Someone grabbed her arm from behind, and she was hauled off the bench. It was Dulac, and she looked back at her father for help. However, he was too immersed in his play-acting to notice.
“He’ll never accept what you are, Jesse,” Dulac sneered. “No one will. So let’s end all of this.”
He pulled her to the center of the stage where a ladder led up to a rope hanging down from the ceiling. “Go on, with ye, lass...or should I say, lad?”
“I’m a woman.”
“You’re a pirate. So get on up and stretch yer neck a bit.”
He tugged on her arm, but Jesse rooted her feet firmly in place. She closed her eyes and shook her head. “No-no-no-no-no.”
“Jesse.”
Her eyes snapped open to find Dulac kneeling by her bed. She jumped back from him, which made her back hurt. She realized she was back from dreamland.
“You must have been having a whopper of a dream,” he said softly.
She nodded with wide eyes. “Aye.”
“Here. Let’s get some broth in you.”
Chapter 20
July 29, 1900 – Evening
Beach
Jesse snuggled in Dulac’s arms as he carried her down to the beach. She felt a moment of loss when he set her on the sand, but as it was she who had insisted on walking from that point on, she pushed the feeling aside. The sand felt good between her toes. It wasn’t too hot, either, as the sun had just set.
There were a good number of bonfires up and down the beach in celebration of appointing a new captain. Jesse picked the closest one so as not to tire herself out. They sat side by side in chairs from LeBlanc’s plantation. Several pirates were already well into their cups, and singing songs of lusty, buxom women.
Dulac smiled and shook his head. “I miss the ragtime music of New Orleans. Have you ever heard it?”
Sadly, Jesse shook her head. “Haven’t been to New Orleans since I was eight. You know, when I lost my father.”
“Oh, darling, you don’t know what you’re missing. New Orleans at Mardi Gras is a sight to behold.”
Jesse frowned. “I did see a bit of the parades, before I lost track of Father. After that, I didn’t see much as I was too upset. I was lucky I made it back to the ship.”
She stared into the fire as it danced around the thin logs. Once again, she wondered how her life would have turned out had she not gotten separated from her father.
Suddenly, the young cat LeBlanc had given her jumped onto her lap. Jesse’s surprise was replaced with the overwhelming urge to cuddle the small creature. She picked it up and buried her face in its soft fur.
“When I was eighteen,” Dulac said. “I went to feed my dog, Mags. Before I got to his kennel, I found a dead possum lying on the sidewalk. Mother had gone shopping, and as I didn’t want her to stumble unknowingly upon his body, I wrapped it in a cloth bag and put it in the wagon to await a proper burial. Then I went about my chores and forgot about it. While I was in the kitchen cleaning my hands, my twin sister, Cristi, ran in and asked if I had caught a snake. I said no, and she replied, Well, whatever’s in that bag in the wagon sure is making a lot of fuss to get out. It’s jumping and squealing like a stuck pig.
“Well, my eyes went wide, and my heart stopped. Not bothering to dry my hands, I rushed out to the wagon, only to find the bag as still as I had left it and the possum still dead. I looked back at the house to find Cristi laughing her head off.”
Jesse couldn’t resist laughing. “She pulled a good one over you.”
Dulac laughed along with her. “She did at that. Her exact words were, It serves you right. Imagine my surprise when I opened that bag.”
Jesse laughed at the picture in her head. “That’s a hoot.”
She started giggling as she had an image of Dulac rushing out of the house and right into his sister’s prank. She laughed so hard her sides hurt. “Oh, that’s not right. I’m sorry about the possum, but I can’t believe how gullible you were.”
Dulac’s own laughter died. He took a few breaths of air. “I wasn’t too amused at the time, but it was a good prank.”
Jesse sighed and stared into the fire. She wished she had fond memories like that. All she had ever known was life on a ship, which was hard.
The fire danced around and soon had Jesse mesmerized. A weariness dropped over her, and her fingers stopped scratching the cat’s head as she slipped in to a light sleep. Dulac’s hand on her arm woke her instantly.
