A New Life, A New Love

Chapter Twenty-Eight: A Musical Interlud>
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     The second day of loading did not go nearly as smoothly as the first. For some reason, it
seemed that the crew could not manage to work around one another without mishaps. Several
crates were broken open as they were dropped, often on unsuspecting feet. The cooper was kept
busy doing repairs. Moods were deteriorating and tempers were flaring. Finally, around midday,
Jack called a break.

“Heave to, ya mangy dogs!” he called out.

Everyone dropped what they were doing, sometimes quite literally, to listen to their Captain.

“We all seem t’be havin’ a bit of a bad day, today,” Jack told them. “What I propose is that we
break for luncheon, then come back and start over fresh. Savvy?”

The crew breathed a sigh of relief and started below.

“I just don’t get it,” Rachel said. “Everyone usually works together so well.”

“Notice anything missing today, luv?” Jack asked her.

“Now that you mention it, something does seem different, though I can’t quite place my finger on
it.”

“No music,” he said. “Crazy George left us yesterday. Said all that reward money was going to
make life dangerous aboard the Pearl. His new ship sailed at dawn.”

“That’s it. It’s been so quiet, even with all the noise.”

“I’ve got Gibbs out right now, working on recruiting. We really need that fiddler if we’re to get
any work done today. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen the crew in a worse mood.”

“Captain!” the lookout called. “It’s Mr. Gibbs, sir. He’s on the docks, now.”

“Wonderful!” Jack exclaimed. He went to the rail to examine the new man. The new fiddler
stood next to Gibbs, his fiddle safely ensconced in its case. They climbed into the rowboat and
headed for the Pearl.

“If all goes well, we should be able to leave with tomorrow’s tide,” Jack said. “I don’t think I’ve
ever turned down a crewman that Gibbs brought aboard, so we should have our music for the
afternoon’s labors.”

“I’ll be glad to put back to sea,” Rachel replied. “I wish we could stay there forever.”

“As long as we can, luv,” Jack told her. “We’ll supplement our supplies withds wds when we can,
but eventually we will have to make landfall again.”

“I know that,” she said. “I just want us to be safe.”

Jack put his arms around her. “We’re never really safe, luv. You know that. The life of a pirate
is not conducive to being safe. Anything can happen out there. A raid could go wrong. Hell, a
storm could take us down. We’ll never have a picket fence. All we can do is be together and
enjoy life as best we can. Savvy?”

Rachel smiled. “Savvy,” she said.

     Ten minutes later, Jack was squaring off with his new crewman. The fiddler, who gave his
name as Petey Strings, seemed a bit clean for a pirate, but explained that he had spent a year
ashore for health reasons. Pneumonia had nearly taken him, but now that he had his health back,
he wanted nothing more than to go back to sea. “I’ll expect you to play for the crew this
afternoon,” Jack told him. “The morning’s work has been a nightmare without a fiddle to set the
pace. If the afternoon’s any better because of yeh, you’ve got the job.”

He turned to Gibbs. “Take Petey here down to the galley. The men are taking their meal right
now. Let ‘em get acquainted.”

     The rest of the afternoon was much more productive. The new fiddler set a quick working
pace, keeping to upbeat music. The loading was complete well before sunset. The Black Pearl
set sail with the dawn as Rachel slept.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ * ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     The next few weeks were uneventful. The sea was calm and the breezes plentiful. It was only
when they set a course for their return to Tortuga that they met another ship. The Lady
Coramonde was a small ship and deemed a perfect target. Only one shot was needed to cow the
ship and boarding was accomplished without bloodshed. Supplies were taken aboard as well as
jewelry and valuables. Enough for another two weeks or so at sea.

     Rachel sat in the cabin examining the contents of a chest that had been brought aboard in the
raid. It was full of very fine men’s clothing. Everything from boots to waistcoats to wigs to
tricorn hats was contained within. Enough to make up a gentleman several times over. The door
opened and Jack walked through it followed closely byed. ed.

