Chapter Twenty-Four
Samantha adjusted her hat, pushing damp tendrils of hair from her forehead. Fair skies and steady winds had brought them to their destination ahead of schedule. She checked her map again and squinted at the shoreline.
“There.”
A small inlet. Same as on the map.
No need to track through the underbrush with the whole map in hand. They would go straight to the treasure. Less than a quarter mile from the beach.
Once the anchor dropped, the crew lowered both longboats. If—when—they found the treasure, they would bring it all back in one trip. In and out, just like Griff had said.
A barebones crew of three stayed aboard while the rest of the men piled into the boats. The energy buzzing through them filled the air as they rowed to shore. They dragged the boats high on the beach and Griff set a hand on her shoulder.
“After you.”
Her heart pounded. “I wish my parents were here.”
He smiled. “They’d be proud of you.”
Would they? Her thoughts flitted back to her time spent with the lieutenant, and she sighed. The first officer’s words had haunted her all day. Do you wish you had? And all day, she still couldn’t come up with her answer. Yes. No. Both.
She pulled her shoulders back. Time to find some treasure. Raising the map, she pointed to one side of the inlet. “This way.”
They pressed through the underbrush while she counted her steps and kept an eye on the map. In the mottled light filtering through the leaves above, it would be easy to veer off course. The “X” nestled on one side of a small circle. A cave perhaps.
Almost there.
The heavy canopy above gave way to palm trees and intermittent live oaks as they approached a clearing. Samantha wiped sweat from her brow and kicked at the long grass. No need to get bit by a snake.
Several indentations in the grass caught her attention and her heart lurched.
Griff ducked beneath a palm frond and came to a stop next to her. “I’ll be damned.”
He frowned at the circular expanse of glistening water in front of them. Almost a perfect circle. Steep limestone rose nearly vertical around most of it except for one side where it had caved in, leaving a precipitous bank to the water’s edge.
A sinkhole.
She pressed a finger to her lips and pointed to the disturbed grass. “What do you think?”
He bent on one knee and swept his hand over one indentation. After a long moment, he stood and stepped into the sunlight. She held her breath as he scanned the ground around them.
“No sign of more tracks. Must have been a wild animal, perhaps a boar.”
She rubbed the back of her hand across her forehead as he waved the crew forward and peered into the underbrush around the clearing.
An odd silence wove through the trees. Heat pricked across her skin.
Of course it was quiet. In this oppressive heat, they were the only creatures foolish enough to be out and about.
Samantha walked to the rocky edge of the sinkhole and pulled her lip between her teeth. The light limestone walls showed no sign of caves or even a crevice that could have been used to stash any sort of treasure.
The men filed from the woods and milled around, scratching jaws and tugging beards. Tommy squinted.
“Where’s the treasure?”
She sighed and dropped her eyes to the map, then back to the steep bank. “I don’t know, Tommy.”
Griff fanned himself with his hat. “Do you think this was filled with water two hundred years ago?”
Sticky heat beat against her dark breeches and she rubbed her hands over them. “Let’s hope that’s not the case.” Still, numbness began to creep through her limbs.
Dark water lapped against the rocks as her throat tightened. If the treasure was underwater, it was lost for good.
She yanked her hat free and threw it aside with a growl. After all these years. After so much had been lost. All for nothing.
Fighting the urge to scream, she scanned the map one more time, willing there to be something she had missed. She traced the fresh inked lines. But the circle didn’t lie. The treasure had to be down there. Out of reach.
Griff set a hand on her arm. “Perhaps it’s best this way.”
Tears pricked her eyes. “How can you say that? My parents died for a treasure they never had a chance of finding. If they had known . . .” she took a shuddering breath. “They might still be alive.”
“Fate can be a cruel master.” He cleared his throat and turned. “Well, boys, best get back to the ship.”
A disappointed murmur ran through the crew and a bitter taste filled her mouth. She’d raised their hopes. Dangled the promise of wealth and an easier life if they only followed her. Her shoulders curved in and she kicked a rock.
It hit the water with a splash and she followed the ripples until they bounced against the stone wall. Her brows pushed together at the damp water marks on the limestone.
Could it be?
Tossing her rapier to the ground, she climbed down the steep incline and dipped a finger in the water. Brought it to her lips.
Brackish.
“It’s connected to the sea.” She pulled herself back up and retrieved her blade. “How long until low tide?”
