Drabble Series; 'An Execrable Business' (20/?)

[dwgm]

500 words of the story, theme: 'Cross'. Many thanks to hereswith for beta reading, editing, and suggestions.

Previous bits...

1. Tortuga
2. Happiness
3. Festive
4. Last Minute
5. Calm
6. Truth
7. Bargain
8. Spook
9. Down
10. Wounds
11. Moon
12. Monsters
13. Beauty
14. Name
15. History
16. Service
17. Advice
18. Captain
19. Awe

And here's today's...
20. Cross



~ An Execrable Business, continued...

Anamaria was not smiling.

You take care of her for me, Jack had said, and hadn’t she done it? Ana had kept her eye on Nell all that long day up at the springs, and the girl had neither run off, nor been in any sort of danger. Washing day, a weekly event, included both bodies and clothing, but the locals knew enough to stay away as there was always a guard set, armed with a serviceable machete. The women could swim and sun and gossip to their hearts’ content after the clothes were washed, and they took full advantage of this freedom.

Nell had been viewed with some suspicion at first, but not for long when they found out she belonged to Jack Sparrow. After that, Ana’s sisters had gleefully taken charge. Nell had been stripped in a trice and led into the wide pool to bathe while her filthy boy’s clothes were scrubbed and even pounded with rocks to get them clean. Nell had been first startled, then pleased to be scrubbed top to toe, and had liked Ana’s sisters just fine. Constanze and Maribelle told Nell all about Jack Sparrow and his adventures, piratical and otherwise. They’d even shooed Ana away at certain points, but Nell’s wide eyes and red cheeks gave Ana an idea of what they were saying.

Nell was lively and pretty, that couldn’t be denied, and Jack didn’t. He looked like he’d been knocked acock when he finally saw her, and it didn’t get much better as the sun set and night fell. He and Nell helped to prepare food, ate together, then sat listening to stories, or dancing with the others. Ana had watched all this from the shadows, watched how Jack had studied Nell’s every move, even hung on her words and laughter and, when the evening drew to a close, how Jack had spread a blanket for the two of them on the sand. They lay down on half of it and pulled the other half over, and whispered together for a long time before they settled to sleep.

Ana ground her teeth.

There was nothing Ana could do, no one she could talk to. Everyone would laugh if they knew how she felt. But she couldn’t sleep, and lay looking up at the mindless stars, reliving the day whether she would or no. And it seemed she was the only other person awake when Nell eased herself from the blanket and padded off in the direction of the privy.

Ana debated, then got up and followed. You take care of her for me. Well, she would.

She hurried to catch up, but when she was almost there she heard a sharp, short yelp, and the sound of heavy feet, and some thrashing. Bending low, she ran to where she could see. There were two men, and they had Nell, gagged and slumped between them, half-fainting it looked like, and they were moving off as fast as ever they could.



TBC…

Comments

[djarum99.livejournal.com]

Oh no!

Poor Ana - Jack was stealing from her even then, although I doubt he completely understood that, and he does indeed seem to be "knocked acock" by Nell :-) (I love that phrase).

The tension builds! Can't wait for the next installment ♥

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Ana knew a lot about Jack by the time she was grown and he needed her boat, but he's a hard man not to love. So glad you enjoyed this. I do like Anamaria, she's such a great character to write. Thank you for commenting. More tomorrow!

[stealmybike.livejournal.com]

A very lovely look into Jack and Nell's blossoming relationship,but also gives us a glimpse into Ana's mind and the possibility of there once being a previous fling with her and Jack (or if it's one sided, of course).

You end it on a suspenseful note! "There were two men, and they had Nell, gagged and slumped between them, half-fainting it looked like, and they were moving off as fast as ever they could."

Now, I'm antsy for tomorrow!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

The Jack/Ana fling is far in the future (she's 9 here), but is definitely on the agenda.

Yes, another cliffhanger! More soon. Thanks so much for commenting, and so fast, too!

[stealmybike.livejournal.com]

Oh geez! I forgot about the time in which this takes place, lol! My apologies, Miss! :)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

No apology necessary. It's been a while since I mentioned that, I guess. ;)

[luvvycat.livejournal.com]

Constanze and Maribelle told Nell all about Jack Sparrow and his adventures, piratical and otherwise. They’d even shooed Ana away at certain points, but Nell’s wide eyes and red cheeks gave Ana an idea of what they were saying.

