Authors: Lynelle Clark
'There is something you need to know Roberto,
about your parents,' Captain le Roux said.
'Yes?'
'Your father passed away six months ago, and your
mother four months ago. They both came down with the
fever. I only received the news three months ago. I am
sorry, Roberto. There is a neighbour looking after the place,
awaiting your return.'
A silence fell among them and Rosa-Lee reached
for her husband. She knew how much he had wanted to see
his parents again, and now they were both gone. It was
devastating news for him. He blinked his eyes as moistness
formed and bowed his head for a second.
'I have found the will that your father left. You
receive everything, of course, and with it there is a letter
from him to you.'
The Captain handed two letters over to him. He had
to walk away as he read the letter from his father. Standing
at the corner of the tavern, he inhaled deeply at the gravity
of not being able to see them again. It was a short letter.
His father was not one to mince words. It told him how
much they had missed him. The handwriting was shaky
with some words blurred but he managed to read it with a
sober expression.
How he had missed these two people over the years.
He now knew he would never see them again. He would
miss their wisdom, their love for the land that he had
shared. He would never share with them his return, his
newfound love, being a father. A tear ran down his face,
which he wiped away, reliving the good times in his mind.
When he turned back, his emotions were under
control and he spoke. 'Thank you, Captain, for everything
you did for them.' He shook Captain le Roux's hand firmly.
'Your farm is waiting for you; for you and your
wife. Go and claim it!' he slapped Roberto on the shoulder.
'You have our blessing. You have done a lot for us
over the years. There will be, of course, a bonus included in
your pay. Everything else you can keep,' he said smiling at
him.
'Thanks, Captain.' He wrapped his wife in his arms.
This was his life and his family. He kissed her solemnly.
21
Pierre was made the new Captain of the
Contra O
Vento.
It seemed that Cisco had been informed of the new
arrangements by letter and, according to the captain, was
pleased that his ship would be used in future endeavours,
still under the cover of a protector of his merchant ship.
Pierre and Nora were smitten with each other,
walking along the beach just talking about everything,
holding hands.
Nora was happy about his new assignment and told
him as much, enjoying the young Captain's closeness and
tenderness since they met. The moment they kissed the first
time, she knew this was the man for her and she was not
shy in her affections for him.
Pierre knew this was the woman for him, even if
she was very young. He spent as much time with her as
propriety dictated, not that there was any one that would
scold him, but his mother raised him to treat a lady right
and it came naturally with her. Nevertheless, the biggest
thing on his mind was that he had to be convinced when he
proposed to her that she would be content with him being
on the sea, away from her for long months.
She would stay on the farm with his mother and
sister during the long months he would be away. He told
her all about the land near Lyon and the life they led there.
The life of a sea captain was hard and lonely for any man,
but when a loving wife waits, it makes it all worthwhile.
It took her two days to think about it, talking to
Rosa-Lee and Roberto, seeking advice from them. Rosa-
Lee asked her one question: 'What does your heart tell
you?' Then and there and she knew, returning with a
positive answer. Pierre was ecstatic about her answer,
twirling her around in the air to the delight of everyone.
That night they celebrated under the bright moon and starry
sky, people laughing and eating. When he returned her to
her hut, he had a difficult time leaving her but he wanted to
do right by her.
They stayed on the island for a week to recover and
restock food and water. In that time Roberto showed Rosa-
Lee around the island. She saw all his favourite spots
overlooking the sea from different angles, and found the
natives interesting. Their nights were filled with bliss and
he took her in his arms and loved her without any pressure
or lingering uncertainty.
Pierre returned Nora to Mozambique where she had
been abducted. Nora was the daughter of a Dutch
landowner, and they went to ask for permission for their
marriage before they would set sail to France. They arrived
one night during a festival her father celebrated for her
mother.
Roberto and Rosa-Lee accompanied them on the
journey, getting to know the new country and buying
beautiful pieces of furniture for their home.
They spent a week with Nora's family, who were
relieved and glad that she was alive and well. Her mother,
Truida, had been in such a state of distress through all the
time her daughter was missing and her father had a hard
time consoling his wife.
Her father, Geert, and Pierre had long talks about
his life on the open sea. He had to convince her father that
he was the right man for her. Though he would be gone on
long voyages, Pierre assured him that Nora would be in
safe hands. His mother and sister would look after her.
The marriage ceremony was performed at the
parent's estate, to the great delight of her mother, who went
all out, creating the perfect wedding within a week, a
record for any mother.
That night he made love to her for the first time,
banishing from her memory the brutality she had
experienced at the hands of her pirate captor. When she
relaxed with him she blossomed under his loving attention,
giving herself to the man she loved in an orgasmic
euphoria. For two days, they were not seen as Pierre
indulged himself in the little lady with the heated passion.
Nora was a well-bred lady who, after the ordeal and
in his tender care, became a vibrant young woman. Pierre
loved every moment with her. Her love for the land and its
people was evident when she showed him the estate. Her
knowledge was vast and full of wit. He knew he had made
the right choice. His mother would love her dearly. She
could entertain him, playing the piano masterfully, and
made him feel like the luckiest man alive.
