Chapter One

Six Years Later

Lacey held onto Clara's arm as they both walked through the lovely rose garden. The garden was one of the few things both girls had in common. The way the flowers caused colors to bounce off one another had made both sisters appreciate the garden for different reasons. Clara loved the delicateness that each rose petal held. While Lacey enjoyed the vibrancy the garden had. It was a place that her imagination had ran wild. As a child, she had pretended to be on many adventures there. Most adventures had her secret lover in it. Of course, he was imagined as well. This imaginary lover was always the man she had spied as a child of age twelve.

Lacey stopped to pluck a rose from its bush. She jerked her finger back as a droplet of blood pooled on it. She stuck her finger in her mouth trying to suck away the pain.

"Be careful, sister." Clara took Lacey's hand in hers. "The thorns are large."

Lacey smiled over at her sister. Lacey took her hand from Clara's grasp. She watched the white petal stain with the crimson color of her blood. "Isn't it strange that which looks so beautiful can sometimes be dangerous to the touch?"

Clara shrugged. She was used to Lacey being the quirky sort. Clara was the opposite. Her ways were of logic and not dreaming. She had even married due to logic. Love was involved but not the breathtaking love that her younger sister would sometimes tale tales of.

"This is my last day as a single woman." Lacey wistfully drew circles on the soft petal of the white rose. "Tis time to grow up."

"You are eighteen, Lacey. Most girls dream of marrying long before you chose to do." Clara once again looped her arm into her sisters. "Your foolish fantasies are to be put away for life's reality."

"I know this, Clara." Lacey closed her eyes as she sighed. "I am doing my duty as a daughter."

"You best be prepared to do your duty as a wife." Clara glanced sideways at her sister. "Ricardo is a fine catch. He owns many merchant ships. He has been more than kind helping our family. Father is growing older. His illness has increased each day. I only wish Alfred were here to help out as well."

"Rico is a fine person." Lacey sighed out. She had taken to affectionately calling Ricardo his nickname of Rico. It was the name most called him now. It had even spread among the merchants and ships' crews. Lacey placed her hand over Clara's and squeezed. "I know you miss him. Alfred was a good man. I am only sorry he died so early in life."

"He was murdered by a brutal pirate at sea. He was protecting Rico's spoils and paid with his life." Clara pushed back her hair as wind ripped through it. "I am proud of how he died. He showed himself courageous."

"As I said, I am sorry." Lacey could see a glisten of tears in her sister's eyes.

"It has been three years. I shall not dwell on it." Clara allowed a smile to crease her face. "Now, let us talk of your wedding tomorrow."

Lacey smiled for her sister. The wedding was something that Clara had worked hard on. Clara's own wedding was miniscule as Alfred was not of the social class that Rico was. Therefore, she would allow both her sister and mother to revel in her upcoming nuptials. Lacey knew that her dreams were frivolous and it was time to push them aside for her family's wellbeing. Besides, Rico was a nice enough man. She found him mildly attractive. It would be a good marriage for her. Despite the nagging feeling of doom, Lacey did want to make Rico happy with her as his bride.

Danny pulled onto the rope that was held by the mizzenmast. A storm was raging causing havoc on his ship. He looked over at his crewmen making sure all were doing their duties.

"Sir, the ship is being beat in these waters. A port is close and stands behind a large mountain. The mountain can block the winds." His first mate yelled over top of the crashing waves. "We would be safe there."

"We will be safe if we do our duties well." Danny jerked the rope wrapping it around his waist. "Man your duties, Tyler."

"Aye, Captain" Tyler breathed out in irritation. His captain had long given up the family ties they shared to become a cruel and brutal man."As you wish."

"Wish!" Danny glared at his first mate. "Wishing has nothing to do with it. It is as I say. Do you understand?!"

Tyler nodded and turned to walk away. As he stepped on the deck, he slipped. Tyler fell to his knees and slid across the deck. His body almost went over the edge of the ship. However, a strong arm caught his arm and held tightly. Tyler looked up to see Danny holding tightly to him. Danny's muscles in his arms tightened as he gripped to Tyler. Tyler pulled up by Danny's arm trying to gain his footing.

"Thank you, Captain." Tyler breathed out in gratification. He thought perhaps he saw a glint of the man that Danny once was. However, he knew better. That man had died five years ago. "I will attend my duties."

"I think it best." Danny said as he steadied his first mate.

Tyler sighed in relief as he went to help secure the sails in the storm. He held on tightly to ropes as he did the same as his captain. He too tied a rope around his waist keeping himself on the deck. Archie followed Danny's orders and mimicked him with such a blind obedience. Tyler noticed his younger brother always seemed to admire his captain. Most of the men did. However, admiring a man didn't necessary mean that the man was liked. That was definitely the case when it came to Captain Danny Desai.

"How much longer, Captain?" On old scraggily sea dog tried to scream over the storm. Waves that beat upon their bodies caused harsh pain to hit their skin.

"We will ride out the storm as always. Then it will be no more than two weeks until we reach our destination." Danny yelled back. His muscles flexed in his arms as he pulled on the ropes. His eyes flashed against the lightning dancing over the horizon.

"Two weeks." Danny whispered. "Two weeks until I can fulfill my only wish in this life."