A Pirates Tale

George looked up from his hands at the girl and sighed heavily. ‘I didn’t know who she was when I found her in the woods!’  He shouted to himself, mentally continuing the argument with Rusty. ‘I saw a pair of eyes and a head of dirty blonde hair.’ He recalled the moment from his memory like a moving picture. ‘It was too dark to see what was around her neck for God’s sake!’

He was scouting the woods when he heard chatter not far off. Approaching a patch of bushes the sounds grew louder. He cocked his pistol and took a deep breath. The noise stopped. Only rustling leaves and chirping crickets could be heard. He hastily pushed aside the foliage, and aimed, only to be met by a girl crouching in the dirt. She didn’t move or cry out but sat stone still. He could have easily mistaken her for a statue if the moonlight had not lit her hair blowing in the breeze. He knew he was supposed to kill her. He had ordered his men to kill anyone who stood in their way. But … was this little girl in his way? Unable to rethink his decision he holstered his gun and scooped up the frightened girl, keeping to the shadows as he ran back to The Master's Betrayal.

Upon entering his cabin aboard the vessel he placed the girl gently into a chair and brought her some water. ‘Why does she look familiar?’ He’d thought. Tilting his head with puzzlement, he glimpsed an hourglass shape peaking from the top of her dress. Without hesitation, he pulled at the shape frightening the girl and making her spill the water on herself.

“Oh!” He’d retracted his arm and apologized. Explaining that he only wanted to see her necklace. Thinking he meant her no harm she pulled the charm from under her bodice. The diamonds inside the hourglass clinked against the glass and George lost his breath. ‘What have I done?’  

Scarlet whimpered in the chair pulling George from the memory and back to the ever-painful present. Rusty had a point. Jack was his friend; true as gold, but George took Jack onto the crew without the knowledge if Jack could cut it as a pirate. Jack had always been a soft soul but he was a good man. No pirate by George’s standards however. George remembered the day Jack came to his house, pleading for a way out.

“I need your help, George.” The two sat in front of his house in Kemp - an hour and a half carriage ride out of Maylen - an oil lamp between them as they sipped mead George’s wife Sarah, had made. He remembered how desperate Jack was to join his crew. He had been blacklisted in Lucinda, located outside the capital city of Conifer, and couldn’t get a job in Kemp because of it. Sarah was a seamstress and refused to allow their son Robyn to get a job, no matter how Jack insisted. Sarah asserted her authority on Robyn staying in school for as long as possible. “My work helps us get by just enough.” She’d said. “My son is going to be educated to the fullest extent!” Jack felt horribly useless to his family but knew if George could let him join of his crew, he could properly provide for his family and show his face in public again with pride. He could hold his head high as he tossed a large sack of gold and jewels on his kitchen table! “Please George.” Jack had pleaded. “Please. You’re my last hope.” George had been hesitant to bring him on but it was hard to say no to his best mate.

That was over six months ago. Lately, The Master's Betrayal had a dry spell of raids so George never knew if Jack could stomach pirate life. He had to do it. He knew Jack would protest, but for the sake of his position he had to do something; especially after Rusty’s threat to take matters into his own hands. He had to prove that he hadn’t gone soft or mutiny would not be far off.

Rising from his chair he looked back at Scarlet and then to the table. “Aaron!” he called to his cabin keeper standing watch outside the door.

“Aye, sir?” Aaron poked his head in.

“I need Jack.”

“Aye.”

Shouts of orders were bellowed about the ship and George nodded the justification of his decision. Standing at the back table he sliced some bread for Scarlet and placed it on her lap. She needed no invitation and scarfed down the food. George chuckled and handed her the rest of the loaf. She looked hastily at him and with no trust, but took the bread and ate greedily. Turning from her he approached the window and watched.