A Pirate’s Wife (12 page)

captain. Yes, he knew Falcon. He was as bad as they came.

It was after eight, so dark you could hardly see your

hand in front of your face. Silently they approached the

Heerengardt.
Her lanterns gave them enough light to

follow and get as close as possible.

They had only this window of opportunity and they

had to take it or lose Rosa-Lee forever. Her life and theirs

were at stake. Although Roberto was the son of the Falcon,

the Falcon would not hesitate to kill him for disobeying a

direct order.

With the long boat prepared, ready and on the

water, Roberto and Pierre were over the railing in no time.

The waves were higher around the boat and rocked it

slightly but they were used to it. They began rowing, with

one eye on the
Heerengardt
four miles ahead of them and

one eye on the dark foreboding clouds above them. They

rowed with gentle strokes, making sure that the oars did not

splash in the water as they slowly drew closer

The wind picked up, working with them, but they

knew the return part would be harder, and hoped that they

would find her in time. He and Pierre had talked about that

in detail. They were both familiar with D.E.I.C ships. Their

large scale might make it almost impossible. It would not

be easy to locate her, for she could be in numerous places.

Roberto said they would have to take their chances

and should play everything by ear; but by the looks of it the

Heerengardt
was quiet and the crow master was looking

the other way.

Finally, after another hour of rowing, they reached

the ship. Making sure that the longboat was tied securely

by the ropes hanging down, they left their boots in the boat.

With strong arms, they pulled themselves up onto the rope

they had secured, daggers in their mouths ready for any

danger. When Roberto crawled over the railing onto the

deck, all was quiet. Two lanterns hung near the boatsman

sleeping at the wheel. His soft snores a sure sign of deep

sleep.

Eyes darting around on the lighted deck, they saw

one other man sitting in the shadows, smoking his cheroot.

Grey puffs released into the dark night air, away from the

cabins.

They moved forward on the balls of their feet,

making no sound on the sleeping ship. Their muscles were

tired of the exercise but they forced themselves to move

forward. A trained eye could only see the crow master and

he was looking far in the distance, hopefully not in the

direction of the
Contra O Vento
. They would have to move

swiftly and not draw any attention toward themselves.

'You will wait here, and I will go. I have a good

idea where she will be,' Roberto whispered to Pierre.

Although it would be quicker if they both searched on a

ship this size, it was better to keep a trained eye on the men

on the upper deck. Pierre could warn him of any lurking

dangers; and once again, Roberto had to speculate about the

ship and its crew. The normal military alertness and

precision were not evident. There were no guards, and it

made him wary.

The night was extremely dark and like a shadow,

Roberto sneaked through the shadows to the stairs leading

to the lower deck where the crew was sleeping. Except for

the ship moving through the relatively calm waters, no

other sound filtered through. Men were hanging in their

hammocks, snoring. Some men were in a drunken stupor,

others slept because of exhaustion.

Once again, not an expected manner of the D.E.I.C

and he frowned, squatting on the balls of his feet, to make

sure that everything was as it should be. He made sure that

his eyes were accustomed to the dark before he moved

further.

Silently he moved again and managed to pass all of

the sleeping men and down the next stairs taking him

deeper in the hull into the farthest point in the lower deck.

He searched behind every crate and sack until he

recognized her small posture behind a large heavy crate. To

a normal eye, she could go for a young boy but his trained

eye could recognize her. The small manicured hands were a

dead giveaway. She lay in the shadows with her back to the

wooden wall and stacks of bags around her.

She had tried to cover herself, but her long hair

came out from under her hat and her shirt revealed more

than she would've liked. For a brief moment he just took in

the sight. Hovering over her, he could see she was in a deep

sleep and he wondered why she had not revealed herself to

the men. She could then have slept in one of the cabins in

the castle, not here trying to hide away.

He hoped they hadn't done anything to her because,

if they had, he would kill them. Precaution be damned. He

grimaced at the thought.

Something had to have spooked her to make her

keep herself hidden. He wondered what it could have been.

When he reached her, he covered her mouth so that

she could not make a sound when she awoke. Startled at the

hold on her mouth she awoke and recognized him. She

moved and released a soft moan but with one swift expert

strike, he knocked her unconscious and then flung her over

his shoulders. He looked around to make sure the sound did

not attract any unwanted guests. Satisfied and without a

word, he carried her out. No one had moved.

