Chapter 8

Author: hey readers! Sorry if the storyline hasn't gotten very interesting yet, I'm hoping to pick up the pace a little after this chapter. Thank you all for reading!!! Please keep reading, commenting, and voting!!! Thanks and have a great day!! :)))))

Chapter Eight- On the French Harbor, 1802

Around the crack of dawn the next day, when a heavy mist covered the lands and dew moistened everyone's breath, Josey and his crew anchored the ship, and then they all stretched their stiff muscles. They had finally reached France after a week or so of sailing without stop. For some reason, Josey would not let anyone rest. He had wanted to get to France as soon as possible, and all this rushed sailing had messed with all the men's sleeping schedules. They were all grumpy as they gathered together on the top deck to await Josey's orders.

"Alright, men! We did a tip-top job getting here. Now, we will all get a few hours of sleep." Everyone rejoiced, glad for those few hours in a warm cot under the top deck. "But only a few hours! Around midday or late afternoon, Mack and I will go to the fair and see if we can spot Mr. Desmond's daughter and try to get her father's letter to her. Then Mack and I'll return to gather all of you, and we shall execute a rescue plan. That clear?" All the men nodded and gave grunts of agreement. "Swell. You may all get to your cots now." Without further ado, the men rushed to the lower decks, wanting to get as much sleep as they could before the rescue that night.

"Come on, Josey. You and I should get some sleep as well," Mack said, patting Josey on his stiff, tired back.

"You go on down with the men. I'll go to my room in a moment." Mack nodded, told Josey he would see him later, and went down to get into his own cot.

Josey breathed in the morning fog, letting the moist air wet the inside of his nostrils. He looked out at the large expanse of the French piers and sighed deeply. He had finally reached France, and now that he had, he was mighty nervous. Pirates pillaged and stole; Josey had never saved anyone or anything. What if he failed? Mr. Desmond would be heartbroken if after all this, he still didn't get his daughter back. Josey could not imagine what would happen if he failed; especially what would happen to Dianna. He couldn't let her stay with the goddamned fair and the dirty gypsies, and he couldn't think of the punishment the damn fair owner would give out to her, should the plan fail and she be left behind.

Josey shook himself from his horrid imaginings, and yawned deeply, as he was quite tired himself and decided to retire to his sleeping chambers until midday, when he would actually have to worry about the plan.

***

Mack knocked on Josey's door, waking him from a fitful slumber. Josey pounced out of his bed and opened his door.

"It's after two o'clock, Josey. Shouldn't you and I be heading out?" Josey nodded as he wiped the sleep from his eyes. It was finally time. He grabbed the letter Mr. Desmond had sent for Dianna, and another letter he had written, and he and Mack headed out.

They reached the fair after a short two mile hike and entered onto the grounds. There was miles of tents and booths set up along the large expanse of the courtyard. Different scents of spices, freshly grown fruits, wines and ales, the petting zoo's horses and sheep, grilled meat and also the uncooked meat, wafted out towards them. And there was a variety of sounds too. Josey and Mack listened to the bustle of vendors advertising their products, and of the tinkling bangles and anklets on the gypsy women.

"How do we know it's her?" Mack asked, whispering to Josey as low as he could, so Josey could hear him over the other noises, and yet no one else could hear.

"I've seen a picture of her. I'll spot her and approach her. You keep an eye out for anyone watching us. We don't want to get caught before we've even tried busting her out."

"Aye," Mack agreed, and the two of them sort of split up, with Josey walking a couple of feet ahead, looking for Dianna.

They reached a halfway point in the fair, and Josey almost gave up hope. He turned to signal to Mack to go back to the ship, and then he saw her.

