The Pirate's Jewel

by Cheryl Howe

  Nolan grabbed her arm. “The map is only to be seen by the two of us. No one else.”

  “But Parker is your lieutenant. Don’t you trust him?”

  “It’s better to trust no one. It’s safer.”

  Jewel lifted her chin and studied him. “Trust no one. You must live a very sad life, Nolan, but I believe I understand.” She yanked her arm away. “Much more than you think.”

  Her sheer stubbornness he’d grown accustomed to, but her touch of venom set him back.

  She studied the map for a moment, and then pointed west. “That way.”

  Nolan hung back. His intention had been to push her away, but he could certainly do without her condemnation. He was capable of berating himself on his own. When had he gone back to Bellamy’s rules? Trust no one. Never turn your back. Those simple rules had worked for him in the past. He wasn’t going to let a foolhardy woman force him to question himself.

  Nolan caught up to Jewel, determined not to let her take over his expedition as she’d shouldered her way into his life. “The instructions say thirty paces.” He took several long strides and focused on counting instead of the way the green island reflected in her eyes. He had not realized anger would make her so beautiful. He lost track of what he was doing and had to stop.

  She came up behind him. “That’s seven.”

  He continued pacing. Had he been mistaken when he’d seen the want in her gaze after he’d kissed her? Or maybe it was just pretense all along, another plot to get him where she wanted him. If only he could convince himself his own desires were as superficial. Nolan turned sharply right and started counting as the map instructed.

  Jewel caught up to him, breathing hard. “This isn’t right.”

  His conscience forced him to stop so she could catch her breath. “It’s what the map says.”

  “No. I mean the hills aren’t right. You should be passing through a valley. See?” She held the map up for his inspection. “The drawing isn’t supposed to be accurate,” he said without a glance. “That’s why he marks the paces to the spot.”

  Jewel cocked her head, apparently irritated. “Then why didn’t you find the treasure before?”

  Nolan took another stride and stopped. Was that twenty-two or twenty-three? “I didn’t read Latin as well as I do now. Trust me, the drawing is meant to fool fools.”

  Jewel grabbed his arm. “Like me? Or, maybe the Latin was meant to fool pompous know-it-alls who make assumptions about people without knowing anything about them!”

  Nolan dropped all pretense of trying to retrace his steps in his mind, and turned to face her. “What the hell are you talking about?”

  She glared up at him with a hostility that was slightly surprising, deserved as it might be. “You play the gentleman when it suits you, but you’re no different than other men I’ve come across.” She folded the map, tucked it in her bodice and determinedly strode off.

  Her words chilled Nolan. There were many incidents in his past that she could have named as examples to prove that he was infinitely worse than other men she’d run across. But she couldn’t know that, could she?

  Parker trudged up the hill, and Jewel stopped just short of embracing him. Instead, she conferred with him. Parker nodded, and then both glanced in Nolan’s direction. Were they conspiring? She had better not be discussing the map. No matter what she was doing, seeing her and Parker together irritated Nolan beyond his ability to fake civility. Though his conversation with his lieutenant had eased his mind somewhat, Jewel was purposely trying to create a rift in his crew. He had been wrong in assuming she hadn’t inherited any of her father’s personality. She knew how to find a man’s weak spot and strike without mercy. Her ability to shed tears didn’t change that. He turned, stomping out the rest of the map’s directions. He’d memorized them last night. Never again would he take a chance of losing them. He found the spot directed by the map with no sense that he’d done right. This wasn’t where Bellamy and he had dug before; he knew that much. But the vague instructions on the map didn’t give him much confidence.

  Parker and Jewel approached ahead of two crewmen, with Wayland dragging along farther behind. It was as if she were the queen of the island, flanked by her entourage.

  “Here.” Nolan pointed to the spot where he’d paced. At the top of a low hill, the place was fairly clear of large boulders and towering pines. A forest rose in the distance, and the beach to their backs created seclusion. The two crewmen took up their shovels and started to dig.