Ana had watched all this from the shadows, watched how Jack had studied Nell’s every move, even hung on her words and laughter and, when the evening drew to a close, how Jack had spread a blanket for the two of them on the sand. They lay down on half of it and pulled the other half over, and whispered together for a long time before they settled to sleep.

Oh, to be privy to these two conversations! ;-)

I'm loving spunky little Anamaria! So young, yet already so devoted to Jack, and already knowing her own mind (and who she wants), even at such a tender age.

Another great installment! Your chapters are the treat I have with my morning cup of tea each day! Tasty as a Krispy Kreme, but nowhere near as fattening! ;-)

Looking forward to tomorrow's offering!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Mmmmm...Krisy Kreme! And such a lovely compliment in that comparison. I'm so glad to hear you're enjoying the story. It's been fun to write for sure. Thank you so much for the lovely comments!

[aravah.livejournal.com]

This is a wonderful episode. Poor Ana. I don't envy her, having her first crush on a man like Jack Sparrow. I can't wait to find out what she'll do now that she's seen Nell abducted. And, an apparently besotted Jack is a very sweet thing!

Great job! :)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

A sweet thing, indeed, and irresistible to women of all ages. *g* More coming shortly. I'm so glad you're enjoying this! Thank you, again, for commenting.

[p0wdermonkey.livejournal.com]

oh, poor Ana!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Yes, indeed. :(

[florencia7.livejournal.com]

OH NO!!! I hope that Ana will RUN to wake Jack up!!! ^^

It was wonderful to look at Jack and Nell through Ana's eyes. Such a great installment!! I can't wait for the next one! :)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

More soon. I'm so happy you're enjoying this! Thank you, again, for commenting.

[sammistarr.livejournal.com]

Okay, so I finally had time to sit down and read all of these in one sitting and I had to say that it is FANTASTIC!

I'm loving every moment of the adventure with Jack and Nell, and this installment doesn't fail to please!

You write young Ana so well it makes me love her even more.

Wonderful series, and I can't wait for the next installment, especially with the naughty way you ended this one!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I'm so very happy to know you're enjoying the story! Young!Ana is certainly fun to write, more of her coming up in a few minutes, actually. Thank you for commenting -- I really appreciate it!

[mary684.livejournal.com]

While Nell is certainly in danger here, I am less worried for her than I am full of heartbreak for Ana. Nell will be rescued, I am sure of it, for any moment Jack will wake and follow her. (go wake him up this minute, geekmama!) But Ana, oh, poor dear, having to watch it all unfold between Jack and Nell and be too young to even voice her feelings. *sigh*

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Even more of young!Ana to come, in just a few minutes. She's learning at a very young age how bittersweet life can be. Thank you for reading and commenting!

[pearlseed.livejournal.com]

Anamarie, hell nothing like a kid to bugger the works when evells afoot! Yea good on her, (do you hear "Born too late"). She's a good kid. Sure makes it easy to see your friend's "Sacking of Tortuga" Anamarie.
Thank you for Nell, she's a doll, a beauty and bright--the "hero" of the piece for me, at least where we stand now, is Anamarie. You know, I think this is the first time I've read of someone watching Jack court someone, he'd study them, yeah, put heads close together, all of those things you writ. Very cool.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm so glad you're enjoying poor little Ana's "crush" (which, yes, can be something much more in later years) and particularly glad you like Nell! Those OFC's have a bad rep in some quarters. *g* More coming up!

[kseenaa.livejournal.com]

Oh crap! :-P

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Yep! 0.0

[compassrose7577.livejournal.com]

Ah, ha! The plot thickens, on several levels!

Snuggling, eh? Did anyone think to bring the bundling board? No, I suppose not. Well, after all, Jack is almost like a brother.... almost... kinda... right?

Has anyone told Ana she's cute when she fumes? No, that's probably not what she would want to hear either.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

It was great writing little!Ana for this. She's a great character at any age. :) Thank you, again, for commenting.