Jacquotte

Chapter 1

Jacquotte Anescar walked briskly towards the market, located in the very center of Cayona. Saloons lined the dirt street, with high-pitched laughter and shouts coming from the dark doorways. All she was told to buy was a sack of rice, but she had secretly saved up enough coin to buy a new dagger. Her mother, Jeanne, detested the fact that she wielded weapons, and "fraternized" with the pirates of Tortuga, but Jacquotte loved the excitement and adventure of piracy. Matteo Romano, an old friar-turned-buccaneer, had taken her under his wing as a child and taught her all the things a good pirate should know. Fighting, shooting, gambling, sailing, all the things that Maman hated.

She bought her mother's sack of rice, and sauntered over to the weapons stall to peruse the merchandise. After testing the balance and sharpness of a few, she picked the best one suited to her hand. She slipped the blade into her boot sheath and turned, meaning to go back home. There was a cacophony of sound coming from the docks, and she smiled. Finally, something exciting.

There was a frigate flying English colors, newly docked in port. The men, who appeared to be upstanding British Navy sailors bustled around the ship, tying ropes and calling orders. The captain caught Jacquotte's attention. He stood tall on the deck, supervising the sailors and occasionally giving short commands here and there. He seemed so incredibly handsome and dignified that Jacquotte could only stare. He looked up, only briefly, but Jacquotte felt her heart connect with his. She gasped, nearly overcome. Was this love? It certainly felt like it. Even though he didn't look at her again, her stomach fluttered in anticipation. All too soon, she became aware that she was standing there gawping like a simpleton. She quickly concealed herself behind a sheet flying on a clothesline. She was far enough away to not be of importance to the sailors, but close enough that their voices carried up the steep incline from the port to the market. The bo'sun called out to the captain.

"Captain Bridges, the messenger is...."

She didn't hear any more. She was struck hard by learning his name, which seemed so important. She smiled, dreamily. Mrs. Jacquotte Bridges... Oh, it sounded perfect. This must be love. They were fated to be together, she could feel it.

Later that night, in the cosy shack she shared with her mother, she excitedly recounted seeing the man she was to marry. Her mother was shocked, and a bit horrified.

"Oh, Maman, I saw the most perfectly handsome man I've ever seen! He's a Captain in the British Navy, Captain Bridges, and I am destined to marry him!"

"Jacquotte, what on Earth do you mean? Have you lost your senses completely? You are but a girl of sixteen, there will be no marriage in your near future. And you cannot possibly be in love with him. You couldn't have even spoken to him. No, Jacquotte, put this out of your mind at once. You are too impulsive, too headstrong to think clearly about this. You will go to bed immediately. Now, Jacquotte!"

Jacquotte was furious with her mother. She was sixteen years old. She was not a silly child! Maman didn't know what she was saying. She didn't understand. Jacquotte was in love with Captain Bridges. She would too marry him!