The Pirate's Jewel (26 page)

The
Integrity
kept her course. Out-running the
other ship was a futile effort. And one didn’t have to be a former pirate to
know how angry pirates became when forced to chase or fight. Total submission
was always expected, for it was received most of the time. Once the pirates
showed their standard, captains surrendered in hopes of better treatment. Nolan
had firsthand experience with pirates’ “leniency.” He wouldn’t take the risk.

Jewel had wandered onto the deck earlier in the day, and
Nolan had sent her below with a brisk command. He couldn’t risk her being
spotted. The last thing he wanted was for the pirates to know he had a woman on
board. With Wayland at his side, Nolan hoped to convince their pursuers he had
gone on the account, returned to his former life. Bellamy had had quite a
reputation in the brethren of pirates. Nolan had shared in those exploits, even
had a few of his own.

Though pirates weren’t as keen on brotherhood as on getting
what they could with the least amount of effort, Nolan might be able to avoid a
fight with the lure of joining efforts to pick off other merchant vessels—a
proposal he would never keep. But more than likely, if the other ship thought
him a fierce foe, their day would be won without a shot, and that would keep
other sea rovers from thinking them easy prey. Nolan planned to prove himself
fiercer than any pirate past or present.

He discarded his blue coat and opened his white shirt to
the middle of his chest. With the sleeves turned up to his elbow, his hair falling
around his shoulders, he fit the image the other ship expected. A large gold earring
the size of a child’s wrist, one Wayland had stashed, completed the facade.
Even better would have been procuring a jeweled cross or something equally
decadent. Such obvious greed for plunder was a highly admired trait among
pirates. The hole in Nolan’s lobe had grown closed, but he’d reopened it with a
little encouragement. He only wished he had a Jolly Roger to raise.

While back in Boston, the idea of ever flying under the
black flag again had been unthinkable. But nothing had gone as he had planned
since leaving. At this point, he was open to anything. He’d avoid a battle if
he could…yet he had no qualms about blowing the other ship out of the water, if
it came to that. Nothing would be too drastic to keep Jewel from falling into
the approaching ship’s hands.

He waited, letting the oncoming pirates decide their own
fate, with a sinking suspicion about their presence. The white skull with
crossed swords underneath, emblazoned against a black background, was
unremarkable. Several pirates flew such varying versions of the skull-and-crossbones.

He glanced at Wayland again. The pirate swore he had
nothing to do with the ship on their tail, but he had been acting strange ever
since St. Martin. Had the man set a trap in order to steal the map? Did that
make sense?

The decks were cleared for an attack, though Nolan made
sure no visible signs gave away their readiness. Their guns were loaded, but
the gunports remained closed. The other vessel would think them at a
disadvantage, unless they already knew who they were. Which was Nolan’s biggest
fear.

Nolan glanced at Wayland. “Do you recognize them?”

“Not the vessel. But that don’t mean anything. Never knew
a pirate not to abandon either a ship or a whore if a better one came along.”
The pirate kept his gaze on the swiftly approaching sloop.

Its single mast appeared slightly crooked as the ship bobbed
and dipped a little drunkenly. If this was the best vessel the pirates could capture,
Nolan could stop worrying. He handed Wayland the telescope. “Take a look at
their captain.”

Wayland scanned the other ship’s deck. “What do you know?
It’s an old friend of yours.”

Nolan turned abruptly. His nagging premonition became
dread. “What? Who do you see?”

“Look for yourself.” Wayland returned the spyglass.
“Surprised you didn’t recognize him. That’s Handsome Jack Casper. We had a run-in
or two with him on Tortuga.”

“What happened to his nose?” Once Wayland said the name,
Nolan’s gaze was drawn to a man standing in the center of the deck.

Wayland laughed. “That’s why he’s called Handsome Jack
instead of Smiling Jack these days.”

Jack Casper was pointing and giving orders. His hair had
turned from brown to gray, and a significant part of his nose was missing. He
wore a permanent sneer. Nolan readjusted the glass and looked again. He wasn’t
sneering. Part of his lip had been cut away as well. “I’m glad I got out of
this business in one piece.”

“You get a little more courage with every part you lose.
That’s worth more to a man than a pretty face.”

