Tangled Threads - A Story of Pirates
Deliverance
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Chapter Thirty Four - Deliverance
Jack leaned back in his chair, studying the man in front of him. Jones had told
him all that he knew. Everything of Carlos Vega’s plan, of what he had wanted
from Bella’s grandfather and of what he had intended. Now Jack needed to decide
a course of action, if he followed the compass or if he sailed directly to
ones he was following had made anchor, waiting for others he presumed. The
compass had been veering around these past days, he had figured out how to
manage that, he only had to think about either of them alone. And then he would
have a clear heading to the one. But the headings were becoming more and
similar; the two vessels were rendezvousing that was clear. One
less thing to worry about. They were both alive.
His ringed fingers tapped against his glass, and Jones watched his hands.
“I owe you a debt for helping them to flee.” Jack looked up at him.
“There is no debt.” Jones watched him “you gave me freedom in return.”
“So what are your plans? There is always a place on The Pearl for you mate.”
“Thank you Jack, but I am no longer a sailor, if you are
wanting a butler I might be able to be of some service to you.”
Jack grinned “I did have a fancy house in
employer burnt it to the ground.”
*
Bella sat at alone above the carved figurehead, her arms around wrapped around
her legs, her chin resting on her knees. She watched the ocean, the endless
waves that parted around the ship, one beginning as another ended. She tried
not to think too much these past days, thinking only lead to grief. She wanted
to leap up, to go and fight something, that in some sort of reckless action
that she would be able to put things right, but there was no one to fight, she
was trapped on this ship. They should be sailing back to Cuba, to search for
Will but no one would listen to her demands, they would only
then change the subject to talk about what she would see in Spain. So instead
of doing something to find Will, something that would make her feel as if she
had not just abandoned him, something to ease the guilt, she sat staring at the
horizon waiting for Jack. She did not want to go to
grandfather, or to understand where she had come from. She wanted to go home,
she wanted Jack. She did not know how she was to tell him about Will, it was
too painful to think about, so she watched the waves.
So every morning she had come up here, to sit all day, looking out over the
sea. Sitting straight backed, unspeaking, watching, sometimes crying, and all
the while looking for the black sails on the horizon, sails that would mean an
end to this.
They had arrived in a sheltered bay yesterday evening; it seemed that they
would be waiting to meet with the other ships, to sail back to
not cared, still sitting alone, oblivious to what was going on around her.
There was only one ship that she was hoping to see, the fact that already four
others had joined them was of no interest to her. But sometimes the shouting of
the men intruded on her thoughts. There was one more to come; they were hoping
that some one called Roberto would arrive during the night. No one wanted to be
here any longer than necessary. Bella hoped that Roberto did not arrive; every
day here was one day that Jack would be closer to her.
afternoon, asking if she was well, if there was anything that she needed. He
seemed to be very kind, sitting with her, telling her stories of her parents,
assuring her that it would not be long now before she was home. She listened to
him, but how could she feel anything for people that she had never met, or a
sense of home in a place that she had never seen, not when she felt like she
was being ripped in two every time she thought of Will. He would stop speaking
after a while realising that she was not really
listening, to wish her good day, and once again leave her alone.
*
Will stood in the bow, above the carved figurehead, watching the lights of the
other ships draw closer. They had rounded the headland only minutes earlier; he
had been pacing until then, knowing from the orders, the shouts that they were
close to their destination. Now he stood looking for the one ship that had
sailed from the cove in
anchored not far off shore, lights still burning in many of the windows. Soft
footsteps beside him made him look up, it was Roberto.
“I will be meeting with
anchor; I presume you would like to see that Isabella is well?”
“Aye” Will could not stop the grin “thank you
Roberto.”
“The men wouldn’t be able to bear another night of your pacing William; if I
don’t take you they are liable to toss you overboard so that you can swim to
her.”
The long boat touched with a soft bump against the side of the bigger vessel,
rope ladders were thrown down to them and Will waited, letting Roberto climb
first. Then he began to ascend, his heart pounding in his chest, butterflies in
his stomach so that each breath was shallow. He swung his legs over the rail,
lightly jumping to the deck.
“Captain Martinez this is William Turner.”
“William” Martinez stepped forward a broad smile on his face, “it is good to
see you. Bella will be most relieved.”
“She is here”
“She is up at the bow.”
“Thank you” he began to move forwards, then stopped “forgive me” he stopped
flustered “I just need to see her.”
“Go” Roberto waved a hand “I will tell
He could see her. Silhouetted in the moonlight, arms wrapped around her legs,
head bowed. But he did not call her name, just quietly walked, thinking of the
right words, discarding first one then the other. Ridiculously nervous, all the
confidence he had in himself suddenly deserting him, so that his hands shook
slightly. He stopped several feet from her, about to say something, anything,
struggling to clear his throat. Then she sighed, one hand wiping her face as
she turned.
Silence….then he heard her gasp, a long moment of stunned disbelief while she
drank him in. Then their eyes met to search the others, and she was scrambling
to her feet. He covered the remaining short distance between them, her hands
reached for him, even as he grasped her pulling her to him, against his chest,
his arms closing around her, mouth seeking hers, words not needed. Not yet.