A Pirate’s Wife (2 page)

cabin which housed the best of everything, including fine

whiskey.

Immediately drawn to the gentle giant, the little girl,

spitting image of her mother, accepted him first as a friend,

and then as her new father. Daily Rosa-Lee would seek him

out; with Qonchita always close by and under much

scrutiny of Captain Breno.

†††

September 13, 1621

Again we spent time with Cisco today. Rosa-Lee

simply cannot leave him alone. At first he was reluctant to

encourage her, tending to his work at hand. But her

constant chatter put a smile on his face and by lunch he

talked to her softly. I could see his eyes were always

seeking the captain.

I found Faro with some of the sailors gambling and

it made me uneasy but I said nothing to him and spent my

time with Rosa-Lee.

There are quite a number of people on the ship. I

understand we are three hundred and forty eight people in

all, with slaves numbering two hundred. The Captain told

me it was quite a large number but bragged his vessel was

capable of carrying the load.

With the slaves in confinement in the hold of the

ship the deck is not overcrowded but I wonder how they

fair down there in this heat.

I can only hope that we will be well and that the

Lord's protection will be with us daily.

†††

September 14, 1621

The little girl's continuous chatter and seeking me

out are getting me in trouble. The Captain warned me

today for the final time. He is within his rights of course. As
a sailor I know this. But how can I ignore her? She is a

pleasure to have around. And her mother
(he smiled

thinking of the raven-head)
is gorgeous but I have to keep

my distance. I can see she is interested as well but this

could never be. She is married, a lady of good means. I am

just a sailor. I can offer her nothing.

But I can dream, even if it is futile. I know it is silly

but the feelings she invokes in me make me feel worthy to

love and to dream of a family of my own.

Alfonso warned me that the men are talking, that

they have seen the looks we give each other. I don't want to

bring her trouble. She is too much of a lady for riff-raff to

speak of her in that fashion.

I will have to keep my distance. I should work on

the mast where the little girl cannot find me. I will have to

speak to Tanur tomorrow.

†††

September 15, 1621

Cisco was on the mast today. Never once did he

come down from there to speak with Rosa-Lee. Even when

she called out to him he did not look at her. I could see that
it hurt her but I had to explain to her that he has to do his

work. He is a sailor and cannot spend time with her.

But I do miss him.

Faro tried to talk to us today, but he was drinking

and Rosa-Lee was scared of him. He swayed on his feet, his

eyes bloodshot. I heard there was trouble with the game

and the Captain warned him to be careful around the

sailors.

I saw some of the slaves today. Met a young Indian

girl. Her name is Kayla. We got to talk for a while before

she had to go back into the hold. Rosa-Lee also liked her.

She was very beautiful and several sailors looked at her. I

was uneasy at her common flirting with them while we

talked. In the future I will be careful of her and the

company she keeps.

†††

September 16, 1621

I bumped into the lady today. It was by pure

accident since I keep my distance, but when I touched her I

could not let her go. After the initial shock passed and she

realized who held her she relaxed in my arms. For a few

seconds I could only enjoy the lady in my arms. She fits

perfectly. She is more beautiful up close. I had to struggle

not to kiss her and I could see she wanted me to. That

would be a mistake.

I know it is wrong but I cannot help myself. The

feelings I have for her are growing daily. I will have to

work harder to avoid her as much as possible. A sailor and

a lady are absolutely unsuited. It can never happen.

†††

September 16, 1621

I cannot believe I was in his arms today. He smelled

of the ocean, clean and fresh. He was strong and enormous

in size but I fit perfectly. Those seconds was wonderful, I

wish I could have more. It felt so right, although it was

wrong.

My heart nearly beat out of my chest and I wished

he had kissed me but he was right. It could never happen. I

am a married woman.

There is no future for us.

†††

September 17, 1621

What is that woman up to? Today I walked hand in

hand with Rosa-Lee on the upper deck and Kayla was

there. She spoke with Cisco. My Cisco, her hand on his

arm. Did he welcome it? Oh Please God. Don't let him turn

out to be just another man who wants to bed me, only to

run off again. I cannot take that.

Rosa-Lee wrapped herself around his leg the

moment she saw him. The Captain was not pleased. I saw

the fury raging in his eyes. Then I saw the pleading in

Cisco's eyes before he looked away.

I removed her from him immediately, but that left

him in the presence of Kayla and for some reason the

woman laughed at me. I am a lady of noble birth, my

upbringing beyond approached. Am I now in contest with a

slave?

