Aboard Cabrillo's Galleon Read Online Free PDF

bad dreams haunt you. And who will be nearby to see that you do not work yourself to the edge of illness?”
    â€œPaulo and Manuel will be with me, and all my men.”
    She huffed softly. “Men. Men have not an ounce of skill at such things.” She pulled him close again and held on tightly, memorizing the feel of him. “Just come home to me again.”
    The squeal of young voices and the scampering of small feet reached them from another room. These sounds were followed by a shushing, scolding female voice that reduced the level of joyful noise only briefly.
    Gently, Cabrillo said, “Come now, the boys will be in to greet us soon. This morning, madam, as soon as I am clothed I will serve as your maid.” Beatriz brightened somewhat at this uncommon offer, and her eyes followed his every move as she brushed the lengths of her dark auburn hair.
    By the time he had washed, shaved, and dressed Cabrillo had abandoned all previous intentions of discussing his will and how to settle their accounts in the improbable event of his not returning to Santiago. Beatriz was obviously in no state of mind to deal with the practical side of the unforeseen. Besides, all the required papers had been properly drawn up and witnessed. Now they must depend on destiny as God designed it and on his own abilities. These had been tested too many times for him to lack confidence in both.
    While tying the laces at the back of Beatriz’ pale green bodice, he said, “With our share of the voyage’s profits, there should be enough for the girls’ dowries as well as to replenish our needed stores, and complete our home and outbuildings. With luck, we may even be able to take the boys to visit Seville and Narváez. It would be wonderful for our families to meet them. I want you to imagine such a trip while I am away. Will you do that?”
    â€œIt would be wonderful to see them all.” With her bodice now laced, Beatriz turned to him and asked, “Juan, will you reconsider your decision and allow your daughters to see you off?”
    â€œLucia thinks it will be easier on them this way. They were very upset when I left them last night.”
    Beatriz accepted this decision under the influence of her own memories. “When we are young our emotions are very raw. The girls are not much older than I was when you left me for the first time. It was your letters that sustained my hopes enough to turn away other suitors. Juan, you must write to us as often as you can.”
    â€œI shall.”
    There was a knock at the door. “Señora, the sun is rising.”
    Beatriz smoothed her skirt as Cabrillo stepped to the door. He pulled it wide open and pretended to be surprised when his two sons leaped from hiding behind Lucia’s plump body, shouting, “Good morning, Papa! Good morning, Mother!”
    Lucia, standing with evident composure in the doorway, said something to the boys in her Indian dialect and they both chirped, “Breakfast is ready!”
    Cabrillo spread his arms wide and the boys, small male images of their mother, ran to him. He scooped them up, demanding, “Who are these young pirates?”
    The boys laughed with delight. Juan, six years of age and just 11 months older than his brother, said, “I am captain of the pirate ship. Diego can be shipmaster.”
    â€œ I want to be captain!”
    Grinning, Cabrillo said, “You must follow the orders of the more experienced pirate, Diego.”
    â€œI may not be as tall as Juan, sir, but I am fierce .”
    â€œDiego, you sound more like your uncle every day,” their father accused. Beatriz raised an eyebrow at the charge, but her expression was warm and approving. “Well, my sons,” said Cabrillo, “shall we accompany your mother to the table?”
    Although white streaks peeked from Lucia’s braided and coiled black hair and the years had added breadth to her bosom and waist, her beauty had