A Pirates Passion

Madeline tossed and turned, fighting the nightmare that plagued her. She sat up, crying out. “No. I don’t want to die.” she looked around, realizing she was in her own bed. Jack next to her, watching her. She wiped the cold sweat from her brow.
“Maddy?” Jack asked rubbing her arm. “Are ye alright?”

“I’m fine Jack. Just a bad dream.” she said and got out of bed, pulling a robe on and headed to the bathroom. She splashed some cool water on her face and tried to regain her normal breathing. She hadn’t dreamed of that day for so long. She left the bathroom and headed to JJ’s room.

Jack heard her in the bathroom and then her footsteps in the hallway. What was going on he wondered. He got out of bed and pulled on his breeches and followed her.

Madeline knelt by JJ’s bed and stroked his hair. She had almost given up everything worth living for. She turned when she heard footsteps stop in the doorway.

Jack stood there with his arms crossed, watching her. “Madeline. Don’t let me mistrust ye again.” he said sternly.

Madeline stood and walked towards him. “Aye Jack.” she said and walked to the living room and sat down. Jack sat on the opposite end of her after lighting a few candles.

“Talk to me Madeline.” Jack said.

She hugged her knees to her chest. “After I buried Angel, I tried to kill myself. And since that day, I‘ve had nightmares about it.” she said in almost a whisper.

Jack sat there, watching her. His heart almost stopped beating. “Go on.” he said trying to keep his emotions in check.

“I threw myself on her grave and sobbed. I wasn’t myself. I felt so alone. So angry. I had your pistol and put it to my head more than once. But I couldn’t do it. I just couldn’t do it. I ended up sleeping at her grave for two days. Exhausted, I came back to the village.”

Madeline looked up at Jack. “I started to drink. I don’t think a day that went by that I wasn’t sober. I took my crew out on dangerous raids. Not giving a care as to who we raided or what we took. I just wanted to forget.”

“Forget Angel?” Jack asked, getting angry.

Madeline nodded. “Forget her, you, JJ. My life. I just didn’t care anymore. Came close to dying on a few of those raids.”

Jack moved closer to her. He reached for her and pulled her close to him. “What happened Maddy?”

Madeline moved towards Jack and rested her body against his. “I ran into an old friend of yours.”

“An old friend?” Jack wasn’t sure if he wanted to hear who it was or not.

“Jorja.”

“Jorja? Ye went back to Port Royal?” Jack asked a bit shocked.

“No. In Puerto Rico of all places. I was drunk and literally ran into her. She saved me Jack.” Madeline said looking at him. “In more ways than one.”

“What happened?” Jack asked pulling her closer to him. He could see her shaking.

“I was in some pub. Drunk.” she said quietly. “There was this man who tried to have his way with me and when I pulled my pistol on him, about ten of his friends pulled their pistols on me. I lost my balance and fell. Right into Jorja. She was as stunned as I was.”

“What did she do?”

“She hauled me to my feet and pulled me out of there so bloody fast I didn’t know which way I was going. She took me to her house. At first I wanted to do nothing more than hit her. Hit her for being the one with you the night before you left. I hated her for what she’d had with you and I didn’t. I was too drunk to do anything though. We sat down and she asked me where you were.”

“What did ye tell her?”

“That I didn’t know and at the time, didn’t rightly care. I didn’t care about anything or anyone.”

“Why would ye act so bloody foolish Maddy?”

“Because I was feeling sorry for myself. I didn’t have anyone. Angel was gone, you had JJ and I didn’t have you.” she said turning to look at him. “But Jorja told me to stop being selfish. Selfish and stubborn. Knowing full well that I had not one, but two men who loved me. Even if one of them was also too bloody stubborn to realize it.”

Jack felt a twinge of jealousy at the mention of two men. Knowing that Maddy was indeed loved by two men. “Aye, stubborn ye are love.” he said smiling weakly at her. “What else did she say to you?”

