and said, "Let me see how it is looks." She looked down at his hand and took the leaves off. There was no redness. No swelling. No fever. She could hardly keep the joy out of her voice as she tried casually to say, "I am here to inform you, Captain Wolfe, that it looks like your time on earth has been extended!" "So I am cured?" She laughed and said, "If you were a fish, I would throw you back!" Jack started to sit up but he fell back weakly. "Guess I am not as cured as I thought." Honour shook her head. "That is not it. You are just exhausted. Your body drew on its own strength to get you through." She rummaged through the haversack. "For God's sake, Honour! Be careful!" She retorted, "I know to jiggle the bag first, thank you very much! Now...here's an apple and some pears. And cheese and bread. You need to clear out the toxins in your body." After a light meal, Jack laid back on the bed rolls that Honour had rolled out. "So...tired." She pushed the hair back from his face and he caught her hand. Quietly he said, "Thank you, Honour." She smiled softly and asked, "For what?" "For saving my life." "Well, I couldn't very well let the fa---" "The what?" "The fates have their way with you." Honour yawned. "The rain has let up but it is still steady. Are you warm enough?" "I'd feel better if I could hold you in my arms." She laughed and said, "I think that could be arranged." She moved her bedroll next to his and he put his arms around her as she spooned up next to him. From the dark, she said, "You do know this is for medicinal purposes only." "Oh, of course!" "Because staying warm is of utmost importance." "I realize that." "So I am just doing what I should." "I can't ask for anything more, can I?" "No, you can't." After a minute, his voice whispered in the darkness, "But I can sure try!"
  14. Honour giggled,. "For a minute, you sounded just like a captain I knew! Name of Bacardi, used to come into the tavern and order a rum runner. Had the cutest parrot on his shoulder. I think his name was Aquamarine...no! Blue! His name was Blue. And he loved to look down bosoms and cleavages for any flasks that may be uncorked. Sometimes we tavern wenches would put opened flasks down there just to make Blue happy!" Jack frowned. "Uh huh....I'm sure he was delirious!" Honour smiled in remembrance. "Oh...he was! And the feathers tickled. What's wrong, Jack? Jealous of a parrot?" "Don't be daft! Of course not! Now if we don't get moving, we are going to be caught in a....DAMN!" The skies opened up to a monsoon. Thunder roared and the heavens lit up with lightning. Jack yelled over the thunderstorm, "I see a cave over by that big outcrop of rock. Run for it!" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "I don't think I've ever been so wet in my life!" Honour stood in the cave and shook the rivulets of water off her hands. Jack took off his hat and the rain ran out of it. Honour's feathers drooped. He threw the supplies in the corner. "Good thing I wrapped the flints in oilcloth and a blanket or two. Take your clothes off." "I BEG YOUR PARDON!" "Honour, this is not a proposition. If you stay in those wet clothes, you'll catch pneumonia." He looked at her slightly crestfallen look. "What? Are you disappointed?" She recovered quickly. "Of course I'm not! Relieved. That is what I am. Relieved. I don't expect anything from you, Jack Wolfe. No, not me. Not at all." He tried to hide the mirthful look on his face. "Alright then, love. Strip!" "Turn your back and hand me the blanket." He turned and flipped it over his shoulder. When he turned back around, he caught Honour wrapping it around her body. "Now you, " she said a bit too breathlessly. "I thought you'd never ask, love." She snapped, "It's for health reasons. It is so you don't get ill either." Jack reached his hand into the sack and yelled, "OW!" "What, forgot to sheath your dagger again? You were always doing that." He looked at his hand in the light of the torch. "No..but I think we are in trouble. A snake found its way into the sack." He looked as something slithered off. Honour took his hand in hers and looked closely. "You've been bit, Jack." He watched as his hand started to redden. "Honour, that was a coral snake. Very poisonous. I think this may be a problem." His face reflected concern. "Jack, what are you saying?" "I'm saying we are in the jungle and no help around. Do you know the way back?" "Why? What are you saying?" His voice reflected a touch of fear. "In case this ends badly." A wave of fear rushed over her. "Jack, what are you trying to tell me?" He looked at her and for once Honour saw the worry in his eyes. But the worry wasn't for himself. It was for her. And then and there Honour realized something. She loved Jack Wolfe with all her being. And it was possible she could lose him. "No, Jack! I won't let this happen. You aren't leaving me here by myself to find my way back to El Lobo." She looked out into the deluge and said, "I have to find it. I saw some." "Some....what?" "Some herbs that will help." His hand was flaming red. "You can't go out in that storm, Honour." She hastily shed the blanket and put her clothes back on, wet that they were. "It's your only hope. I learned about it a long time ago. From my..my grandmother." Within fifteen minutes, Honour came back. Jack was lying on the floor of the cave, his face turning pale and his skin clammy, his body wracked with chills. He said slowly, "You came back." She was trying to keep the despair out of her voice. "Of course. But Jack, we haven't any time to waste." He took her hand. Honour could feel that his skin was clammy and he was sweating profusely. The rapid pulse gave her cause for alarm. "Jack, I need you to remain calm. We need to slow your pulse to keep the venom from reaching your vital organs. She took a deep breath. It was the Mercedes sea battle all over again. Jack was depending on her to save his life. Quickly, Honour put a few leaves on a large rock and took out her bodice dagger. She scored them and crushed them so the plant was pulpy. She laid them on his hand. The sap from the leaves oozed into his bite. She held his hand. "We change the leaves every ten minutes. And from then it is a waiting game." He reached up and stroked her cheek. "Honour, I always thought I would die at sea. Going down with my ship. Not from something as idiotic as a snakebite." "Hush, Jack. You are going to be fine," she said with a bravado she did not feel. She wrapped him in the only dry blanket and put her arms around him to keep him warm. He whispered, "I know it's fatal, my love." He reached up and touched her cheek. "I love you, Honour." A chill swept over her and she felt a sense of déjà vu. Those were the very words Rhys Morgan uttered to her in his last breath.
