Chapter 6
With the Black Pearl underway, the pirate captain escorted Katrina to his cabin, away from the lecherous stares of his crew.
“Until I decide where to put ye off, my cabin should be adequate for you. Would ye care for something to eat?”
Katrina cut her eyes at the pirate. Everything she’d ever heard about pirates was being contradicted in this moment. Cautiously, she said, “The cabin is fine…better than what I had on the Challenger. You plan to put me off?”
“When the opportune moment presents itself.” With the gentility of a nobleman, the pirate repeated his offer, “How about some food? I imagine with the storm, ye didn’t eat very much.”
There was a tenderness in his eyes that reminded her of Jack.
“No, I didn’t, Captain Sparrow but I’m not quite ready to eat now. I just want to sleep.”
“My reputation has reached England, I see,” smirked the captain.
“No, actually, I’d never heard of you before I left England. Why are you being so nice? I thought pirates were barbaric.”
Captain Sparrow laughed, “Not all the time. So young lady, how did ye know my name?”
Katrina had been looking around the cabin and had spotted a likeness of Jack. Moving to it, she picked it up now to look at it more closely.
“You’re son?”
The pirate moved to join her and when she looked at him, she was surprised to see all the harshness of his way of life vanish before her eyes.
“I haven’t seen him since he was seven. I imagine he’s a man now.”
“Why haven’t you seen him for so long?”
“The last time I was home, his mother asked me to make a choice…my family or the sea. I tried to make a go of it but the sea pulled at me and I left, for good.”
“Did you know she had died…shortly after you left?” Jack had told her about his mother’s death but not what the captain had just shared.
“You knew my wife?”
“I know your son. He was on the Challenger and we spent time talking. He’s been searching for you ever since his mother died.”
“My son has been looking for me?” questioned the pirate more to himself than to Katrina. Taking a seat to keep from collapsing, he asked, “Where was he when we boarded?”
“I don’t know. He came to my cabin and took me to the hold to hide. After he left me, I don’t know where he went or what happened to him.”
Regaining his senses, the captain jumped to his feet. “I have to go back and find him,” but before he could get out of the cabin, his first mate and two crew members burst into the room with a prisoner between them.
“Captain, we found this stow-away,” growled Barbosa as he pulled Jack forward.
His hands were tied behind him and his clothes were wet but when Katrina saw him, he r eyes lit. “Jack!” she cried as she rushed to him throwing his arms around his neck. “I was so worried something bad had happened to you.”
“Untie his hands and leave him here,” ordered Captain Sparrow.
“But…”
Barbosa started to protest but stopped seeing Captain Sparrow wasn’t going to hear it. With Jack’s hands freed, the three men left.
Free, Jack wrapped his arms around Katrina pulling her tight. “I’m safe, love,” he whispered against her skin.
“Son?”
Jack looked up to see his father standing before him. “It’s been a long time, sir.”
Katrina stepped away to allow father and son to reunite. It was slow at first but as soon as their arms encircled one another, it was clear that they were each glad to be reunited.
