Page 41

Forty-One

O nce we were positive Woodes Rogers or Charles Vane weren’t lurking around the bend, we worked through the night. We loaded the King’s key and the rest of the treasure into the cargo hold of the Sea Storm . Overjoyed to tears, the crew sang as they carried the massive chests filled with Spanish treasure.

“We need to get moving.” Caiyan glanced up at the full moon.

I agreed. We only had a few hours to jump, or we’d be stuck in 1718.

“We don’t have a flag,” Black Bard pointed out as if it was a crime to sail without a flag. “’Tis unlucky.”

“I’ve got all the luck you need.” Ace hiked a thumb at himself. “Give me a minute.”

A few minutes later, we had a flag. Black Bard hoisted Ace’s white boxers with lucky green shamrocks up the front mast. A unanimous cheer erupted, and Max made a lateral jump to Cayo Hueso .

After the crew recovered from the jump, we offloaded half of the treasure, and Max said his good-byes, explaining he wanted to spend a few years in dry dock.

“I thought ye might like these returned to ye.” Shrug held up my red stilettos. “Although they no look easy to wear.”

“Thank you, Shrug.” I pulled him into a hug, and he teared up.

“Good riddance, witch.” Shrug thrust his rifle at me. “For your protection, seein’ as I’ll no be here.” I accepted his kind gesture but planned to toss it overboard once we were out of sight.

He flat out bawled like a baby when he said good-bye to Max and Rowan.

I replaced the pointy-toed shoes with my stilettos and breathed out a sigh of relief. The familiar feeling of home warmed my feet.

Max hoisted the sails with our small crew, now consisting of Rowan, Caiyan, Marco, Sasha, Ace, and me. As we sailed away from Cayo Hueso , I looked back on the crew that would turn it into the bustling tourist destination of Key West.

Ace leaned against the railing and waved vigorously at Black Bard. “I’m going to miss that pirate.”

“You mean, smuggler.” I winked at him. “Don’t forget, Marvin is waiting for you at home.”

“Maybe I’m not ready for wedding bells just yet.” Ace pulled a rope, unfurling a sail to catch the wind, and sighed.

“A man of the town.” I held tight to my rope as instructed by Rowan.

“Past and present.” Ace gave me a cheeky grin and secured his knot.

Max made another quick jump just north of Florida to Charles Town. The sun lifted her rays and stretched coppery hues along the horizon.

We focused on the tip of land that jutted out from the mainland. The house perched on it was like one of the paintings in the hold.

We dropped anchor, Rowan smiling so large I couldn’t help but smile, too. I looked in the direction of his gaze. A woman stood at the edge of the water. Her dark hair blew in the wind as she waved, the baby bump visible under her dress.

“How long have you been gone?” Sasha asked Rowan.

“Four moons,” Rowan said, not taking his eyes off the woman.

“Looks like yer bairn’s already cooking.” Caiyan shifted to help the men lower the anchor.

Rowan wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “’Tis true. I’m to be a da.”

“And a good one, too.” Max beamed.

We helped Rowan unload his portion of the treasure. He refused to take it all, explaining that he’d have a hard time selling paintings that obviously came off the Spanish ships.

“Any last words, witch?” He squeezed me in a playful hug.

“Don’t be too hard on your son when he screws up.” And, I thought, maybe he won’t turn out to be such a dick to his own son.

“So ’tis a boy I’m havin’, yeah?” Rowan grinned wide. I didn’t have the heart or the authorization to tell him his only son squanders the family fortune and becomes the dad of one of our founding fathers.

Who knows, maybe his fate would change. I only had to jump home to find out.

We gave Rowan and Max time alone on the beach, then rowed back to the Sea Storm . I looked away when Max swiped tears from his face and wiped away a few of my own.

Once we were back on the ship, we sailed away from the island to make the jump. We had organized the cargo hold into treasure, furniture, art, and urns. I found Sasha studying a painting in the art section. She startled at my approach, slid the canvas into the middle of the ones leaning against the wall and stepped back to admire the one in front.

I peered over her shoulder at a rather dashing knight in full armor. “It’s amazing these weren’t damaged. They’re magnificent and probably worth a fortune.”

“The leather wrapping kept them pristine,” Marco said, joining us. He looked at the knight, then at Sasha. “I hope you’re not planning to look him up.”

Sasha squealed as Marco yanked her into his arms and kissed her. A touch of jealousy burned in my gut, but when my journey as a time traveler began, I’d given my heart to Caiyan, and there was no getting it back. Of course, there would always be that little what-if prick where Marco was concerned.

Ace shouted down to us. “Jump time, bitches.”

Marco released Sasha and she gave the hold a glance, stopping again on the paintings, then looked up at Marco. “Well, lover, it’s time for me to say good-bye.”