  15. Meanwhile in Castara Bay on the island of Tobago--- "Bonita? Bonita!" "Her not here!" The dusky woman looked up from wiping down the bar. "Who you be?" "Cade Jennings. Who YOU be?" "Bonita's cousin Drusilla. State your business." "Heard Mad Jack sold out the smuggling operations so I figure he wouldn't be here. Did he sell out the tavern as well?" A voice behind him said, "Cade Jennings! As I live and breathe!" Cade turned around slowly, his fingers dancing on the hilt of his rapier. His face split into a grin. "James Blake! You are just the man I want to see!" Drusilla brought the friends two tankards of ale and a couple bowls of stew along with some brownbread. As they ate, they engaged in companionable conversation. "I heard Mad Jack dumped the smuggling operation. You take much of a loss?" Blake shrugged. "A bit. But I recouped it on the next ship we took. I gave the Crown her due. Spaniards! They do love their gold. What about you?" "Walked away without a cent. Guess Jack felt I didn't deserve anything since I left him high and dry." "I heard you bought a ship. That one docked on the far end. The Gryphon?" "How'd you hear?" "A Mrs. Jack Wolfe told me. You do remember her, don't you?" Cade raised an eyebrow. "Do I detect a note of malice in your voice, James?" James shrugged. "Honour was a friend of mine before she ever knew you or Jack. I met her in a tavern in Glen Livet a few years ago." "Are you claiming proprietary rights, Blake?" He shook his head. "Honour and I were long over by the time she married Jack." "Did you love her?" "Did you?" "Of course I did. I still do. I came back to Bridgetown to find her gone. Jack was gone too. Tavern talk was that she left suddenly. Tavern talk also has it you left the same time. And all before Mad Jack got back from St Maartin." James took a deep drink of ale. "So what?" "So did she leave with you?" "Cade, if she sailed with me, wouldn't she be with me? Think I would let her go?" "Do you know where she went?" "Heard from someone who knows someone she gave up the pirate's life and settled where her family is. Somewhere in Wales, I guess." "Any clue as to why she left Jack without a word?" "Cade, you ask too many questions. If she left, it was for a very good reason, I would think. She truly loved Jack." Cade gave a derisive laugh. "Really! Did she tell you he pulled a gun on her and she ended up in my room at the inn?" "Why would I be privy to that?" "Because you sure know where she went." "As I said, Cade--tavern talk." "I heard in various ports--seems I always pulled in after Jack--that he has been looking for a small blonde wench. He won't admit it, but Briggs told someone she lightened his purse by a few chests." "If he is looking for her in the Caribbean, then maybe he is looking for her in the wrong place. Maybe." "Ever hear of Jonas Corwin?" "Captain of the Golden Phoenix? Yeah. Ruthless. Crippled hands now. Broke them in a tavern fight." Cade shook his head. "No. Seems a small blonde wench rolled him. Took his purse and left him with naught but his boots, his sword and a blanket." "So?" "He's been looking for her ever since too. Seems she has a heart-shaped freckle on her lower back. Sound like someone we know? Someone we both had? In the Biblical sense?" James stood up and threw a few coins on the table. "You, Cade Jennings, are no gentleman." Just then the earth shook beneath their feet. Cade and James both dove under the table as the room shook and plaster fell where they had been sitting. It went on for the better part of a minute and when they crawled out, there sat Drusilla, shaking the plaster out of her hair. "De Earth Goddess, she not be happy! Bonita tol' me dis happen." James stood up brushing the dust from his breeches. "Where is Bonita anyways?" "Her got a notion to look for somet'ing dat belong to her. After Captain Jack left, she throw bones alot. Dey tell her where to go. I stay till she come back." James and Cade looked out to see only minor damage. "Earthquake, no less, Cade. Guess I'll be getting back to my ship. We loaded up supplies two days ago and I stopped by the see if Jack had been around and share a pint with him." "He ever mention me?" "Nothing you'd want to hear." "He mention her?" "Not a word. But he's a changed man." "How so?" "Hardened glint in his eye. Whatever softness and civility she brought into his life is gone. Take some incredibly sage advice, Cade. You see El Lobo in port, you had best keep going." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Drusilla made her way up to the upstairs room. "Bonita tell me 'bout earth moving. Dat not part of my job!" She opened the door to Bonita's room. "What a mess!" Boxes were strewn across the floor from the closet door being bumped open. One box in particular was crushed a bit when another box had landed on it. A piece of red fabric caught Drusilla's eye. She opened the box and drew out two dolls. They were almost facing but tied together with a leather lanyard and a red ribbon. Drusilla shook her head. "Poppets! Oh, Bonita! You still believe in the power of curse!" She unfastened the lanyard and ribbon, separating the dolls. "Satin ribbon is pretty and do no good on poppets! Look much better on me!" Drusilla tied the ribbon to her hair, stopping to admire herself in the mirror. "Dere! Dat much better! Ribbon not go to waste!" She threw the poppets back in the box and then tossed it in the closet, shutting the door. In the box, in the dark, they tumbled and tumbled. Until they were facing and touching. Finally, at long last, no ties could ever bind the poppets again save one. Love.
  16. The sun broke through the trees, replacing the moonlight. The cawing and chirping of the birds took the musical interlude of the night symphony to a new height. Honour stretched out and reached out for Jack but he wasn't there. She sat upright and a wave of relief swept over her as she saw him coming up out of the lagoon, his hair wet. He shook it and sent droplets spattering into the air. "Cooling off, Jack?" He looked a bit guilty to her delight as he said, "Not at all. I just wanted to wash yesterday's dust off." "It's wonderful in the water. I decided to go for a swim last night. The moon was beautiful. It was almost as if heaven was holding a crystal sphere in her hands." He started, "I kn--I can imagine." She hid her smile behind her hand. Jack cleared out the campfire and opened up one of the knapsacks that carried the food provisions. "What did the cook pack?" Honour asked. "Oh, the usual. Biscuits. Some smoked meats. Cheese." "What, no fruit?" 'Honour, we needed things that would last." "Jack, we aren't going to be out here forever. You said overnight. So we find the altar, open the chest and then head back. Two overnights." He offered her some cheese. She looked around and a smile broke out over her face. "Wait right here." "Honour, it isn't good for you to be wandering around out here. Remember there are snakes." She held her finger up. "I'll be back in a minute. Count to sixty." As he did so, she appeared when he was at fifty-nine. Her chest was misshapen and lumpy. "What the HELL? Did you get an allergic reaction to a bee sting?" She shifted her shirt out of her breeches and a half-dozen apples came tumbling out to the ground. "Not only that, I found a beehive where there was some honey. I happened to have a container so I put it in there. Now we can sweeten the biscuits." Jack handed her a biscuit. "I don't have a spoon, Jack. But here..my fingers are clean!" She dipped her finger into the jar and brought it out, drizzling the honey over the biscuit. She slowly sucked the honey off her fingers. "Mmmm! This is delicious! You know what I heard?" "That it is fattening?" "On the contrary. It reminded me of the tradition of the honeymoon. Did you know, Jack, in ancient times it was traditional to present the newlyweds with honey to help them enjoy their first sexual encounters and aid to procreate a child? The use of honey as an aphrodisiac is also mentioned in the Kama Sutra. Where it is said that honey spiced with nutmeg is said to heighten a...oh, look! A butterfly!" Jack said, "Yeah, yeah, a butterfly. So...how do you know about the Kama Sutra?" "Hmmm? Well, it is some sort of book, I guess. I've never even seen it." "What part did you like best? The part where the monkey gets loose?" "Don't be silly, Jack! There is no monkey in the book!" "AHA! But how did you know?" "I didn't. I mean, there wasn't a picture of a monkey in the..." She found herself turning red. "Well, I might have glanced at it." "You never were much of a manual person, Honour. More of a hands-on type." "Jack?" "Yes?" "Shut up." Jack watched as she licked the biscuit crumbs off her lips. "Mmm...that was so good!" Jack just stared at her method of cleaning up. She caught his gaze. "What? Did I forget a spot?" She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and then sucked the crumbs off. "Honour?" "Yes, Jack?" "Don't do that." "I don't want to be a mess when we get to the altar. You never know what ancient gods you may run into and I want to look my best!" She reached over and picked up an apple. She took a bite and said, "Oh my goodness! This is delicious!" Jack grimaced. "And so goes the fall of man, Eve!" She looked at him quizzically and then laughed. "Oh! That wasn't what I was thinking. Remember the story of Paris and Helen of Troy?" Jack laughed. "You forget, dear heart, that I was an Oxford scholar." She sighed. "I always loved your bedtime stories, Jack!" Jack rolled up the bedrolls and took down the canvas sailcloth as Honour gathered up the food and put it in the knapsack. "How much longer till we get to the altar, Jack?" He looked at the map and said, "Due west. About three hours." She looked up at the sun. "Looks to be about eight hours so we had best be on our way. Maybe we can set up camp near here tonight. That lagoon was so refreshing and....AH! Jack! Get it off me!" Jack reached over and plucked an emerald green beetle out of Honour's hair. He crushed it in his hand and tasted it very quickly with his tongue. "I've seen these before." "What is it?" "Some fly. From Spain." "Oh. Well, isn't it out of its jurisdiction?" "I think they can fly anywhere." Jack scraped the beetle's little carcass into a piece of paper and slid it into his pocket. "Why don't you just throw it out, Jack?" "Oh....I don't know. A souvenir?" Honour shook her head. "You save the strangest things...." The provisions were packed and Jack and Honour headed towards the west. "Oh, look, Jack! What lovely little flowers!" Jack stopped and grinned. "Damiana. The Mayans and the Aztecs used it to make a tea." "Was it good?" "Oh...very good! Really good! It relaxes a person so they never want to get out of bed." "Really! I should try that on nights I can't sleep." Jack picked a few. "I'll make a special tea for you tonight." "Oh, Jack, sometimes you are so sweet!" "Honour, you have no idea how accommodating I can be." She squeezed his arm and said, "Isn't this all exciting?" "Yes, love. And the best is yet to come!"
