Jesse wished they would. At least then, their relationship wouldn’t be displayed right before her eyes, or rather, ears. She bit her lip and strained to hear them.
“No.”
She wanted to cover her ears to block out the sloppy sounds of their kissing. She didn’t, though. Instead, she touched her lips in remembrance of her stolen kiss.
“Please,” Bonny begged.
“It’s time to go to sleep,” Dulac insisted. “Morning comes early, love. Now go to bed.”
Jesse quickly flopped back and feigned sleep. Bonny must have obliged as Dulac hauled himself onto the top of the galley. He lay beside Jesse, and a minute passed by before he spoke.
“I know you’re awake.”
She sighed and looked at him. “So?”
“You want to know how I know?”
“Not particularly.”
“You twirl your hair and suck your thumb when you sleep.”
Jesse wrinkled her face. “What? No I don’t.”
Dulac chuckled. “Yeah, I made that up, but you do snore.”
“Hmpf,” she grunted and stared at the sky. She debated on her next question and finally couldn’t resist. “So, how was she?”
“Okay,” he answered. “It’s really strange, though.”
“What?”
“Well, I’ve kissed her a plenty, but there was this one time...”
When he didn’t continue, Jesse turned her head toward him. “What?”
“Well, it’s hard to explain, but one minute she kisses one way, and the next, it’s completely different. It’s like there’s two different women on the ship. Even her breasts felt...well, one time they felt smaller. Good, but... Ah hell, I don’t know.”
Jesse played dumb. “Strange.”
“You haven’t seen any other females on board, have you?”
“None,” she stated. Besides myself, but then again, I haven’t seen myself in quite some time.
A pang of fear went through her as she realized she hadn’t cut her hair in awhile. She made a mental note to do it tomorrow. The less she looked like a girl, the better.
“I heard we’re stopping for supplies within the next week or so,” Dulac whispered. “I’m going to escape then, and you’re welcome to join me.”
Jesse just looked at him. His face was bathed in the moonlight, and she noticed he’d managed to shave. Her hand itched to feel the smoothness of his face, and she balled her hands into fists to keep from succumbing to the desire.
“And then what? Where would I go? I’m a sailor, Dulac. I have no one waiting for me at home. I have no home.”
Her words sounded bitter to her, but she couldn’t help it. Every ounce of it was true. She had thought about trying to find her father, but she wouldn’t know where to start. He would have returned home to Virginia, but for the life of her, she could not think of the name of the town where they had lived. Besides, he would no doubt be embarrassed his daughter had been raised as a pirate.
“I can help you find your father,” Dulac whispered.
She looked away as tears sprang to her eyes. She still had to find out. “Count me in, then.”
* * * *
June 1, 1900 – morning
Jesse sat beside Zach in the crow’s nest. She stared at the dark clouds about to open up on them. A good rain would feel great at this point. She closed her eyes as a drop fell on her nose.
Zach rattled on and on about a girl he had met in the last port. Jesse listened with one ear. Her thoughts kept drifting back to her recent kiss. She knew without a doubt she wanted more. Her heart hurt because she knew she’d never taste Dulac’s mouth again.
“Oh my god.”
The seriousness of Zach’s tone jolted her to attention. She peered over the edge but couldn’t see anything. “What?”
Solemnly, he handed her the spyglass and pointed west. “Take a look.”
She peered into the contraption and cold fear shot through to her feet. “The Lifesaving Service.”
She handed the spyglass back. Her mind spun. She supposed Dulac would seek their aid. She chewed on her nail, wondering what to do. She’d been looking forward to going with him, but now that his fellow pirate hunters were going to rescue him, she doubted he would spare her.
“Go tell Cap’n Jim.”
Jesse nodded and scrambled down from the nest. She wondered if she should squeal on Dulac. Jesse shook her head. She’d made a promise, and unlike him, she wasn’t about to go back on it. She would just find her father on her own.
She paused outside Jolly Jim’s door. She raised her hand to knock, but before she did, she heard the unmistakable sound of a man in the throes of passion. Her cheeks burned, and her thoughts flew to Dulac’s hand on her breast. She sucked in air and forced her hand to rap against the wood. It mattered not what Jim was doing. This news could not wait.