Her picture did her no justice. She was standing under the shade of a tent, wiping sweat from the top of her brow, probably on a short break. Her waist-long deep black hair was let loose and fluttering in the wind, giving her a goddess-like appearance. Her brown eyes were shiny with the perspiration gathered around them, her lashes thick and black and seductive. Her lips were two thick, rosy lines, waiting to be kissed. And her body--oh lord!--her body! Her womanly curves and thin waist were accentuated under her gypsy outfit. The dress was like purple silk draped over her heaving breasts and a slit in the skirt showed off part of her toned, tanned leg.

Josey had to gather his emotions before he approached the tent she was standing under.

"Excuse me?" He smiled in Dianna's direction. She turned her large eyes on him. Josey waited for her knees to grow weak as she took in his handsome form; the ladies always grew weak in the knees.

Josey was shocked when Dianna merely glanced at him, then looked away unflinchingly. "Sorry, sir, but I am resting. You may ask another girl for help." Her voice was clear and a little husky as she told him off.

"No, I really must ask for your specific help," Josey said as he slowly took out the letter from Mr. Desmond and angled it so only she could see her name written on the envelope. Dianna looked curiously at the envelope, and when she recognized her father's print, she locked questioning, suddenly tear-filled eyes with Josey. She stepped out from under the shade, and when she did, her black hair started to softly glow red in the bright afternoon sun. She looked like a beautiful creature, too special to merely be a gypsy at a small fair.

"Who are you?" She whispered to Josey, coming closer to him, her voice cracking a little from her oncoming tears. Josey couldn't help but notice her sweet scent, like he had suddenly walked into a pastry shop.

"I'm here to help." He deftly handed her her father's letter, and then his own letter, and turned away. He nodded at Mack, who nodded back at him, and then they made their way out of the fair and to the ship.

***

Dianna looked at the strange man's retreating back. When he had approached her, she was afraid he would be able to see the blush creeping on her neck and cheeks. Dianna had never really thought of a man in a sensual way, but one look at him had Dianna thinking of what it would be like to be alone in a bedroom with him. She had put her sinful thoughts aside, and tried to seem nonchalant and focus on other things.

When he had brought out the letter from his shirt pocket, she had immediately recognized her father's handwriting. Thoughts of a rescue and being reunited with her father filled her eyes with tears as she accepted the letter, and then another letter on a yellower, cheaper type of parchment. She quickly hid the two letters under the top of her dress, and went back to work. She wouldn't be able to read the letters until her bath time when she would be alone. Throughout the day, she felt the letters burning a hole in her chest as she worked and tried not to think about them.

***

Dianna ran to the bathing tents the second the fair closed for the day. She undressed quickly and jumped into the tub, ignoring the stinging burn of the hot water. She grabbed the letters from under the folds of her dress lying on the floor. Dianna made sure she was alone before opening first her father's letter. It read:

"Dear Dianna,

Oh, how I have missed you darling. Life seems to have stopped, while I pine day and night for your return to me.

I am writing this letter to you, in the hopes that when you are found, you will read it and know that I am trying my very best to find and rescue you. Your absence has burned a hole into my heart, and as I sit praying for your safety and health, I hope we can be reunited and the hole will be closed again.

I love you, darling,

Your father"

Dianna sat in the tub, tears running quickly down her cheeks. Her eyes were blurred so she couldn't see her hand in front of her face if she tried. She sat like that, crying silently and despairingly until she was finally able to gather her emotions. She took a few staggering breaths, before she was able to put the letter back on the ground next to her dress, and pick up the other letter. This one read:

"Miss Dianna,

My name is Josey Thatcher, and I am a pirate captain. Your father sent me to rescue you from the gypsies. At midnight tonight, you need to find a way to get to the back alleys of the left side of the fairgrounds. Front there, there is a small forest. I will meet you in that forest and we will take the shortcut through the woods to my ship. We should be out of this area of France by morning. In the morning, we will stop at a post and send your father a letter to let him know we are on the way.

Be prepared,

Captain Josey"

Dianna checked the small grandfather clock in the corner of the tent. It was thirty past eleven. She had to move fast to meet her midnight deadline.

It was almost time for Dianna to finally go home.