  17. "What makes sense?" "See what looks like a backward Z laying on its side?" "Yes, but I thought it was someone with atrocious penmanship." "When I was a young lad--don't give me that look, I was young once--my granddad Ian would take us hiking. Northern Scotland was full of old relics. And who settled in Scotland first?" Honour shrugged. "I'm Welsh. What do we know about it?" "The Romans came around the first century but didn't get as far as northern Scotland. However, the Vikings came from the north. In 793 A.D. the monastery at Lidnisfarne was sacked with Iona and the Isle of Skye being attacked the following year. Isle of Skye is where my grandparents live. I could go on and on about the history--it's the professor in me." Honour stood there with her hands on her hips. "So you most likely have Viking blood in you?" "I guess so." "You mean to tell me some tall, blond-haired Viking ravished some sweet Pict girl and you are the end result of it?" "I love the delicate way you phrase things, darling." "Well, that explains the pillaging and the plundering and the forceful way you have of courting." "So I come by this naturally. Alright, back to the history of this. Which has a point, I swear." "Go ahead. As long as there won't be a quiz on it later." "Grandad Ian pointed out the runes and taught Thomas and me the rune alphabet. It was called the Elder Futhark and the letter S looked like a backwards Z and was vertical." She looked over his shoulder. "And we thought that was an S. For South." "You see where I could make a mistake then." She nodded. He continued. "Now in Latin, the word for north is septentrio. I think someone took a rune letter and used the Latin word for north and abbreviated it. He made a riddle of it." "Cheeky bastard!" "Oh, and such language coming from a convent-bred girl!" She smacked him on the head. "So this whole thing is a mishmash of Nordic runes and Latin thrown in?" He smoothed the map out. "Probably someone educated and well-versed in languages. Someone who traveled extensively." He stared at the map, slowly shaking his head as the significance of what he saw from the treetop sank in. “It's incredible, Honour. The Ancients completely transformed this island into a gigantic maze! Imagine the effort it must have taken to do all this!” An unsettling gleam came into his eyes that Honour didn't care for. “If they went to all this trouble, the wealth this chest contains must be enormous!” “It was terribly important to them, whatever it is,” she said as she looked over her shoulder at the gleaming gilt chest. 'All this, to protect whatever is in there?' she pondered. No, the maze had to be protecting much more, some larger secret. But what? “I'm starting to understand why LaFork...” “LaFourche.” “Whatever-- was going on about what mechanical geniuses they were.” She hesitated a moment and hugged herself as if taken by a sudden chill. “Jack, should we be doing this? It feels like... grave robbing.” He left his seat on the rock and gently took her by the shoulders. “No, Honour, it's nothing like that at all,” he said reassuringly. “If we were truly grave robbing, we'd be here to pull the rings off dead Ancients' fingers. We are solving a riddle no one else has managed to crack. Nothing sinister, I promise.” “But we are here to take their treasure.” “Tut, tut! We're here to open a chest that I own, by the most prudent means possible. I'm merely protecting my investment.” “I knew you'd find a way to rationalize this,” she chuckled. “And don't you mean our investment?” He couldn't help but smile at the the impish look she gave him. “There's my girl! Now, according to the map, there's fresh water less than two hour's walk from here. That's where we'll stop and make camp. Ready?” “Lead the way, captain!” she said cheerily. “But you get to take care of any more snakes!”
