Black Sam - Prince of Pirates

Fourteen - SHIP OF FOOLS

 Fourteen-SHIP OF FOOLS

 August 1716

 Sam and Maria walked barefoot in the sand along the waterline. Small waves broke and washed around their feet before receding back into the sea. They had fallen asleep together in the grass as they stared up into the night sky, and awakened by gulls and the pulsing tide. Sam would leave first thing tomorrow, so they soaked up every second they had left.

 “Did you know by chance that Bahrain has the very best ocean divers?” Sam was tired, and the question seemed to come from no-where even for him.

 “Is that so? I did not know that. Where on earth would you stumble upon such useful information?”

 Now he didn’t want to go into the details, but he had already opened that box. “My recruiting trip. I met a man who convinced me they were the very best, so I hired them.”

 “You hired men from Bahrain?”

 Sam laughed. It sounded a bit bazar in this context, and he was now starting to second guess the decision, but at the time he felt completely confident he had chosen the right divers for the job. “How else am I to pull up chests and chests of gold?”

 “It just sounds so exotic, yet you found them relatively close by.”

 “I suppose it does sound exotic, and the more we talk about it I realize I have possibly recruited a ship of fools.”

 “No,” Maria stopped and stood in front of Sam. “It sounds like an adventure. Perhaps I should just come with you.”

 “You could pull it off in those breeches of yours.” Sam brushed hair from her face.

 Maria leaned into him. “We could lose ourselves on some undiscovered island, have babies, and live happily for the rest of our days.”

 Sam kissed the top of her head. “We could start on those babies any time.”

 Maria thumped Sam across the chest. “You’re a filthy man.”

 “Is that so?” Sam scooped her up in his arms and ran down the beach into the water.

 Giggling and screaming, Maria slapped at his back. “Don’t you dare Sam! Put me down”

 Sam set her down in the thigh-high water. “Whatever you wish, my darling.”

 Maria pulled him close, kissed his lips, and then wrapped her arms around him.

 Sam rubbed her goose bumped arms. “I worry about leaving you.”

 “No need, I have my family and my friends.”

 “That’s what scares me.”

 Maria shook her head. “Cyprian is also departing tomorrow.”

 Sam pulled away to look at her. “He is?”

 Maria nodded. “So it is I who should be worried.”

 “Why should you be worried?”

 “He is sailing south.”

 “To the Spanish wreck site.” Sam said more to himself. “I don’t mind a little competition.”

 “Still, you should be careful; he hates to lose.”

 “He has already lost.” Sam tapped her nose then brushed more hair out of her eyes.

 Maria’s smile was short. “Will you promise me something?”

 “What is it?”

 “Please don’t do anything foolhardy.”

 Sam chuckled. “Hmm, we are salvaging treasure in unfamiliar territory, competing against many other desperate sailors. I think we’re a bit past foolhardy, wouldn’t you agree?”

 The tide surged up the beach and wrapped around their feet. “You know what I mean.”

 Sam held her shoulders prompting her to look him in the eyes. “I’ll be careful.”

 “Why does that not convince me?”

 “Maria, everything will be fine. I promise.”

                                                                                         ***

 Sam sat against a tree in the cemetery holding a book in one hand and stroking Maria’s hair with the other as she rested her head in his lap. He read to her from her favorite book. They didn’t talk about his coming departure, although it was heavy on their minds. They were just enjoying the time they had. Sam stopped reading and the two laid there in each other’s' arms not saying a word. When darkness came, Sam walked Maria home.

 He removed the leather strap, which held his father’s gold coin. “I want you to have this,” he said putting it around her neck and fastening it. “This is my promise to return.” He kissed her on the cheek.

 She unfastened another chain from around her neck that held a silver pendant. “This was my great grandmother’s.” She put it on him and fastened it. “I expect it returned to me.”

 Sam studied the pendant for a moment, feeling the oval shape. “I swear on my life, you’ll have it.”

 “I don’t need grand gestures. I need you to return with my pendant.”

 Sam could not help but laugh. “I will.”

 She put her hand on the side of his scruffy face, and they said their silent goodbyes. Then, she swiftly entered her house and shut the door. Breathing heavily she felt an immense pain in her heart as she rested against the door. She withstood it for a moment, but the pain was unbearable. In an emotionally charged rush of desperation, she opened the door again, but Sam was gone.

 She made it to her bed and cried herself to sleep.