Seconds later, she heard a man’s steps pound slowly against the wood floor. The door creaked open, and Jim blinked at her with a silly grin on his face. “What?”
She couldn’t help but look past him, and nearly had a conniption at the sight of Bonny in his bed. She couldn’t help but to raise her eyebrow, yet at the same time, she managed to keep her thoughts to herself. “Uh, sir, there’s a ship on the horizon what needs yer attention.”
Jim nodded. “Ah, wonderful. Something to plunder.”
She shook her head. “No, cap’n. ’Tis not a pleasure ship nor a merchant...’tis the Lifesaving Service.”
His face immediately lost its humor. “Aw, blimey.”
Jim looked at Bonny. “Find the papers, love, and be quick about it.”
“What do you need me to do?” Jesse asked, anxious to help protect her fellow pirates.
He ran his hand through his dark hair. “Go to the hold and tell the guard. He’ll know what to do. I’ll tell the rest of the crew.”
Jesse whipped around and raced down to the hold. After telling the man, she started to go back up top. It was better for everyone to act normally at a time like this. She wasn’t great at telling lies, and so she decided to head for the crow’s nest.
However, just as she stepped onto the deck, Dulac appeared in front of her. He indicated that she go back down. Nervously, she did, and he led her back to the darkest area. Jesse leaned against the wall, wishing he’d steal another kiss.
“I’m hoping I know someone on that ship,” Dulac whispered. “And if I don’t, I’m going to sneak on board. Are you up for it?”
Jesse’s mouth dropped. She was speechless. Not that I should be. He is part of their service.
“Well?”
“Are you going to rat Jim out once you get over there? Cuz he’s been awfully good to us.”
“No,” he replied incredulously. “I... I admit that, well, that they’ve been decent to me...to us.”
She raised her left eyebrow and placed her hands on her hips. “But?”
“But, they are still pirates, and I’m not.”
Jesse crossed her arms. “What about Bunny?”
“Bonny?” he scoffed. “Not the type of woman you bring home to mother, and certainly not one I’d wish to spend the rest of my life with.”
She nodded. Dulac’s wife would, no doubt, be dressed in the finest dresses. She envisioned a lady of high society and high morals. When it boiled down to it, Bonny was, after all, just a whore. After seeing her in bed with Jim, it was a relief to know Dulac did not truly care for the woman. Surprisingly, the pain in her heart seemed to have eased, and she found herself agreeing to jump ship and into the arms of her enemy.
Jesse followed Dulac as he headed for the upper deck. They stopped at the sound of approaching footsteps and waited for their fellow pirates to approach.
“Have they boarded yet?” Dulac asked.
“Nay, but they’re side by side w’ us. Cap’n told the two of us to go patch a hole. How ’bout a hand?”
Dulac glanced back at Jesse. “Didn’t you say the Cap’n was looking for me?”
Her eyes were wide with fear, and she just looked at Dulac. Her throat seemed to close, effectively cutting off any words which might escape. She wanted to go find her father with Dulac, but she did not want to go on the Lifesaving Service’s ship. Her mouth opened and closed several times. Then the words tumbled past her lips before she could stop them.
“Yeah. I think he mentioned he wanted you to help patch that hole.”
The minute the words left her mouth, she regretted it. For the first time in her life, she actually felt like a backstabbing pirate. It wasn’t a pleasant feeling, and one she instantly wished she could take back.
Jesse couldn’t see Dulac’s eyes, but if his silence was any indication of how he felt, she knew his blue eyes would be ice cold. He looked back toward the other pirates, but she knew he was gauging the distance from them to the stairs leading up. His shoulders sagged a bit, and she knew he was resigning himself to the fact he would not escape today. The world fell on her shoulders then, and she vowed to make it up to him.
“Let me tell the cap’n,” Dulac said in a last ditch effort.
“No need, mate. He’s got his hands full of trouble right now. Let’s go.”