  18. Jack unfurled the map and looked up at the sun, taking his compass out. "Are you looking to follow north?" "No, I'm looking to see what the best direction to get a suntan would be." She made a face at him. "I have NO idea why I let you talk me into this." He rolled the map back up and said, "Because you find me charming? When this is all over, Honour, we need to have a long talk. About us. You and me. And where we go from here. We either stay together or we end it. I can't go on like this anymore." She stood there silently, a million thoughts and a thousand regrets going through her mind. Hesitantly, she started, "Jack, there's something..." She stopped. "Yes, Honour?" "There's--there's no snakes here, are there?" "Honour, this is the jungle. What do YOU think?" "I think you'd better keep that cutlass handy. If you get bit, there is no way I am going to suck the poison out of you." Jack slipped the harness around his arms and said, "I'd keep that rapier at the ready, love." "Why? Are there natives around here?" He laughed. "No, this island is deserted. The Carib residents deem this island as dedicated to the Ancients. Too "Speaking of which, have you seen Bonita?" "I surely did." "And how is the voodoo queen of Castara Bay? Still tossing bones around and chanting fire and damnation at the mention of my name?" Jack's thoughts turned to Bonita's words. “Because dat golden haired child hold de t’ing you need! Bonita knew she would break Jack Wolfe’s heart. Did him listen to reason? No! Him were too much in love....Dere is somet’ing not of dis world about her, or wit’ her! Believe it!” He looked over at Honour. She did hold the very thing he needed but it wasn't the key. It was her love. He realized in the last few days how much he missed her. How he had built a shell around himself and it cracked when he saw her crawling on her hands and knees out the tavern door to avoid him. How typically....Honour. He shrugged. "Aside from the 'I tole you so' she didn't mention you. No, not at all." Honour laughed at his imitation of Bonita's accent. "She hated me from the start. She was in love with you, you know." He said, "I guess she was." "You guess? Why do you think she hated me and called me a witch?" “Dere are forces around dat girl even she do not understand!“ Jack looked into Honour's blue eyes, looking for anything that showed anything extraordinary. No, nothing there but the merriment that danced in her eyes that he fell in love with that night they stood before the magistrate and exchanged their vows. Both scarcely believing what they both had done in the morning's light and still they could not keep themselves apart. "Jack? Jack?" He drew himself back to the present and gave her his charming smile. "I always said you bewitched me, darling. Let's let it go at that." After an hour of following Jack with her rapier held at the ready, she looked over and saw the largest thickest snake she ever saw. She jumped straight on Jack's shoulders, her knees wrapped around his ears. She grabbed his hat to hold on, smashing it down over his eyes as she was screaming and blindly hacking away. "HON-HONOUR, STOP! STOP! I CAN'T SEE!" "AAHHH! TAKE THAT! GET AWAY! WE AREN'T LUNCH!" Jack finally flipped her over his head and she landed on her back. "Are you out of your mind?" She stood up, catching her breath. "I have no intention of becoming an anaconda's lunch!" He pushed his hat back from his face and pointed to a large root wrapped around a trunk. It had slash marks all over it. "For the love of God, woman! It's my palmetto tree all over again!" Her rapier was stuck in the tree. She felt her face flaming in embarrassment. "Well, it could have been a snake! He slithered off. That was it! He slithered off!" Jack rolled his eyes and yanked her rapier out of the tree. "Here. Sheath this before you lop my head off." "Jack? Do you really know where you are going?" "What, you think I can't find my way around land?" She held out her hand. "Give me the map." "No." "Yes. We have passed that same 'snake' three times now." "Oh, alright. I'll show you the map but let's eat first. And keep your hands off it till after lunch. I don't want you dropping mustard on X marks the spot." He handed her some cheese and bread and a few pieces of fruit. "Wine?" "You do think of everything, Jack Wolfe." As they sat there eating their lunch, he spread the map out over a large flat rock. "See here...it is nothing but jungle." She looked at it. "I wonder....." "You wonder...what?" "It looks a little squiggly there." "Of course it is squiggly. It's a bunch of leaves. What else did you expect to find in a jungle? An oasis with sand all around it?" "Here, have some more wine. You are getting cranky, Jack. You always hated to stop and ask for directions." "That was only a rumour. And how did you hear about that?" "Tavern talk in St Lawrence." "Oh." She reached for it and Jack grabbed it back. "Ah-ah-ah! It's mine!" "Community property until death do us part. Hand it over. Oh, I'm not going to hurt your precious parchment!" He sighed and handed it over. "Be careful of the creases." " 'Be careful of the creases', he says. Of course I'll be careful of the creases!" She held it sideways and then gave it back to him. "Jack, I think you were looking at it sideways." "Was not!" "Was too!" "Not!" "Too!" He stood there looking at it and Honour then gasped. "Don't tell me you see hairy tarantulas now!" "NO! I just saw something...wait a minute!" She climbed up a tree. "Honour, are you out of your mind? Get down right now!" She shook her head. "Jack, I know what is wrong! Hold the map up in front of you!" He held it up and she shouted excitedly. "It is just as I thought!" "What?" "Jack, it isn't a jungle....IT'S A MAZE!"
  19. The weather deck was abuzz with activity as final preparations of the longboat were being made. The chest, wrapped in a tarpaulin to disguise its true nature, was already secured for the secretive expedition, along with provisions and shelter for two in a large pack. Men traded speculation as to what might be afoot with the captain and his bride. All agreed upon one thing--no one could be certain when Jack Wolfe played his cards this close to the vest. “We're almost done fittin' her out, Jack,” announced Briggs. “Can I be havin' a word with ye, private like?” The two men stepped away for the core of activity. “What's on your mind, Josiah?” “I know what ye said, but it don't sit right with me, not one bit,” said the quartermaster grimly. “You and the lady, traipsin' through the jungle, just yerselves, and no hands to help stand watch? It's a hell of a risk.” Jack gave his best reassuring smile. “She's better with a blade than most of the men, and level-headed in a fight. Last night proved it. You and Honour are the only other souls that know about the chest, but she holds one of the keys and I need you here to keep order. One mutiny is quite enough. Besides, there's nothing but jungle out there. What could possibly happen?” “A chest what belongs to a lost race, the knowledge of which already drove one man crazy and I'm none too sure about ye either, a map what tells ye where to look but naught as to what ye'll find, and there's ye two. Mischief and devilment in the makin'. I see yer point. What's to worry?” “We'll be fine,” laughed Jack. “It's not like we'll be converting your quarters into a nursery on our return!” “Like I said, mischief and devilment!” winked Briggs as he turned his attention to the boat crew. “All right lads, ye've got her all fit and gussied, time to put her in! Hands to the lines, and heave on three!” Jack turned to find Honour standing by the doorway, keeping well out of the way of the crew as they went about their tasks. Any commotion on deck made her uneasy, a lingering after effect of the ill-fated encounter with Mendoza. Though at times it felt like a lifetime ago, there were still nights she'd wake up in a full sweat with the din of the ship's guns ringing in her ears and the memory of her husband lying on the deck in his own blood... She jumped, startled out of her thoughts by the touch of a gentle hand on her arm. There before her was Jack, healthy and whole, his expression a mixture of happiness and concern. “Easy there! Are you all right, Honour? You seemed a thousand miles away.” She blinked to get her bearings again, and returned his smile. “Yes, I'm fine. Just lost in thought.” “Well, aren't you a vision! The hat's a nice touch. You always did look good in feathers. And what's this?” He pulled her rapier a few inches out of its scabbard, then let it drop back. “For once it's an appropriate blade. I pity those trees already,” he teased. Honour cocked her head and smiled at Jack from under the brim of her hat. “I have the Sun key with me as well. I take it you remembered the Moon key for my chest?” “Your chest?” he laughed. “When did this happen, I wonder?” “Community property,” she replied, playfully brushing him aside. “You do know the way to the beach, don't you?” “Of course I do, my queen,” said Jack. “Your royal barge awaits!” He jogged ahead of her and tossed a rope ladder over the side. “I trust you can manage, or would you rather I go first and help you?” Honour threw a leg over the rail and took the ladder, stopping long enough to stick her tongue out before climbing down. Jack looked back at Briggs, who simply shook his head and laughed. "Yep, I see your point. Mischief and devilment, indeed!"
