A PIRATE'S TREASURE

Chapter 14

The time has finally come when James awoke with sadness in his eyes. He brushed over Jenny's face to stir her awake. She smiled at first until she realized what was going to happen.

    "I love you, Jenny, so much."

A tear slipped down her cheek and James wiped it away.

    "Please don't cry, love. I'll be back before you know it."

She didn't dare to speak yet. She was afraid that everything she was holding back will just spill out and then it'll just make this part harder than it already was.

James headed to Ella's room to say his farewell but to his surprise, she was already awake.

    "What are you doing up Ella?"

     "I couldn't sleep."

She was staring out the window at the sun that was starting to rise.

    "Must you truly leave father?"

He sighed seeing his daughter well up with tears as well. James almost said no too. Seeing his wife and daughter cry was almost the turning point to end the expedition before it even started. But then he heard a cough down the hall. He knew Jenny was having a rough morning to bring back why he was going.

    "I'll be back within a month darling. Just in time for your birthday."

    "Promise?"

    "I promise Ella."

Whatever it took, he'll come back.

Ella just sighed staring back out the window. James couldn't leave it like this though.

    "Get dressed Ella, I have to show you something."

He readied the horse when she walked out and they rode together to a small clearing in the woods. Its view was wider than the view they had next to the house.

    "I fell in love with your mother on a hill just like this. The scenery was beautiful and it was the spot where I decided I was going to marry her."

     "I know daddy, it's my favorite story you tell me."

     "But the small part I leave out is how I told her that the hill will show her when I'm coming home. She'd be the first to see me and as long as we're touching the water in some way, we'll always be together. When you look up at the stars, the moon, I'll be there too, looking at the same thing as you. Even if we're apart, we'll still be connected."

Ella nodded her head getting lost in the view. She looked like her mother.

    "Now, your mother is going to need you more than ever while I'm away. Think you can be strong enough for me to take care of her?"

    "I will daddy."

He hugged his daughter as if it were his last.

     "I love you so much, Ella."

    "I love you too."

They rode back seeing Jenny smiling at the doorway. James walked straight to her and kissed her lovingly. He wanted this moment branded into his memories until he'd get back.

     "Do you still have the compass?"

    "Tucked here in my pocket. It won't do me much good since all I want most is my family."

     "Then stay James."

     "You know I can't love. I have to know what's out there."

She kissed him again. He was always an adventurer and she fell in love with that about him.

     "Then just come back home safely."

     "I will love. Wish me luck."

With the essentials packed, he rode off to town to meet up with his crew. He missed the hustle of things and the feeling of the rush right before they set sail. But then the memory of his crew with Ella popped up. His old self would care less if they had a family but this time was different. He called a meeting before they left.

    "I don't know how much you all know but this isn't like the last time. There isn't a big payout and a possibility we'd come home empty-handed. If anyone wants to get out, now is the time."

Everyone looked around and no one moved.

James just nodded and yelled to the men,

     "Time to leave men!"

Everyone hollered in excitement running to their positions and setting sail. James walked around with the map and compass to see where they could go. The legend doesn't exactly say where the island was but to watch the stars and meet at the edge of the world.

     "Where to Captain?"

He looked down at the compass that was just constantly spinning.

    "Head north for now until the sun sets."

Everyone nodded while James went to the back to see his home. He saw two figures there just staring in his direction. He stayed there until the figures disappeared.

    "You okay Captain?"

He shook the sadness away focusing on what he needed to do.

    "Yes Smee, I'm alright."

Before they got too far Smee pulled out a small box.

   "From us my Captain.

He opened the box to see a silver hook inside.

    "A merchant sold it to us before we all left and we made it to fit your hand you lost. Also just saw it fitting for you."

James laughed while wrapping the ends tightly around his nub of an arm and it fits like a glove.

    "Now you really are Captain Hook."

Back at the house, Jenny and Ella watched the biggest ship she's ever seen set sail. They watched for as long as they could until it completely faded as the sun rose. They stayed for a while longer hoping it'd come back. It never did.

Jenny went back to the house as Ella stayed unmoving until nightfall. She didn't want to miss her dad if he was coming back.

    "Ella sweetie, time to come back."

She didn't move.

    "Ella?"

She let out a small sob.

     "I've never been away from daddy for so long. Will he be okay?"

Jenny's heart broke hearing her daughter cry.

    "When we first met, we only had a month together. But he then soon left for 8 months. Deep down, I always knew he was okay though."

Ella stared back out at the water.

    "It's always hard at first darling but I always have faith that he will be back. He promised he would and so far, he has never broken a promise."

Ella just nodded heading back to the house telling herself she'll be back tomorrow. Jenny looked out and then touched her ring whispering a silent prayer for a safe trip.

    "Please don't break your promise."