“Shall I bring you to bed?”
She smiled. “Yes, I would like that, but what are you going to do once you bring me to my bed?”
Carefully, so as not to startle the cat, Dulac gathered Jesse in his arms and headed toward the house. His voice was low. “I’m going to give you a reason to sleep, my sweet.”
* * * *
The next morning, Jesse followed Della onto the porch and set her plate of food on the table. She fussed with arranging her dress before sitting. “I don’t remember having this much trouble when I was younger.”
“With dresses? That’s probably because you don’t remember,” Della replied.
Jesse continued eating until she realized Della was staring at her. She swallowed. “What?”
Della shrugged. “’Tis nothing. I just noticed you don’t eat like a common sailor.”
“Captain Sawyer, my first captain...the one I grew up with. Well, he knew I was a female and sought to at least make sure I maintained my table manners. He often let me dine with him and his first mate.”
“And he was a pirate?” Della’s left brow curled up.
“Aye, but he was still a gentleman.” She lapsed into silence and sadly thought of her old captain. She couldn’t forget LeBlanc had taken his life.
“I wonder if the men have killed anything.” Della dipped her spoon into the soup.
“Dulac left at first light.” Jesse’s hunger disappeared as she thought about the man she had fallen in love with. He talked constantly of going home, but he had yet to ask her to come with him. Apparently, she was just a fling, and once he got to New Orleans, she’d be tossed aside like yesterday’s news. She sighed heavily.
“What’s wrong?”
She looked up into Della’s worried brown eyes and lied. “Nothing. I wonder when you’re father’s going to get here.”
“Well, since LeBlanc was planning your wedding day for the end of August, my guess would be a few weeks from now.”
Jesse frowned. “Dulac’s anxious to get home. I don’t know if he can wait that long.”
“Oh, I think he has something to entertain him.” Della winked.
Jesse smiled at the thought of the passionate nights they had shared, and her cheeks warmed at the thought of the many more to come.
Until you part ways in New Orleans.
She was sure the sadness of her thoughts was mirrored on her face, and Della’s concerned look confirmed that. Her friend placed a hand over hers. “What is it?”
Jesse shrugged and hurried to hide her true feelings. “Does your father ever have any business in Virginia?”
“I don’t rightly know, Jesse. You can ask him when he gets here.”
She chewed her lip. “I’d like to try and find my father, and I know I was born in Yorktown, Virginia. I figure that is as good a place as any to start.”
Della placed her utensils on her plate and sat back with her orange juice. “It must have been hard growing up without any parents.”
“Captain Sawyer did the best he could.”
“But he was still a pirate, and you grew up a pirate.”
Della hesitated, but Jesse could see the same question in her friend’s eyes which constantly haunted her. Jesse crossed her arms and rubbed the sudden goose bumps that rose on her flesh. “I know what you’re thinking.”
“What?” Della asked, trying to make it sound innocent.
“You were wondering what my father would think of me now.”
“No, you were wondering that. I was wondering ho
w you would adjust to life in so-called polite society. I grew up in the midst of it, and I hated it. That’s one of the reasons I stayed here and took all the abuse from my brother. His abuse was easier to handle than society’s abuse. There’s a lot of sharks out there with two feet.”
Jesse didn’t have a clue what Della was trying to tell her. She remembered her mother’s friends had been nothing but kind to her. “I’m not interested in society, just finding my father.”
“Well, I completely understand, and I’ll do what I can to help. If my father isn’t going to Virginia, perhaps he can give the name of a captain who is. That would be a nice journey for you and Dulac to take.”
There was that reference again...her and Dulac. Jesse was too sad to tell Della there wouldn’t be a her and Dulac once they got to New Orleans. It was easier to let her friend believe otherwise.
Jesse stood and gathered her plate and utensils together. “Well, let’s go clean. It’ll give us something to do besides dwell on future possibilities.”
And future disappointments.