  20. "What?" He wadded up his napkin and threw it at Honour's face and it landed on her head. She giggled, "You were asleep. Eli Meredith stayed in my room. Briggs was guarding him while you and I were putting the hurts to that whiskey bottle. When I got back, Eli had fallen asleep on my bed. I didn't have the heart to wake him so I let him stay there. I locked the door from the outside and told Josiah to get some well-deserved sleep. I...I guessed you would be passed out and...." "You could have woken me up." Honour shrugged, "You needed your sleep more than you needed....you know." An awkward silence. Honour asked, "Is the problem...Burgess...is he gone?" Jack sighed, "You won't be seeing him." She leaned forward, "What of Eli's fate, Jack?" "Before the...removal....I had a talk with him. You were right. He was forced into the mutiny. He's a scared kid. I think it would be best for him to book passage back to England. I'll supply the fare and some coins. He got this far, he can get himself back." She looked thoughtful. "He was always so polite. Once I dropped my shawl and he hurried over and picked it up for me." "Maybe he worshiped you from afar." "No, he's a gentleman. Whoever his parents are, they taught him manners." Jack pushed away from the table. "The island is in sight. I suppose I should see to the supplies and the longboat. In an hour, shall we say?" "An hour will be fine." He gently touched the tip of her nose with his finger. "See you then." She shut the door. Her heart was divided. While a part of her longed for the freedom and adventure Jack Wolfe could provide, she knew her heart was in Wales. To a little girl with her mother's eyes and her father's dark curls. A little bundle named Zara Wolfe. Honour opened up the top chest drawer and pulled out a black velvet pouch. Reaching in, she pulled the small white box out and opened it. Inside was a lock of chestnut brown hair tied with a pink ribbon. She tenderly stroked the curls. And burst into tears. This was a crossroad she was dreading, one she hoped she would never have to cross. She knew she would have to decide if she would let Jack Wolfe back into her life or if she was strong enough to cut the ties forever. She knew she could never give Zara up and she didn't know if Jack could accept the fact that he was a father. 'By the end of the week, ' she thought. 'By the end of the week I will make my decision.' Zara was starting to crawl when she sailed off. 'So much lost time, little one. Mama will make up for it when I come home and we will never be parted again. Even if it means....even if it means giving up the one man I truly love with all my heart.' "Honour? The longboat is almost ready. Twenty minutes tops." Honour snapped out of her reverie. She hastily wiped the tears from her face and through the door, her muffled reply was heard. "I'll be on deck in ten minutes, Jack." "Alright. We are loading the chest now." She blew her nose and washed her face. Changing into a pair of breeches and tall boots, she slipped a light shirt over her and picked up her scabbard, attaching it to her belt. She ran her finger lightly over the blade of her rapier, making sure it was sharp. 'You never know how many vicious palmettos you may run into.' Palmettos being her euphemism for anything else sinister they may run into. As she put her cavalier hat on her head, she thought, 'One last adventure, Jack Wolfe. One last adventure before I go back to being someone's mama. You'd better make this a memory to keep me warm on cold nights.' She squared her shoulders, held her head high and climbed the steps onto a new adventure.
  21. He looked out to the shoreline of the island in the distance and smiled. "Oi! Drop anchor here! Ready the longboat! I'll bring up the chest to be loaded. Master Briggs, you have command. I have business with my wife." "Monkey business, no doubt," Briggs smirked. Jack gave him a sour look. "No, this falls under 'mind your own business, smart arse. But if you are hell-bent on knowing, I am going to invite her to breakfast." He knocked softly on the door. "Honour? May I see you for a minute?" She cautiously opened the door halfway. "One minute or do I need to flip over an hour glass?" She stood there dressed casually in a simple blouse, skirt and waist cincher. Her feet were bare and her hair was in a braid over her shoulder. "We're almost arriving at our destination, love. But before we go to our business end of this, I'd like to invite you in my quarters for breakfast." She looked at him warily. "I'm not sure...." She remembered the turn of events dinner the night before had taken and wasn't sure she was ready for another repeat of last night's performance. "Not sure? About breakfast or being in my cabin?" he smiled. She tossed the braid to her back. "I'm not afraid of having a light spot of food with you, Captain Wolfe. I'll be there in a few minutes." He rubbed his hand idly on the door post. "I look forward to it." She closed the door. As he walked down the companionway, she opened the door and said, "I like my eggs scrambled, my bacon crisp and my coffee hot." As he continued walking he said,"Right. Scrambled, crisp and hot. Just like your men." The door opened with, "Shut it, Jack. I had a rough night!" and Jack laughed. "Same old Honour." She huffed to herself, "Same old Jack." But she found herself smiling. She walked over to the bookcase and removed the book of Japanese prints, removing the key from its hiding place. She turned it over a few times. It was spindly and of dark gold. She held it up to the light and examined it. 'Still ugly,' she thought. But it just might be the key to answer alot of loose ends in her life. As Jack approached the great cabin, he noticed that the door was ajar. He silently cursed himself for not locking it before going topside. He drew the dagger from his belt, took a deep breath, and shoved the door open to confront the intruder. There was his opponent, sitting leisurely in the middle of the room... taking a sunbath. The ship's cat, Puddin', looked at the ship's master for a moment, and yawned. Jack laughed, enjoying the momentary respite from the previous night's burdens. He fetched the golden chest from its resting place and set it on the table. While it wasn't too heavy to lift and move, carrying it through the jungle unaided was out of the question. He retrieved Lafourche's journal from the writing desk, then rummaged around in his sea chest until he found a tarry cloth pouch. Inside it was the Moon key. When Jack turned back to the table, he found that Little Puddin' had abandoned his ray of sunlight for a perch on the ornate chest. The sleek gray cat pawed playfully at the pouch, his jade eyes glittering at the prospect of a new toy. Jack smiled and stroked Little Puddin's neck, "Well, we did it, Puddin'. We found her. Now if we play our cards right, she just might stick around." He gently lifted the cat off the chest and put it on the floor next to his bed, covering it with a blanket. He heard a knock on his door and opening it, he found Honour standing there, a bit shyly. "Am I too early?" “Not at all, darling,” said Jack happily. “I was just going over exploration strategy with my top advisor.” “The cat is your top exploration advisor? Next you’ll be telling me Henry Morgan’s navigator was a parrot.” “Actually, it was a monkey with a fascination for magnets. Are you going to stand there all day? Come in and sit. We don’t bite.” “I’ve heard that one before,” replied Honour as she stepped into the cabin. Puddin’ greeted her at the edge of the table and purred loudly as she scratched his neck. “You’re safe for now. You know how I hate cold eggs. Though I’d be careful of that brute. He might viciously shed on you.” They both chuckled as they became a bit more at ease around one another. Jack watched as she rubbed the cat, paying close attention to the thoughtful, faraway smile she had. He wanted to ask her if he put that smile on her face but he dared not spoil the moment. This was the most relaxed they had been around each other since the voyage began. That is, unless they had been even more comfortable together the night before... “I want to thank you, Jack.” “Whatever for, love?” She turned and gave him a puzzled look. “For saving my life. Twice. That must be some sort of record.” “Well, thank you for saving mine. Again.” He paused, a wistful smile playing at his lips. “Seems that no matter what, we’re always there for one another.” “I never stopped to think about it, but I suppose you’re right.” “Um, speaking of being there for one another... how was last night?” Honour’s face clouded over. “A living hell, remember? Don’t tell me you enjoyed a moment of it.” “No! Oh, no, of course not. Not one moment.” Befuddled, he paused and scratched his head. “A ‘living hell’, eh? I’ve never had it called that before...” “Just how many mutinies have you put down, for heaven’s sake? Was that sport for you, like David being hunted by Saul?” “Oh, the mutiny!” “Yes, the mutiny. What did you think I was talking about?” “Well, actually... I.... oh, blimey...” he finally sighed in frustration. “Eloquently put.” “Afterwards,” he blurted. “Later, after the mutiny was over. You... you came back here after we talked.” “And?” “What do you mean, and? And you got in bed with me, that’s the ‘and’ I’m talking about.” Honour stifled a laugh. “Oh, that ‘and’! What of it?” He stared at her, lost for words. “It had been a while, you know... since we’d shared a bed together. That sort of thing.” “Oh, did I snore?” “No, you didn’t snore.” “Did you want to know if you snored?” “Not really---” “Because you did, just a little. I think it was the rum.” “Honour, I.... Oh, bollocks. Never mind.” “Wait, you wanted to know about... the other thing?” Jack perked up a little. “I was driving at that, yes...” She smirked and shook her head. “You quash a mutiny and save the lives of your wife and first mate, and you’re still worried about that? My, someone’s ego has gotten fragile! What are you looking for, Jack? Affirmation that the earth moved? I saw shooting stars?" "Well....." Honour buttered a biscuit casually. "Maybe I would have." "What do you mean, MAYBE? I've never once not put a smile on your face." She reached for the marmalade and spooned it on the biscuit. "Well, you can't get a coconut every time, Jack. Maybe if you didn't....." "What? Maybe if I didn't WHAT?" "Never mind." "Never mind WHAT?" "It's not important." "Like hell it isn't." "I guess you were extremely tired and when men get tired....oh, forget it." "Forget WHAT?" She popped a piece of biscuit in her mouth. "Well, maybe you don't find me attractive anymore. But on the other hand, Jack, I seem to recall all you need is a place. It really doesn't matter. Really, it doesn't." She looked at him and casually asked, "Have you made Bonita mad lately?" "Bonita? What does Bonita have to do with any of...oh, no. No! Impossible!" Honour raised an eyebrow. "It happens to the best of men, Jack. Even those in such good shape as you. I mean, age catches up with them and before they know it..." He ran his fingers through his hair and looked stricken. "....they fall asleep."