Dulac reluctantly turned back to Jesse, and it was all she could do not to shrink away as he passed by. She hung her head and fell in step behind the three men as they made their way to the hole. She had gotten her way, but at what cost to their friendship?
Chapter 14
Noon
Dulac’s left eye had twitched the entire morning as he helped patch holes. His head throbbed from held-in rage as thoughts of Jesse’s betrayal beat around his brain. He couldn’t understand why the lad had done that to him.
Must be the pirate coming out in him. God knows the lot of them couldn’t keep a promise to save their own neck. I don’t know why I’m so surprised. Damn that lad’s honest brown eyes.
He held out his plate to the cook, and after receiving his share of watered-down stew, he moved away without a thank you. Dulac was afraid if he opened his mouth, he’d end up starting trouble. He was in a foul mood, but common sense still prevailed. He had no desire to spend a night in the brig for fighting.
He stepped out onto the deck and came face to face with Jesse. His eyes narrowed before he slid his gaze away and turned in the opposite direction. Dulac felt the lad’s stare in the middle of his back as he moved away. He found a place alone and dipped his spoon into the stew. The first one came up with nothing but brown liquid. He searched for the one carrot he knew was there and quickly gobbled it down along with the one cube of nameless meat. Then he set the spoon on the deck and proceeded to drink directly from the bowl.
“My my, Dulac, aren’t we lacking in the manner department.”
He stopped gulping the semi-warm liquid and peered over the rim. Bonny stared down at him with a cocky grin on her face. He shrugged and continued until the bowl was empty.
“Well,” she breathed, sitting down beside him, “I was about to ask if I could join you, but seeing as how yer already done...”
Dulac swiped his mouth with the back of his hand and let out a huge and rude burp. Then he smiled at Bonny, daring her to say anything. The woman, however, paid him no mind as she was in the process of guzzling her stew in the same fashion. Disgust rose in his stomach at the sight, and an image of Jesse eating flashed in his mind. The lad never drank from the bowl, and for that matter, Dulac couldn’t recall ever hearing him burp either. Bonny, on the other hand, chose that moment to let out one of the loudest belches he had ever heard.
Embarrassment flooded over him, and he thought about how horrified his mother would have been. As if it mattered. Mother will never have cause to meet the likes of Bonny...nor the likes of Jesse. ’Tis a shame. She’d have liked the lad.
Dulac shook the stupid thoughts out of his head and picked up the bowl. He started to rise to go get a drink of water, but Bonny placed her hand on his thigh. He sighed and remained seated as her fingers gently stroked the inside of his leg. Instantly, his blood warmed and shot to his groin. Memories of their last time together surfaced, and he gave her a sly glance.
“Just cool yer heels,” she said and smiled diabolically. “Too many hands on deck for a proper tryst right now. Let’s just concentrate on stoking yer fire for tonight.”
Irritated by her attempt at a somewhat whorish-sounding coquettishness, Dulac grabbed her hand and flung it away. “Not in the mood for games right now, Bonny.”
Undeterred, the woman slipped her right arm between his back and the ship he rested against. Her fingers then slipped down the back of his trousers in an attempt at further enticement. She purred in his ear. “Shh, let me get you in the mood.”
He did his best to not cause a scene as he removed her hand and gripped it tightly. He then pulled her face close to his and kissed her brutally before shoving her away. “Not now.”
Bonny’s own temper flooded into her face as her cheeks turned bright red. She scrambled to her feet and placed her hands on her hips. “Fine, Dulac. Be in a mood, but don’t expect me to share these with you tonight.”
She grabbed her own breasts in a gaudy manner and leaned forward, exposing the tops of them to him. “You’re not the only man on deck, ya know.”
Dulac rolled his eyes. “I don’t care, Bonny. It’s not like I’m after a long-lasting relationship with you. You’re...”
He managed to stop himself before saying the words they both knew were true. His cheeks burned with embarrassment. He was too much of a gentleman to even tell a whore what she was to her face. He scrambled to his feet as he locked eyes with Bonny. “I’m sorry.”
