A Pirate’s Wife (5 page)

breath?'

'My father is used to getting what he wants, and this

is a small price to pay for your son's life, I would say.' A

very tall, dark-haired man, the expression on his face

determined and fierce, stood in the doorway, filling it with

his large frame. They had not noticed him before now and

swung toward the deep baritone voice. A scar ran from the

corner of his left lip to his left eye. The deep ochre shade of

those eyes made him look even more dangerous.

He wore black trousers with high boots. A white

shirt showed beneath his long black jacket. In his large

hand that looked like a claw to Rosa-Lee he nonchalantly

held a black hat. He glared straight into her father's own

piercing eyes without any faltering of his gaze.

She clenched her hands in fists, eyes blazing at the

black cloaked man, the smirk on his face clearly in defiance

of any law.

'We leave tomorrow morning at six. Be there or

bear the consequences.' His eyes shifted to her with

amusement and with a mockingly courteous nod to her, he

turned and left. They were all stunned in disbelief.

'How dare you?' She shouted at his back.

He turned, glancing back at her, appraising her as if

she were the most despicable thing he had ever seen. The

guffaw that burst from his throat rolled over her. She

stamped her foot in frustration on the marble floor.

Though his voice was cold and distant, his eyes

were fiery darts pinning her to attention to him. 'Be warned,

Môn Petite,
that you do not wake the beast.' And he left her standing there. For a moment, fear gripped her heart and

her knees buckled. She melted into the love seat.

Her dress billowed around her in an unlady-like

fashion. She was crestfallen at the very idea that she would

be in this cold man's presence for the next four months.

†††

December 26, 1623

Cisco Almaida, land owner. Words I never thought

would stand together. But after yesterday it was true. I am

a land owner, married to the most beautiful woman in the

world. And soon to be a father. My heart wants to beat out

of my chest.

A father. The greatest gift of all. When Qonchita

revealed it to me last night I was, to say the least,

speechless. I cried for the first time in my life. I cried. I had
nothing else to say and I wrapped her in my arms and held

her all night. She has blessed me since the moment she

stepped in my life. She has made me have pride in myself.

Because of her I can fulfil my dreams.

God, Your Word is true. You bless the pure in heart.

You knew my desires and You fulfilled them. Even when I

walked through the valley of death and feared, You

remained faithful. How awesome is Your Grace.

Help me to stay true to Your Word, true to my new

title, and to use it for good. Help me to be a husband and

father as you have ordained from the foundation of the

world.

I praise your Holy Name.

Amen

2

January 2, 1624

We spent our first Christmas and New Year

together as a family. Cisco was like a child, riding his

horse all over the place. There was never a dull moment

with him around. Rosa- Lee is blossoming with him as her

father. Her giggles of delight fill the castle's passageways

and the staff is happier than I can remember.

This is all thanks to Cisco.

Cisco, the man who always steps up when the

situation calls for it. He was the one who acted when the

ship was splitting into pieces on that fateful day when our

lives changed forever. He took charge of a panic-filled

crew, all the while his back was still healing. When the

crew started to drink all the whiskey in an attempt to soften

the blow of death, he kept calm. When slaves drowned in

the whiskey in their attempts to get there first, he kept us

safe.

He made a harness for Rosa-Lee and myself on that

fateful day when eighty-nine people died during the ship's

demise. He simply put me on his back and Rosa-Lee on his

chest and jumped into the swells of the foaming sea. He

swam to the shore where he made sure we were safe before

he helped anyone else. Of course once Captain Breno was

on land he took it out on Cisco. Jealous because he did not

save everyone and the people admired Cisco.'

Those first days on the beach, stranded on the East

Coast of Africa were terrifying. But that was only the start

of our journey.

Cisco built us a hut to shelter us from the

continuous rains. He was the one that made sure there was

food enough for everyone. The people trusted him more and

for that he was punished again. Again flogged like an

animal when he shot a deer to feed the many mouths.

But we would have died if not for him.

He saved me when Faro wanted to rape me. He

saved Rosa-Lee when a lion wanted to kill her. He never

complained; he did what was necessary and every one

benefited from it, including my husband and the captain.

Those days was filled with horrific scenes of death and

survival. They would always stay in my mind.

†††

'Cisco, you have called for me. Where's the patient?'

Cisco Almaida visibly shook for the first time in his

life. His whole family was endangered by one man's

insanity. Wrapping his arms around his wife, he caressed

her back and in return, tiny hands held his broad back,

caressing him.

Watching his daughter over on the settee, he could

see raw emotions running over the youthful face. Then at

last he followed the familiar voice to his friend and family

doctor. He swallowed at the bile in his throat, got his voice

back, and said,

'Doctor Vasco, please come in. It is Jean. He was

wounded.' Cisco turned to Captain Jean, still holding his

wife around the shoulders. The captain was still sitting on

the chair, as white as a sheet, miserably in pain.

'Is there somewhere we could lie him down so that

he can be more comfortable?'

