Black Sam - Prince of Pirates

Twelve - THE RACE

 Twelve – THE RACE

 Tired and sore from bouncing in the wagon Sam only felt sorry for his horses. They hadn’t rested for two days deciding, quite selfishly, to keep them working so he could go home. “I’m sorry friends, we’re almost there.” As he headed towards Cape Cod, he thought about Maria’s family estate being on the outskirts of town. He would pass it on his way to his uncle’s home, which was on the other side of town, two hours away by wagon. He decided to stop there and give them a break.

 The closer to the estate he got, the more excited he felt to see Maria. The more excited he felt, the more his nerves twisted his stomach into knots. What would he say to her after being away for so long? It was only a week, but it felt like a year. It didn’t matter; he just wanted to see her. The rest would all fall in line. Hopefully.

 The driveway to her house was long, and lined with trees. It seemed to take forever just to get halfway through it. Sam slowed his horses and rehearsed what he would say to her. “Hello Maria, would it be a bother to rest my horses for a while? They have… No, no… Maria, how pleasant it is to see you… Wait, pleasant?  You feel pleasant to see her? Sam you…” He kept rehearsing until he finally came to the house, no closer to an acceptable greeting. He jumped down off the seat, and stretched his tired, stiff legs. Walking around his horses, he checked hooves to make sure no shoes had been lost on his journey. He stood up and peered over the horses at the giant home. Quit stalling.

 He took a deep breath and then made his way to the large wooden door. Pulling the knocker, which looked to be an angel with wings, he rapped the door twice.

 Struggling to find the right stance, he settled on one foot forward and noticed how dusty his shoes were. Bending down he quickly rubbed his shoes trying to clean them. The door opened and he straightened himself and smiled. Maria’s mother stood at the door watching Sam wipe his hands on his trousers. “Mrs. Hallet, I’m terribly sorry to visit unannounced, I was on my way—”

 Mrs. Hallet stepped out onto the porch and shut the door. “It’s Mr. Bellamy is it not?”

 Startled by her terseness Sam gave a slight bow. “Yes ma’am, Samuel Bellamy. I would feel honored if you’d call me Sam.”

 “Mr. Bellamy do you have any sense of propriety?”

 Sam wished desperately that Maria had answered the door. “Mr. Bellamy is more appropriate isn’t it?”

 She took a step toward him. “Let me be frank with you. We will never get to the point where it would be appropriate for me to call you by your given name. Do you understand?”

 Thinking they were already past the threshold barring frankness, Sam wondered how Maria could be offspring of this woman. Surely, she had been adopted. He knew exactly what she was saying. He wasn’t welcome in her family’s lives, particularly and more to the point, Maria’s life. “I’d like to speak to Maria.”

 Mrs. Hallet sighed, and stepped closer to Sam. She put her hand on his face. “You poor boy, I know what this might be doing to you. But you must understand, when it comes to our Maria’s happiness, there is nothing we won’t do to ensure it.”

 “By shutting the man she loves out of her life? Sounds like it’s your happiness you’re ensuring.” Sam had crossed the line, but it was a ridiculous notion that a mother could control who her daughter sees or doesn’t.

 “Mr. Bellamy, you work at a tavern.”

 “Pardon me ma’am, but I have a ship—”

 “Can you really not see it?” Mrs. Hallet said still looking at Sam with sorry eyes. “You’re un-refined, un-educated, under-employed, and quite simply un-able to give Maria everything she deserves in this life. Please Mr. Bellamy; if you truly want what’s best for Maria, you have to let her go.”