  “This is so exciting,” Jewel breathed. She contained herself from jumping up and down, but her breathtaking smile at every man in their party except for Nolan and Wayland vouched for her enthusiasm.

  Nolan could feel himself snarl.

  The two crewmen took off their shirts when the ground proved hard and unyielding. Nolan’s plan had been to take shifts, but the men’s slow pace changed his mind. He pushed away from the tree where he’d been leaning, intending to help.

  “Let’s explore the island. Parker, would you mind going with me?” Jewel asked.

  Nolan took off his jacket. “The hell you will. Mr. Tyrell is on duty.”

  “I don’t think she should go off alone, Captain,” Parker said. He eyed Nolan, the first time he’d ever openly questioned him.

  Jewel’s glare told Nolan she wasn’t about to respect his wishes. “We’re doing nothing but watching them dig. And though you think otherwise, I’d like to see if that hill over there looks…” She stopped herself before she revealed anything about the map. “I don’t see why it would hurt for us to look around a little more. At the rate these men are going, it could take another hour before they’re deep enough to know if the treasure is there or not.”

  “Thank you for being so observant. I think we all should dig.” Nolan bent down and grabbed a shovel. He flung it at Parker. “Start.”

  Nolan rolled up his sleeves. Parker followed his lead with only a weak shrug of apology to Jewel. Nolan grabbed another shovel and started digging a few yards from where the crewmen worked. Jewel plopped down under the canopy of a large elm. Wayland sauntered over and slid his back down the trunk of the same tree. Jewel scooted away, her face averted.

  Nolan glanced between the two of them with sudden insight. The distance he had put between Jewel and himself wasn’t enough to warrant her hatred. Wayland had caused this change in her. Nolan was certain of it. “Wayland, get over here and start digging.”

  “I’m not a digger, Captain. I’ll leave that to you land men.” The old pirate chuckled.

  Nolan stomped over with a shovel in his hand. “Start digging or say hello to your new home.”

  Wayland shrugged and pushed himself to his feet. Nolan couldn’t stop himself from scowling. The pirate had told Jewel something about them—something about their tainted past perhaps—and it had turned her against them both.

  A chill swept over his damp skin in spite of the hot day. If Wayland had revealed the truth about her father’s death, Jewel would be more than a little angry. She’d be out for blood. His blood. Nolan rammed his shovel into the rocky earth with enough force to send a jolt up his arm. Maybe she was contemplating slitting his throat in the middle of the night. Not for the first time, he had doubts about who Jewel Sanderson was. What had she said about making assumptions about a person?

  Nolan had the next three hours to ponder that question. His foul mood stopped anyone from commenting when the dirt became mud and then the mud, water. The sun sunk behind a clump of pines, taking with it every last bit of warmth left over from the fiercely hot day. That the treasure was not here grew more painfully obvious with the sucking sound of each mound of wet mud they removed.

  Wayland leaned on his shovel. “Hey, Nolan, you didn’t say nothing about me having to take a bath. I’m not due for another month.”

  The other men’s chuckles were cut off. Nolan didn’t say anything or even look their way, but irritation rolled off him in waves. His shovel entered the earth with such forc
e, mud splashed the length of his pants and onto his white shirt.

  “Maybe we should stop until tomorrow.” Jewel stood at the edge of the pit, her hands clasped in front of her as if she were praying.

  Nolan planted his shovel in the mud. “Or before we drown.”

  The men chuckled again under their breath. At least they still had senses of humor. Nolan should have stopped the futile search long ago, but he wasn’t willing to admit failure in front of Jewel. The prick of jealousy that had started this day had festered into a roaring bad mood. Giving up empty-handed made him volatile. Especially since Jewel had suggested digging elsewhere.

  “We’re done here.” When Nolan tried to climb out, his foot slipped on the hole’s wet wall. Behind him he heard a slurping splash. One of the crew had fallen flat on his back. Parker and the other crewman trudged through the muck to help him. Nolan turned to find Jewel’s pale hand looming before him.

  “Let me help you out.” She leaned into the hole, her feet braced and her arm outstretched.

