Chapter 3
The midnight trysts continued for several more nights. Katrina would wait for her father to fall asleep before stealing away to meet Jack on deck. They would find a nook to hide in, never the same one, and they’d sit for hours. Katrina always begged Jack to tell her about the sea and listened raptly as he spun his tales of adventure.
On the fifth night, Katrina met Jack as he was making his way below deck. He was noticeably on edge and insisted they find a place below deck despite her pleas to be able to see the stars.
When they’d found a spot, Jack pulled her to him and took her face in his hands. “You have to promise me one thing, Katrina.”
She knew for certain now that something was terribly wrong. Since that first night, Jack had called her ‘Kat’ because her eyes reminded him of a cat. Putting her hands on his, she whispered, “Anything.”
“If anything happens, find me. I will protect you.”
“What could possibly happen that I would need protection?”
“Just promise me!” he insisted. “I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“I promise…I will find you but what has you so on edge?”
Looking around, Jack spotted a corner that had material used to repair the sails piled in it. He led her to the corner and they got comfortable before he explained, “We’re being followed.”
“Really? By whom?”
“My guess would be pirates but they are staying a safe distance away, not sailing under full sails.”
“But why? There is no cargo of any value now.”
Jack smiled at her innocence. “There is a very valuable cargo, my love…you.”
“Me? That’s ridiculous, Jack.”
“No, my love…your father is the new governor of Barbados and a very wealthy man who would pay handsomely if you were taken prisoner. Not to mention, he would have influence over the military to keep them out of trouble. You would be the perfect bargaining tool for a pirate to get what they are truly after. My guess is, they’ll make their move as we get closer to the storm and have no where else to go.”
“A storm? Jack, you’ve been in the sun too long. There’s no storm ahead of us. It was a beautiful day today, not a cloud in the sky.”
“My love, I’ve been at sea long enough to know there’s a storm brewing. You just find me when danger hits, savy?”
“I savy.”
The ship lurched unexpectedly sending Katrina into Jack’s arms. He caught her, his hands on her sides and they froze. Ever since that first night, Jack had ached to hold her in his arms but he’d been afraid to compromise her. The last four nights, they’d been on deck and there was no telling who might have seen them. But now…they were tucked away below deck with a closed door separating them from the rest of the crew. All that separated his hands from her skin was a thin, cotton nightdress allowing him to ‘feel’ her.
She caught herself with her hands flat against his chest; his breath on her cheek; his hands on her waist. Katrina felt a warmth spread through her body like she was on fire. She’d tried to imagine what it would be like to have him touch her. Somewhat embarrassed, she tucked her head but she didn’t move away.
Tenderly, Jack placed a finger under her chin. “Kat?”
The look in her eyes was his answer. Closing the distance, his lips covered hers and when she didn’t resist, he deepened the kiss, his tongue sweeping in to taste her.
Just as unexpectedly as the ship had lurched, the door flew up and an angry growl broke the young couple apart.
“KATRINA!”
Jumping back, she looked up, “James?! What are you doing down here?”
“Looking for YOU! Father woke and discovered you weren’t in your berth.” Taking his sister by the arm, he pulled her away from Jack as he hissed, “Mr. Sparrow, take your hands off my sister and I do not EVER want to catch you near her again. Do not even cast your glance in her direction.”
Without giving her a chance to say anything, James pushed Katrina out the door leaving Jack alone.
As he led Katrina back to her cabin, James scolded, “Ladies do NOT associate themselves with such trash.”
“Why is he trash…because he’s not an officer?”
“He’s trash because his father is a pirate! Mark my words, he will follow in his father’s footsteps and I promise you, I WILL hang him!”
“You wouldn’t dare?!”
“It is my duty, Katrina. Now, I’m not going to tell Father about what I saw…it would destroy him.”
“Then what are you going to tell him?”
“That you were out walking on deck…that’s bad enough given the way you are attired. I don’t EVER want to catch you anywhere near Jack Sparrow.”
“But James….” Tried Katrina wanting to explain what Jack had told her but he wouldn’t hear it. He silenced her with an icy stare and they walked back to her cabin in angry silence.
That night, Katrina lay in her berth crying silently. Would she ever be able to see Jack again?
