Chapter Twenty-Six

The next day Vince strode up to the cottage to see how Maura was. Yesterday Jane had given him orders to leave the woman alone without telling him why and he was a little frustrated about it. However, today was a new day, he had yet to see Jane and she was not going to stop him checking on Maura, it was his main order anyway, to look after her and keep an eye on her around the village. It was still early morning but she was not sitting atop the cliff so Vince knocked lightly on the cottage door and announced himself. He heard a quiet, "Just a moment," and stood back to wait. When she opened the door a few moments later Vince checked her over briefly noting how tired and despondent she looked before saying good morning. Maura said a polite good morning back but Vince could tell she did not really believe it was a good morning. He wanted to apologize to her for whatever had taken place yesterday between her and the captain so he just came right out with it.

"I'm sorry fer what happened yesterday' lass. I knew Jane be thar I jus' did nay think ye would be left alone wi' her, she has one short an' nasty temper Jane does."

"Pardon my frankness Vince but why are you looking out for me, you don't even know me."

Vince took a step back from where Maura stood in the doorway and stroked his mustache thoughtfully.

"Well I be havin' me orders from th' captain t' look after ye an' take ye around th' village when ye wish. But ye seem like an' okay lass, maybe yer a wee different than other wealthy lasses. Ye seem genuine kind an' such."

He watched as Maura cocked her head to the side, she seemed confused and flustered.

"What`s th' matter lass?"

"You don't think I am faking who I am? I mean I know who I am and it should not matter what other people think of me, and usually it doesn't, but for some reason I don't understand why, it does this time. God I'm sorry I am babbling and you have no idea what I'm talking about, just forget I said anything."

"If 't makes any difference lass I dasn't think yer puttin' on an act. Who said ye 'ere anyway?"
"Jane."

"Ahh…I see!"

"See what?"

"I wouldna put any stock in what Jane says, she ain`t too good wi' lasses an' words an' feelings an' all that muck. She be blunt an' t' th' point, says 't like 'tis, although this time I think she be wrong."

Maura remained silent.

"Come on lass, be ye up fer a walk? I won`t take ye near Jane, 't be arrite."

"Okay." She replied after some hesitation.

Vince turned around as spoke up, "And Vince. Uh thank you for being nice to me."

Vince just shrugged his shoulders and they set off down into the village. Unfortunately, the weather was beginning to turn overcast, the sky was turning grey and a chilly wind was beginning to form. Maura hugged herself as she walked; she did not want to stay out too long with the cool wind building.

"Looks like we could be gettin' some rain." Vince stated casually.

"The weather is different here, I mean wherever this island is, I have no clue where we are."

"I canna tell ye that."

"Oh I know, captains orders right?" Maura said quietly.

"Aye I'm afraid so lass."

Maura shrugged lightly and looked away. They reached the branch in the path that led them down to the beach and for the first time she noticed that the path continued straight ahead up into the forest, it didn't just turn to go to Jane's house.

"What's up that way?" She pointed up into the forest.

"Rest o' th' island, rivers, mountains, forest. 'Tis Jane an' th' crews huntin' ground, go off fer days at a time huntin' fer th' village."

"What type of animals live here?"
"Monkeys, crocodiles, dear, rabbits, wild pigs, jaguars, ocelots are some."

"Oh my there is a lot, more than I thought there would be."
"Aye 't ain`t safe t' go off in thar by yersef, e'en us men dasn't go in thar alone."

Maura turned in a slow circle simply observing everyone in the village. No one besides Vince spoke to her, Maura guessed they were used to seeing strangers like her from time to time but after the initial observation, they just ignored her as if she was not even there. Maura felt like it was almost taboo for anyone to speak with her and she was used to being ostracized, yet that did not make it any less lonely at times. There were woman working out in the fields to the right of the path behind the buildings and Maura walked between two of them until she was overlooking the large fields. Beyond them herds of cows, sheep and goats grazed in long lush grass. The whole area was bordered off by the same mountains that continued out into the water that made up one side of the cove wall. The island was wild and primitive to a degree and it made Maura feel inconsequential.

