Page 43

A fter a long day at Gitmo, I finally relaxed back into my comfy living room chair. My throat was tender from Captain Vane’s threat of decapitation and my arms ached. Wielding a sword required more upper body strength than I possessed.

General Potts had debriefed me for six hours. There was a lot of yelling, some swearing, and a bit of begging on my part. He finally agreed to let Fredericka out of jail. He also agreed Max could go home with her. She cried when she met her brother. There was some human in Vampira after all.

I didn’t mention my agreement with Mortas. I assumed it would come out in one of the other travelers’ debriefings, and he would yell at them.

I’d showered off the ocean water and my time in 1718. After changing into a pair of comfortable sweats, I was ready to tell Gertie about my adventure.

I glanced at my red stilettos lying on the floor next to my chair where I had dumped them upon my return home. My outhouse let me wear them into the past. Even if Max could wield the energy of the vessels into another, more convenient mode of transportation, I think I’ll pass. We’d become a team like the Lone Ranger and Silver, or Aladdin and his magic carpet, or Dr. Who and his Tardis.

Gertie handed me a glass of red wine with a hefty pour and sat across from me, giddy with excitement over my recent trip.

She popped a chocolate-covered cherry into her mouth and washed it down with a sip of wine. “Did you meet Blackbeard?”

“No. I think he was in Carolina.”

“What about Stede Bonnet?”

“Nope.”

“Jack Rackham?”

“Yes, he was on Vane’s ship and wore calico just like in the history books.” I took a long, medicinal drink of wine, barely resisting the desire to chug it.

Gertie sat back. She scrunched her nose, and cute freckles moved closer together in an unsatisfied expression.

“Was Charles Vane as sexy as the guy who played him in that television series?”

I swallowed my wine and felt the sting of a healing cut across my throat. “Charles Vane was much shorter, smelled like soured rum, and reminded me of a weasel.” And scared the living shit out of me , but I didn’t want to admit that to Gertie.

“Damn, that ruins my sex dreams.” She popped another chocolate.

“I thought Brodie was the star in your sex dreams?” I took another long drink of wine and felt my limbs relax.

“Occasionally, when Brodie and I have a difference of opinion, I have a dream about the sexy pirate from Black Sails .”

“I did meet one sexy pirate.”

“Who?” Her eyes went wide and curious.

“Rowan Hamilton.”

“Alexander Hamilton’s grandfather?”

“The one and only.”

The moon cycle had ended. Gertie wouldn’t know about Alex Hamilton. Marco lived in this timeline, and there wouldn’t be a box of treasure delivered by a handsome banker, or a boy pirate sailing his dad’s ship with a hulky quartermaster by his side.

I answered her questions and filled her in on the rest of my time in 1718.

“You know I’m not supposed to be telling you the details. I could get fired.” I looked at her over my wine glass.

“They won’t fire you. You’re the chosen one. Like Harry Potter.”

“Let’s hope not, because several of his friends died.”

“Good point.” Gertie took a sip of her wine and swallowed hard. “I’m glad you found the King’s key. Does this mean your adventures are over?”

I had to agree with Mortas. I believed they’d only just begun. Before I could answer, there was a knock at the door.

I opened it, and blue eyes ringed in gold stared back at me.

“Good evening. Are you Miss Jennifer Cloud?”

“Yes.” My heart performed a cliff dive. Did something go wrong?

“I’m Alexander Hamilton IX.” He extended a hand. I shook it and felt the hard calluses of a working man’s hand. “This may sound strange, but I have a three-hundred-year-old delivery for you.”

“Please come in.” I stepped aside, allowing Alex to enter my home. Less than a week ago, he was wearing an expensive suit. Now, he wore jeans, a sweatshirt, and hiking boots. He carried a backpack and a shopping bag.

Uh, boy. Had he lost his inheritance thanks to my meddling? Or my unmeddling, to be exact?

“Hi, there.” Gertie reached us, and I introduced him.

“Like the Alexander Hamilton?” Gertie asked.

I experienced a creepy déjà vu and brushed it aside, hoping this meeting turned out better than the first one.

“Yes, he was in my gene pool.” He handed me the shopping bag, opened his backpack, and pulled out a manilla envelope. “I was given strict instructions to deliver this to you. In fact, my entire inheritance depends on it.”

“Your inheritance?” I looked down at the envelope and shopping bag.

“Yes, my, well, my many greats grandfather left me a fortune. My family has lived off the generous interest for centuries, but I stand to inherit the bulk. That is, if you’ll sign the paper in that envelope stating I delivered this box to you.”

I handed off the shopping bag to Gertie, read and signed the letter. He placed it in his backpack, then turned to leave.

“Don’t you want to see what’s inside?” I asked.