Griff glanced at the setting sun. “An hour or so.”
Her nerves fairly vibrated. “We wait.”
He ran his fingers along his jaw and a slow smile spread. “It’s genius.”
“If it’s true.” She sank down cross-legged and stared at the water.
It had to be.
The men found shaded spots beneath the trees, but she stayed put, her eyes glued to the rocky wall across from her. The spot beneath the “X” on the map.
Inch by inch, the water retreated. Mosquitoes buzzed around her face, their incessant whine filling her ears. She batted them away, refusing to look away from the sinkhole.
And then she saw it.
A dark crescent played at the water’s edge, shadows stretching deep. She rubbed her eyes in case they played tricks on her, and jumped to her feet. “Griff!”
He strode over and his gaze followed her pointed finger. “I’ll be blowed. An underwater cave.” He gripped her shoulder. “You did it. You found it.”
A tremor ran through her as she took a shaky breath. “Do you really think it’s in there?”
He grabbed the map from her and jabbed a finger on the “X” with a grin. “In another half hour or so, we’ll find out.”
Tommy ran over, and when Samantha pointed to the gap above the water, he let loose a whoop. The crew crowded close and Samantha began to unbuckle her belt.
Before she could slide the leather strap free, a sound she knew well slipped through the excited chatter of her men. The ring of steel blades being loosened. Her hand closed over the hilt of her rapier as she spun toward the trees and pushed two men aside.
“To arms!”
But it was too late. While her crew fumbled for their weapons, a laugh echoed over the sinkhole.
“My thanks for solving the mystery of the treasure’s whereabouts.”
*
Dozens of Thorne’s brutes materialized out of the shadowy underbrush while Griff and her crew bunched together at the water’s edge. Samantha’s heart constricted. They were good and trapped.
“I’d put those swords down if I were you.” The captain strode into the clearing with a smirk. “Wouldn’t want anyone getting . . . hurt.”
A few of his men laughed.
Thorne came to a stop in front of Samantha. “We scouted the area earlier, to no avail. I must confess, I almost gave up. Until my runners reported spotting your ship.”
Her stomach lurched. They’d been out there all along. Waiting in the trees.
She pulled in a ragged breath. “Where’s your ship, then?”
He chuckled. “Just up the coast. Although, by now, she’s likely on the way to overtake yours.”
Bile burned her throat at the thought of the three men they’d left behind. They wouldn’t stand a chance.
Thorne lifted his sword and ran his thumb across the point. “A little birdie told me you’re quite skilled with that blade of yours.”
She blinked at him as he met and held her gaze.
“We’ve some time to kill before that cave is accessible. How about a little match? If you win, I wait to kill you until after bringing the treasure up. If I win . . .” His lips pulled into a grin and he ran his blade across his open palm.
Her pulse slammed in her head. Swordfight with the infamous Captain Thorne? Even if she won, what good would it accomplish? The pirate’s eyes glimmered with amusement. This was all a sick game to him.
Unless . . . unless she killed him.
Her gaze flitted around the clearing, at the giants and their gleaming scimitars. Would they stand down if she took Thorne out?
Only one way to find out.
Resolve flowed through her. She would cross the line. Not to save herself or her family. To give her crew a chance.
She nodded. “Very well.”
The captain’s grin widened. “That’s the spirit.”
Before she could step forward, a rumble of thunder came from the distance. She clamped her teeth together. Not thunder. Cannons. The men around her shifted uneasily.
Silence fell over the group as the faint booms rolled across the clearing one after another. More lives lost. Another ship sent below the waves. All for what? If only Christian had thrown the blasted shell overboard when she told him to.
With a snarl, she loosened her blade and stepped away from her crew. Her fist shook around the hilt as she tightened her grip. Tightness clamped around her chest, dripping with slick heat. She’d never felt the overwhelming urge to kill a man. Until now.
Sunlight gleamed off the tip of her rapier as she pointed at her target, Thorne’s heart.
The pirate chuckled and shrugged free of his jacket. “I can see why the lieutenant is attracted to you.”
The words sent a fiery barb through her heart. Chances were, she’d never see Christian again. She bit the inside of her cheek. It didn’t matter. He was just as much her enemy as Thorne.
“Let’s get this over with, Captain.”
He gave a mock bow. “As you wish.”
The speed in which he engaged her threw her off balance. One second he stood paces away, and the next, his blade met hers. She gave a little cry and jumped into action, trying to circle him.