Nolan glanced at Wayland’s scarred visage. Nolan never put
much value on his own good looks, but he’d take a pretty face over the
alternative. He didn’t need courage today. He was a trapped man with something very
important to defend. Therefore, he was dangerous. “Should we kill Handsome Jack
outright, or should we hear what he has to say first?”

Wayland shrugged. “Just ’cause he answers to Handsome Jack
don’t mean he lost the sense of humor that got him his former nickname. Also,
kill him outright and you’re liable to bring the Brethren down on our heads.”

“I don’t remember there being such kinship in the pirate
folds. The Brethren had a relationship more like Cain and Abel, as I recall.”

Wayland laughed. “An apt description. Still, kill him and
the others might be alerted we have something of value. I think it’s better to
deal with Jack—tell him we’re looking for plunder like himself, and send him on
his way.”

Nolan stiffened. “And what of Jewel? What if things go
wrong? My crew—”

“Nothing will happen to the chit. I’ll see to that.”

“You won’t have to, because I’ll blow them out of the
water if something goes wrong. I’ll kill them all myself.” Nolan knew with
certainty he would carry out the threat. He had been suppressing the violence
he was capable of for too long. If his dark nature could keep Jewel safe, he
would give it full rein.

Parker rushed forward with a brass horn in his hand. “The
other vessel summoned us,” he said. “They want us to send a boat over with you
on board. They asked for Nolan Kent.”

Nolan had been so involved in his thoughts, he hadn’t
heard. They’d asked for Nolan Kent—his notorious grandfather’s name—instead of
Kenton. They knew exactly who he was, and probably that he carried the famous
map on board. Not a pirate alive hadn’t dug for his grandfather’s treasure at
least once. To have the map, men would take risks beyond reason. Bellamy had
kept the desperate and foolhardy at bay with his larger than life reputation.
For the first time since Nolan had dispatched his former mentor, he wished to
have Bellamy by his side. He stared at Wayland again, accusation undoubtedly
showing in his eyes.

Wayland’s brown eye narrowed. “I told you, I don’t know
anything about this.”

Nolan grabbed the horn and strode to the railing. “You
come over here, Casper.”

“You’re inviting those villains on board?” Parker asked.

“They’re getting out the grappling hooks,” said Wayland.

“Parker, are the swivel cannons loaded with chain shot?”

The lieutenant hesitated, as if caught off guard. “Yes,
Captain.”

“Good. Have the gunners aim them for Casper’s mainmast.”
Then Nolan shouted a warning to the other ship without the horn. “The first
grappling hook that lands on my vessel brings down your mast.”

Nolan could feel himself changing. He felt more and more
as if his current dress fit the man inside better than a stiff coat and brass
buttons. He adjusted the sword slung low on his hip. He was ready for a fight.
“Does Jewel know to stay below?”

Wayland nodded. “I knew you had it in you, Nolan. This is
the man you should be. Tough. Commanding. Merci—”

“Open the gun ports.” Nolan gave the command to no one in
particular, but he heard his words echoed through the ship, followed by the
creak of wood as ports slammed open and cannon rolled out.

“If you surrender now, we’ll spare your crew,” came a
shout from the other deck.

Nolan knew a bluff when he heard it. He had feared a
battle with Jewel on board, but now he would take the risk. A show of weakness
would never work. He had the upper hand and he needed to keep it. “Get over here,
Casper, before I blow you out of the water.”

“I heard you turned land lover, Nolan. Guess I was wrong.
Buy me a drink?” Jack yelled. He might have lost the nickname “Smiling” but
good humor still rang in his voice.

“You’ve got five minutes to have your longboat in the water
with you on it,” called Nolan. He handed Parker the speaking horn, and then
folded his arms over his chest. Negotiations were over.

Handsome Jack complied in half the time. Almost immediately,
he was on the
Integrity
's deck with his hand extended and, despite his
mangled visage, what would have been a smile on his face.

Nolan stood, feet apart, ignoring the show of friendship.
He no longer was playing a part. He had come home, and the knowledge chilled at
the same time it comforted him. He no longer had to struggle against his dark
side, fighting something he couldn’t control. Though his thin appearance and
bent frame might have made another man dismiss him as a threat, Nolan watched
Jack’s hands. The pirate was known to keep a dagger or two stuffed in his
boots, and his accuracy was legendary.