She was like a feather on his shoulder, so he could

easily manoeuvre up the stairs and through the sleeping

men without making a sound. Staying on his toes, he

quickly walked to the stairs and onto the upper deck where

Pierre waited. Giving him a thumb up, he let Pierre know

everything was okay.

Again, he furrowed his brows but left it. He could

not speak to Pierre at this moment because they would

attract attention. Yet it was puzzling.

Another three hours passed as they rowed against

the wind. Pierre kept his eyes on the
Heerengardt
at all

times until they reached the
Contra O Vento
. It was a

painfully slow journey.

'Did you also find it very strange?' Roberto

whispered when they were a safe distance away.

'Yes,' came the reply.

'An unguarded D.E.I.C ship in the middle of the

ocean? It does not add up.'

'Yes, I looked around while you were on the lower

deck. No guards present in a ship of that size and I really

found it alarming.'

'What could it mean?'

'Not sure, but the señorita here had to know because

she was hiding when I found her.' Roberto said deep in

thought

'Really?' and Pierre raised a brow

'Yes.' They row in silence for a while before Pierre

said 'Well, this will be interesting to hear'

'Yes.' Roberto watched the unconscious face, a very

beautiful unconscious face sternly. For a moment he

allowed himself to grin at her bravery before the stern,

blank look was back, not revealing anything of his inner

turmoil.

†††

December 24, 1624

It has been a year since our ordeal, and here in

Portugal on the estate time has passed quickly. Our second

Christmas together as a family is already here. So many

blessings to be grateful for.

The children are growing, especially Rosa-Lee who

will one day be a beautiful young woman, a very feisty,

strong willed woman, perfect in every way.

I pray that the right man will be worthy of her one

day, that she will find the joy in marriage as I have found.

Marriage is everything if you can share it with the one you

love. I will take great care to give her the opportunity to

meet such a man.

It will be a special man who will be able to handle

her, love her and respect her for who she is.

My brave little Rosa-Lee, who brightens my days.

8

April 01, 1625

We are expecting our second child. The medicine

woman confirmed my suspicions today. Cisco is

overwhelmed once again.

In a few days Manuel will be one year old. What a

beautiful, handsome boy. He walks everywhere. He loves

being outside and amongst the animals.

Everyone says he will be a farmer one day. Cisco is

teaching him everything he knows. Sometimes I have to

remind him the child was only one this year. But he is

convinced Manuel understands him and continues with the

lessons. How could I refuse him the pleasure of being a

father? Cisco fills my days with happiness.

What more could I ask?

†††

The
Contra O Vento
sailed away in the opposite

direction from the
Heerengardt
. The threatening clouds had finally released their waters the moment they had stepped

back on deck. The still-unconscious señorita hung over the

broad shoulders of the pirate captain. Men watched the

procession as they walked down the main stairs to the

lower deck.

Roberto's face was grim as he laid her down on her

four-poster bed in the middle of her cabin.

He dismissed Pierre and sat for the rest of the night

in the chair in front of the small mahogany desk, watching

her sleeping figure. She looked small and fragile on the

oversized bed. Tired lines marked the filthy young face.

Creases marred her forehead and dark circles under her

eyes paled her normal rosy cheeks. One hand rested under

her cheek as she slept and he could not help but to admire

her again.

When he had patted her down, he had found her

pistol and knife and locked it in his trunk for safekeeping.

There were no visible signs of struggles on her, other than

the fact that she was tired and he bet, hungry as well.

Why did she hide? The captain of the vessel would

have helped her unless something spooked her.

His mind was racing, realizing in how much danger

she had been, and his anger rose once again, for her

foolishness and the danger she had put them all in. Too

angry to sleep, although his muscles ached after the

strenuous exercise, he stared at her form in men's clothing.

Her shapely legs drew his attention. The curve of her

breasts was visible in perfect roundness under the shirt.

Three open buttons revealed her delicate skin. His body

demanded attention. He paced the floor in discomfort and

drank wine.

The room smelled like her, lavender and something

sweet, a smell he did not know but had already grown

accustomed to it. His imagination was running wild with

things he wanted to do to her.

When daylight coloured the water he saw her stir in

her sleep. He waited patiently for her to wake, the fear and

anger still raging within.

This would be interesting.

†††

When Rosa-Lee awoke, she was in her cabin and

the sun was just making its presence known. Tied to the