Chapter 15
Howard listened to Diana’s song from
the window and closed his eyes. He absent mindedly placed his fingers on the
tattoo on his right wrist. He found himself gazing at it his wrist, His mind
wandering to his past. He slowly walked to the window and felt his heart ache
as he watched Diana crying. It was hard but he was torn, he didn’t know what to
do or how to be himself anymore. Ever since his wife was murdered he felt
empty. He still remembered meeting her for the first time.
~*~*~* Flashback*~*~*~*~
Howard was back in Spain from 3 years
at sea since he was taken in by Captain Espinosa. He knew where he would find
the gypsies and made his way towards the forest up towards the caves. He was
wearing a pair of black slacks with black boots, a white puffy shirt with a
black open vest. He had a red sash wrapped around his waist and his hair was
held back by a red handkerchief tied around his head. He found a small stream
and took a rest and a drink of water. Closing his eyes he listened to the sound
of the forest but noticed someone singing in the distance. It was a rhythm he
would never forget. There in the distance a young woman about 18 years of
age sat by the stream washing laundry and singing a very soft Nana.
Cuentan caminos y valles
Cantando cuentan caminos y valles...
Tomillo y flor de azahar....
Traviesa la luz de la aurora
En busca de realidad transparente...
...y de blanco azahar...
y blanca espuma de mar que adivina...
...la soleá...
Nainananá y Nainananá
Corrientes de agua fluyendo
laas diosas susurran en sueños...
hechizo de ocaso, profundo esqueleto...
Duerme!!!!
Nana nanita nana
Nana nanita
duerme
Howard was mesmerized by her voice her
long black hair shining in the sun. He skin tan from working in the sun. He
loved the way her white skirt blew in the wind; her top consisted of a blue
blouse and a bodice in a light shade of fuchsia. He slowly made his way towards
her and stood at a small distance from her. Taking a deep breath he cleared his
throat and spoke.
“Permiso señorita, I did not mean to
frighten you” He said and raised his hands to show he had no weapons.
“What are you doing here señor?”
She asked as she collected her laundry and placed it in the basket to
take back to the camp.
“My name is Howard I am a gypsy” He
said and raised his sleeve to show her his tattoo.
“Well then please let me take you to
the Kumpaña” she said. “My name is Esmeralda” she called to him as she lead him
the way to her
home.
Howard smiled and felt his heart skip
a beat. This woman has put him under a spell and has stolen his heart. They
walked through the forest up a path way leading to the mouth of a cave. Howard
could smell the aroma of a goat being roasted on a spit. He Smiled and felt at
home with these people. He shook hands with elders and was presented to the
women elders and young ones. He smiled as they welcomed him home. At night fall
the festivities began and Howard was happy to be back singing and dancing with
his people. He blushed when Esmeralda asked him to dance sevillanas with him.
He found himself mesmerized by this woman’s beauty and grace as she
danced with him, his heart pounding in his chest at how beautiful her deep
brown eyes shone in the light of the camp
fire.
The next day Howard awoke to the smell
of breakfast being cooked and the hustle and bustle of the people and their
chores. Getting dressed he walked out of the tenet and began helping anyway he
could.
Howard stayed with the Kumpaña for 3
years. He got to know and love Esmeralda and they both grew very fond of each
other. It was a starry night and Howard had asked Esmeralda to the stream where
they first met. He smiled at the way her white dress decorated in a floral
patter flowed around her body and blue sash wrapped around her waist. Esmeralda
blushed when she caught him staring at her. She loved how his long curls fell
softly over his face, his beard was so manly. Howard took Esmeraldas hand in
his and pulled her close to him. He turned to face her and gazed into her eyes.
He gently raised his hand to her face and caressed her cheek gently with his
thumb. Esmeralda felt lost in Howards deep Chocolate brown eyes. Howards took a
deep breath and blushed.
“Esmeralda I know this is not
the way we do this but I have changed from the gypsy ways” He said and held
both her hands in his.
“Howard is everything alright?” She
asked concerned.
“I asked your father permission before
I decided to take you here tonight and I wanted to look at you with the moons
light, Esmeralda, will you marry me?” Howard said.
~*~*~*~*~*~End Flashback~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
He sighed at the memory of that day.
He felt his heart ache for Esmeralda to be back in his arms, but alas she was
six feet under. He turned away from the window to see Kevin standing at the
door way.
“Captain, is everything alright?” he
asked
“I don’t know what is going on my
friend, I feel torn in two” Howard said as he sat on the foot of the bed his
head hung low.