"This island is without a doubt beautiful," She spoke reverently, "How long has you lived here?"

"Quite a long time now lass, more than I can reckon, but aye 'tis a bonny place."

"Bonny?"

"Aye, beautiful."

Maura looked up at the sky, it was all grey and gloomy now, but the rain seemed to be holding off for the moment, "Would you mind if we walked through the fields?"

"Lead th' way." Maura smiled gratefully at Vince before making her way into the fields. Women were walking through row after row of dirt mounds dropping tiny seeds. Maura noted with fascination that after every couple of rows, a different type of seed was dropped out and she was excited to know what they were planting. Without thinking she walked up to the first woman she was closest to, "Excuse me what are you all planting?"

The dark woman glanced at her sharply, eying Maura with brown eyes suspiciously.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to be rude, what you are doing is just interesting to …." She trailed off as she realized the young woman was still eying her dubiously and made no move to say anything. Maura tried a different tact.

"What is your name? I'm Maura."

The woman ignored her still, Maura deflated on a sigh, and Vince stepped in to take over.

"'Tis okay Anna. Maura this be Anna, Barry's wife."
"Oh your children are beautiful Anna," Anna relaxed some but was still wary, "You have seen my children?"

"Yes Abby gave me a flower and I helped your boy Liam catch tadpoles."
Anna studied Maura openly, looking her up and down gravely and Maura grew nervous and uncomfortable.

Darn it I must have said something wrong she does not like me!

"You must be the nice lady Abby was telling me about. You're the prisoner."

"Yes…well I guess I am."

"Why a rich woman like you interested in what poor women like us do."

Maura was upset and baffled, she was only trying to find out what they were doing, because she was genuinely fascinated, but she had to admit they came from two very different worlds and Anna was right in a way, someone with her wealth and stature should not be interested in what a bunch of pirates wives were doing. However, Maura was, she felt more comfortable and at home around people who weren't rich and wealthy given a few exceptions. But Anna didn't know that. Maura did not know what to say but knew she had to say something, she wanted these women to know she was kind and not stuck up, that it did not matter to her weather they were poor.

"I don't mean to offend you, I know a lady of my uh…breeding should not be interested in such things, but I am, I enjoy learning. Would it be okay if you showed me what you were planting?" She tried to convey as much kindness and warmth as she could towards Anna who just glanced at Vince in confusion. Vince merely shrugged his shoulders and held up his hands as if to say he had no idea why someone like Maura would be interested in planting and harvesting, to them it was extremely unusual. Anna looked back to Maura who was glancing hopefully between the two and shrugged her shoulders as well.

"I guess I could show you a little."

Maura clapped her hands and smiled brilliantly and Anna and Vince shared another glance, but Vince was smiling also. Before Anna got a chance to tell Maura what her and the other women where planting, Maura in all her social awkwardness launched a million questions at Anna about Barry and their children like she and Anna had been friends for years and it was the most natural thing in the world to ask about each others families. One of Anna's dark, slim eyebrows rose, "You are certainly nosy."

"I'm sorry, I usually say the wrong things, please what are these you're planting now?" Maura gushed in embarrassment and pointed to the row Anna was spreading seeds in.

"These are pumpkin seeds. The other women are planting potatoes, turnips, parsnips, carrots, cabbage, celery, radish, tomatoes and onions."

"There are so many, I would like to help you, can I help you please?"

"Anna would ye mind? She be harmless." Vince chimed in.

Anna glanced warily at Maura and nodded, she handed Maura some pumpkin seeds and Maura smiled warmly at her, "Thank you."

