A Pirate’s Wife (9 page)

She would keep him on his toes but he would keep her in

his arms. He would take her and make her his. She would

come alive, begging him to satisfy her every need. She

would be a wild cat, and he could not wait to tame her.

The life he led had been forced upon him at a very

young age. It was the only way that he could help his

parents and save the farm. And for this lady sitting across

from him, he was willing to give it up. From the life of a

pirate he longed to go back to being a farmer. From the

very first moment he saw her, he knew they were meant to

meet. He would have her and somehow he would have to

convince her and the Falcon of this.

He knew what the Falcon had planned for her. Her

father was correct in expecting the worse. Her fate would

lead to death if he did not intervene. The Falcon's way with

women was legendary, using them, breaking them until

there was nothing left of the once beautiful woman. Not a

very pretty picture.

The Falcon was a brute when it came to women. He

only enjoyed them for a while and then threw them to his

men. Roberto had seen women broken emotionally and

physically by the Falcon and to see this woman in his

hands? He would not allow it. He would rather carry her

away to a remote island and marry her, than for her to

experience that kind of abuse.

†††

February 28, 1624

Today I had to deal with a situation in the village as

part of land owner duties. It left me sick to my stomach and

brought back memories best forgotten.

We stumbled on another African village, not

deserted this time. At first the people were friendly,

allowing our surviving group of twenty five to camp and eat

with them. For two days we could rest and have shelter.

Qonchita started to get her colour back and Kayla began to

explore. But that cost her dearly. One of the village men

had his eyes on her since the day we got there. And when

opportunity knocked he took it.

He cornered her near the kraal and assaulted her.

The next morning when I found her I was angry. I went

straight to the chief's hut to demand justice. And in return

he demanded Kayla as his wife. I could not allow this.

Kayla was still very young and I felt responsible for her.

Although a seductive temptress, she did not deserve to be

treated in that manner and be left behind.

When Captain Breno died of the fever and the

people elected me as their leader I vowed that no one

would be left behind again. I begged for her release and

finally one of the slave girls offered to stay behind. It was

touch and go for a moment and I really thought that was

where we all would die. For a long time Kayla was not the

same but with gentle coaching from Qonchita she made it

through.

Once again Qonchita came through for this young

woman and I really hope she will pull through. Tomorrow I

must speak to the parents of the young man, and hope we

can come to a fair arrangement.

5

March 16, 1624

The past month Cisco was met with many

challenges from the villagers. He was confronted by other

land owners who did not feel the same as he did in

managing the land. He is exhausted by the continuous

strain but I have faith in him and know he will do the best

for us and our people.

He learns fast and with Franco guiding him I know

he can only succeed. He is now an accomplish rider and he

and Furor are seen all over the estate, dashing over the

plains at breakneck speed. Furor's enthusiasm is

contagious. The other horses, especially Rosa-Lee's pony,

are a struggle to contain in the stable.

The baby is growing fast and I struggle to walk

properly. This is much to Cisco's delight, but he demands

that I rest as often as possible. He even gave the staff

instructions to keep a close eye on me when he is not here. I

miss him when he leaves in the mornings to do his work but

the reunion at night makes up for it.

His tenderness towards me on one particular

occasion reminds me when we were in the heart of Africa.

We travelled for weeks by foot after we left yet another

village. Many of our people, including the captain, had

died of the fever and Cisco was the official leader. By his

estimate we were very close to a fort in Mozambique and

he decided to take several men and walk to the Fort to get

some help. Our food was low and he made sure that there

was enough to eat and drink before he left with eight other

men.

He left Alfonso in charge and the small group of

twenty four people was grateful for the rest. But the

moment they left the fever once again swept through the

group. Soon everyone was in a terrible state, with only

myself, Kayla and Alfonso to tend to the sick. We buried

people and by the fourth week only six remained. Faro

himself was on his last breath and during this time we

made peace. Rosa-Lee visited him often. The once brusque

and impatient man turned into a loving father. I had a hard

time with this. My loyalty and love belonged to Cisco, but I

was still married to Faro. During one night of clarity he

told me he welcomed the fact that I found love. He asked

for forgiveness for the hard and cruel times I had endured

under him. In a sense we made peace, but I could never

love him. My heart was in turmoil because I knew I could

not leave Cisco and never see him again. That was my train

of thought all awhile Cisco was gone.

