Confessions of a Pirate's Heart

Chapter Seven

Scarlett began to step away from the table but it was too late. Two pirates jumped up and had her in their grip, forcing her to stand before their black-bearded captain. The barman stumbled back and fled the scene to return to his duties, leaving Scarlett to fend for herself. But, she reasoned, it wasn't his battle to fight.

“Well, well,” Blackbeard said in a scruffy voice, his hand resting on the handle of his tankard. “Look what the Devil dragged in.”

“You would know,” she said, jerking her arms away from the pirates beside her but it did little good against their tight grasp.

“Careful, wench,” he spat. “Sit down.”

Blackbeard glared down his nose, as his pirates shoved her into a chair. She resisted but it was pointless to fight.

“Funny how things work out, ain't it?” he continued, waving for her to be served a tankard of ale. Immediately, it was placed in front of her as if the barmaid had been waiting for the command. “What brings you to these parts?”

Scarlett pushed the tankard away. “Why do you think I would tell you?”

He raised his eyebrows in amusement. “Oh, come now--we're good ol’ friends. It was only Captain Jones that got in the way between us. Oh, I seems to have struck a nerve. Where is he, by the by? He left you, didn't he? Broke your little, delicate heart and now you're searching for him.”

“You don't know what you're talking about.”

“Dearie, I tried to warn you about him but you wouldn't listen.”

“At least he saved me from you.”

“And look where you are now.” Blackbeard let out a hearty laugh, as his men chuckled on the side. “You're afraid you'll never see him again, aren't you? I can read it on your face. Well, that's a pirate's life. I've had a wench or three I was glad to never see again.” He paused and leaned back, peering over his fingertips as he brought them together at his lips. “You showed up at a very good time, my dear.”

“Why is that?” Scarlett said, her heartbeat quickening again.

He gave a sinister smile. “It's tough these days--hard to find good, healthy women.” He watched her over the lip of his tankard as he took a sip, nearly causing Scarlett to shiver in disgust.

Suddenly, the clock off to the side struck, its chime ringing loudly in Scarlett's ears. She gasped as she looked up at the face. It said six thirty.

“What's the matter?” Blackbeard said. “Late for something?”

“Yes,” she said, placing her hands on the table. “Please let me go. We can forget any of this happened.”

“You think I'm going to let you go just like that?”

“I never wanted any trouble and everything in the past--you said it yourself that Captain Jones got in between us. I wish no hard feelings and I beg the same of you.”

“What a beautiful little act. Might bring a tear to me eye.”

“Please, I am being honest. My brother is with me and he's probably wondering where I am. Just let me go find him. I will say nothing of this.”

“My dear, one of the rules to being a pirate is never be honest and never trust another.” Blackbeard motioned his hand to his crew. “Men, go find the boy. He can't be far. Hayward, Wickham--take the lass to my ship.”

“What? No!” Scarlett fought off the two men as they pulled her to her feet. She gripped the edge of the table, hanging on as tight as she could as they tried to pry her away. She gazed at Blackbeard, sitting calmly across from her. “Please, just leave us alone! Leave my brother out of this. He did nothing to you. Take me, if you must, but leave him alone.”