Chapter 17

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Jack

"Second ship!" Came the cry from up the mast the moment Jack's feet landed on the deck.

Below he saw Bancroft take Kate's hand. He gave his friend a quick jerk of his chin in thanks. Bancroft would keep both women safe, which left Jack free to fight.

His best weapon was his pistol, and pulling it out from his belt, he began to load.

Unlike the last ship that had stopped at the edge of cannon fire, this second ship barreled toward them at full speed.

Jack recognized this second vessel. It was the king's. Would he ram into Fulton's boat? Slide by while attacking?

Either way, it was Jack's job to shoot the king dead. There was no other solution.

With that in mind, he stuffed the powder down the barrel and began working on a second gun.

He didn't look at the boat, concentrating on the task. Only when the gun was loaded did he raise both guns, scanning the other deck.

He saw his target at the bow of the boat, calling orders.

But Jack also noted that while one of the man's arms gesticulated wildly, the other held limp at his side in a sling.

Had Jack hit him last time they'd met? Good.

Raising the gun, the boat careened toward them, looking to be set on a collision course.

Jack paid that no mind. Instead, he levelled his first gun, sighting the man and holding as the boat moved closer and closer.

Finally, he squeezed the trigger, watching his shot arc to the side.

"Damn," he growled as he tossed that weapon to the side and raised the other, sighting the king.

The other boat was so close, he saw the moment the king spotted him. Heard the man yell, "There!"

One second later, Jack fired. He watched the ball fly straight and true, saw it hit the king of criminals straight in the chest.

The man's eyes went wide a moment before he fell.

"Swerve!" Came the yell from the other boat. "The king is dead!"

The sails snapped and the boat notched to the right. But Jack grabbed the rail, not certain the course of the other ship would correct in time.

The boat slid to the side, coming next to Fulton's boat, so close, the sailors might have hopped from one boat to the other.

"Fire it all!" Fulton called over the noise of the ocean. "Sink ‘em!"

A cacophony of cannon noise and smoke filled the air even as sailors from the other boat began to jump over the side, abandoning ship. They'd given up the fight with their leader gone. Which meant this fight was over.

But Jack let out a long breath of air.

The king of criminals was dead. The King of England would be pleased indeed. Not only had Jack bested their foe.

He'd found a wife. And it was time to settle at his country estate.

After he took his wife on a long holiday to Scotland.