“I really don’t want a confrontation this time around,” Jack said. “Just me is one thing, but we’re
dealing with Rachel and the babe, here.”

“Rachel herself suggested part of the solution,” Jarod replied. “She makes a pretty, but
believable, boy. Perhaps we should send her alone.”

“No way,” Jack responded. “Way too risky. She could still be recognized. Or just plain
accosted for that matter.”

“Send Annamaria with her then,” Jarod suggested. “You know she’d protect her.”

“Can I make a suggestion?” Rachel asked.

Jack looked down at her, sitting on the floor with men’s clothing scattered around her. “Of
course, luv,” he replied.

“I’ve always wanted to see how you clean up,” she smiled as she held up a frock coat. “If I’m to
play the boy, how about you play the gentleman?”

“Clothes won’t be enough, luv,” he said.

Jarod laughed as he saw the glint in Rachel’s eye. “No, they won’t,” he said. “But somehow, I
don’t think that’s all shs ins in mind.”

Jack looked at Rachel. “I don’t like that look in yer eye, luv. What is it that yer plannin’ for old
Jack?”

She stood up and walked to him, putting her hands on his hips. “Oh, not much. Just a bath.”

“And what else?” he asked.

“Well, maybe I could wash your hair for you.”

“Go on,” he said.

“Have you ever had your hair brushed by someone else?” she asked.

A look of terror crossed his face as his hands went to his head. “Oh, luv, ye don’t mean . . . ?”

Jarod laughed again at Jack’s expression. “Aye, cap’n, I think she does. She’s out to make a
gentleman of ye, at least for a day.” He looked at Rachel. “Thanks for the laugh, poppet. I’ll be
waitin’ t’see if he lets you pull it off.”

Shn hen her hands up his chest. “Please, Jack?” she purred. “I could help you with your bath.
And then brush out your hair. I bet it’s like silk when it’s brushed.”

“But, me trinkets, luv,” he whined. “We haven’t been separated in a long time.”

“I’ll personally put them all right back as soon as we come back,” she promised. “You’d look so
handsome in that coat.”

“But, luv,” he began.

“And brushing your hair would be so much fun. Who knows what it could lead to.”

“Oh, Rachel, that’s hitting below the belt, luv,” he said.

“I know,” she answered. “But is it working?”

He sighed. “Aye, it is. But just for one day, you understand. As soon as we’re back, it all goes
right back where it belongs.”

“Wouldn’t dream of having it otherwise,” she said. She turned to Jarod with a sly smile. “And
just in case we are spotted, there’s an outfit in there for you, too.”

The smile on Jarod’s face faded. “Awww, poppet,” he said. “That’s not nice. I don’t have a
sweet little missy like you t’help me into it.”

“Please?” she said.

Jack smiled. If he was going to do this, he wasn’t going to do it alone. “She’s right, mate,” he
said. “If we do happen to be recognized, we may need someone to back us up. And you do seem
to be just about the right size.”

“Yer enjoyin’ this way too much,” Jarod replied.

“You know what they say, mate,” Jack answered. “Misery loves company.”

“Aye, that it does, so I suppose I’m t’be yours. When do I get the bathtub?”

“In the morning,” Rachel replied with a grin. “Jack will be using it tonight.”

“Then I’ll be taking my leave,” he said. “I’ll need some time t’comb me own tangles out. And
I’ll take the blue coat, t’match my eyes, y’know?”

Rachel smiled. “Thank you, Jarod. The blue it is.”

As Jarod closed the door, Rachel turned to Jack. “This is going to be so much fun,” she grinned.

“For you, perhaps,” he responded. “Ye’d best make it worth my while, luv. Or I just might
resent all that fun ye’ll be havin’.”

She stepped in close and kissed him softly. “Oh, I’ll definitely make it worth your while.&#;

A/N: Sorry this one took so long. I’ve discovered that I hate writing the middle story. I’ve got
the whole ending in my head, but getting there is the problem. Thank you all for your patience. I
haven’t received any death threats yet.

By the way, anyone have any news on that blow up doll I mentioned?

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