Authors: Lynelle Clark
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