Handsome Jack didn’t take offense at Nolan’s unwelcoming
stance. Instead, the old captain cocked his head and studied him from head to
toe. “I knew Bellamy’s days was numbered as cock of the walk once he took you
on board. You’ve done your grandpa proud.”

Nolan didn’t shift his feet or flinch as he once would have
done when compared to his infamous grandfather. He could no longer deny the
truth, no longer wanted to. His hand rested on the hilt of his sword, and he
met Jack’s gaze with a stare. “State your business.”

Handsome Jack rubbed his thin belly. “How ’bout a bite to
eat or maybe a drink? Not much to ask between old friends, is it?”

“How ’bout I let you keep the rest of your nose?”

Jack raised his eyebrows and turned to Wayland. “He’s
gotten mean as Blackbeard hisself. What’s got into him?”

Wayland stepped forward. “He’s not one to turn the other
cheek, but then, you said you heard about Bellamy. You threatened us, and we
want to know why.”

“Can’t a fella make a living anymore? It’s been lean years.
I saw you sneaking around St. Martin, Wayland. When I followed you back to your
ship, I saw Nolan here. Thought maybe you needed a ship to join ya.”

Nolan glanced at Wayland. If Jack had followed him without
his knowledge, the old pirate must be losing his edge. He raised an eyebrow in
question and Wayland looked away. Nolan smirked, glad to finally have unnerved
him.

“Your crew looks like they’ve been hit by scurvy more than
once,” he said to Jack.

The pirate laughed. “Not scurvy, just a little too much
rum. We can still fight, though. What do you say?”

Nolan looked Jack over. He had never been much of a
pirate. He loved the good life. His takes ranged few and far between because he
stayed drunk every chance he got. His raids were motivated to fund his
lascivious habits. Jack had always had a cup for Nolan and a smile. He’d had
one for everyone. Against his better judgment, Nolan let his sense of fair play
have one last stand. “Come below, Casper. We’ll feed you and then you’re on
your way.”

“You’re a good lad, Nolan. I always said so, didn’t I, Wayland?”
Jack eagerly followed him.

“Ah, who could understand you when you were in your cups
most of the time,” Wayland grumbled.

They entered the galley, and Nolan sent a cask of undiluted
rum over to the other ship as an added incentive to keep the peace. Drunk
pirates were worthless. Jack and his men didn’t look too threatening, but Nolan
wasn’t taking any chances. Jack eyed the keg hungrily. Nolan filled a tin cup,
and handed it to him. With the threat of battle over, Nolan ordered the cook to
light the fires. Everyone could use a hot meal.

Jack and a few of his men who had come aboard to join in
the festivities sat at the galley’s long table with Wayland, exchanging raucous
stories. Nolan recognized men he’d known in his youth, a few who hadn’t been
much older than he. The glass and brass lantern that lazily swung above their
heads cast evil shadows across their gaunt faces. Jack wasn’t the only one
who’d not fared well over the years.

Not a man at the table didn’t have a visible scar or a
missing digit to boast of their exploits. Skin the color and texture of old
leather stretched across their hollow faces, making it hard to put an accurate
age to any of them.

Nolan stood by the wall, refusing to relax his guard. Jack
and his crew appeared harmless enough, more eager for drink than a fight. Even
so, Nolan couldn’t shake the chill of dread brought on by once again being
surrounded by a band of pirates: men who could slap you on the back one minute
and slit your throat the next. Though he had invited them on board to prove his
swagger was backed up by a heavily gunned ship, he’d be glad when the show was
over.

Handsome Jack slipped his hand into the tattered coat he
wore without a shirt. Nolan tensed and moved away from the wall. Though all the
men had been thoroughly searched, Nolan knew not to take anything for granted.
Jack held up a deck of cards. “Don’t pounce on me—you’re liable to break
something. These old bones aren’t what they used to be. Just thought a friendly
game could make my visit worthwhile.”

Nolan leaned back against the wall. “I don’t gamble.”

Jack returned the cards to the inside pocket of his jacket.
“I can see that.”

Crockery bowls were filled and passed to the visitors, but
Jack only toyed with his stew, preferring the grog. After several glasses of
the watered-down brew, his hands stopped shaking. He said, “That was something,
the way you brought down Bellamy Leggett. There was no love lost between us,
that’s for sure, but still, it was a shock to know he’d been done in by the lad
he treated like his own son.”