Maura and Vince ended up spending a good couple of hours in the fields with Anna. Anna showed Maura how to scatter the pumpkin seeds and Anna let her do half a row before they switched to other seeds and Maura helped with those. She had seen the other woman watching her curiously or huddled together at the end of a row talking and giggling but none of them had approached her. Maura had worked silently as she did not know what to say to Anna and Anna was too busy concentrating, while Vince had simply sat under the shade of a tree near the fields and slept the whole time. Nevertheless, for Maura it was the most enjoyable time she'd had in quite a while. She was distracted from her problems and had almost felt normal, as if she was at home with Trudy helping her in her father's vegetable garden. It was quiet, repetitive work and over the hours the grey-clouded sky continued to darken and the clouds hung low and threatening, the cold wind picked up considerably as well and whipped her golden hair around her face. The women were not finished planting but the clouds opened up and rain came pouring to earth in heavy sheets. Maura squealed at as the first freezing fat drops pelted her everywhere they hit and Vince appeared beside her, grabbed her and Anna's hands, and helped them through the downpour back to the village. All three of them and the other woman where saturated as they ran though the village and disappeared into their houses. Vince steered Anna to her house and she thanked him before going inside.

"Come on lass."

Maura and Vince hurried as fast as they could through the rain and their legs were covered in mud as they reached the steep incline.

"Oh Vince," Maura shouted through the drenching rain, "We won't make it up there!" The incline had turned into more of a muddy water slide than a path.

"We be havin' t' try lass, ye canna stay in th' rain."

Vince tightened his hold on Maura's hand as they struggled and slipped up the path, Maura was even more muddy and cold by the time they reached the top and she shivered uncontrollably.

"Thank…thank you Vince."

"Go inside lass. This rain be set in, I'll be seein' ye tomorrow."

He turned and disappeared into the rain before Maura had a chance to call him into the cottage, she found she was worried about him and hoped he would make it back to his house safely. Maura hurried inside and closed all the windows and curtains before any more rain blew into the cottage. Grabbing a towel, she wiped away as much mud as she could and shivered as she peeled off her soaking dress and pulled her nightgown over her head before towel drying her hair with a fresh towel. She wished desperately for a brush as she hung her wet muddy dress and towels over the side of the bath. Lighting the two lamps she grabbed the book of Jane's she had been reading and hopped into bed, snuggling under the covers to try keep warm. The wind howled outside and the rain pelted the roof as Maura got lost in Jane's book, it was a collection of biographies and she was finding it absolutely fascinating. A few hours sped by but the rain and wind was only becoming stronger and heavier and Maura was starting to get a little worried, the windows were rattling in their frames and she glanced around the cottage before setting the book aside and getting out of bed. She peeked through a curtain and was alarmed by the blackness of the sky.

Surely, it isn't supposed to be so dark.

The air seemed to be growing colder and Maura did not know if this weather was normal or not but she was beginning to wish she was not alone. She tried to make house Jane's house or anything else distinguishable but it was too dark and windy. The trees were bending from the pressure of the wind and leaves and other small debris flew around wildly. There was no way Maria would be able to bring Maura her dinner tonight and it only made her feel more alone and vulnerable. She lay back down, tried to distract herself from the storm by reading, and managed to pass another hour before she gave up and closed the book. Maura got out of bed gasped as she stood in a puddle, the rain had started seeping in through the bottom of the walls and the floorboards, the wind was getting even stronger still and Maura was all the more frightened. She started to pace back and forth worriedly not knowing what to do when suddenly a large branch crashed through the back wall and knocked her flying and she hit the floor heavily and moaned in pain. Lying stunned on the wet floor, Maura tried to make out what had happened but her head hurt immensely and a warm sticky substance ran into her right eye. She wiped at it and realized vaguely that it was her own blood. She stayed on the floor until her vision cleared somewhat and the throbbing in her head died down before attempting to move and feebly crawled her way to the bed. She dragged herself up and sat on the edge, shivering erratically. Her vision was blurring again, her head stabbed painfully, and she felt like vomiting. Maura knew she had to do something about the pain in her head that she was probably bleeding everywhere but she was not coordinated enough and too disorientated. She heard and felt the wind, rain and debris tearing through the cottage but didn't quite understand what was going on. Maura suddenly felt very tired and wanted to sleep but the next thing she made out was a dark blurry form coming towards her in the semi darkness and then she was against something warm and hard and instinctively she pushed herself further into the source of warmth. That was all Maura remembered before darkness overtook her.