"No, Jack. Strong drink affects me even more than wine. It makes me want to take my clothes off."
He paused from where he was pouring himself another dollop and said, "In that case, I insist you have some."
She smiled, but shook her head. "I had to keep my wits about me when I was growing up, Jack, and too often I saw people gamble their lives away because drink made them make bad decisions. Once I realized I could not drink like the people around me with more weight on their bones, I learned to be careful."
"You've always had to be careful, haven't you, Sophia?"
"I suppose so. I like to think that when I was small and my mother was alive she keep us safe and took care of me, but after she died and I grew into my responsibilities with Mr. Deford, then I knew I could only rely on myself to keep me safe. And if that were the case, I had to be careful."
Jack looked down at his hands, then up at her, his face shadowed in the firelight. "Being careful doesn't mean locking yourself away from what you feel, Sophia. And being careful doesn't mean locking yourself away from other people. You have to take a chance."
"I am taking a chance, Jack. I am taking a chance on my future, hunting for the gold."
"That's not what I meant, Sophia."
"I know."
Jack sighed and poured the rest of his rum into the flames, which
flared blue for a moment before settling back down.
* * *
They resumed digging the next morning. The sun was halfway to its zenith when Jack leaned on his shovel while a lizard stared at him from where it was perched atop the sun-warmed wall.
"Maybe we're going about this all wrong. Maybe the treasure isn't here, at the wall, but back in the orange grove."
Sophia stared at him. "You mean we have wasted two days digging at this stupid wall?"
"Well, I can't say we wasted two days. But it's worth taking a look at the other side, just to see what's there.
"You are right, Jack."
"Try not to say that with so much disbelief."
Sophia ignored this jibe and followed in Jack's wake to the orange grove.
"Do I need to lift you up to see through the tube again?"
"No, I remember what I saw through the tube was a tree with a blasted branch hanging off. There it is."
She led him to an orange tree at the edge of the grove, the remaining vestige of civilization planted by the long-gone monks. Jack took a pickax and began poking about at the base of the tree. The pick entered the sandy soil with small thuds, until after about twenty minutes of probing there was a metallic clang.
Jack looked at Sophia and she looked back at him and grinned.
"Once again you are living up to your nickname, Lucky Jack."
"We'll see," was all he said, but he took the shovel from her and soon had dislodged an iron box, about one foot square, secured with a padlock.
"The key, please."
Sophia took off the key she'd optimistically hung around her neck and passed it over. Jack tried it in the lock, but it wouldn't open.
"It's rusted through," he said, staring at the box. "Stand back."
Picking up the pickax he swung it and the point hit the hasp of the lock. It sheared off and with a skreek of rusted hinges the box opened, flaking off bits of metal.
Inside there were ten doubloons, and a piece of leather. Sophia was crowding so close Jack couldn't read the faded writing on it, so he moved them into the sunlight outside the grove and spread the leather on large rock.
"Tell me the next clue, Sophia."
"Follow the trail until you drink to the Devil where the sun never shines. Raise your glass high to those sea rovers who now sail the River Styx beneath the ground. They laughed at Lucifer and swore allegiance to no king, but only to the brotherhood."
She looked at Jack. "That is the last clue I was given."
"I suspected as much. Look at this."
There was a map, much more finely drawn than the others, showing a trail leading west through the woods. At the end of the map was a red X.
"Jack, this was not on grandfather's map! I think it shows the location of the treasure!"
"I think you're right," Jack said slowly, studying the leather. "It looks like the trail ends up near the Alachua savannah.
"Is that an Indian settlement? What is there, Jack?"
"Inland in that area you won't find much except Indians and cattle, alligators and the occasional wild pig and settlers. Nothing much resembling civilization. There is one thing of interest though."
"What?"
"A bowl shaped ravine. The settlers call it Lucifer's Chalice."
"Lucifer's Chalice? As in 'drink to the devil'?"
"A reasonable leap. It also means we have to go back to St. Augustine to get supplies, then take our mules across on the ferry. If the treasure is back there, we'll need the mules to transport it to the river and back to St. Augustine."
"And then?"
Jack looked at her, trying to read that gambler's face. She was good, very good at hiding her feelings, but he could see excitement and a touch of fear in those clear eyes.
"And then you have some decisions to make, Mrs. Burrell."
CHAPTER 21Back in St. Augustine they studied the maps from Jack's ship, as well as Captain Roberts's own maps, and compared them with what Sophia knew and the latest clue.
"What do you think it means, Jack, 'drink to the Devil where the sun never shines'?"
"Knowing the area, and also knowing how worried Captain Garvey was about securing his treasure, I would bet he put it in a cave."
"A cave? Like the one in England?"
"Not really. The land here is riddled with caves, many of them holes in the ground that suddenly open up, swallowing trees, draining ponds, or creating lakes when the underground holes get blocked. They tell me these caves can be dry for years, and then they'll fill with water and disappear. Let's hope that hasn't happened to the cave where Garvey stashed his treasure."
He turned away from his chart, his face grim.
"Or that it doesn't happen while we are exploring one of those caves."
Sophia shuddered at the idea of being trapped in a water-filled cave.
