9
April 05, 1625
We received a letter today that Kayla gave birth to a healthy son on October 13, 1624.
Rosa-Lee was bouncing with joy since this would make her an aunt. Chattering around the castle nonstop. It brought back memories of betrayal and the years of abuse we had to suffer under Faro. But at the end it worked out for good. I would never forget that moment when Faro admitted that Kayla was his daughter, there among every sailor and slave. Once again I felt disgraced but Cisco smiled at me as if he sensed my thoughts and I could not help but to let it go. But still it left a bitter taste in my mouth. Something I never talked about again.
To hear Rosa-Lee chatter about her new status made me realize how far we came and that we were still alive. Enjoying the joy of motherhood and new life.
Faro has paid for his sins.
†††
With her face hidden in his shoulder and her arms around his neck, Roberto walked down the steps to his cabin, enjoying her closeness. He did not know how she felt but he could only guess. He had humiliated her in front of pirates. What kind of a man was he?
This time his anger was aimed at himself. He held her closer to his hard body, feeling her stirring. She kept quiet, however.
Back in his cabin, he set her down in a leather chair. His eyes never left the small woman gripping the arms of the wooden arm rest. He swallowed. He did not know what to say, feeling small in her presence. When she lifted her eyes to glance at him, he could only see relief. No anger, no humiliation.
Roberto expected disgust, but for some reason she did not look at him in that manner. In a softer tone he asked “Tell me what you have seen.”
Rosa-Lee started to speak, still shaking after the ordeal. She had really thought that he was going to go through with his plan. She had never seen him so furious.
The previous day, while cooped up in the lower deck, peeking at the other pirates from her hiding place on the Heerengardt, she realized Roberto was in a different category from these pirates. He had integrity and honour that the others lacked. They talked about women as if they were scum. Roberto had never made her feel like that, neither him nor his crew.
She had always felt safe among them, but on the other ship, she had feared for her life, sitting quietly under the sails in the shadows of the hull. Too afraid to move, she never went outside for water or food, the risk too great to take. She was brave but on the Heerengardt she felt fear, out of control.
She could not hate Roberto. He had saved her. Even if he was angry and ready to flog her, he was still willing to listen. For that she was grateful.
Putting her feelings aside, she looked at him with relief written all over her face. The fact that he had carried her, holding her tight made her feel more than safe. She felt at home. It was a strange feeling but one she would consider later. There were more pressing issues at hand.
“When I came on board I wanted to report you, but then I noticed the crew’s strange behaviour, very peculiar for a D.E.I.C. ship. My father has met with many of those men. They all have a certain air of self-assurance about them; but this crew was eerie, scared. That in itself I found very odd at the time. When I reached the captain’s cabin, the substitute captain was fuming. When his second-in-command joined him, they talked about someone they were looking for on the Contra O Vento, someone that they wanted to kill. No names were mentioned, but he was very angry.”
“I heard a noise in the wardrobe and when they left, I peeked inside. The real Captain Peek du Toit was tied up and gagged. When I removed the gag, he told me that pirates had captured them a week ago. The man was weak but remained calm under the distress he faced. He told me not to do something foolish and to hide. I replaced the gag and left. I was so afraid that I went and took cover in the safest place I could find. That’s where you found me.” Her eyes filled with hopefulness, praying that her gut was right about the pirate in front of her. His features looked sullen but still blank.
“I promised him that we would help him, Roberto,” she pleaded again, taking his hands in hers, he looked down at their joined hands, and a faint grin appeared before it disappeared again. He returned his gaze to her face.
“You do know that we are pirates as well?” He stated the obvious.
“Yes, but there is such a thing as compassion and helping those in need. Those men are in need. We are the closest to help. I can only hope that somewhere in that pirate heart of yours you will see the wisdom in it. Maybe you will get one hanging less for a good deed done.” She smirked.
“I like her,” Pierre said with a wide-open grin.
Roberto looked at him with a glimmer of a smile, but kept his voice low.
“And I suppose you have a plan?”
“No, but I am sure we can come up with something.”
“You do realize that this will cause us to not meet our deadline. Your brother’s life is on the line.”
“My brother will understand. Please, Roberto, we need to help them.” She squeezed his hand.
“We are already two days behind them and it will cost us another day or two to catch them. Besides, we do not know in which direction they went. They could have stopped at Santiago or continued to the Mediterranean Sea.”
She smirked knowingly, letting go of his hands and raising herself. “I saw the charts on the table. While they were talking they leaned on it. When I looked at it, his fingerprint dent was still showing on the coast of Morocco. We are two days behind, but our ship is faster when we set full sails. We can make up the difference.” Walking to his table, she pointed at the open chart. The men followed.
“What do you think, Pierre?”
“She’s right, we can catch up the way she said.”
“How many are there, besides the fake captain and his second-in-command?”
“As far as I could see, they were ten total. There were the men that came with them on the longboat and four who guard the men on the ship,” she answered.
“Give the go ahead. We are going on a rescue mission!” Roberto said to Pierre, who laughed at the new adventure. Roberto grinned, his anger forgotten.
When Pierre barked the new orders on the upper deck the pirates were stunned. Rescue mission what absurdity was this they muttered among each other but did as they were told.
†††
July 16, 1625
Will I ever forget the day I deliberately turned my back on Qonchita, the disappointment and shock when I did nothing?
It was a warm summer day like today, but there was nowhere to turn for shade. The tall grasses made it difficult to see any one. I had to make a path for the remaining group on our way to the fort. I remembered we had stopped at this fort two years ago when our supplies ran out before we could anchor in Delogao Bay farther south, down the coast.
I went to investigate and took a few men with me. They all died on the way of fever. I myself almost died as I reached the fort. The fever got hold of me but the doctor helped me and I lived. I was gone for three weeks. In that time the group we left behind had similar fates. Only six remained.
I recovered fully and the governor of the fort sent a few men with me to help. With enough food and medication to assist the last survivors. It took us seven days to reach them.
We stayed for a day helping the last six to gain some strength but it was not enough. Although tired we carried them weak and exhausted after the last encounter. I had Rosa-Lee on my back since Qonchita was too weak to even carry her own child. At one point her legs collapsed under her in pure exhaustion and we still had two days walk left. Rosa-Lee was asleep and I decided to stop and let the people rest.
Kayla was very clingy and refused to let go of me. I wrapped both Rosa-Lee and Kayla in my arms, sat with them in my lap, and dozed off. The strain of carrying them and making a path was too much for my own weak body.
Qonchita just sat where she collapsed, bleeding, for a few hours and I left her. I didn’t notice this or go to her aid. When I finally wo
ke I looked for her and saw her crying. I tried to get away from the two young ones but Kayla was determined and refused to let go. From where I sat I could see her feet were raw once again and I turned my back. Maybe because I was so weary, nevertheless I did nothing to help her and at the end Alfonso helped her.
As sick as he was he administered the ointment I had brought with me from the fort, applying it to her feet. She was angry with me and did not talk to me while we walked to the fort. Even during the first week of our recovery at the fort she kept her distance.
In the end, fear of a spider caused her to run back to me. When I “rescued” her and carried her away in my arms, I explained as best I could. She is beautiful when angry. I had great pleasure watching her as she went on about it, but when I kissed her into silence she was like putty in my hands.
She forgave me.
A Pirate's Wife Page 7