Drabble Series: 'An Execrable Business' - Epilogue 1

[dwgm]

The first part of the Epilogue, 550 words, with profuse thanks to herewith for the helpful beta read.

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. Mistake 22. Heroism 23. Gold 24. Echo 25. Greed 26. Advance 27. Challenge 28. Adventure 29. Sentence 30. Treasure

31. North 32. Coat 33. Good and Evil 34. Sickness & Health 35. Lost 36. Court 37. What if? 38. Island 39. That can't be 40. Prophesy 41. Ten Years Later 42. French 43. Deed 44. Tea 45. Scarlett & Giselle

46. Link 47. Comedy 48. Mothers 49. Fathers 50. Rib 51. Music 52. Magic 53. Pirate King 54. Freedom 55. Sea Shanties 56. Isla de Muerta 57. Tragedy 58. Sickness 59. Port 60. Rebirth

Epilogue 1


~ An Execrable Business, continued...

Jack was in a truly foul mood by the time he got back to Shelmerston, even though the return journey had gone more quickly. Not quick enough, though. The maidservant Ruth had to be delivered home, a two and a half day journey even at top speed, and she would chatter on like a magpie, exclaiming over everything from the flawless weather to her surprise at how very well-to-do was Nell's grandmother.

"I never saw the like! Why, you could have knocked me over with a feather when we rounded the bend and there was that big house at the end of the drive! Prime is what I call it. Some folk have all the luck."

Some folk did, it seemed. Nell's had certainly held true, for she had come out of her adventure mostly unscathed. Oh, he'd no doubt her grandmother suspected what had passed between them, but she didn't seem the sort to hold it against the lass. Probably held it against him, truth be told, but it was a moot point now. They'd all parted on the friendliest of terms, and she'd even called Jack back in at the last minute to write out a draft against her bank for him, "to cover expenses". Two hundred pounds. A goodly sum, though not a fortune. Still it would appease Barbossa's greed to a certain extent, and God knew what a problem that could be.

After ridding himself of Ruth, he was left to accomplish the last leg of the journey in solitary state, affording him time for reflection that he found to be not altogether beneficial. Certainly he would recover, but there was no denying he'd taken a wound. Not mortal, but a very palpable hit, and over a chit of a girl, fool that he was.

He was in great need of a drink or five by the time he walked into the Rusty Goat by Shelmerston harbor and it was with real relief that he saw that Bill Turner was waiting for him at a table near the back, just as he'd asked. For the first time in days he smiled, in reply to Bill's greeting.

"No trouble, then?" Bill asked, and there was pity on his face, damn him.

"Not in the least. Grandmother welcomed her with open arms." And had even had a suitor waiting: Jack had seen how that fellow Grayson had looked at Nell, and Nell herself had introduced the man, an old family friend apparently. But that wasn't something Bill needed to know.

"That's good to hear," Bill said. "But listen Jack—and I'll wager this'll take your mind off Nell."

He bridled, but when Bootstrap told him of a crazy old Spaniard that'd come into this same tavern a few hours earlier, trying to sell a magic compass and information about the legendary treasure of Hernando Cortez, his ears pricked up.

Bill said, "He's tryin' to get back to Spain, wants two hundred pounds for the compass and the bearings. Isla de Muerta the place is called. Can't get more sinister than that, eh? Do you think there's anything to it?"

"Could be, could be," Jack mused. He'd heard about the legend. And two hundred pounds: exactly the amount of the draft in his pocket.

It almost seemed like fate.




On to Epilogue 2

Comments

[jillianfish.livejournal.com]

Haha. I loved how everything tied together. I enjoyed Jack's thoughts in this chapter. It's clear he cared for her and will miss her. Nothing like an adventure to get his mind off things!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Yes, he's not one to sit around and mope. And shiny stuff. Pirate!

Glad you enjoyed it!

[djarum99.livejournal.com]

It almost seemed like fate

Oh, Jack.

I love the way this is woven into his backstory, Jack's relationship with Bootstrap, and him being a good man. A wound, yes, and I would imagine Nell would mourn his loss - I doubt she'll ever forget him.

Sweet and sad and wonderful, and I'm so sorry to see this end. Brava ♥

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Fate indeed.

Two bits to go, almost done. Thank you for commenting!

[mindyracal.livejournal.com]

GO away for a few days and find a need to catch up to an Epilogue!! Oh! I will be hard pressed to see this end!!

Can't wait for more!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Two more bits to go! Thank you for commenting. :)

[pearlseed.livejournal.com]

Oh, you trickster, little sis to Jack are you? What a clever twist and unexpected! Barbossa isn't going to be happy that Jack traded the cow for magic beans I'm thinkin'==but then again, Jack will put such a pretty spin on it that Barbossa will definitely be distracted! TADA, a hat trick for you on this wonderful series: Jack, Jack with a girly girl, and Jack pre-compass/Isla de Muerta, each delicious by story of brevity. Oh and a gato grande! Always love a story with a "shop" cat.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

LOL! So glad you liked Jack's thoughts here. Two more bits to go now. Thank you so much for commenting! (I was wondering if anyone would get the 'Jack and the Beanstalk' reference, lol!)

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

Nice segue into what we know is coming with Barbossa, since you've showed part of what got the old git in such a foul pisser at Jack. (Also an added good reason for Jack to be doubly pissed at his mutiny.)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed!

[florencia7.livejournal.com]

A perfect, wonderful, ominous, ending - such a dramatic change of mood ahead of Jack.... and Bill too. It's so heart-wrenching to think that it was the last time he saw his wife and his son...

I feel so sad for Jack and Nell, they will certainly miss each other very much. Will they ever meet again? *hint, hint* ^^

Wonderful ending! ...Although I still wish this story didn't have to end at all! I've become so attached to this beautiful tale :]

*looking forward to epilogue 2*

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much. As always your comments are very much appreciated. I'm so glad you've enjoyed this!

[kseenaa.livejournal.com]

*smirk* Fate, indeed... That was a neat ending... Sorta. ;-)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Sort of, yes. Except we all know what's coming. Poor Jack. Glad you liked this, though. :)

[mary684.livejournal.com]

It almost seemed like fate.
Ya, you oughta be wary of these kinds of coincidences, Jack!

It would have been more than enough for you to wrap this up, luv, but I see you are intent on putting a bow on it as well. Bless. Much as I miss Nell, you've already got me hooked into the next bit. Good on you!

I'm loving his admission that ''he'd taken a wound" -- not that he'll learn any kind of lesson from it...*g*

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I see you are intent on putting a bow on it as well.

I do like things wrapped up neatly, even if the contents are volatile and won't stay that way for long. ;)