For the love of a sailor.

†††

September 18, 1621

This day started so well and ended in disaster.

The look in the Captain's eyes said so much. And

then there is the lady. She found me talking to that slave

girl. She merely walked up to me and started to introduce

herself to me while she placed her hand on my arm. She

looked at me as if I were her last hope.

I saw the disappointment, the hurt on the lady's

face. But I could not talk to her. To make matters worse the

little girl refused to let go of me and cried when the mother

took her away. Captain Breno saw everything and his eyes

spit fire.

I have been warned. What will happen tomorrow?

†††

September 19, 1621

Today was an unpleasant day on the ship. The

Captain worked Cisco almost to death. I heard the men

talking. He received no water or food for the day and under

the scorching sun it had to be unbearable. I wanted to offer

him water at least but another sailor stopped me.

Cisco avoided me and Rosa-Lee cried.

The Captain and Faro sneered down at him while

they talked about me, as if I am a common whore. How

could Faro do this to me? I felt so ashamed. Some of the

sailors laughed at me. The man who stopped me asked me

to leave the deck because I would make matters worse for

Cisco. It was hard to leave him there. Tired, thirsty and

lonely.

Rosa-Lee cried once again when I took her below

and when I passed the compartment in the hull where the

slaves were held Kayla laughed openly at me.

I felt betrayed at her actions.

It is all my fault. I cannot give in and make matters

worse for him.

I explained to my four-year-old daughter but I

doubt she understood. She missed Cisco. That was all there

was to it. But I will have to watch her.

I cannot allow him to suffer on account of us.

†††

September 21, 1621

Today Alfonso, Cisco's friend, the man who stopped

me when I wanted to offer him water, helped us to have a

few minutes of privacy on the deck.

It was short but worth it. I simply had to see him. I

had to know if he was okay. The last two days the captain

made him slave away while everyone snickered behind his

back. How could they do this to this man?

He is a gentle, kind and loving man. How could they

treat him like that? But I had to make sure he was okay. I

had to, before I would finally let go of him.

I begged him to kiss me and at first he was hesitant.

I pressed myself against him and turned my face upward,

stretching as high as I could. He was so tall that even if I

stood on my tiptoes I could not reach his face. For a long

minute he fought it. I saw the hesitation, the fight for

control, but eventually he lowered his head and we kissed

for the first time. It was everything I hoped it would be.

That one kiss held promises of a future we both knew was

futile to hope for. But that kiss told me what he felt.

He felt the same. His breath was warm on my face

as his eyes raked over mine. He did not conceal the look of

love as he whispered my name. It all told me that he felt the

same way.

In that few minutes we allowed ourselves the time to

dream, to hope, to love.

I love him. The emotion swept me from my feet, but

I was not startled about it. It was a peace that settled deep

within me and I know that this is the man I have lost my

heart to.

I have no remorse in loving Cisco Almaida
.

†††

September 21, 1621

It was a mistake. I shouldn't have kissed her. But

how can I resist the one woman I truly love? She loves me.

That was the most pleasurable wonderful thing that has

ever happened to me. This lady, a woman of noble birth,

loves me, an ordinary sailor man.

She was worried about me. She kept on repeating

that she would do whatever she could to make my life

easier. But we both know it was a not to be.

Captain Breno is a stern and vicious man. He

seldom listens to anyone. Nor does he take advice from a

woman, even one as highborn as Qonchita.

What a beautiful name. It suites her. In my arms

today she was far from the 'ice queen' others have called

her.

I love her.

†††

September 22, 1621

Rosa-Lee was hard to control today and with all the

strength she had she fought against me to be with Cisco. I

could not blame her. That is where I want to be. In his

arms. I can still feel them around me; still feel the touch of
his lips.

When she got away from me she ran up to him and

held him as if her life depended on it. She refused to let go,
even with gentle urging from him. She cried so loud that it

drew everyone's attention. Captain Breno made it plain he

was not impressed with her innocent display. When I finally

did get her away I pleaded for Cisco's life. I was sure the

vicious man was going to do something to him. But he said

he would not harm his own crew.

I really hoped that was the case. But when I tried to

get Cisco's attention he refused to look at me. I am afraid

for him.

Faro made an attempt after that to console Rosa-

Lee, but she was so scared of him that she sobbed and

panicked to get away. He was not pleased about her open