“Say what?” Marco’s mouth dropped open. Sasha grabbed him by the shirt and pressed a kiss to his lips. Marco turned the kiss into one I’m unsure I could’ve walked away from.

Sasha broke free, flush-faced, smiling wide. “As much as I’d like to stay and steer you back to your secret lair with all this pirate booty, I’ve got places to be.”

She scrambled up the ladder. We scurried after her, catching up just as she dove headfirst off the bowsprit like an Olympic diver going for gold. We rushed over to see her backstroke toward a metal whale.

Marco leaned over the side and called out, “I see you.”

“There you are!” Sasha shouted, climbing on top of her minisub.

“Here I am.” Marco extended his arms wide.

“Hey, I’m checking you out.” Sasha pointed at him.

“I’m checking you out.” Marco pointed back with both hands.

“Is that some sort of foreplay?” Ace wrinkled his nose at Marco.

“My sister jests.” Max laughed, leaning over the rails and waving good-bye to Sasha. “’Tis the gift of the bard. My ma had the same.”

“Their banter, ’tis from the movie Eurovision ,” Caiyan said.

“Since when do you watch movies?” I cocked a suspicious eyebrow at him.

“There are things ye dinnae know aboot me, Sunshine. I’m a mystery, like the ocean.” He lifted his tan, muscled arms and motioned as if parting the water. “I cannae wait to inspect yer tattoo, a bit closer.”

I rolled my eyes and caught the full moon pale in the sundrenched sky.

“The moon is calling us home.”

“Ye sure you can handle it?” Caiyan asked me.

I paused. Another gifted one on the ship might help. I could ask Caiyan to jump to Gitmo with us, but the WTF would take him into custody. Or I could be his loyal fiancé, for real this time, and send him safely away. “I’ve got this. It’ll be safer if only transporters are on the ship. I’ll help Max steer, and Ace is here. I’ll see you later, right?”

“Ye cannae keep me away. We’re engaged, yeah?”

“Fake engaged.” I smiled.

“Don’t worry, doll. Your girl’s safe with me.” Ace wafted a hand at his boxers flapping in the breeze. “We’ve got luck on our side.”

Caiyan shook his head and kissed me. A long, deep kiss filled with promises. The promise to be the man I needed, the man I could trust. The promise to be by my side against all odds and, hopefully, the promise of an engagement ring that would pacify my mother until I could get up enough nerve to admit it was a mistake.

“Get a room,” Ace teased.

“I’ll help Ace and Max make room on the ship.” Caiyan released me. “’Tis time to jump.”

Marco stared out at the sea as Sasha’s sub vanished.

“Look who’s become a movie-quoting nerd.” I poked Marco playfully in the side.

“It’s her favorite movie. She’s a Will Ferrell fan. Just like me.”

“I’m sorry she didn’t stay with us.” I put a hand on Marco’s arm.

“It’s OK. I know where she’s headed.” He pulled me into a hug. “Thanks for coming back for me.”

“You’re my—” I started to say defender, but instead, I let my heart lead. “Family.”

We moved the extra rowboat to make room for the vessels. Marco called his first. And just like I figured, Max went nuts over the racecar. “Blimey, can I commandeer one of these?”

“After you get a driver’s license,” I told him. He looked confused about the words, but Marco didn’t give him time for questions. The Ferrari engine revved, and Marco disappeared with a good-bye salute.

Caiyan summoned his phone booth. Max wasn’t as impressed, but once I explained the telephone, he tried to make several calls.

“’Tis jest for show. Now get oot,” Caiyan ordered.

“Any chance you’ll jump to headquarters?” I asked Caiyan.

“Naugh one, but I promise to make ye forget all about how mad Agent McCoy will be when ye didnae bring me in.” Caiyan winked and left me with a kiss on my forehead.

“How does he always know my orders?” My inner voice donned Doc Brown’s mind reader’s helmet from the movie Back to the Future . Marco wasn’t the only one who watched movies.

“Miss Jennifer, what vessel do ye have?” Max’s tone filled with eager anticipation.

Ace opened his mouth to speak, but I pulled Max away and toward the helm. “Rule number one, you’re supposed to keep your vessel a secret.”

Max scanned his ship. “Mayhaps a difficulty with one so large.”

I stood next to Max at the helm of the Sea Storm . I inhaled the salty sea air and prayed we’d make the jump safely. The ocean breeze blew my hair. The sun warmed my face. I glanced across the sparkling blue sea one last time.

Max took the wheel in his hands. I placed my hands next to his. Ace joined us. With our hands holding firm, Max mumbled his ancient Ancalite word, and we helped steer him toward a brand-new life.