Jack put his fingers beneath her chin and raised up her face. "Again, we do not have to pursue this, Sophia."
"We have covered that ground, Jack. I do need to pursue this."
Jack looked at her, a long, searching look, then he turned away.
"I'll get the gear we will need if the treasure is in a cave, or underground. We leave in three days."
"Jack—"
He had his hand on the door but turned his head to look at her, a troubled expression on his face.
"Be careful," was all she could say.
Jack looked at her again, then said softly, "I will be careful, Sophia. After all, we wouldn't want Lord Whitfield to get word of what we're doing, would we?"
Sophia knew her gambler's face was serving her now, though she suspected Jack was getting better at reading it. She also knew a little bit of the truth was better than an outright lie.
"Whitfield already knows we are on the trail of the gold, Jack. He would not have sent those men after us otherwise. And I do not believe he turned around and went home. So—-just be careful."
His hand tightened on the doorknob, but then he gave her a nod and left.
She stood there, staring at the empty air where Lucky Jack Burrell
had been, then went to pen a note to be delivered.
* * *
Sophia paused in the doorway of the tavern in St. Augustine, looking behind her to make sure she hadn't been followed. She pulled her shawl lower over her head and clutched it close at her neck to hide her features from casual observers. Her quarry was waiting for her, drinking in a corner, and she threaded her way through the mostly empty room, ignoring the other drinkers who sat back in the shadows.
When she reached his table, Lord Whitfield smoothly rose to his feet.
"I am for
tunate I was back in the city when your message arrived, my dear."
"Yes, fortunate," Sophia murmured, taking a seat. "So the wheel turns again."
"And have you found what you sought, Sophia?"
Sophia looked at Whitfield for a long, long moment.
"I believe I have found what I searched for, my lord. Soon, my heart's desire will be in my hands. Captain Burrell and I will travel inland to fetch Garvey's Gold. Watch for us and when I return, I will share the gold with you in exchange for the deed to my family's home."
"And what of," Whitfield gave a small bark of a laugh, "Lucky Jack Burrell?"
"I will deal with Captain Burrell."
"You will have to end your marriage to him if you wish to take me up on the rest of my offer, Sophia."
"You do not need to tell me what I already know."
As she rose to leave, Whitfield grabbed her wrist, but she never let show in her face that he was grinding the bones together as he gripped her.
"Do not think of double-crossing me, Sophia, and throwing your lot in with Burrell. I would be saddened to have to remove you from my future, but I will do what I must."
"As will I, my lord," she said, and a chill smile tipped the corners of her mouth. "Why would I side with Captain Burrell against you, when you offer me so much more? And you may have complete confidence, my lord, by the time I am done, Lucky Jack Burrell will get exactly what he deserves."
* * *
A rough-dressed man who'd been sitting near the kitchen watched Sophia leave, then joined Whitfield at his table.
"Word at the docks is you're looking to hire men who work without asking questions," he said.
Whitfield looked at the unshaven villain and shuddered, but said, "I am looking to hire someone. Someone who is willing to get his hands dirty and keep his mouth shut."
"I'm your man."
After Whitfield left, the man he'd hired to do his dirty work sat finishing his drink, thinking about the different ways an enterprising man could earn money, before he called a kitchen boy over and gave him a message to be delivered.
"And there's another coin for your when you return," he said to the lad. "Just make sure the message gets to the right person."
* * *
Jack watched Sophia preparing for bed, her eyes downcast and her manner subdued. He'd turned down an invitation, opting instead for an evening at home alone with his wife, but the house echoed around them after Luisa left. Jack did paperwork after supper while Sophia sewed, and every now and then Jack would look up from the figures before him and see Sophia watching him, her cat eyes inscrutable. He would have given a good amount of his share of Garvey's Gold to know
exactly what was going through her head.
When they climbed into bed Jack didn't take Sophia into his arms as he did most nights. Too much was happening, too many unresolved issues lay between them.
He lay there in the dark, thinking, and realized after a time that Sophia was awake. He turned his head and looked at her.
"Go to sleep, Sophia. We have a long day tomorrow."
"I cannot sleep."
"Why not?"
"I am thinking about something, something I said I would do. And now, I do not want to do it."
He lit the lamp next to the bed. Then he rolled over and propped his head on his hand as she blinked at the sudden light.
"I always feel better when I can see what you're up to, Sophia," he said dryly. "Can you tell me about it?"
She pulled the covers up tighter under her chin and shook her head, slowly, her eyes never leaving his.
"Is there someone pressuring you to do something you do not wish to do?" he asked gently.
She looked at him, and as usual her face gave away nothing. "It is me Jack, it is something I must decide."
"I can help you. You have to trust me. And remember, you always have a choice, Sophia. You are not an animal, tied to your nature. You are a beautiful, intelligent, thinking woman. And I love you."
"What?"
"I said, I love you."
She looked like she was having trouble breathing and her eyes were wide, her face almost the same white as her pillow.
"You cannot love me! I robbed you! I hit you over the head!"
He shrugged. "I understand. It was necessary at the time. I've forgiven you. Because I love you."
He rolled toward her and took her in his arms, and she lay there, stunned.
