“I am so happy to have you by my side again,” he said, brushing his warm thumb against my cool cheek.

I smiled, placing my hand on his neck, caressing the soft bristle of his jawline with my finger. “It’s where I belong.”

The boat came to a slow stop just outside of Salto as all our men climbed up top, Anzani among them. He walked through the ranks, hands clasped behind his back, watching as they seamlessly moved to their positions near the little rowboats. Anzani, normally so jovial, reminded me of a stern schoolteacher. He slapped a slouching sailor on the back, commanding him to straighten his spine.

When Anzani was satisfied, he raised an arm straight into the air. The men took their places in the boats. José raised his arm with his fist tightly clenched, a mirror of Anzani. After a thirty-second count, José lowered his fist. Anzani followed suit, and as he did all the boats were slowly lowered into the water.

“Tesoro mio, watch.” José pointed to the tree line, and that’s when I saw them: one hundred gauchos dressed and ready for battle leaving the shelter of the trees. They looked magnificent. They sat on their horses with their colorful ponchos and formidable weapons, each one leading an extra horse for our men.

“How were you able to gather together so many men?” I asked, looking over the edge of the ship in wonder.

“They have a deeper resentment for Argentina than most of our own men. It also helps that up until the siege, Salto was a major trading post. Argentina put a stop to that.”

“Naturally,” I responded, watching our men quietly slip through the water.

Anzani went into a violent coughing fit just as José and I turned from the bow. When he regained his composure, he joined us. I watched as he put away his handkerchief. An unmistakable shock of crimson showed on the ornately embroidered white cloth. Our eyes met, and he quickly shoved it in his pocket. He turned to José. “Our ship is ready whenever you are.”

“Go ahead. I’ll be right behind you.” José turned back, kissing me gently. He pulled away so that his lips were just a breath away from mine. “I have left a small detachment to guard you and the children. I would prefer for all of you to stay below during the fighting.”

I nodded my agreement. He kissed me again before leaving to join his men.

The gentle lapping of the oars as they hit the water was the only sound to echo across the river as the soldiers rowed to shore. When I could no longer see José, I went belowdecks to be with the children. Menotti and Teresita huddled together on the bed, their eyes wild with fear.

“Mamãe, what’s happening?” Menotti asked.

“The men are going to battle, and we are to stay here.”

Menotti looked to the door, his brows furrowed in concentration.

“Don’t worry, my love. We are perfectly safe.” I got into the bed with the children. Pulling Teresita close to me, I relished the faint scent of cocoa and ocean that clung to her. With most of its inhabitants gone, we could hear every gentle creak and pull of the vessel. “I was thinking this would be a good time for a story. How would you like that?”