“Howard if I may be honest with
you……I feel that you should let the girl go. You are holding on to Esmeralda
through her and it is only making you feel worse” Kevin said as he looked at
the painting of Esmeralda Howard had made.
“I should just let her be” Howard said
as he walked out the
door.
Kevin watched as Howard walked
out of the room and followed closely behind. He looked to Nicholas and smiled.
“Take a break from that lad,
I’ll handle the Captains dinner you go and meet with Rachel, I hear that Ms.
Crawford has been asking about you” Kevin said and patted nicks back.
“Thank you sir” Nicholas said as he
scrambled to fix his hair and ran out the door.
“Ahh young love” He said to himself as
he made sure the fire stayed
hot.
Diana continued to look out into
the horizon as the stars began to come out. Her eyes had run out of tears to
shed as she thought of how her life would turn out now. She felt the wind
caress her face and found she was thinking of Howard when he was soft and
gentle. Howard cleared his throat making her jump. He kept his distance as she
stood and felt his breath caught in his throat as he found her beautiful under
the moon light. Diana could feel her heart jump as she saw Howard before his
chest bare his muscles defined. She gasped inwardly at the scars and burns she
saw, surly from battles and wars.
“I will get back to work captain” She
said breaking the silence as she avoided his gaze and headed towards the house.
“Please wait” He said and took her
hand as she
passed.
Diana looked up at the captain and
noticed the change in his eyes, no longer where they dark and full of pain but,
gentle and full of sadness. She stood in place her eyes gazing into his waiting
for him to speak again.
“I want to apologize, I have had
a lot going on inside of me and I should not have brought it out upon you” He
whispered softly.
“It is alright Captain, now if you
would excuse me I have chores I need to finish” she said softly and tried to
walk away only to be stopped by Howards gentle hand again.
“Diana, you are free to come and go as
you please, I am setting you free” He said and let go of
her hands.
Diana starred at him as he walked off
to the tree overlooking the cliff. She was shocked at what he had said. It was
the last thing she expected from him after everything he did. She walked into
the house to find Kevin giving her a soft smile.
“I take it the captain has apologized
for his rude behavior” Kevin said as he served her a plate of
food.
Diana could only nod as she ate
quietly, her mind deep in thought. She looked back to see Howard leaning against
the tree, she could tell he was looking off into the horizon. His hair flowing
in the wind and she longed to run her fingers through it but shook her head of
the thought. Finishing her meal she walked back to the entrance hall to
finish her chore of cleaning the floor. Kevin watched as she did what she was
told not to do and smiled inwardly, he could tell she was feeling something for
Howard and he only hoped that this would help him through his
pain.
Meanwhile Nicholas reached the home of
Ms. Rachel Crawford, who he had been shyly talking to for a long time. He
smiled when she answered the door. Her short hair was in curls around her face
and her dark blue eyes sparkling in the lamp light. He gasped at the dress she
was wearing. A long green and gold ruffle skirt with a matching corset that
made her curves just right. He blushed at the thought of holding her in his
arms and cleared his throat.
“Evening Ms. Crawford” He said shyly.
“Oh Nicholas, Please call me Rachel
there is no need for pleasantries” She said and smiled.
“Yes of course Rachel, I was wondering
if you’d like to talk a walk out under the stars with me tonight.” He said
shyly.
“I’ll grab my shawl” She said and
blushed.
Nicholas felt his heart soar as she returned
and linked her arm with his as they walked down the empty market street under
the moon lit night the stars glistening brightly. He couldn’t help but talk
about his adventures at sea and how he wondered if his father was as brave as
Captain Howard.
“Oh Rachel you have to meet my new
friend” He said excitedly.
“You need to tell me all about your
friend” She said and smiled.
“Now don’t take offence because she is
a woman but, The Captain is very smitten with her, and she is like a sister to
me” He explained.
“Nicholas, you are the kindest person
I have met her in Tortuga, and any friend of yours is a friend of mine” She
said.
“I was wondering if you could well,
help her adjust to life here on Tortuga, you see she is from a gypsy village in
Spain and well…… I would like her to have you as a friend and maybe help me get
her and the Captain…well……I guess you can say help me push them in the right
direction with the help of Mr. Kevin of course” He rambled making Rachel laugh
.“Nicholas for you I’d do anything as
long as it made you happy” She said and without another though kissed him
gently on the
lips.
Nicholas stood in awe as the
realization that she had kissed him kicked in. Taking a deep breath he looked
in to her eyes. His blue eyes looked into hers as he took her hand and gently
pulled her toward him and held her face softly in his hand, his thumb
caressing her cheek gently as he gave her a long sweet passionate kiss.
***
