them like a jewel cache. Turquoise waters lapped against pearlescent beaches that disappeared into an emerald jungle. Excitement gushed like a drug through Rafe’s veins as he lowered the glass and returned it to Gus. “So, master plunderer, when does this treasure hunt fork the saddle?”
“Come again?”
“Begin. When do we get started? When do we dig for the gold?”
“Well, for one thing, you’re not digging nothing. The treasure isn’t buried, it’s hidden, and we’ve a few details to check before attempting to retrieve it. But if all goes well, I anticipate we will have accomplished our business here and be headed for home by day after tomorrow.”
Rafe frowned, his gaze once again seeking the shore. He didn’t like the idea of such a brief stay on land. After all, how much adventure could a man have in two short days? “That soon?”
“If all goes well. We will need to do some reconnoitering first. Don’t forget there’s a war going on down here. Snake and I will visit with some of our old acquaintances and find out what’s been happening since Lucky and I were down here last. Gotta make sure no one has set up a camp or something along our route. As much fun as fighting can be, I’d just as soon avoid a war of our own with a local who thinks to steal our treasure as we tote it back to the boat from the cenote.”
Rafe repeated the unfamiliar word. “Sin-oh-tay?”
“It’s like a pool inside a cave that serves as a natural well,” Gus explained. “The rivers in this country are all underground, and cenotes are the cracks in the surface that allow access to the fresh water. They are also good hiding places for treasure.”
Rafe grinned. “A freshwater bath sounds right fine about now. So, when do we meet with your old friends? I have to tell you, as much as I’ve enjoyed the sail, I’m ready to get off this boat.”
“If you feel that way after less than two full weeks, you’d better stick to raising horses, Malone,” Gus said, shaking his head. “You’d make a pitiful sailor. You’ll get your wish, though, because we’ll reach the island by noon.” He slid Rafe a sidelong look and added, “Just so you’re forewarned, this afternoon may well be the most dangerous hours you’ll face during the entire trip.”
“Why? Are these old friends of yours that nasty?”
Gus shrugged. “They are murderers, cutthroats, and thieves.”
“Sounds a lot like my old friends. I should fit in just fine.”
“You’re not going to have the opportunity to fit in, Malone, and that’s what makes this afternoon so dangerous for you.”
Rafe arched a brow. “Explain it to me, Gus.”
“No, don’t think I will. You are an intelligent man, Malone. You’ll figure it out.”
Rafe figured it out all right. He both figured it out and couldn’t believe it was happening at the same time.
Shortly after noon, Snake and Gus left Rafe all alone on a sun-drenched tropical island with their most-prized treasure, his for the plundering. As the
Buccaneer’s Bliss
sailed away and was lost to the horizon, Rafe turned to Maggie and choked back a groan.
She stood barefoot on the white sand beach, her glistening, waist-length hair flying unbound in the breeze. She wrapped her mouth around a banana and took a bite. Her eyes closed and pleasure filled her expression. When she ever-so-slowly ringed her lips with her tongue, savoring the sensuous pleasure of the fruit, Rafe threw his head back, glared at the sky, and swore softly.
It was going to be a long, hot, hard afternoon.
~~~~~~~~~~
Pleasure hummed in Maggie’s veins as she licked the last bit of banana from her fingers. Mmm, I’ve missed this.
She’d missed the fruit and this little slice of heaven. This tiny little island off the coast of Yucatan had always been one of her favorite places to visit. No one lived here, and all signs suggested few people other than she and her papas ever visited.
The land was lush and lovely. A wide variety of
“Come again?”
“Begin. When do we get started? When do we dig for the gold?”
“Well, for one thing, you’re not digging nothing. The treasure isn’t buried, it’s hidden, and we’ve a few details to check before attempting to retrieve it. But if all goes well, I anticipate we will have accomplished our business here and be headed for home by day after tomorrow.”
Rafe frowned, his gaze once again seeking the shore. He didn’t like the idea of such a brief stay on land. After all, how much adventure could a man have in two short days? “That soon?”
“If all goes well. We will need to do some reconnoitering first. Don’t forget there’s a war going on down here. Snake and I will visit with some of our old acquaintances and find out what’s been happening since Lucky and I were down here last. Gotta make sure no one has set up a camp or something along our route. As much fun as fighting can be, I’d just as soon avoid a war of our own with a local who thinks to steal our treasure as we tote it back to the boat from the cenote.”
Rafe repeated the unfamiliar word. “Sin-oh-tay?”
“It’s like a pool inside a cave that serves as a natural well,” Gus explained. “The rivers in this country are all underground, and cenotes are the cracks in the surface that allow access to the fresh water. They are also good hiding places for treasure.”
Rafe grinned. “A freshwater bath sounds right fine about now. So, when do we meet with your old friends? I have to tell you, as much as I’ve enjoyed the sail, I’m ready to get off this boat.”
“If you feel that way after less than two full weeks, you’d better stick to raising horses, Malone,” Gus said, shaking his head. “You’d make a pitiful sailor. You’ll get your wish, though, because we’ll reach the island by noon.” He slid Rafe a sidelong look and added, “Just so you’re forewarned, this afternoon may well be the most dangerous hours you’ll face during the entire trip.”
“Why? Are these old friends of yours that nasty?”
Gus shrugged. “They are murderers, cutthroats, and thieves.”
“Sounds a lot like my old friends. I should fit in just fine.”
“You’re not going to have the opportunity to fit in, Malone, and that’s what makes this afternoon so dangerous for you.”
Rafe arched a brow. “Explain it to me, Gus.”
“No, don’t think I will. You are an intelligent man, Malone. You’ll figure it out.”
Rafe figured it out all right. He both figured it out and couldn’t believe it was happening at the same time.
Shortly after noon, Snake and Gus left Rafe all alone on a sun-drenched tropical island with their most-prized treasure, his for the plundering. As the
Buccaneer’s Bliss
sailed away and was lost to the horizon, Rafe turned to Maggie and choked back a groan.
She stood barefoot on the white sand beach, her glistening, waist-length hair flying unbound in the breeze. She wrapped her mouth around a banana and took a bite. Her eyes closed and pleasure filled her expression. When she ever-so-slowly ringed her lips with her tongue, savoring the sensuous pleasure of the fruit, Rafe threw his head back, glared at the sky, and swore softly.
It was going to be a long, hot, hard afternoon.
~~~~~~~~~~
Pleasure hummed in Maggie’s veins as she licked the last bit of banana from her fingers. Mmm, I’ve missed this.
She’d missed the fruit and this little slice of heaven. This tiny little island off the coast of Yucatan had always been one of her favorite places to visit. No one lived here, and all signs suggested few people other than she and her papas ever visited.
The land was lush and lovely. A wide variety of
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