A Pirate’s Wife (4 page)

Her other brother Manuel was the farmer. He

inherited the love of the land and its people from his

mother. He also looked like their father in build, but his

skin and hair were darker, like Rosa-Lee's and her mother's.

Manuel had a gentle and caring heart that made him

loveable and accessible to the villagers.

At the tender age of eighteen, he was already a

leader. The people looked up to him and along with their

father he built up the estate and expanded the business.

Rosa-Lee knew that this delay in Pedro's safe return

was hard on her mother and father. Not knowing his

whereabouts was difficult but they could only remain calm,

waiting. The mood tensed in their home as her father paced

the passageways of the castle, anxious and nervous.

Finally, on Sunday afternoon of the second week,

Rosa-Lee saw sails heading their way. Shading her eyes,

she squinted as she watched the sails coming nearer to the

shore at a tormentingly slow rate. Rosa-Lee could now see

that it was the
Contra O Vento.
The smaller frigate usually accompanied the merchant ship as extra security. It was

faster and streamlined, not her father's bulky merchant ship.

Dread filled her heart as she watched the sailors

running around on the deck, furling the sails to dock in the

harbour. The ensign on the top of the main mast certainly

was her father's crest. Cisco Almaida was a merchant

working for the D.E.I.C. He received his first ship eighteen

years ago after serving at the sea for nineteen years as a

sailor. It was a reward for his bravery and leadership during

that fatal voyage where her biological father had passed

away along with two hundred and sixty four crewmembers,

slaves and passengers.

Gathering the cream fabric of her skirt in her hands

she ran down the road to the harbour to meet the captain of

the ship she recognized. She was hoping that it would be

good news about her brother but the sense of dread did not

leave her small body as her chestnut hair streamed behind

her, her small oval face wary and troubled.

The months of waiting in anticipation of Pedro had

been too long. They stayed a close-knit family, especially

Mother, Father and herself, but the two boys who had not

yet had adventures did not understand the dangerous side of

sailing ships. It sounded foreign and distant to them, just

stories they had heard all their lives. But Rosa-Lee and her

parents knew how quickly things could change on the sea.

They had lived on it and had survived its worst.

Pedro was still very young, inexperienced about

life.

Rosa-Lee's dress whipped against her legs as she

ran down the shoreline into the town, her lungs burning

with the unusual exercise. Today she did not see the

splendour of the sea or land, the birds flying just over the

top of her head. She did not notice the familiar faces,

townspeople who waved at her and flashed toothy smiles.

She just wanted to find out any news. With only the
Contra

O Vento
coming in she was worried.

When she reached the berth, the captain stood on

the bridge at the side, peering through the tackle works,

deep in thought. As the plank lowered onto the pier she had

a sinking feeling that something was very wrong; that life

as she knew it is about to change.

'Captain, any news?' she shouted.

Visible sorrow marked the older man's tanned face

along with tired lines from long and hard days on the sea.

'Yes child, I have news, but it is not good news, I

am afraid.' With short, uneven steps he descended the

plank. His normally immaculate dress was crinkled and

filthy; a grey, unkempt beard shadowed his thin cheek

bones.

As he reached her he swallowed, avoiding her at

first, and then reached for her hands, his voice filled with

sorrow.

'You will have to be very strong for your parents.'

He patted her hands as if to comfort her. 'This news is not

good. Come, let us go to them. I will speak to all of you.'

Panic gripped Rosa-Lee's heart.

What can be so terrible?
She looked up at him.

Captain Jean le Blanc was around her father's age with dark

blue eyes and black hair, grey visible all around his head.

Normally he was a very proud man, shoulders straight, his

voice strong as a captain's should be. Now he walked as if

he were in pain, sounding out of breath and speaking as if it

gave him great pain to talk. Looping her hand in his arm,

she walked next to him, supporting him. She tried to

convince him to talk to her, to find out more detail but he

was silent all the way.

As they walked away, dark ochre eyes framed in

thick black lashes followed them with a curious fixation on

the chestnut-coloured head of the young woman and the

bodice of the cream dress clinging to her body, outlining it

perfectly. The owner of the eyes squinted the left one as he

framed the small waist in the air with his fingers, and

thought,
Perfect.

Jumping down off a barrel in one swift motion, he

followed them at a slow pace. Staying in the shadows, he

pulled his black hat low over his eyes and wrapped a heavy

black cloak around his lean body to conceal any identifying

features of his clothing. His silver sword sheathed

alongside his narrow hip thudded against a knee-height

black boot.

†††

As they walked to the castle Captain Jean's pace

was slow, as if he had to think about each step he took, and

he still sounded out of breath.

'Are you well, Captain?' Concerned, Rosa-Lee's

dark brown eyes rested on him.

'Yes, dear, I will be fine once we reach your father's

house.' He gave her a sloppy smile.

'Can't I get the carriage? It will be more

comfortable.'

'No, dear, we are almost there. I am use to

hardships. Don't worry about me.' Patting her hand as she

held onto him, the captain looked ghastly.

