A Pirate's Love

Chapter 62

Chapter 62

Jack kept his hands in his pockets, "Who you are is of no concern to me, I am simply interested in what you have to offer," he snapped. He looked down at the Frenchman distastefully. "Show me what ye have," he said as he moved to sit in a winged back chair. He kept a hand on his walking cane and toyed with the silver Phoenix head that topped it.

Louis pulled back his hand and watched the Englishman. He snorted and turned to face the boys. "Move." he shouted at them and they moved to the small pedestals that were in front of the doctor. JJ felt like he had his feet weighed down with cannonballs. He didn't like how the Englishman was looking at him.

Jacquette snapped the riding crop on JJ's back. "I told you to move boy.," he hissed at him. JJ cringed at the sting of the crop and slowly moved to the last remaining pedestal. He stood there with his head hanging down.

"There is to be none of that in my presence if ye please," Jack said holding up his hand. He was coming unglued inside but he would not waiver for a moment not with his son this close to being back where he belonged.

"Sometimes you need to keep new, ahem, prospects in line." Jacquette said. "Put your head up boy. Let the doctor look at you."

JJ reluctantly put his head up.

Jack looked at the row of boys before standing. He started at the opposite end that JJ was on, must not look too anxious to buy him, Jack thought. The first boy was looking at him with a stupid grin. "How old are ye boy," Jack asked.

"Fourteen." The oldest boy answered with a smile on his face.

"Jack frowned, "I see," he muttered. He then moved to the next boy, "How much schooling do ye have boy," he asked.

"Enough to know." he said looking at the doctor smugly.

"I doubt it," Jack muttered. The next boy he skipped all together. He studied the line and then came back to JJ, "Ever sailed boy," he asked.

JJ's head dropped and he felt tears begin to form. "Aye sir."

Jack cupped his chin and forced him to look at him, "I think ye'll do very nicely," he murmured. He looked a Jacquette, "How much for the dark one," he asked.

Jacquette stepped forward and whipped JJ on the back again. "Pay attention boy." He turned to the doctor. "I've changed my mind. He's not for sale."

JJ's head snapped towards Jacquette. Fear in his eyes.

"I will give ye five hundred pounds for the boy," Jack said.

Jacquette looked at him. "Five hundred pounds you say?" He looked at JJ. "Seven hundred." He would've loved to have just dumped JJ in the ocean, but if he could milk the good doctor, then he would.

"Six hundred," Jack quipped back.

"Six fifty." Jacquette said pulling JJ towards him by the collar. "Or else you pick one of the others." he demanded.

Jack took out his purse and counted out the money, he gave Jacquette the six hundred and fifty pounds, "Sold," he said and handed it to him.

Pang moved in to snatch JJ back from the pedestal before Jacquette could change his mind again.

"Pleasure doing business with ye Jacquette," Jack said but did not smile.

Jacquette took the gold and sneered at JJ. "You'll never see your whore of a mother again boy." He hissed and then began to laugh.

Jack put a firm hand on JJ's shoulder, "Pang see them out while I get acquainted with my new boy," he said and steered him as far as he could.

"Nice to see ye again Louis, hey if yer ever in Singapore give me a shout, perhaps I can find some more business for ye," Pang said as he led Jacquette out of the room.

Jacquette glanced over his shoulder at the doctor and JJ. He snapped his fingers for the other boys to follow. He could see the disappointment in their eyes but knew he would have another buyer for them. "Pang, are you in need of any new, helpers?"

"Can't take any with me this trip seeing as I'm traveling on the good doctor's money but if ye can't sell them here then I'll be returning to Singapore very soon, although I'm sure ye'll not have a problem getting rid of them," Pang said.

Jack wanted to call Jacquette back but he knew he could not buy the rest of the boys, so he had to let it go, he looked at JJ. He could see how terrified his son was. "Are ye hungry," he asked.

"Aye." Jacquette said as he saw some of the other buyers approaching him. "Pang. Don't be losing that other arm." He said before turning away. He glanced back as Pang returned to the room where the doctor was. He had an odd feeling.

JJ didn't look at the doctor. "No sir." he answered in a whisper.

Jack waited till Pang came into the room and had closed the door. "JJ," Jack said loosing his fake accent. He hoped his son would recognize him.

JJ slowly raised his head and blinked his eyes through falling tears. "Da?"

Jack put his finger to his lips, "Sshhh, it's our secret eh," he smiled. "Are ye hurt," he asked scared to embrace him as he feared he'd hurt him if he did.

JJ couldn't believe his eyes. He let his tears fall freely. "Oh Da." he cried and flung himself into his father's arms. "I tried to be brave but I was so bloody scared."

"I know son, I was scared too," Jack told him. "Now we got to get ye out of here and back to ye ma, she's worried sick about ye but to do it we're gonna have to pretend... ye got to pretend I'm just some strange doctor who just paid six hundred and fifty pounds for ye can ye do that for me," Jack asked.

JJ nodded. "Da, he called mum a whore all the time and you a bastard. I wanted to kill him Da. I wanted to run a knife right through his heart." He growled.

Jack took hold of his shoulders, "Stop it JJ, ye get those thought out of yer head, it doesn't matter what that bloody Frenchman said all that matters is that yer here with me now. Now listen to me, I'm going to tie ye up, but don't be scared, I just don't want anyone to know who I am, so I want ye to act scared and like ye don't want to be with me, act like ye did around that dandy Frenchman, all right, can ye do that JJ," he asked pleading.

"Aye Da. I can. I just want to be with you and mum." He said as he held out his hand for Jack to tie him up.

Madeline awoke feeling well rested. She found herself still in Jack's bed. Naked. She vaguely remembered a doctor. She stood up and went tot he door. It was locked. "Jack!" she yelled and began to pound on the door. She hurried to the window and saw that they were anchored in a harbor. She quickly dressed and thought of a way to get on deck. She began to pound on the door again. "Jack Sparrow!"