The sting radiated from my cheek and into my jaw. “I wish I could trade you for one of my dead sons. You should have been the child that died, not your brothers.”

Eight

I rushed from my mother’s home to the Farrapos camp. At the sight of José the tears that I had been fighting since I left my family spilled out and onto his chest, creating a large wet spot. “Anita, tesoro mio, are you all right?”

He pulled me away by my shoulders. I shook my head no.

“Let’s go somewhere private and you can tell me what happened.”

I couldn’t speak, it hurt too much. A lump had stopped up my throat. It wrapped its tendrils around my voice, making any attempt to speak painful. José led me to his tent, stopping only once to whisper to his servant. He pulled me in close, wrapping his large arms around me. “Tell me, who has made my beautiful Anita cry?”

The knot of hurt deep in my chest clenched at me. José kissed the top of my head. “You are safe,” he whispered over and over. The stranglehold on my voice melted. Slowly the words came out. Broken at first, but as I began to feel better, they flowed. I told him everything that had happened between my family and me.

“I’m sorry,” he said as he stroked my hair. “I suppose this was bound to happen. The truth always has a way of making itself known, and we were foolish.” He sighed. “Anita, to many I am a pirate. I have no riches. I have no house. All I can offer you is a life of hardship and poverty. Every choice that I make has to be about how I can get back to my homeland. How I can serve my people. I chose this life and I can’t force you to make the same decision.”

I lifted my head from his lap to stare at him in a bit of disbelief. “A life of hardship with you is better than a thousand lives filled with wealth.” I cupped his cheek in my hand, feeling the soft bristles of his beard. “I have already made my choice.”

He rested his forehead against mine. “Is it even possible to love someone as much as I love you?”

I laughed through my tears. “I certainly hope so.”

He wiped the tears from my cheek with a stroke of his thumb. Gently he pulled me to him. The smell of him, the sandalwood and sea, pushed away the remaining thoughts of my family. His soft lips were on mine, coaxing me away from my sorrow. His spell was broken when the servant appeared in the tent.

“Perdoe-me, senhor. I have the hot water that you requested.”

“Thank you, Pablo. Also, Anita and I will be dining in my tent alone tonight. Please have some dinner brought to us.”

“Sim, senhor.” He left with a bow.

José kissed my forehead. “Rest. This is your home now.” I watched as he prepared the tea for us.