  22. The mutiny had taken everything out of Jack. He had sat on the edge of his bed while the days events whirled like a cyclone in his mind. He took another deep drink from the bottle of whiskey, and the numbness he'd been looking for began to wash over him. He could finally relax. His wife and his ship were safe. His wife. How easy it had become to think of Honour as such, and not some necessary aggravation to endure and then abandon. As he relished the feel of more whiskey in his throat, he remembered when he first saw her that fateful day in Barbados. Wise beyond her years, and an untamable spitfire. Time had made her wiser, he thought, but her recklessness had become fiery determination and independence. He couldn't help but admire her, but at the same time, there was something more than that at play. He had finished off the last of the whiskey, and tried to carefully put the bottle down one of the two sea chests beside the bed. To his wonder, the bottle became two, and both of them past through one of the chests and bounced in perfect unison on the decking. He pulled at his clothes and nearly got hopelessly tangled in his shirt, but managed to free himself. The bed threatened to duplicate itself before his eyes as the bottle had, so he fell onto it before it could finish. In moments, he was sound asleep. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Full of rum and the whiskey that Jack had generously filled a tankard with, Honour was feeling her way back to her cabin by holding onto the wall. 'Last time I ever party with two different kinds of spirits, ' she muttered to herself. She knocked on her own cabin door and Briggs let her in. "Briggs, how did THAT happen?" "Sorry, Honour. He laid down and next thing I knew, he was snoring." Honour looked over at the sleeping form of Eli Meredith. He was curled up in her bed on top of her coverlet. She gently brushed the hair off his face and covered him with an extra quilt. 'Such a young kid,' she thought. Poor Eli was blackmailed into mutiny. He hadn't a clue on what he had been in for. She turned to Briggs. "You're exhausted too, Briggs. I'll tell you what--I don't have the heart to wake Eli up so why not let him sleep here. We can lock the door from the inside and he can't get out. Besides, if he escaped, where is he going to go? I think Jack has his scared to death and he wouldn't dare try to spring Burgess. Not that he would anyways." "You think that wise?" "I'll take full responsibility for him, Briggs. You go back to your quarters. I would suggest you 'steal' a bottle of rum from Jack's secret cache--which is not so secret--and numb yourself into oblivion." Briggs laughed lightly, "Like ye did, Miss Bright?" She drew herself up and said, "He's in no better shape than I am, Briggs." "Aye. Jack no doubt pounded the bottle pretty heavily himself. But if Eli is sleeping here, then where do you intend to sleep?" She turned to hide her blush. "I'll find a place." Briggs took his leave. Honour looked at the sleeping lad. She tucked the blanket around him. She blew out the candle and locked the door. Walking quietly down the companionway, she took her chances. 'What are you doing, Honour? Are you out of your mind?' she thought. But it was either that or sleep on the floor. And it was cold. In his inebriated state, he left the door unlocked. She quietly slipped into the room. The candle was almost burned down to the wick. She blew it out and kicked the whiskey bottle out of her way. Crossing the room, she paused. The moonlight cast its beams through the porthole, affording her just enough light to make out the sleeping form of her husband. 'Funny', she thought. 'I never really thought of him as my husband. We were a whirlwind waiting to die out.' Jack was sprawled all over the bed. She drew her chemise tighter around her, standing there trying to decide if it was worth it. The dampness from the floor was beginning to seep through to her bare feet. She carefully drew the quilt back. 'Seems to be a very small space. If I can just lie quietly...I don't need to sleep. Just get some rest...' She slipped very quietly into the bed, pulling the covers up to her chin. All of a sudden, Jack rolled over and his arm fell across her body. She tried to slide down but she was pinned. She tried to lift his arm gently up but he seemed to grip a little tighter. She sighed. 'Oh, well.....may as well make the best of a bad situation. At least he is warm.' She snuggled closer. 'After all, he's bound to roll over again...' It was her last thought before her eyes closed. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Honour woke up with a start. It was still dark but instinctively she knew dawn was breaking. She looked over to the sleeping face of her husband. He looked worn out. Whether from the past night's mutiny or the hell she had put him through in the last eighteen months, it was hard to tell. She gently touched his hair. So like their daughter's. And the determined tilt of her chin. A wave of guilt washed over her. Was she wrong to deny him the knowledge of his child? Possibly. If the worst had happened and she had died that night, would he go searching for his child? Would he rip Zara away from the only family she had known? To be raised by him aboard a pirate ship? No, best to keep the knowledge to herself. Megan had always said, 'I have never regretted keeping my mouth shut but have plenty of regrets from opening it.' 'The time isn't right,' she reasoned. 'I'll know. When the time is right, I'll know.' Gently she lifted up Jack's arm from around her waist and quietly slipped out of bed. Jack frowned in his sleep. She walked over, kissed her fingertips and gently touched his face. 'Thank you, Jack. For the gift you never knew you gave me.' As she took the key out of her pocket, she unlocked her cabin door. She was momentarily in a panic as there was no sign of Eli Meredith. A note was pinned to the pillow. The kid is with me. ~~Josiah Briggs 'Thank you, Briggs,' she said to herself. 'I owe you one.'