I missed him. Rosa-Lee missed him. I did the best I

could and placed my feelings and concerns in the back of

my mind while tending to the sick. Starved and tired, we

went on. By then when someone passed away I simply

covered the body, since every man was either dead or too

sick to bury them.

Alfonso got sick and I was busy attending to him

when Cisco and a small group of men appeared out of the

bushes. It was not the same group that left with him. My

heart went on a rampage the moment I saw him. He stood

there, dumbfounded at the sight he saw. He searched for

me and did not recognise me. At that stage I was a walking

skeleton. My beauty had faded, my skin was like sandpaper

and darker than normal. My once soft black hair was all

tangled and without life.

He was rested, and very handsome in a new pair of

clothing. The signs of our ordeal were still visible on him.

But the moment he saw me, he wrapped me in his arms. I

cried, not caring about the people and what they might say.

For the second time since I knew him he kissed me. I would

never forget that kiss. If there was any doubt in my mind

left, he demolished it completely with that kiss.

Later when we calmed down and settled with the

food he had brought, Faro called us over.

He said that he would no longer stand in our way

and gave his blessing. From that day forward Cisco and

Faro became friends until Faro's death at sea weeks later.

We did have a disagreement a few days later on our

way to the fort. I was so weak I could not walk, by feet

giving trouble once again. I expected his help but he was

too busy to attend to me and ignored me, I was furious. But

a week later Cisco convinced me of his love again. In my

frail and weak state I easily saw things differently than

what they were. Now we can laugh about it but then it was

serious. It cost a spider to bring me to my senses.

†††

When Rosa-Lee finally stood up to leave the cabin

Roberto also stood up and asked, 'Would you care to go up

and walk with me on the deck?'

Hazelnut eyes met ochre ones and for a few seconds

they just locked before she answered, her eyes revealing

her shock at the invitation.

'Yes, I would like that.' It was still early and she was

not in the mood to confine herself in her cabin. After three

days of self-imposed lock-up, she wanted to feel the wind

in her hair and the sea spray on her face. The fact that he

asked her to walk with him shocked her the most.

Be alert Rosa-Lee. He cannot be trusted!

Darkness filled the starry night sky. The quarter

moon made it even darker. Lit lanterns on the upper deck

added a romantic feeling, she thought, not a scene she was

comfortable sharing with the pirate.

You could barely see anything out on the sea as

they walked along the taffrail on the deck. Only the sound

of the ship breaking through the waters interrupted the

silence. The few men that were on duty were quiet, nodding

when they passed. If she did not know better, she would

have thought that they were alone.

'Your brother has told me a lot of stories about what

you endured during your adventures into Africa. Don't you

want to tell me a story?'

She glanced at him but could not see his face

clearly, covered in darkness, his hands clasped behind his

back. He sounded sincere in his request and his presence

calmed her, especially his mentioning her brother. She

asked hesitantly, 'You know my brother?'

'Yes. I have spoken with him a few times.' There

was no secret in that information.

'Was he still fine when you left?'

'Yes, he was,' came the honest reply. 'Please, tell me

a story,' he repeated, looking at her.

What do I tell him?
Rosa-Lee stared out over the

dark sea. Deep in thought, she began to relate a story very

familiar to her.

'A horrific storm came up near the northeastern

coast of Africa. The waves were higher than the ship and

they towered over us terrifyingly, with a fierce and

menacing anger, promising to crush us with every

pounding.' He could see she was reliving it, closing her

eyes.

'The wind was cold and it felt like it wanted to tear

the skin from our faces. I was never as terrified as I was

that night, clutching to my mother's body. People cried out

that we were going to die.

'Someone yelled that they must drink the liquor so

that at least they would be drunk enough to dull the

moment they drowned. People were stampeding all over

the ship as if they were possessed, clambering to the barrels

on the lower deck. Everyone was forced to drink; even the

slaves that were shackled to the ship's hull. With their

heads forced into the liquid, many drowned under the

pressure when they tried to resist. Blood mixed with the

liquor but people still drank it. I will never forget the

madness of that night. The fear that gripped us was so real

that I cried tears mingled with the salty water.

'Finally, when land was visible, my father shouted

that a rowboat had to go to the shore with a rope. A few

still able to think with clarity reacted immediately. Once

the rope was secured, those ashore sent a signal. Father

strapped me to his back and my mother to his chest and

jump into the angry, cold waves.

'I held on to him with everything that I had. My

mother never made a sound from in front of him. A few