A Pirate's Love

Chapter 26

Chapter 26

Jack raced to the window.  Madeline quickly on his heels.  His body shielded her from the window and she wasn't able to look out.

"Jack, what is it?" she asked in a panic.  "What's going on?"

"Cannons."  Madeline turned and threw on Jack's discarded shirt.  She threw open the armoire and pulled out a pair of breeches she knew he kept in there.  She was out of the cabin before Jack could react.  He quickly threw on his own breeches and followed her on deck.

They watched as cannon fire rained on the island.

"We have to go back Jack!"  She hurried to raise the anchor.  But Jack just stood there and watched the brewing battle.

"Jack!" Maddy yelled at him.  "Come and help me!"

"No Maddy."  She came running over to him.

"What do you mean no?"  She was furious.

"Maddy love, look, there is nothing we can do."  They both turned to watched cannons blast the island.

"Who would do this?" she asked.  Tears began to fall from her eyes as she watched her island be destroyed.

"I don't know love."  Jack moved to pull her close to him.  He felt her body stiffen.

"JJ." She gasped.  "Jack, JJ is there without me!" She went into a panic and made a rush to the side of the ship.  She was about to dive in when Jack grabbed a hold of her.

"Madeline! Ye can't swim back.  We have to wait.  There is not a thing we can do by ourselves."

"But Jack, JJ, he's…"  Jack's own heart was being torn up at the thought of his son on the island.

"I know Maddy love.  We have to wait until it's over.  Who ever it is will pay for this.  I promise you."  Jack felt his own eyes begin to water, but he quickly pushed them back.  He didn't want Maddy to see.  They continued to watch the carnage being dealt to the island.  Maddy jumped as cannon fire exploded on her ship.  With four blasts, it blew apart.

"My ship!" She cried out.  "They blew up my ship!  Bloody bastards!"  Jack's heart wrenched.  He knew what it was like to lose a ship.  His grip tightened on Maddy's shoulders.  He could feel the tenseness in her body.  He knew that given the opportunity, she would jump overboard and try to reach the island.

They could hear the shouts and yells in the distance.  Both wondering what the fate would be of the inhabitants of the island.  There were many people that lived in the village.

There was more cannon fire on the island.  Madeline turned her head into Jack's shoulder.  She couldn't bear to watch any more of the carnage.  He held on to her tightly.  She began to sob.  Unable to control her tears.

"Shhh love.  I'm here."  Jack's fury was ready to explode.  He too wanted to rush towards the island.  But he knew that there was nothing they could do.  He continued to watch.  Wondering what happened to everyone on the island.  JJ.  Mr. Gibbs.  Mr. Taylor.  Madeline's mother.  The rest of their crews.  Who was alive? Who was dead?

"Oh my God." He said.  Madeline looked up at him and turned back to look at the island.  The house was now in complete flames.  Whoever had attacked the island had torched her home.

"JJ!" Madeline screamed.