  23. Honour sat on the edge of the bed and scooted a chair out with her booted foot. "Eli, have a seat. Let's parley." Eli sat down, blood splattering the front of his shirt. He looked down and couldn't meet Honour's gaze. "Look at me, Eli." He raised his head. Tears welled in his eyes again. "How old are you?" "Nineteen." 'Almost two years younger than me', she thought. She took a cloth and dipped it in a basin of water and washed his face. "I don't want you to squirm. Take this like a man." She took his nose and moved it a bit to straighten it out. He looked at her with gratitude. "I guess I can have a straight nose when I swing." She sat down in front of him. "Not necessarily. I heard you yell for Briggs and Jack Wolfe. If they hadn't found me when they did, heaven knows what would have happened. And for that I thank you." Eli looked down and started to cry again. Almost inaudibly, he whispered, "I'm so sorry, Miss Bright." She looked away, unable to meet the misery in his face. She said quietly, "It's Mrs. Wolfe." He looked at her incredulously. She explained, "No one except Briggs and a a few others know but I married Jack under strange circumstances eighteen months ago. We've been...separated." "You? And..and the captain?" She nodded and laughed self-consciously. "Two souls that never should have been bound up with each other. But that is besides the point." He wiped his eyes with his hands. She went to the armoire and gave him a shirt. "Here. Jack may kill me for showing mercy to a mutineer. Eli, I can't promise anything. I really can't. I've seen Jack Wolfe in murderous rages before. And usually when I have, I've been the reason. He's not called 'Mad Jack' for nothing. But I am going to do my best to see you are spared. I am going to plead your case. I think setting you off in the next port and having you book passage back to Devonshire would be best for all concerned. Jack would never trust you and I don't think you are cut out for this life. I'll make sure you have enough coin and get a safe passage back to England." He gave her a gratified smile. "Ye are an angel, Miss Bright." She reached under the bed and withdrew a bottle of rum. "I'll help you if you help me." "How, Miss---Mrs. Wolfe?" "Don't tell Jack I have this bottle!" Jack knocked softly at Honour's cabin door. "I'm here for the boy, Honour. Please open up." Honour rose up and opened the door. Jack stepped into the room. Honour stood there in his shirt, her hair in a braid but coming down in tendrils around her face. She had on boots and the dirk in the shaft of the boot. Jack's shirt kept slipping off her shoulder. Self-consciously she hoisted it up. A dark bruise was on her left cheek. "On your feet, Meredith." Eli couldn't meet Jack's eyes. He kept his head down. "Jack? May I speak to you in private?" He nodded. He called up to the quarterdeck. "Briggs, I need you to watch the prisoner." From above came, "All is clear here, Jack. We got them all. I'll be right down." Jack led the way down to his cabin. He sat down in his chair and pushed the charts and maps aside. Reaching under the desk, he pulled a bottle of whiskey out. "Can you use a drink, Honour?" She said, "I've never needed one more than I do now, Jack." He handed her a tankard and filled it generously. Jack looked tired and worn out after the evening's attempted mutiny. "Sit down, Honour." She sat down. "Jack, what do you intend to do with Eli Meredith? The poor boy is scared to death." "I know, but he was a mutineer." "He was coerced into it." I had a feeling that was the way it was. I think I need to shackle him to the foremast until I decide what to do with him." "Might I make a suggestion?" "I'll listen to whatever you have to say. You proved your mettle when you shot Barton." "He was about to kill you." She smiled slightly, "I wanted that privilege for myself." He tried not to laugh. "Well, you scared me to death, I must admit. So what is your suggestion?" "I think all of us could use a decent night's sleep. Could you shackle him to a bed in Briggs' room? That way Briggs can get some rest, Eli Meredith won't be out in the elements and I won't be worrying about if he's getting wet or if he's uncomfortable." "You have a soft spot for him?" "I see one frightened young man caught in a situation he didn't know what to do. When we get to a port, I say give him coin and let him book a passage back to England. I daresay Eli Meredith will never set foot off solid ground again." Jack nodded. "You are as smart as you are beautiful, Mrs. Wolfe." She coloured at that. If it was the compliment or the name change, she didn't know. Honour stood up and headed towards the door. He raised an eyebrow. "Do you realize this is the first time we have spoken civilly to each other?" Her hand was on the doorknob as she said over her shoulder, "Let's not get too used to it." Jack placed his hand over hers. "Honour, please, do not be so quick to leave." Honour searched his eyes, and released the doorknob. "You're forgetting your whiskey," Jack smiled. He topped it off and handed Honour her glass. "To be honest, I rather enjoy quiet conversation with you." Honour blushed as she sipped her whiskey. "Jack, since when did you become a romantic? Even if I were inclined to believe you, and I don't, I'd always be the third woman in your life after the sea and your ship." The whiskey combined with fatigue hit Jack harder than he'd expected. He could see the weariness in Honour's eyes, as well. "Perhaps it's best if we both turn in, love. We've a busy day ahead of us tomorrow. There's a bit of nastiness to take care of at sunrise. You might want to stay below until I send someone for you. But before you go, let us have a final toast, darling. To our prosperity." They clinked glasses, and drank deeply. Honour smiled as the whiskey began to warm her bones. "Very well. I'll wait for your word. Good night, Jack." "Pleasant dream, Honour. Until tomorrow."