As they reached the castle, he hesitated to go

through the heavy doors but continued, sweat pearling on

his forehead, definitely weaker from the walk, breathless

and pale.

Finally, standing before her father, he handed him a

letter. With shaking hands he said,

'Cisco, my dear friend.' He clipped every word,

taking a breath between each. 'I don't know how to give this

news to you.' Shame filled his countenance as Rosa-Lee

squeezed his hand, and his smile at her was grim.

'I feel I have failed you, not only as a friend, but as

an employee.'

Cisco reached out to his friend, troubled sombreness

on his face, taking the letter, first looking at the white,

folded sheet, then back at his friend.

'Jean what is going on? Are you in pain? Come, sit

down, my friend.'

As her father helped Captain Jean sit down Rosa-

Lee saw that blood seeped beneath his jacket from his

upper leg and dripped onto the tiled floor.

'Father! The captain is wounded, look!' she cried out

in distress, kneeling in front of him and spreading the

jacket. His black pants were stained with blood, the

metallic scent filling their noses.

Cisco put the letter down and reached him in one

stride. He crouched next to Rosa-Lee, his towering body

warm and reassuring and his voice steady.

'Let me look at that leg.' his piercing eyes dropped

first to his friend's leg then stared up at him.

'What has happen to you, Jean?'

'It is a long story, my friend. I don't know if I will

be able to tell you. It hurts me too much. I have failed you,

you and your family.'

'How did you fail me, Jean? You don't make any

sense. Calm down and tell us what is going on. Is it about

Pedro? And where is Alfonso?'

'Yes, it is Pedro, and I hope he is still alive. When I

left him at the Isle of Saint Marie, he was barely alive.

Alfonso died trying to defend Pedro from being captured

by the pirates.'

They could hear the sharp intake of breath as

Qonchita walked in. They all paled.

'What about Pedro and pirates?' She looked at

Cisco, panic filling her dark brown eyes. 'Cisco, what is

going on?'

She looked at her husband and then at Jean, who

was very pale, drops of blood forming a pool at his booted

foot.

'Rosa-Lee, please send for the doctor at once, dear,'

said Qonchita. She stayed calm as she knelt before their

friend.

'Yes, mother.' Rosa-Lee rushed out the door and

straight into the arms of Franco, their horse-handler.

'Franco, we need the doctor here at once! Please get

him. There is no time to waste!'

'Yes, ma'am!' Franco's stallion stood nearby

grazing. He was a dark brown colour with long legs,

extremely fast, his muscles well defined, rippling under his

shiny coat. When Franco called his name, his ears perked to

full attention. With a whinny he was ready for action.

Franco pulled himself-into the saddle with one hand. Horse

and man moved as one as they race down the gravel road,

dust swirling around them.

Rosa-Lee returned to the living room where her

mother and father still stood at Captain Jean's chair. He was

even paler than before and her parents looked worried. Her

mother held a cloth on the leg, trying to stop the bleeding,

pale with worry.

Her father held the letter with shaking hands and as

she stepped closer, his right arm fell to his side. The letter,

open in his hand, shook as grey pallour covered his face.

'Father, what is wrong?'

Her father did not say anything; her mother covered

her face in her hands, sobbing. The cloth fell on the floor

and a dark stain formed, unnoticed. Rosa-Lee reached for

the letter still clutched in her father's big hand and began to

read. The more she read, the angrier she got.

Cisco Almaida

It is a shame that we must meet under these

circumstances, for I have heard about your bravery over

the years; but a man must make a living. Consider this a

business transaction.

I have your youngest son, Pedro, in my custody at

the Isle of Saint Marie. He assured me that you are a

wealthy man and can pay me a healthy ransom for his

release.

For your son's release I demand 2000 in gold coins

by the end of four months or he will be dead. It will all

depend on how quickly you can deliver.

He talked about his lovely sister so often. Let her

bring it. I can use some feminine company.

Do not try anything. I did sent my second-in-

command with your Captain Jean to watch over all the

proceedings and to make sure Rosa-Lee comes along.

His life is in your hands.

The Falcon

'How dare he?' She lifted the paper in the air,

perplexed, angry, and bitter at this unknown Falcon. As her

hand dropped, still trembling, she looked at her parents

with blazing eyes. She had to read the letter twice to

understand the contents. The more she read, the angrier she

grew.

'How dare he?' she spat out.

'You have to leave tomorrow morning early.

Otherwise you will not make the deadline,' Captain Jean

gasped. 'His second-in-command is his son, a ruthless and

cunning man. It was he who wounded me before I got off

the ship, to make sure I would deliver the message.'

'What is his name?' Rosa-Lee asked, still seething.

'Roberto. He is very sly and very dangerous. I

would do as they say if I were in your shoes,' he said

through clenched teeth.

Finally Cisco spoke, and the anger in his voice was

unmistakable.

'Who does this man think he is, to command in this

manner money, my daughter and my son's life, all in one