![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dwgm400 words of the story, theme: "Gold". Many thanks, to my dear ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
hereswith for beta reading, editing, and excellent 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
20. Cross
21. "You've made a big mistake"
22. Heroism
And here's today's...
23. Gold
~ An Execrable Business, continued...
Nell and Ana's sisters were sitting silently, side by side on the steps, when Jack came out, followed by Joe and the doctor. The girls rose, Constanze and Maribelle moving swiftly to embrace their father. Nell asked, "How is she?" and took Jack's proffered hands almost without thinking.
It was the doctor who replied, solemnly, "She sleeps now. The break was clean, and has set well, and she is young and strong. I will come back in the morning to see how she does, but I foresee no difficulty."
"Thank God," Nell said. "That she should be hurt so, because of me!"
But Joe said, "Do not blame yourself, cherie. That we could help you in your need is a happiness to us. Anamaria was a bold creature from her earliest days and ever inclined to run upon her fate. It's not easy being father to such a daughter. You see how gray my hair is?" He nodded weightily, his face crinkling with rueful amusement.
Even the doctor chuckled. Then his face fairly beamed as Jack fished a gold doubloon from his pocket and handed it over. The doctor bit it with strong, white teeth and held it up to glint in the moonlight. "Eh, bien! It is good to be paid in gold, rather than chickens, or dried fish, on occasion. Merci, capitaine." He gave Jack a bow, then said to Anamaria's sisters, "It would be well to keep watch of the little one in these first hours. Send for me immediately if she becomes at all distressed."
As he left, Maribelle said, "I will take the first watch."
"No, I will!" Constanze frowned. "You can't always be first! Maribelle!" A whispered argument ensued as the two went into the house.
Joe shook his head, smiling, then turned to Jack. "Shall we take those villains out to the Black Pearl now, before it is light? They are waiting in the Jolly Mon, tied like the pigs they are."
"Aye," said Jack. "They can cool their heels in the brig while we take on stores for the voyage. Nell, darlin', you stay here and get some sleep. I'll be back as soon as may be."
He brushed light fingers over the bandage on her forehead, bent and placed a kiss next to it, and answered her startled look with a charming grin. Then he trotted down the steps after Joe.
TBC…
hereswith for beta reading, editing, and excellent 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
20. Cross
21. "You've made a big mistake"
22. Heroism
And here's today's...
23. Gold
~ An Execrable Business, continued...
Nell and Ana's sisters were sitting silently, side by side on the steps, when Jack came out, followed by Joe and the doctor. The girls rose, Constanze and Maribelle moving swiftly to embrace their father. Nell asked, "How is she?" and took Jack's proffered hands almost without thinking.
It was the doctor who replied, solemnly, "She sleeps now. The break was clean, and has set well, and she is young and strong. I will come back in the morning to see how she does, but I foresee no difficulty."
"Thank God," Nell said. "That she should be hurt so, because of me!"
But Joe said, "Do not blame yourself, cherie. That we could help you in your need is a happiness to us. Anamaria was a bold creature from her earliest days and ever inclined to run upon her fate. It's not easy being father to such a daughter. You see how gray my hair is?" He nodded weightily, his face crinkling with rueful amusement.
Even the doctor chuckled. Then his face fairly beamed as Jack fished a gold doubloon from his pocket and handed it over. The doctor bit it with strong, white teeth and held it up to glint in the moonlight. "Eh, bien! It is good to be paid in gold, rather than chickens, or dried fish, on occasion. Merci, capitaine." He gave Jack a bow, then said to Anamaria's sisters, "It would be well to keep watch of the little one in these first hours. Send for me immediately if she becomes at all distressed."
As he left, Maribelle said, "I will take the first watch."
"No, I will!" Constanze frowned. "You can't always be first! Maribelle!" A whispered argument ensued as the two went into the house.
Joe shook his head, smiling, then turned to Jack. "Shall we take those villains out to the Black Pearl now, before it is light? They are waiting in the Jolly Mon, tied like the pigs they are."
"Aye," said Jack. "They can cool their heels in the brig while we take on stores for the voyage. Nell, darlin', you stay here and get some sleep. I'll be back as soon as may be."
He brushed light fingers over the bandage on her forehead, bent and placed a kiss next to it, and answered her startled look with a charming grin. Then he trotted down the steps after Joe.
TBC…
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2009-02-02 07:49 pm (UTC)I love Joe and his daughters - they make such a lovely family, the way you describe them, I feel as if I actually knew them.
Great installment! :)
no subject
Date: 2009-02-03 05:06 am (UTC)