'Yes, Doctor, please follow me,' said Rosa-Lee, who

had come to her senses, lifting her eyes and wiping the

tears away. Her mother was still distracted. She did not

hear anything else around her. Tears streamed down her

face but she made no sound.

Straightening herself, Rosa-Lee walked to the

injured Captain Jean, helping him to his feet. With the aid

of the doctor, supporting him between them, she got him to

the nearest bedroom, where they laid him down. Rosa-Lee

helped to remove his jacket. They saw the gaping sword-

wound clearly, his shirt and trousers on the right side

drenched with blood.

'I will go get some warm water, Doctor. Please

excuse me.'

'Thanks, Rosa-Lee.' She walked out, the anger she

felt earlier building up inside of her.
Who do these people

think they are, this pirate Roberto, son of the Falcon, using

Pedro and myself shamelessly, and wounding our friend in

this manner?

I will go,
she decided, to get her brother back,
but if
they think that I will stay there as their female companion,

they have another thing coming!
She sneered unwomanly

I will show them!
Again she was filled with outrage.

She was twenty-four years old and she knew how to

defend herself. Her father had taught her the skill of the

pistol and the sword.
I will give them hell. For now I will

play along. But the moment I get an opportunity, I will take

revenge for this blatant arrogance.

Her hazel eyes spat fire and with a very fierce

posture, she walked to the kitchen to get the warm water

and then speak to her father. They had to know that they

could count on her to bring Pedro back.

†††

'Mother, Father, please let me go. I will bring Pedro

back safely.' Her father had refused to give in to the

demands of the pirate.

'I will not send my only daughter to that place. I

have heard many things about this pirate and Isle of Saint

Marie. I will go and get him!' Cisco raised his voice in

frustration and anger.

'But Father, the letter states plainly that I must go.

We must do as they say, else they will kill Pedro.'

They argued for a long time about this. Even

Manuel said he would go, but his father just looked at him

with a glare and refused. He had to tend to the farm.

Finally, when it was already late that evening,

Father reluctantly gave in. Mother walked up to him and

wrapped her arms around his waist, pleading and crying,

but they all knew there was nothing they could do. They

had to give in to the demands of the pirate or lose their son.

However, the thought their daughter in the hands of those

brutes terrified them. Cisco knew what they did to women,

how they treated them. Rosa-Lee was as good as dead once

she was there.

How would they live with themselves?

'Please, Father, you have taught me all you know

and I can defend myself. Don't worry, please, I will be fine.

'Trust that what you have taught me will save me

and Pedro.' Her eyes were wide with determination as she

stepped closer to them. Cisco gathered her closer, her face

pressed into his shoulder. He held her for a very long time,

shaking.

Her mother rubbed her back and said, 'We love you,

dear, please come back safely.'

'Yes, mama.' She kissed Qoncita's soft cheek, still

beautiful after all these years, her back rigid as she

composed herself.

'I will let you go, Rosa, but you need to let me know

as soon as possible what is going on so that I know if I have

to come looking for you,' Cisco said gruffly.

'Yes, Father.' standing on her tip toes, she kissed his

handsome face. 'I need to pack still, and it is late.'

'Yes, dear, I will bring the coins to you in a

moment.' He hugged her once more before he let her go.

Mother and father stood at the door for a while and she

could hear him mutter something to her and Manuel, who

walked away, angry at the whole situation. This was not the

time to be a hero.

As Rosa-Lee packed her trunks with her earthly

belongings Qonchita came to sit with her. Qonchita's eyes

were moist but she was obviously more under control while

she sat and watched. She handed her daughter petticoats to

pack in and only sniffed few times. This was hard on Rosa-

Lee. She knew how her mother had struggled to forget the

turmoil of their time in Africa, the nights she woke terrified

of the horrors they had seen. Rosa-Lee really hoped that

this would not cause those nightmares to return.

Because she was only four during those times, they

had sheltered her from the worst parts of it. She did not

experience half the nightmares Mama did. Papa was the

strong one who kept them sane during those times, making

a new future for them all.

He was the pillar and he would be the pillar as

always, her giant Papa. He was the man she started to know

as a friend and who had become her father. She hardly

remembered her biological father. The abuse they had

suffered under him had made him easy to forget.

'Mama, please, don't make it so hard. I will be fine.

You and Papa have taught me everything you know. I will

be all right. Just believe in me, please.'

'I do believe in you, Rosa-Lee, but still, this is very

dangerous. The outcome can be devastating for both you

and Pedro.'

'I have a few plans up my sleeve for this Falcon and

his son, Mother. Please calm down.' She said with much

conviction.

Her mother looked at her in shock, grabbing her

shoulders. 'Rosa-Lee! You will not try something foolish

and get yourself killed. Promise me.'

'No, mother.' She held her mother's hands, kissing

them. 'I will be back with Pedro, I promise.'

She hid her pistol and knife in her trunk.
This pirate

will not have me on a platter; Rosa-Lee Almaida is made of