  24. An hour later...... Jack sighed as he walked down the companionway toward the cabin where he had unceremoniously thrown Honour and locked the door. He wondered how many projectiles were in there and how much crockery may be left. "Honour? I'm opening the door now. So put anything breakable down and let's talk about this like the two civilized people that we are." He cautiously opened the door. Honour sat on the bed, her face a mixture of relief and contrition when she saw him. "Jack...Jack!" She sprang off the bed and then suddenly stopped. "I--I'm so glad you aren't dead....I mean..." Jack gave her a bemused look. "No one is dead, not even me. Or anyone on the other ship, for that matter. They got away." "They outran you? I didn't think that was possible." "It's not, ordinarily. When the ship listed so badly, it's because we had hit... something. A submerged shoal, a reef, hell, it could have been a whale for all I know. But everything is over. I ordered the men to break off and continue to the island instead. You got your wish." "MY wish? My wish is to get off this God-forsaken vessel and get on with my life. But you saw fit to drag me back down to your world. I was doing just fine before you kidnapped me. I was happy, damn you! And you had to go mucking up my life!" "Oh, happy, were you? And I wonder....does this happiness include a back-stabbing cur that I used to know?" "What---what are you talking about?" "You know damn well what I am talking about. You...and him. Tell me, did you run off together or did you happen to just conveniently meet up? Was it in Martinique? Or in Aruba?" "Neither! I was in...." "Where, Honour? Where were you?" "That is none of your concern. Not anymore. And as soon as we open that chest, I fully expect a divorce." She walked past him, her head held high. He grabbed her arm roughly and spun her around. "A divorce. So you can go back to him?" "What do you care, Jack?" Jack's eyes searched hers. "You don't know. You don't have any idea, do you?" "About what? I'm not in any mood for riddles." "How I tore the Caribbean apart looking for you? The number of favours I used up trying to find out where you'd gone?" "And exactly what was at the top of your list? The key, or revenge? Both? Because it sure as hell wasn't me." "All right, fine. I'll admit it. Yes, I wanted revenge. What man wouldn't? And of course I want the key. Without it, years of chasing down the treasure of a lifetime would be all for naught." Her eyes narrowed. "Just as I thought. The great Jack Wolfe's pride was wounded, so off he charged to settle the score." "Oh, that's rich," Jack laughed bitterly. "And speaking of rich, just how much of my money did you throw at your darling Cade? Enough for another ship, maybe? That worthless mongrel has always found ways to get a woman to fund his enterprises. But I never figured on you being fool enough to try to buy his affections..." Honour's eyes went wide at his accusation. "You son of a--" she spat through clenched teeth, and her fist flew at Jack's face. He caught her wrist before the blow could land. The two stared at each other, their eyes locked. Every bit of anger, every bit of hurt could be clearly read. No words were necessary. Almost in unison, the two seemed about to launch into a fresh hail of insults and accusations. But instead, they found themselves instead locked in a deep, searching kiss. The anger that burned within them had exploded into a fire of a very different kind. Hungrily, they lost themselves in each other's embrace. Unlike their all too brief encounter the night before, this was different, something far more intense. There was no hesitancy between them. Honour's breath caught as Jack's hands explored her body, and at how good his kiss felt on her neck. She barely noticed as her chemise slipped from her shoulders and cascaded to the floor. All she knew was that her blood burned, the flames fanned by Jack's skilled and perfect touch. Honour had always marveled at how he could make her feel. No other man had instinctively known just how she liked to be touched. No prompting, no coaching, he just... knew, somehow. Moving in unison, as if they'd never been apart, they made their way to the bed. Jack continued the expert application of kisses as Honour began to unfasten his belt. And that's when something from the corner of his eye caught his attention. Jack looked up and saw his copy of the Kama Sutra on the shelf above the headboard. But what really caught his attention was what was used as a bookmark. The key. His Sun key. His hand left Honour's body as he reached over to covertly lift it from the pages. As his hand tried to grasp it, he felt it slip and land with a clatter behind the headboard. Honour's eyes flew open from the passion she had let herself be carried away. "Jack....what was that?" "What was what?" "That...noise. Sounded like metal clanging...." "That? Oh...well, the brass headboard banging against the wall, I would think. No matter, no one will hear it...." He took his hands to her face and kissed her passionately. "No...it was a one time noise and..." "You don't hear it anymore, do you? Please, darling...." She rolled over to look behind the headboard. "Oh....OK, so we go for #45...." "YOU BASTARD!" She rolled back pushed Jack with her might as he landed on the floor. She grabbed the coverlet and wrapped it around her. Her breath was coming in gasps as she tried to recover from the unspent passion. "All this time, all this concern....and all you were after was that damn key?" "Not true!" "GET OUT! GET OUT THIS INSTANT!" Jack struggled to his feet. She picked up a candleholder. The problem was, a candle was still burning in it. With hot wax. Honour was standing there with it in her hands. The wax was beginning to puddle on the bottom. Jack quickly did a mental projectory of where that wax would be landing. He backed up quickly. She took her hands and pushed on his chest with all her might. He flew out the door and hit the opposite wall in the companionway. She slammed the door shut and locked it. "Hey, my boots are still in there under the bed!" He turned around to see Josiah standing at the end of the companionway. Josiah had a bemused smile as he said, "Well, someone's been a busy boy!" "Oh! Josiah, I wasn't expecting to see you there." "I kind of figured as much." "I was, ah, just getting dressed out here so as not to wake Honour. She always sleeps like a baby after, well, you know." "Does she, now? Awfully considerate of ye to make sure she rests peaceful enough. I'm guessin' this means I'll be getting' my cabin back, since the two of ye mended fences, so to speak?" "Ah, well, um, we didn't actually discuss the particulars, you see. We were a bit too involved with other things. We'll talk it out when she wakes up. And believe me, after what we just did, she'll be asleep for hours--" Honour opened the door and hurled his boots out, hitting him in the back "AND STAY OUT, YOU BLOODY BASTARD!" Briggs stood there, a smirk on his face. "Jack, you keep telling me you will teach me about women. But I still don't see the benefit in it. And by the way....you missed a button on your shirt." Jack looked down and then at Josiah's retreating back. "You know, Renee isn't any easier, pal." "You say something, Jack?" "Who, me? No. Not me. Not ever."
  25. Honour felt the heat of shame rising in her cheeks. She pounded the wall with her fist. "Damn him! Damn him!" But she couldn't tell who she was damning more--Jack or Briggs? Jack for making her feel things she thought were long gone. Or Briggs for interrupting what would maybe have gotten Jack out of her system once and for all. Because after all that time apart, could it still be that wonderful? But for some reason she couldn't get the thought of the way he kissed her out of her mind...and unfortunately the way she responded to him. As always. She moved the dresser in front of the door and then propped a chair under the ch She looked out the port window at the sea. Another night and day and this will all be over, she thought. Then I can get on with my life. I can arrange it so I never have to run into Jack Wolfe again. Returning to the existence of Rhiannon Conaway would be the perfect cover-up. Honour Bright Wolfe would cease to exist. Dragging the dresser, she placed it against the door and then propped a chair under the chest knobs. Dusting off her hands, she thought with satisfaction, 'That will keep you out, Jack Wolfe, in case you get any notions.' She turned down the coverlet and let her dressing gown drop to the floor. Sliding into bed, she felt how cool the sheets were against her skin. But that brought her no comfort. No, not at all. She didn't want to be alone. She wanted to be snuggled up next to Jack, the aftermath of the tempest that was their love-making. But her pride wouldn't let her leave her cabin. She frustratingly blew out the candle and was asleep before she knew it. Jack lay in the dark, staring up at the canopy of the bed. The scant illumination was provided by soft, cloud-filtered moonlight coming in through some open windows on the back wall of the cabin. The same pale moonlight that always allowed him to lay awake and watch Honour sleep so peacefully. He sighed heavily in frustration and tried to close his eyes. Usually, the rolling of the sea and the familiar creaks and murmurs of the ship would quiet his mind and lull him to sleep. But not so this time. He could not get Honour off his mind. Closing his eyes only made it worse. With his eyes closed, he could see her face. Her stormy blue eyes, her passionate, inviting lips, every intoxicating curve of her body. Jack fidgeted with the bed sheet, trying to find whatever comfortable position that would help him finally fall asleep. But he found himself chuckling. All this time, the only thing he could think about was getting that key back and discovering the secret of the Ancients' treasure. Now, with the key just down the hall from him and the enigmatic island less that two days away, his only thoughts were of Honour. 'I'll deal with this tomorrow, whenever tomorrow is,' he thought to himself. It was then he realised that he hadn't even been paying attention to the watch bells that were struck every half hour. He lay there in the dark, waiting for the next set, and his eyes began to grow heavy as he waited...
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