* * * *
July 31, 1900 – morning
Jesse stared out of the bedroom window with a huge frown. Wind from the incoming storm blew her robe about her. Her hair whipped around her face, and she pulled a piece of it out of her mouth.
“Hey, lover.”
She turned to face Dulac, who reposed on the bed. “Yes?”
He patted the spot beside him. “The rainy day decrees we spend it in bed.”
She gave him a brief smile before looking back at the darkened sky. “I want to watch it roll in.”
In truth, she was troubled over the way he constantly talked of returning to New Orleans, yet not once did he include her in joining him. She sighed and told herself to enjoy the time she had and move on. Just because his kisses feel safe and secure doesn’t mean he’s the one.
His arms slipped around her from behind, and he breathed in the scent of her hair. “Come on. I miss you.”
He whirled her around and kissed her. His lips were warm, and Jesse couldn’t resist melting into him. When he was through, she patted his chest and stepped back. “You’ve had a lot of practice.”
His brows furrowed. “What do you mean?’
“Kissing.” She turned her back on him and leaned against the balcony rail.
“Does that make you mad?”
“No.” She shook her head and bit her lip before pressing on. “But I haven’t kissed enough men.”
For once, his mouth fell open, and she hurried to explain. “What I mean is I shall know my true love by his kiss.”
When he rolled his eyes at her, she blew air out of her nose huffily. “I have only kissed four men.”
She noticed with quiet satisfaction that a green spark flared in his blue eyes. He tried unsuccessfully to keep a casual tone. “So, is this something we can practice on, or is it love at first kiss?”
She grimaced, thinking of kissing LeBlanc again. Dulac spoke before she had a chance. “So am I that horrible of a kisser?”
Jesse instantly realized how her face making must’ve appeared to him. Yet she was reluctant to ease his worries. She twisted her mouth and studied his lips. “Hmm, I can’t seem to remember...”
With a low growl, he pinned her against the railing. Ever so tenderly, he melded his lips to hers. She refused to part them, but his tender persuasion soon had her relinquishing the battle. She melted against him as their tongues glided together in sweet play.
Dulac pulled back, leaving her breathless and wanting more. Slowly, she opened her eyes to find him smiling arrogantly. “Surely that’s better than LeBlanc’s.”
She touched her mouth absentmindedly and nodded. “Oh, most assuredly as he kisses like a codfish.”
His face wrinkled. “I was unaware you had included codfishes in your search for a soul mate.”
Jesse laughed despite herself. Dulac pressed on with his investigation and pressed against her. “And the sheik? Was I not better than he?”
She assumed a thoughtful repose, enjoying the game. “Well, to be honest, I have to say he kisses...”
Anxiety filled his eyes, and she decided to have mercy on him. “Like a seal.”
Confidence roared over his face. “Okay, so, who was your first kiss?”
A shadow flitted over her as she recalled her first crush. “Raoul. No need to worry over him. He kissed real good and all, but I think he really did prefer ...well, you know.” She blushed and looked down. “Once he discovered my true gender, he was off the ship at the next port.”
Dulac gave her a quick, reassuring kiss. “Good. That means I’m on the top of the list.”
A pang touched her heart, causing a strange ache to settle in it. She pouted and pushed him away. “Why do you want to be considered at all? I’m a pirate, and you are still a pirate hunter.”
An awkward silence fell between the two of them as they stared each other down. His mouth opened several times to speak but nothing came out. Jesse put her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes. “Blimey, you aren’t even gonna deny it, are you? After all this time...and you probably still want to turn the lot of us in to hang.”
Her fears roared to the forefront, and before he could respond, she ran out of the room, afraid of his answer.
* * * *
Evening
Jesse let the waves roll over her feet. She had spent most of the day by herself roaming up and down the beach. Strangely, Dulac hadn’t even sought her out, which probably meant her words had hit close to home.
Wrapping her arms around herself, she sniffed. She was mad at herself for shedding a tear or two for him. Yet the ocean water soothed her soul, and her melancholy mood wiped away.