"No. No, do not love me! When you love someone they leave! My mother left, Annie left, my father left, you will leave, too! Love ruins everything!"
"Love doesn't ruin everything, Sophia. Love makes it all better."
She didn't realize she was struggling, pulling away from him, but he ignored her pitiful efforts and held her close.
"What if I cannot love you, Jack? What if I am incapable of love?"
Her breath was coming in shallow pants and he thought she might faint in his arms.
"Shhh...you don't have to tell me you love me back, little cat. I will love enough for both of us."
He kissed her and then leaned back to smile at her, and taking his thumb wiped at the tear trickling down her cheek.
"I would never have picked a walking felony to fall in love with, sweetheart. But the ways of the heart are mysterious. I suspect Cupid is off somewhere sniggering over this. Maybe sharing a glass with Erasmus Tanner. I love you, Sophia, but you have to confide in me. I can deal with you not realizing you love me in return. What I don't know is the best way to help you, unless you tell me everything."
"You will be sorry," she whispered, her voice full of tears.
"Oh, believe me, sweetheart," he said dryly, "in some ways I already am."
CHAPTER 22The ferry trip across the St. Johns River was made largely in silence. After their talk last night Jack had lain awake nearly until the sun was up, thinking about the consequences of loving and trusting Sophia Deford Burrell.
Or not.
But he was committed now, and there was no going back. They would retrieve the treasure and whatever happened after that, he would
deal with it in its own good time.
* * *
"This looks like the tree drawn on the map."
It was a massive magnolia draped in Spanish moss, the tall pines and palmettos surrounding it looking like soldiers and courtiers arranged before a queen. To the south of the magnolia was Lucifer's Chalice, sunk deep in the ground.
"Careful at the edge there," Jack called out. "If it's been raining the ground will be soft."
Jack tied a rope to a sturdy oak at the edge of the ravine, and Sophia peered over the side. There was a rough trail, hardly noticeable except for the thinness of the vegetation.
"I've climbed down to the bottom of this hole before, but it sometimes means grabbing onto the plants or risking sliding down on your backside. These ropes will anchor us and make it less likely to slip and twist your leg."
A red-tailed hawk swooped above with a piercing kee-yar! before perching in a tree to keep an eye on them. A steady chorus of insects buzzing testified to the day's warmth, but Sophia could hear the gurgling water slipping down the sides of the ravine through the ferns and shrubs. The steady trickling helped cool the surrounding area, even up here at the top. At the bottom, a stream glinted in the sunlight shining full on it, unhampered by the trees ringing the Chalice.
"Where does the stream go?"
"Underground. This area's full of streams that disappear, then reappear later. But that water's good. We can fill our bottles as we go down, but we'll make camp up here."
Sophia helped Jack settle the mules, but she was itching to get to the bottom of Lucifer's Chalice and see what was there. Jack wouldn't be rushed, however.
"The treasure's been sitting there a long time, Sophia. But if a rope separates while you're going down the ravine, you'll wish you'd taken your time."
"Oh, very well," she grumbled. Really, Captain Burrell was the most prosaic privateer one could imagine. Must come
from all those years as "Lucky Jack," having everything go his way.
Until he met her.
That last image cheered her so much she made herself useful helping to set up the camp. Jack said if they found the treasure they might be there for more than a day or two hauling it out. She certainly hoped there would be enough treasure it would take days to haul it out.
Jack also showed her how to build a fire outdoors, and she worked now at setting up a clear area and a ring of stones, keeping in mind his caution that it had been a dry springtime, despite the occasional shower that drenched them. She paused from where she was shifting deadwood out of the way to be broken and burned later. Remembering how much fun she'd had with Jack in the rain brought another smile to her lips, a different smile, and one she recognized was all too rare.
What was the value of her gold if she had no one with which to share it? But could she be happy as Captain Burrell's wife, a domesticated tabby who no longer roamed at will, but cuddled beside the fire?
Jack was now down deep in the ravine, and she held onto the rope and peered down the side to watch him. He'd taken his shirt off, and his torso glistened in the sunlight, browned and defined. He had a bandana tied 'round his head to keep the sweat from his eyes and it gave him a distinctly piratical air. He looked up at her and flashed her that open smile she'd come to like so well, a smile with no artifice to it, and she waved back at him.
Gal could do worse, lots worse...
"Be quiet, Betsy," she muttered.
"Did you say something, Sophia?"
"No, just talking to myself."
"You don't get to be an eccentric until you're rich, sweetheart. If you talk to yourself now, people will just say you're crazy."
He worked his way down to the bottom and splashed himself off in the stream, leaning over to drink and dunk his head in the water.
"Is that deep enough to bathe in?"
"Not really, but deep enough to get a drink. Care to join me down here?"
Those were the words Sophia had been awaiting. She grabbed hold of the rope and began working her way down the side of the ravine. As she went lower the temperature became more moderate, and the sounds of water flowing over moss-covered stones soothed her. Florida could be a pestilent piece of real estate—she knew that even without having yet spent a summer surviving yellow fever and hurricanes—but it did have a charm all its own.
The Bride and the Buccaneer Page 25