chapter nine

                                    

                                          
Instinctively, Jack stepped in front of Rose as if his body were a human shield against whatever Cal might throw at them. The deep darkness in his eyes mirrored the hatred reflected in Cal's black gaze. His heart was still racing from the kiss he and Rose had shared; he knew their feelings for each other were mutua and that whatever happened next, they would face it together. 
"You were unfaithful, after all," Cal said, his tone seeming calm, cool, and casual. However, inside, he was undoubtedly a wreck. In the dim light of the deck, Jack noticed the reflective glint of the pistol in Cal's trembling right hand. Cal's demeanour had no hint of fear; he was nothing more than a coward. Jack remembered the promise he had made to Rose just hours before; that he would die before he allowed her to return to the cage in which she had been trapped for far too long and certainly she did not wish to return on her own accord either.
''We are no longer engaged. I am free to be with whom I choose,'' Rose shot back, her voice filled with particular steel that neither man had heard from her before. Jack then realised that Rose was resolute about her path. The fire within her burned brightly before him, and that fire would never diminish. Her fingers were laced tightly with his own and that was enough to speak volumes to everyone about. 
''And you choose him? Over me? Over our life together?'' he asked, disbelief evident in his tone.
''Yes. I do,'' she replied with certainty.
''Are you under some seductive spell from a man who promises you a wonderful life?''
''No, I'm simply a woman who can choose her own life now,'' Rose declared. Jack positioned himself in front of her, effectively blocking her way. ''I have no wish to return with you, only for my own freedom.'' 
''And I suppose you're the one helping her make that choice? We both know you have nothing. That you are nothing,'' the other man sneered.
''No, I don't suppose I am,'' Jack replied with a smile. ''Why don't you just leave? Let her live her life.'' He intended to reason with the man first if it were at all possible. A man would not readily accept the humiliation of losing his woman to someone of a lower status. At least this way, the man could retreat without public humiliation, crafting whatever lie he needed to save face and continue his life. Jack understood this might not be the outcome, but he thought it was worth trying to distract him with words while he devised his plan.
"Because she is mine. She is going to marry me. Whatever this little flame is will be extinguished." Cal's wide-legged stance, tall and broad-shouldered, was meant to be intimidating, but his sway revealed his intoxication.
It was clear to Jack that there would be no reasoning with Cal. At that moment, he realised he would be fighting for her—her freedom, their freedom, and their lives.
"Stop it! Stop speaking to me as though I am not present!" Rose stepped out from Jack's shadow, determination fueling her every move. Why must she always be protected or bullied into something her heart didn't desire? ''I am not a child and I am certainly not yours to control.''
"Sometimes we have to do this because you are so stubborn and naïve that you won't speak for yourself." Cal's body seemed to be shaking with something other than anger. Perhaps it was adrenaline.
"Yes, you do think that, don't you?"
''What do you think would happen? Jack Dawson wants nothing more than to take what is his, make you his whore and then leave you alone or worse—pregnant.''
Jack's scalp prickled at the utter vile description, but he wasn't to defend himself, hoping Rose would see the lies in Cal and her trust in him was thorough.