“No. I’m heading off to hike the Inca Trail in Peru. I’ve always loved an adventure. I’m told my grandfather did too. You see, he was a pirate.”

“Smuggler.” I spilled out before I stopped myself. “I heard Alexander Hamilton’s grandfather was a smuggler.”

“Ah, right. Maybe I heard that too. I don’t need the money, but I’d like to fund more charities, so thank you for signing.” He paused and scratched his chin. “I find it funny my ancestor named me specifically in his will. It was like he knew I was to be born. I almost forgot, there’s trust paperwork in that envelope for one Maximillian Smith. Do you know him?”

“Yes. I do.” I grinned wide.

“I assumed so since the entirety of the package was to be delivered to you on this date. No exceptions.” He slung his backpack over his shoulder. “Mr. Smith will be well taken care of.”

“I’ll make sure Max gets it.”

I walked Alex to the door. He paused on the way out. “I hope whatever my ancestor left you will help you in some way. Take care.”

“Thanks, me too.” I closed the door, leaned against it, and hugged my arms around me. Alex had turned out just fine, which meant Rowan had as well.

“Let’s see what’s inside.” Gertie held up the shopping bag.

We moved into the kitchen and a crack sounded from the backyard. I smiled to myself. Caiyan slid the glass door open and entered my house. His dreads were gone, and dark waves framed my favorite green eyes.

“Gertie.” He nodded at Gertie. “Sunshine. Is this a good time?”

“Sure. Alexander Hamilton IX just left.”

“He dropped off a gift for Jennifer.” Gertie held the same treasure chest that had brought me news of Marco’s demise. “Isn’t it cool?”

Caiyan’s eyebrows furrowed, and his jaw tensed.

“It’s not from Alex,” I told Gertie. “It’s from his ancestor, Rowan. The pirate, I mean smuggler, I told you about.”

“The sexy one?” Gertie asked.

Caiyan made a throaty noise that sounded a lot like one of Rowan’s grunts.

Gertie placed the chest on the table. I studied the rusted lock and turned toward Caiyan. “Will you open it, please?”

He placed his hands on the chest protected by three hundred years of blood, sweat and tears from Rowan’s descendants. The lock clicked open.

Inside was the ribbon Max had given me during the handfasting ceremony, the small carving of the dolphin, and a velvet pouch.

I picked up the pouch and dumped its contents into my hand. A ring tumbled out. Shocked, I picked it up. The overhead light reflected rainbows of color off the stone.

“It’s the beautiful blue diamond from the cave fashioned into a ring.” I held it up for Caiyan.

He took it from me and examined it. “’Tis set in titanium like the chains of our keys.”

Gertie leaned in and whistled. “Land sakes! That’s a big one. Why did this Rowan fella leave you a ring?”

I glanced at Caiyan, and a knowing smile lifted the corners of his mouth.

Caiyan dropped to his knee and held up the ring. “Jennifer Cloud, I’ve loved ye since the day I first saw ye roaming the Scottish countryside in the year of our lord, 1568. Yer blond hair tucked under that atrocious toboggan, and ye pretending to be lost.” His mouth curled up at the memory. “I’m no an easy man to love. I’ve buried my feelings deep in my scarred soul, but I’m working hard to free them. I know yer heart desires adventure, and although yer adventures may cause me physical and mental peril, I promise naugh to squelch the light that drives such passion. Will ye marry me, for real?”

Gertie’s squeal of delight brought a panicky smile to my face. Was I ready? Did I want to be Mrs. Caiyan McGregor? Suddenly, Bennie and the Jets played from my phone like a ghost, reminding me who held my heart.

“ Yes !” I shouted.

He scooped me into his arms and pressed his lips to mine. Gertie gave a celebratory fist pump and echoed my yes!

“Ye worried me for a moment. The last time you contemplated that long, I wasnae so lucky.” He slid the ring on my finger, and it fit perfectly.

“How about now?” I admired the ring, then flashed a coy grin his way. “Are you feeling lucky?”

“Thanks to you and a band of steadfast pirates, I’m the luckiest man alive.”

“Smugglers.” I laughed and wiggled my eyebrows at Caiyan. “I’m feeling pretty lucky, too.”

“Jeez.” Gertie placed her hands over her ears. “If y’all are gettin’ lucky tonight, I’m sleeping on Cousin Darryl’s sofa.”

“Tell Darryl I said hello,” Caiyan told her and scooped me into his arms.

Gertie grabbed her purse and headed out the door.

Caiyan grinned at me. “I finally have ye exactly where I want ye. In my arms. All to myself.”

I grinned back at him. “Exactly where I want to be for the rest of my life.”

I’d finally caught the man of my dreams and luck had nothing to do with it.