She smiled coldly, and he could see the hurt in her eyes. “For what? For almost calling me a whore?”
Bonny shrugged and crossed her arms. “Wouldn’t be the first time someone called me that, and I’m sure it won’t be the last.”
She gave him a once over and stepped closer to him. Despite their squabble, desire still flared in her eyes. Bonny placed a hand lightly on his arm, and her voice was barely audible. “If’n yer mood allows, the offer still stands fer tonight.”
She was close enough to rub her leg seductively against his thigh. Then, like the wind, she was gone, and Dulac didn’t know whether to be glad or not. He watched her saunter across the deck and worried that maybe he had made a mistake by allowing himself to associate with her. Her kind always spelled trouble, and right now, all he wanted was to remain in the shadows and escape the ship.
Picking up his bowl and spoon, he brought it back to the galley before heading back to his chores. He was torn between keeping his distance with Bonny and proving he was still a man in every sense of the word. It was well into the afternoon before he remembered his was still mad at Jesse, but by that time, all he wanted to know was why the lad had kept him from sneaking onto the Lifesaving Service’s ship.
* * * *
Evening
Glumly, Jesse sat cross-legged on top of the galley. Dulac hadn’t talked to her the entire day. In fact, when they split up to patch various leaks, he had been quick to join one of the other men instead of her. She didn’t blame him one bit, and she mentally kicked herself for thwarting his escape plan. Jesse searched the deck and found Dulac with Bonny on the front bow.
This ship was the biggest one she’d ever been on, and she liked the captain and crew a lot. She could easily see herself staying with them, but she desperately wanted to find her father. Now that she had thoroughly angered Dulac, she seriously doubted his offer to help her still stood.
Good job, Jess.
As if she had called his name, Dulac turned and looked straight at her. Jesse’s heart stopped for a millisecond, and she almost raised her right hand to wave. Her left hand, however, firmly clenched her right wrist to stop any further impulses. She knew he would not reciprocate her gesture and saved herself the embarrassment. She dipped her head as if she hadn’t seen him.
The corners of her mouth turned down as she contemplated her earlier
actions. Her desire to find her father was great, but her fear of being hung was even greater. Surely Dulac would understand. She vowed to apologize and make it up to him.
She looked at Dulac and found that he still looked in her direction. Her heart bubbled, but she acted nonchalant.
“Hey, Jesse,” said a young voice behind her.
Jesse turned to see her new friend, Zach. “Hey, yerself.”
“Came to play some cards with you.”
She forced a smile. There was only one person she truly wanted to play cards with, but at the moment, she feared he hated her. “Sure, climb on up.”
While they played, Jesse kept a discreet eye on Dulac and Bonny as the two had set up camp on the bow. They played for hours and had to use a lantern when the sun set. When Zach left to take his turn in the crow’s nest, she looked for Dulac, only to find the bow empty.
Her mood had lifted whilst playing cards, but with Dulac missing, her heart plummeted. She could only imagine where he and Bonny had slipped off to. The thought of him kissing the trollop hurt more than anything she had ever felt, including the loss of her father.
When the hell did you get so attached to that rat?
Pouting, she looked up at the crow’s nest and wondered what it would be like to kiss Zach. She felt reckless, and before giving it another thought, she scampered off the galley. Her heart pounded in her throat as she carefully stepped around sleeping men.
When she got to the pole of the crow’s nest, she looked up. She felt as if she were about to betray someone. She shoved the feeling aside and quickly climbed up.
Zach looked at her in surprise. She just stared at him with wide eyes and fear in her throat. Zach thinks I’m a boy. Would he keep my secret if I told him?
“What’s wrong, Jesse?”
In the end, she chickened out. She reached into her pocket and pulled out some chocolate wrapped up in a cloth. “Here. You forgot your winnings.”
He smiled. “Keep me company.”
She looked down at the galley and was surprised to see Dulac. He stood with his hands on his hips and appeared to be searching the deck. Her heart fluttered hopefully. Is he looking for me? Spitefully, Jesse dropped onto her butt and out of sight. “Don’t mind if I do.”
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