“It wasn’t so much what she said Jack. It’s what she did. She listened to me sob about everything. Losing you, losing Angel. Trying to kill myself. The dangerous raids. Everything Jack. She held me while I cried. She plied me with liquor until I was sick so I wouldn‘t want to drink like that again. She made me clean myself up and then sat me down at her kitchen table.”

Jack couldn’t help but smirk. Knowing that Maddy wasn’t a heavy drinker, he knew it didn’t take much for her to become drunk. He was mildly surprised that Jorja didn’t try to strangle Maddy, as she could become very whiny when she was depressed and drunk.

“She made me eat and she fixed my hair. The whole time never once did she judge me for the things I had done. She was so kind Jack. I thought she hated me like I hated her.” Madeline said quietly. “ I think I would probably be dead if it wasn’t for her.”

“She has a heart of gold.” He said gently, remembering the good times that he had shared with Jorja and how kind she had always been. No matter what the situation, she would always take care of you.

“Yes, she does. She told me to stop feeling sorry for myself and get my act together because I had everything to live for. I had JJ and I had you. I tried to argue with her, but I didn’t win.” she said with a smile. “I stayed with her for a few days and it was almost like having a sister. I never thought that I would find a good friend like that. Especially in someone I thought I hated.“ she said remembering her promise to Jorja. “A few days after that, I gathered my crew and sailed for home. Determined to make a new start of my life. I will always treasure her friendship.”

“Aye love. So will I.” Jack said. He lifted her chin with his fingers. “No more hiding from me Maddy. Do ye hear me? If something is bothering you, talk to me. If I piss ye off. Tell me. Don‘t keep secrets from me Maddy. I need to trust you. Do ye understand love?”

Madeline nodded as she felt tears pool in her eyes. Jack reached up and wiped them away before they fell down her cheeks. “Ye are not alone love. Ye will always have me. And JJ.”

Madeline turned her face into his chest and couldn’t stop the tears. “I’m sorry Jack. I’m so sorry.”

Jack rubbed her back and kissed her head. “Ye have nothing to be sorry for love. Ye knew nothing but grief in that time. And that was the way ye felt ye needed to deal with it.” He tilted her head upward and leaned in and kissed her. “Enough of that. Besides, we have a wedding to finish planning.”

Madeline smiled through her tears and threw her arms around him, holding him tight. “Oh Jack. I love you so much.”

“I know minx. I know.” Jack said. His mind reeling from her confession. “Come, let’s go back to bed.” He said helping her up and hand in hand they made their way back to the bedroom.

Madeline crawled into bed and Jack held her in his arms. She fell into a peaceful sleep. Knowing that Jack would keep her safe as she slept.

Jack held Madeline through the night. His mind thinking on what she had told him. He sighed heavily. Thinking. Many thoughts running through his mind.

Jack awoke the next morning to find himself alone in bed. He quickly dressed and went in search of Madeline. He found JJ sitting on the porch reading a book.

“Where’s yer mum?” He asked.

JJ smiled at his father. “She said she was going up to Angel’s grave Da.” he looked at his father’s face. Seeing it twist. “Is everything alright Da?” he asked.

“I hope so JJ.” Jack said and turned towards the hills.

He found Maddy by Angel’s grave. And she was planting flowers around it. Red roses. He smiled at the sight. He approached her and knelt beside her. “Would ye like some help love?” he asked.

Madeline smiled wide when she saw him. “Aye Jack. I’d like that.” she said softly and handed him the trowel. Together they finished planting the flowers. When they finished they stood back and admired their work. Jack could see her tremble and he pulled her into his arms.

“It looks beautiful.” he said gently. Madeline merely nodded and wrapped her arms around his waist.

“Thank you Jack.” she said quietly. Savoring the moment.

Jack tipped her face to his and covered her lips with his. Kissing her gently and deeply at the same time. Madeline wrapped her arms around him, feeling the need to get closer to him.