  A smile crept to Nolan’s face. How easy it would be to yank her in. It would ruin her dress, but hell, he’d bought the damn thing. That same damn dress had his head spinning. Nolan lost his smirk. “I wouldn’t want to ruin your pretty clothes, Miss Sanderson.”

  Jewel straightened and turned abruptly. Her twirling skirt whipped across Nolan’s cheek. She stomped to the other side of the pit where Parker and the other crewmen helped their fallen comrade out. She didn’t glance Nolan’s way again.

  “You need to work on your manners. You could piss off an ugly whore.” Wayland reached down to Nolan from the side of the pit. He hadn’t even noticed the old man getting out. With no other help likely to come his way, Nolan took the proffered hand. Wayland pulled with surprising strength, helping Nolan get a foothold in the mud.

  “I’m not so desperate that I need to learn them from you.” Nolan brushed off his clothing, and then stopped when he just smeared the mud around.

  “You could have fooled me.” Wayland shrugged, sauntering down the hill and disappearing into the night.

  Jewel stood by the large elm, a safe distance from the mud. Nolan went to the rescue of his crew. He reached down and pulled Parker out first. “Mr. Tyrell, I’ll leave you in charge of rescuing our crewmen and refilling the hole. I need to chart a new course. We’re done here.”

  He picked up an armful of shovels and trudged in the direction they’d come without a backward glance. Let Parker get Jewel back to the ship. He was sure they both preferred it that way.

  The rustle of skirts forced him to glance to his side. Jewel raised her gown off the ground, taking two strides to his one to keep up. He didn’t slow his pace. If she had any sense, which he doubted, she’d not try to talk to him until he’d had a bath and a large tankard of ale.

  “You don’t want to try again tomorrow?” she asked hesitantly.

  “No.” He lengthened his stride, hoping she’d take the hint.

  “At least you gave it your best try. We know now the treasure’s not here.”

  Nolan stopped. “Which only leaves us the rest of the world to search. Thank you, Jewel. I feel much better.”

  She blinked, and her tentative smile fell. “You don’t have to be so nasty.”

  “Maybe I’m a bit testy because I’m covered in a layer of cold mud and had to spend the day watching you preen like a princess in your crisp party frock.” A vein in Nolan’s forehead started to pound. He sensed he was overreacting, but he’d been wrestling with his temper all day and no longer had the energy or will to continue.

  Jewel returned his angry stare with fire. “What did you expect me to do? There were more than enough of you digging. I think you reached China.”

  “Just think, a whole continent of men you haven’t yet captured in your web. I’m sure you’d love that.” Nolan picked up his pace.

  Jewel was right behind him. He had to admire her tenacity. His tone alone quelled men twice her size. “Has it ever occurred to you that a man might find me interesting for reasons other that what I have to offer beneath my skirts?”

  Nolan stopped abruptly. Surely she jested. “Perhaps, but Parker’s not one of them. Don’t let that boyish face fool you. He’ll have you on your back if you give him half a chance.” He could tell her about Parker’s sometime reputation for whoring, but he didn’t want to reveal something his lieutenant wouldn’t himself. Damn it. It made him angrier that she was coming between him and his only educated crewmember—even if the man had a weakness for easy and readily available sex.

  Jewel paused, obviously considering. “I’m not sure that I believe you. Even so, Parker is my friend. And right now I need one.”

  Nolan shifted his armful of shovels, again thankful he couldn’t get his hands on her. “Fine. But be careful. And don’t tell him anything.”

  “Trust no one. I remember.” She smirked as if he were a lunatic.

  “That’s right, Jewel. Your father taught me well when he stole that map. He was less trustworthy than anyone.”

  “I don’t believe you. And Wayland was wrong—you’re worse than my father ever was.” Jewel turned and ran back toward Parker and the others.

  Nolan watched her go, battling the impulse to drop the shovels and chase after her. In the end, he let her be swallowed by the falling night.

  Finding out what Wayland had told her was his first priority. He needed to know what weapons the enemy held. With Jewel armed with information regarding her father and Parker’s apparent interest, he could see another mutiny in his lifetime.

