chapter nine
They'd spent half of the night making love. But still he woke just before dawn, Samantha
was cuddled in to his side. One hand spread over his chest. He lifted it to his mouth for
a soft kiss. For once he was not aroused when he woke. The light from the window was
still pale, it was not yet six he guessed. Cero wouldn't be along for awhile yet.
He was drifting, half awake and half a sleep, when a loud sound rattled the ship.
He was up out of bed and grabbing his breeches in his hand as he raced for the
deck.
"Report!" He yelled pulled his clothing on once he saw they weren't sinking or under
attack.
"Captain, we sighed several whales during watch, we think one may have bumped
us."
"A whale? Are you sure there is no damage?"
"Si, Captain, I sent men to all cargo holds and below no water is leaking."
"Bene Gergio that was quick thinking, can the watch see the whales still?"
"Si, Captain, they are moving off to the west now." He pointed.
If you looked closely you could just make out the humps of their dorsal fin.
"Bene, I'm sure most of the men woke with a start this morning ahh?" He slapped the
mate on the back and returned below deck.
"What is happening are we sinking?" Samantha was fully dressed and looked frightened.
"No, cara it was just a curious whale saying good morning." He hugged her and soothed
her. Kissing the bridge of her nose.
"Oh, I saw you rush out, I didn't know."
"Shh, little one, everything is fine." Martin rubbed his large hand over her back.
She was trembling, still frightened.
"I was hoping to eat together this morning. I want to explain to you about Alber'."
"Alber' who is he?"
"He is my most trusted friend, I will be trusting him to set you up with your shop
while I am gone. I would do so myself if the voyage were shorter, but four months
is a long time. You should not have to wait until I return." He kissed her one last
time on the temple and moved to sit at the small table.
"Captain, your breakfast is ready." Cero placed the food and caffe on the table and
turned to leave.
"Grazie, Cero, report any damage to me."
"Si Captain." he bowed and left.
Samantha took her chair at the table, sipping her caffe. "Tell me about him how will
I know him?"
"Alber' is half french as you may have guessed. He is even more of a ladies man than
I, he has several mistresses but no wife at least not last I knew." Martin smiled and
passed the bread to her. Then he continued. "He is tall, with rich dark hair very like
yours now that I think of it, blue eyes and a thick mustache. He will probably be
one of you best customers. He wears only fine clothes that he spends a fortune on."
"How do you know him? He is a ship captain also?"
"No cara he is a friend, from long ago. I trust him, you will like him." Martin continued
to eat.
Samantha was worried, she didn't like the idea of another man having a say in her life.
She'd been under the control of men all her life, and only two of them had treated her
fairly. Her father and Martin.
"Don't worry cara, he is an honest man. You will be protected and cared for I will see
to it."
:::::::::::::::::::
Martin was sure they were very near the coast of Spain now. He would meet Columbus
in port and learn if the supplies they needed were ready. He paced the wheel deck.
The wind was shifting, they would have to tack soon to keep their heading. It was looking
like one more storm would plage them before they reached land the following day.
That meant it was his last night with Samantha. He would have to give her the letters for
Alber' and his banker. He would secure passage for her on a ship returning to Italy.
He had Cero bring him water to wash with, stripping out of his clothes in the companion
way and washing quickly. He dressed in his old shirt and new vest. His clean breeches
and boots as always. He brushed his hair out then tied it back from his face, with a
leather cord. He even shaved, so he would be at his best for his lady.
"How do I look Cero?"
"Magnificio, Captain as always." Cero smiled, holding the small mirror his captain
used to shave with.
"Cero, do I look like a man in love? Will she welcome me in to her heart?"
"Si Captain, the lady is in love with you. How can she not be?"
" I hope you are right my friend. It mean much to me." Martin took a deep breath
then entered his cabin. Samantha was sitting by the window,. watching the waves.
"Good evening cara I'm sorry I couldn't join you at noon, but I was needed on deck."
"Ciao Captain, I know, the wind was difficult today. We changed directions several
times." She stood and moved towards him, balancing on her toes to kiss his cheek.
One hand resting on his shoulder. "I have a gift for you. Cero and I are giving it to
you." She handed him the jacket she'd finished that morning. It was beautiful, soft
suede, in two shades of rich brown. Cut to fit his build perfectly. the fancy stitching
accenting the overall style of the jacket.
"It is molto bello, cara, you made this for me? I do not deserve such a fine jacket."
He held it up, admiring her sewing skill. "Shall I try it on?"
"Si, per favore." she nodded.
Martin slipped off his vest and donned the jacket, it was a perfect fit. Hugging his
shoulders with out constricting them. He fastened the front smoothing the soft
leather over his chest.
"It is perfect Samantha, any man would look good in this jacket." he praised her.
"There is even room for my arms to move, you are a sorceress to create such a wonderful
garment for me." he lowered his mouth over her's kissing her with passion.
Samantha responded holding him tightly, she knew it was their last night. She was already
dreading his leaving her. " You like our gift then?"
"Si, cara, it is wonderful." Martin released his hands from her body. Stepping back to
put space between them. Cero was expected very soon with the evening meal. Martin
didn't want to be in mid love making when he arrived.
"I owe you a special present now. You will have to tell my your birth date so I can
choose a proper gift for you." Martin knew most Italian woman believed it was bad
luck to wear any stone not of their birth month. Except of course for diamonds.
"I was born in the fall, September."
"Sapphires, then they will almost match your eyes." he smiled glad he knew at once
what gem was required.
"A necklace I think, to wear around your lovely neck." Martin smiled.
"I don't need a present caro." she sounded sad, her eyes brimming with tears.
"No sweet one, there is no need for tears. I will be back before you miss me."
He tried to make light of the situation.
"I miss you already." Samantha held back her tears.