“Is there room for a pirate hunter?”
Jesse looked to her right. Dulac stood a few feet away with his hands in his pockets. She shrugged. “It’s a big beach. There’s lots of room.”
He closed the space between them within seconds. He grabbed her arm before she could run and pulled her close. “What is wrong, Jesse?”
She refused to look at him. “Nothing.”
“Come on. I think I know you better than that.”
Jesse lifted up her chin and stared at him defiantly. “Okay, you want to know what’s wrong with me? I’m worried about my future, okay? I... I’ve fallen in love with a man who talks incessantly about home yet has not once indicated I am welcome to go with him. So there...it’s out on the table. Are you happy now because I sure as hell am not.”
She yanked her arm out of his hand and ran the opposite way. Hot tears spilled on her cheeks. Her heart ached as if a knife twisted in it. She hadn’t meant to reveal her love for him. Surely he thought her a young, naïve fool.
“Jesse, stop.”
Embarrassment kept her feet going. She held her skirts high but didn’t get far before she tripped on them. She stayed face down on the sand, hiding her shame as Dulac knelt beside her. He forced her onto her back, and she couldn’t look at him for the water clouding her vision. Her soul was bare and vulnerable, and she hated she couldn’t escape him. Sobs racked her chest.
Dulac leaned over her and tried to dry the steady stream of tears on her cheeks. “Honey, shh, stop crying. Please. I can’t talk to you when you’re crying. Can you even hear me? Please stop.”
It took her several minutes before she could stop the flood of emotion. Dulac pulled her to a sitting position and cradled her in his arms. “Of course you’re welcome to go with me. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“I am such a baby.”
“No, you’re not, and I’m sorry if I didn’t make it clear I want you to come home with me.”
She sniffled. “Are you sure?”
“Positive.”
Jesse felt drained and enjoyed being in the warmth of Dulac’s embrace. She listened to the waves rolling in and let herself relax against him. She waited for him to bring up her mention of love and was relieved when he didn’t.
“My
plans as of now are to bring you home and get back in touch with the Lifesaving Service. I think it’s time to find a job elsewhere.”
She tried to inhale through her nose, but it was stopped up. “My nose feels like it’s as big as a house.”
He inspected it. “Hmm...maybe the size of a cannonball but definitely not a house.”
Her mouth fell open. “Dulac!”
He smiled. “I’m just teasing. You look fine. More than fine. You look edible.”
He kissed the tip of her nose, then kissed away the salty tears off her cheeks. Dulac smacked his lips together. “Hmm...you taste good. I wonder if that ear is as tasty.”
He dove in for a bite, and nibbled at her earlobe. His tongue traced the curving of her ear, danced around the lobe, then ended up in the hollow of her neck. She closed her puffy eyes and let him chase her troublesome thoughts away.
“The sun has set, and I would much prefer to nibble your toes instead of the crabs about to flood this beach.”
He swept her into his arms and carried her across the beach. “I want you to promise me you will tell me about anything that’s bothering you, Jesse.”
She hesitated, wondering if he’d let her leave on her own to find her father. That was her goal, despite how ecstatic she was to hear he wanted her to go home with him. Now was not the time to broach the subject, so she simply nodded, hoping it convinced him.
To hide it, she nibbled at his ear, which was the closest thing she could get to. He shivered and stumbled. Yet she continued her assault until they reached the now-lighted pathway.
“You can put me down now,” she whispered.
He shook his head and continued carrying her. “I like having you in my arms, and soon, I’ll have you with more than just my arms.”
She smiled and buried her face in his chest. The thought of him doing just that had shivers of desire claiming all her thoughts. She was never so grateful when he at last tossed her onto the bed and claimed more than her thoughts.
Chapter 21
August 12, 1900
LeBlanc’s father had at last arrived, and Jesse waited on the sofa with Della while Dulac went to fetch him. She was a nervous Nelly, but Jinx’s presence calmed her. She stroked the cat’s gray coat, thankful for the distraction.
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