27-04-2021, 09:49 PM
1
Davey
Maisie Waters sat on a rock overlooking the small fishing harbour where she lived and looked up at the sky as she had done every month for the last seven years whenever the moon was full. Just as she had done every month for the last seven years, she closed her eyes, made a wish, and silently wept.It was always the same rock, and always the same wish. “Wherever you are Davey, come back home to me and make me your wife.”
Davey Morris had brought her here to this very rock the day before he went off to sea, and they had exchanged rings. She had just reached sixteen summers, and he had not quite reached twenty when they had last been together, but she thought about him every day. He had slipped a plain silver ring onto the third finger of her right hand to signify affection, and she had done the same to him as they had sat together under a beautiful summer moon. He had promised to come back to her when he was free, and she had promised to wait for him.
They had each vowed that no matter where they were or whatever else they were doing, when the moon was full, they would both look up at it and swear their love for each other, and make a wish.
After so long she didn’t know if he was still alive, or if he stilled wanted to be with her, or even if he still remembered her, but she had made a promise and would never break it.
“Are you alright, Miss?”
The sudden sound of a man's voice made her jump, and just for a wonderful moment she thought it was her love come home at last, but then realised the voice was gruff and rasping; not at all like the soft sweet voice of her Davey.
When she opened her eyes, instead of the face of the fair haired man she loved, she saw a ragged looking man with long dark unkempt hair and sun ravaged face. He was wearing clothes that looked as though they had been slept in for several days, and had stopped a little way off, having removed his hat that he now twisted in his hands as if he was nervous.
“Why the tears Miss? Are you hurt? Do you need me to fetch someone?
“I am well enough thank-you; I just wish to be by myself.”
“Why so? A girl like you should never want for company. Surely you have a family or a husband you would want to be with instead of here all alone up here under the stars.”
“I have a family, and a young man, but he is far away and I haven’t seen him for many years.”
“Oh well, I expect he has forgotten you by now, or gone off with someone else, for surely he would else have returned by now. He must be mad. I would never leave such a pretty girl as you behind. You must have many suitors to choose from. You could have a new man every day if you so wished. I’m sure there is many a man would want you to be their wife. I’m sure you have been tempted by now”
“No” she replied, “I would never betray my Davey. I could never be with another man, never!"
“Come now” he replied, “What if he is away for ten years, or he never comes back? What will you do then?”
“There are plenty of fish in the sea. Plenty of other men. Let me walk you home. Here, take my arm. I shall escort you. Look, I have gold in my pocket” he said, producing a leather pouch that clinked when he poured a small mountain of shiny coins into his hand.
“I have more in my pack. Gold enough to buy a house and have servants to wait on me. Enough to settle down in comfort with a pretty wife and buy her fine silks, or take her anywhere in the world she wanted to go.”
Maisie knew from working in her parents’ tavern all about amorous men who oft times promised everything in exchange for her favours. Many tried to grab her where they shouldn’t, and a few had succeeded, but the threat of a broken head from her father or worse, the threat of being served no more ale, was normally enough to put an end to things.
She was a little surprised by the sight of the gold though. Of all the claims of riches her faux suitors had ever made, this was the first time any of them had been true, but it made no never-mind.
“No sir, I cannot. I will not! I made a promise to my Davey that I would save myself until he returns, and I will never betray him no matter how long I must wait.”
“I have waited seven years, and I will wait the same again and more, or else I will die a spinster. No man can sway me. Not with looks or a big house or a ship filled with gold. I am Davey’s and will remain so until the day I die.”
After a long pause the man quietly replied, "Is that his ring I see on your hand? Well then Miss, I will bid you good evening. Before I go, might I be permitted to give you a small gift? A token to attest to your loyalty to the man you so obviously love in the hope that it might bring you hope, and the happiness you deserve.”
With that he placed a surprisingly clean kerchief on an adjacent rock before knuckling his forehead in a sailor salute, and began walking back the way he had come.
When she was sure the man had gone, she carefully opened the kerchief and saw a small object, glittering silver in the moonlight, just before she collapsed in a dead faint.
When she came to, she found herself looking at the concerned face of the ragged man with the dirty hair, untidy beard, and ragged clothes, straight into the beautiful iron-grey eyes of her beloved Davey.
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