They laughed easily, enjoying life in general and
were a beautiful couple. Her mother was at ease when Nora
left with her new husband.
Pedro gave Rosa-Lee a letter to their parents
explaining all the events, and his employment with the
D.E.I.C. with the promise that he would see them soon.
He had turned into a responsible, hard-working man
that loved the sea, a man her father would be proud of.
Captain Alfonso was found with their father's
merchant ship, healthy and with a toothless grin. The
D.E.I.C. hid him away so that the Falcon could not find
him. When Rosa-Lee saw him, she cried for joy, flinging
herself into the older man's arms. He patted her on the
back, assuring her that he was fine. She thought that he had
also fallen under the sword of the pirates, and was greatly
relieved when he joined them on route to Portugal.
Soon all were on the deck of the Almaida merchant
ship, heading back to Portugal. The group was excited
about their new lives awaiting them, but Roberto had to
admit to himself that he dreaded meeting his new father-in-
law. What kind of reception would he receive from Cisco
Almaida?
They had not met under the best of circumstances.
He had kidnapped the man's daughter right under his nose.
How would he react to their bonding as a married couple?
Looking at his sleeping wife, he stroked the
protruding belly with a big calloused hand, a contented
smile a permanent fixture on his face now. The scar was
part of his attractiveness and not fierce-looking at all.
He loved her. There was no doubt in his mind, but
meeting this brave man he had heard of so many times
made him worry. What if he did not accept him as her
husband?
Could he really live without his Rosa? There was
just no way he could. He scowled and he pulled her closer,
leaning over the sleeping form and kissing her, demanding
attention from her sleepy form. With a sigh, she opened her
warm mouth.
He covered her with his body, desperately searching
for her, and in a daze she realized something was wrong, a
reminder of the days before they had met the Falcon. Since
then she had gotten used to her very tender husband and
she pushed him back softly, not to alarm him. Her eyes
blinked in the dark to take him in and she whispered,
'Hey, what is wrong?' He did not answer, and just
consumed her more with his heated desire, and although he
stoked the same feelings within her, something was not
right.
'Roberto.' She tried again, out of breath. 'Tell me,'
she urged him and he looked at her with sad eyes. He bent
his head low over her body again, demanding her, and she
thought it best to comply, allowing him to brand her with
his lips and body like those days at sea. An all-consuming
passion sizzled in the air, fogging their minds and the world
out there, until there were only their bodies connecting in a
euphoric bliss.
When they finally came down, back on the soft
mattress, wrapped in each other's arms, trying to get in
control of their breathing, she looked up into the gorgeous
face and asked once again,
'What is bothering you, Roberto?'
He looked at her with dark piercing eyes, tracing
her spine with a finger.
'It is nothing.' He tried to shrug it away.
'No it is not. Come on, tell me.' She started to tickle
him between the two ribs, a spot she knew by now. He was
ticklish and he grinned, grabbing her hand to stop her. She
chuckled.
'You don't play fair,' he pouted.
'Well, are you going to talk to me?' She rose,
leaning on her elbow, all her attention fixated on him. He
looked away, avoiding the piercing eyes. She turned his
face back to her, cuddling into him with a leg over him.
'I am scared of losing you,' he finally admitted, and
she gasped
'Why? I plan to stick to you like barnacles on the
hull of the ship. I'm going nowhere.'
He knew this was stupid to think like this but he
could not help it and the dread came out as a hoarse,
croaking sound.
'Your father ... ' He lifted his eyes, filled with dread
and terror instead of his normal stern expression. 'He will
hate me.'
Dumbfounded, she looked at him, her lips parted in
a gasp, and she lifted herself on top of him.
'Do you really think that?'
'Yes, I do.' She looked away, not sure what to think.
She had thought about her parents' reaction during this time
and what they would think of the union. They would be
shocked and surprised but they would not hate him. They
might be angry but they would not chase him away. She
turned her gaze back to him and laid a hand on the scarred
cheek, beautiful and full of character.
'They will never chase you away,' she whispered.
'They would trust my judgment and when they see that I
truly love you, they will love you.' Leaning closer, she
kissed his eyes and face tenderly, with words lingering
between each kiss.
'You are an amazing man and my father will see
that and love you,' she continued. 'He might be angry for a
day, but he will love you.' She sat up straight, lifting her leg
over him and straddled him, cupping his face.
'I cannot believe my big pirate who is scared of
nothing is fearful of meeting the in-laws,' she giggled, and
he grinned at her remark, but also at the perfect view he
had of her.
'My mother will adore you. My other brother may
challenge you, but he will like you.' He wrapped his arms
around her body, her long flowing hair curtaining them in.
'You are silly to think this way.'
'Your father is Cisco Almaida. Even the Falcon
admired the man, and I kidnapped you out of his house,
insulted him. If it was me, I would shoot me.' She placed a
finger on his lips.
'He will not shoot you, Roberto. He is loving and
caring, everything you are as well. He will understand.' She
placed another kiss on his plump lips.
'He is brave and caring and not a hard, careless
man. You will see.' she began straddling him with her
enticing hips and he groaned softly.
'You are a temptress.'
'You taught me, so don't complain.'