They'd spent half of the night making love. But still he woke just before dawn, Samantha
was cuddled in to his side. One hand spread over his chest. He lifted it to his mouth for
a soft kiss. For once he was not aroused when he woke. The light from the window was
still pale, it was not yet six he guessed. Cero wouldn't be along for awhile yet.
He was drifting, half awake and half a sleep, when a loud sound rattled the ship.
He was up out of bed and grabbing his breeches in his hand as he raced for the
deck.
"Report!" He yelled pulled his clothing on once he saw they weren't sinking or under
attack.
"Captain, we sighed several whales during watch, we think one may have bumped
us."
"A whale? Are you sure there is no damage?"
"Si, Captain, I sent men to all cargo holds and below no water is leaking."
"Bene Gergio that was quick thinking, can the watch see the whales still?"
"Si, Captain, they are moving off to the west now." He pointed.
If you looked closely you could just make out the humps of their dorsal fin.
"Bene, I'm sure most of the men woke with a start this morning ahh?" He slapped the
mate on the back and returned below deck.
"What is happening are we sinking?" Samantha was fully dressed and looked frightened.
"No, cara it was just a curious whale saying good morning." He hugged her and soothed
her. Kissing the bridge of her nose.
"Oh, I saw you rush out, I didn't know."
"Shh, little one, everything is fine." Martin rubbed his large hand over her back.
She was trembling, still frightened.
"I was hoping to eat together this morning. I want to explain to you about Alber'."
"Alber' who is he?"
"He is my most trusted friend, I will be trusting him to set you up with your shop
while I am gone. I would do so myself if the voyage were shorter, but four months
is a long time. You should not have to wait until I return." He kissed her one last
time on the temple and moved to sit at the small table.
"Captain, your breakfast is ready." Cero placed the food and caffe on the table and
turned to leave.
"Grazie, Cero, report any damage to me."
"Si Captain." he bowed and left.
Samantha took her chair at the table, sipping her caffe. "Tell me about him how will
I know him?"
"Alber' is half french as you may have guessed. He is even more of a ladies man than
I, he has several mistresses but no wife at least not last I knew." Martin smiled and
passed the bread to her. Then he continued. "He is tall, with rich dark hair very like
yours now that I think of it, blue eyes and a thick mustache. He will probably be
one of you best customers. He wears only fine clothes that he spends a fortune on."
"How do you know him? He is a ship captain also?"
"No cara he is a friend, from long ago. I trust him, you will like him." Martin continued
to eat.
Samantha was worried, she didn't like the idea of another man having a say in her life.
She'd been under the control of men all her life, and only two of them had treated her
fairly. Her father and Martin.
"Don't worry cara, he is an honest man. You will be protected and cared for I will see
to it."
:::::::::::::::::::
Martin was sure they were very near the coast of Spain now. He would meet Columbus
in port and learn if the supplies they needed were ready. He paced the wheel deck.
The wind was shifting, they would have to tack soon to keep their heading. It was looking
like one more storm would plage them before they reached land the following day.
That meant it was his last night with Samantha. He would have to give her the letters for
Alber' and his banker. He would secure passage for her on a ship returning to Italy.
He had Cero bring him water to wash with, stripping out of his clothes in the companion
way and washing quickly. He dressed in his old shirt and new vest. His clean breeches
and boots as always. He brushed his hair out then tied it back from his face, with a
leather cord. He even shaved, so he would be at his best for his lady.
"How do I look Cero?"
"Magnificio, Captain as always." Cero smiled, holding the small mirror his captain
used to shave with.
"Cero, do I look like a man in love? Will she welcome me in to her heart?"
"Si Captain, the lady is in love with you. How can she not be?"
" I hope you are right my friend. It mean much to me." Martin took a deep breath
then entered his cabin. Samantha was sitting by the window,. watching the waves.
"Good evening cara I'm sorry I couldn't join you at noon, but I was needed on deck."
"Ciao Captain, I know, the wind was difficult today. We changed directions several
times." She stood and moved towards him, balancing on her toes to kiss his cheek.
One hand resting on his shoulder. "I have a gift for you. Cero and I are giving it to
you." She handed him the jacket she'd finished that morning. It was beautiful, soft
suede, in two shades of rich brown. Cut to fit his build perfectly. the fancy stitching
accenting the overall style of the jacket.
"It is molto bello, cara, you made this for me? I do not deserve such a fine jacket."
He held it up, admiring her sewing skill. "Shall I try it on?"
"Si, per favore." she nodded.
Martin slipped off his vest and donned the jacket, it was a perfect fit. Hugging his
shoulders with out constricting them. He fastened the front smoothing the soft
leather over his chest.
"It is perfect Samantha, any man would look good in this jacket." he praised her.
"There is even room for my arms to move, you are a sorceress to create such a wonderful
garment for me." he lowered his mouth over her's kissing her with passion.
Samantha responded holding him tightly, she knew it was their last night. She was already
dreading his leaving her. " You like our gift then?"
"Si, cara, it is wonderful." Martin released his hands from her body. Stepping back to
put space between them. Cero was expected very soon with the evening meal. Martin
didn't want to be in mid love making when he arrived.
"I owe you a special present now. You will have to tell my your birth date so I can
choose a proper gift for you." Martin knew most Italian woman believed it was bad
luck to wear any stone not of their birth month. Except of course for diamonds.
"I was born in the fall, September."
"Sapphires, then they will almost match your eyes." he smiled glad he knew at once
what gem was required.
"A necklace I think, to wear around your lovely neck." Martin smiled.
"I don't need a present caro." she sounded sad, her eyes brimming with tears.
"No sweet one, there is no need for tears. I will be back before you miss me."
He tried to make light of the situation.
"I miss you already." Samantha held back her tears.