  ***

  After a cold, saltwater bath and a change of clothes, Nolan found Wayland sitting against a railing, his feet atop a pile of rope. A new hat pulled low covered his eyes. In fact, he wore a new coat and trousers as well. The somber dark blue wool didn’t match Wayland’s usual macabre style.

  Nolan instantly grew suspicious. “Where did you get the clothes, Wayland?”

  The man didn’t budge from his relaxed position. “Won ’em off a fella. No cheating.” He shifted enough to fish something from his pocket, and then held out his hand. The whiteness of dice shown against his palm in the weak light cast by the scattered stars and waning moon.

  Nolan snatched them away. “I’d comment on your sense of fair play, except for the fact that I don’t allow gambling on this ship.” He took the ivory cubes to check to see if they were loaded. The sharp jolt that urged him to roll them, just once, just to see if he still had the touch, had him tossing them over the railing and into the ocean. “Who did you win them from?”

  Wayland crossed and uncrossed his legs until he found a better lounging position. “Aw, that’s a shame. You should have played me for them. Like the old days.”

  The way the old pirate steadily stared urged Nolan to look away for fear of revealing how the idea had briefly crossed his mind. Instead, he held Wayland’s gaze.

  “I’m only going to ask you one more time before you follow those dice. Who’d you win the clothes from?”

  Wayland grinned, as if he found Nolan’s increasing irritation endlessly amusing. “You’ll find out soon enough. The boy was complaining he’d have to work in his birthday suit.”

  Nolan kicked the man’s feet off the coiled rope with the heel of his boot. “Don’t take, win, or steal my crew’s personal possessions. They’re honest working men. They’ve earned every meager scrap they own.”

  Wayland quickly regained his balance. He rested his hands on his bent knees, as relaxed as ever. “I wouldn’t have had to get me a new set of clothes if you hadn’t ruined mine playing in the mud.”

  “Well, I’m sorry to have put you out.” Nolan half-apologized, partly because it was true and partly because he had something more important on his mind. “Get up. I need to talk to you.”

  “Got a bug up your arse?”

  “Something like that, or rather a rat on my ship. He’s got one blue eye and one brown.”

  “Spit it out.” Wayland slowly rose to
his feet. Though he outweighed the man by at least two and a half stone, Nolan struggled to resist the impulse to step back. Once, he would have thought himself a fool to face a seasoned pirate without a recently honed dagger in his fist.

  But Nolan held his ground, and he was satisfied when Wayland kept a cool distance between them. A quick glance around the main deck showed the scattered glow of pipes being smoked by crew who had finished their shift. The off-tune wail of a fiddler in training cut through the rhythmic crash of the waves. Nolan gestured toward the bow with a crook of his head. “It’s private. A matter between two old friends.”

  He let Wayland precede him, not entirely trusting of their shaky truce. Even if he could control the present, Nolan couldn’t change the past—and that was his biggest obstacle. The longer he thought about it, the more worried he was by Wayland’s potential to poison Jewel’s mind. His need to play fair had left her in control of the map. Gardiner’s Island had been a wild goose chase—one that Nolan imagined wouldn’t be the last. The only real clue anyone had to point them in the right direction was the map. Though he’d been disappointed the directions hadn’t been clear even with his knowledge of Latin, nor with the mysterious book on the occult, he’d found out everything he could about his grandfather’s voyage these last five years. Following Kent’s final passage, they would surely stumble onto the right path eventually—but he wouldn’t even know it if he didn’t hold the map, which meant he had to hold on to Jewel.

  Even at anchor, a cold wind thick with mist blew across the deserted bow. Like their expedition to find the treasure, the day had taken a bitter turn.

  Wayland stepped back. “Hell, I had to get wet to get the mud off me. I don’t want to do it again.”

  Nolan grabbed his sleeve. “What did you tell Jewel?”

  Alone with the man, he no longer had the restraint to act even-tempered.

  Wayland jerked his arm away. “Hands off, boy! This is the best short coat I’ve had in years.”