Treasure Tides Part 18

Sean appeared in the doorway. He had gone to see how much longer it would be before they reached the marina.

"We're within five minutes. What's the plan?" Sean asked, referring to Joanna.

"I'll let her sleep and bring her home when she wakes up," Landon offered. "She'll probably be out for a while."

After a long look, Royce agreed to leave Landon with Joanna.

"I'll take care of her. She's safe with me," Landon promised her brother.

"If I doubted that for a minute, you wouldn't be anywhere near her," Royce a.s.sured him. "One word of warning though," Royce continued with an evil smile, "she may be a tad irritable when she wakes up." With that being said, he turned and climbed the stairs. Landon heard the sonof-a-b.i.t.c.h whistling as he helped unload their gear.

"She'll be fine with Landon; he wouldn't let anything happen to her," Kurt rea.s.sured Royce as they carried the last of the air tanks to the truck.

Royce offered Kurt his hand saying again, "I know, or I would never leave her with him."

Shaking Royce's hand Kurt continued, "Now, I'm not sure he is safe with her."

"You may be right," Royce laughed as he agreed. Turning to find Sean, Royce called, "Let's go. I have a date tonight and I don't want to be late!"

Kurt shook his head as Royce and Sean roared out of the parking lot. He walked back to the boat and glanced at his watch. He had close to an hour and a half to get things done before he needed to pick up the girls for dinner.

Kurt wished he could check in with everyone at home, but his cell phone had just died. Clarissa had lost her cell phone charger, so she was using his. He had accidently run over his car charger after it had fallen out of his truck a couple of days ago. Consequently, there was no way to recharge his phone until he got home. Becki was off work today and would take care of anything that came up, but he would call them when he got to the shop, just to be sure.

"You ok, bud?" Kurt called down to Landon.

"Yea, I've got it covered down here. I'll catch up with you this evening," Landon said quietly.

"Ok, the girls and I are going to go out to eat tonight. They leave for Indiana in the morning."

Kurt would miss his girls, but he needed to know they were safely tucked away from whatever craziness was in progress here.

"Ok, catch ya later," Landon said, his attention being pulled once again to the woman sleeping nearby. Sean had warned that Joanna would wake up with the mother of all headaches. He had aspirin ready for the minute she began to stir.

CHAPTER EIGHT.

Becki had been home all day cleaning her house. The floors positively sparkled. She was lounging on the deck drinking a gla.s.s of wine when her cell phone rang.

"Hey, you're home safe and sound!" Becki answered.

"Yep, and already unpacked," Natie said.

"Wow! You're good!" Becki applauded, taking a sip of her wine. "I just called to let you know I dumped Jonah on his self-centered a.s.s," Natie said without any sort of forewarning.

Becki spit her wine out all over the table. " What? It's about d.a.m.n time!" She said trying not to choke.

"I decided the night we left and told him to get his s.h.i.+t together and get out as soon as we got home," Natie said proudly.

"That's wonderful news!"

"He whined about being tired from the drive, and I told him I was pretty sure he could find someone willing to let him into their bed tonight. But, that someone wouldn't be me!"

Becki laughed, "Ha! I bet he didn't have anything to say to that!"

"Oh, he slammed around, and I helped him all I could... by throwing his s.h.i.+t out in the front yard from the second story window!" Natie bragged.

Becki laughed as Natie gave her the details. "Oh, Nat, I wished I could have been a fly on the wall," she said, her eyes dancing with mirth. "Speaking of being a fly on the wall, tell me about your ride home with Sean the other night. He's such a sweet-heart."

"I know, but I'm not ready to think about anyone other than me right now, Becki. I didn't love Jonah anymore, but he was comfortable. I've never been with anyone else, so I'm just going to go solo for a while," Natie said.

"There's nothing wrong with that. You need to come back here now that you've cut the ball and chain loose. We can have some real fun," Becki coaxed.

"Maybe I'll be able to come back in a few months. Don't get too excited, but I'm considering moving there permanently."

Becki screamed in excitement, "Really?" Becki asked as she stood up and danced around in circles. "That would be so awesome!" Flopping back into her seat, she grabbed her wine gla.s.s and pressed her sister for details, "When?"

"I'm thinking as soon as this semester is over. I still have a few weeks to go. I'm getting sick of school, so I might take next semester off. I figured that would be a good time to relocate," Natie shared. "What's that hottie's name, the one who owns your house? Does he have any more rental properties on the Island?"

"I'm sure he does...and he is a hottie," Becki agreed. "I'll be glad to make the sacrifice and find out for you," she graciously offered.

"I'm sure you would," Natie said, mocking her sister. "Have you talked to Jenna lately?"

"She Facebooked me just the other day," Becki said as she poured another gla.s.s of wine. She had spit most of her other gla.s.s out. "She had some new ink she wanted me to see."

"Tweedy Bird," Natie said laughing.

"Yep, that's it. She also got nipple rings, but she didn't send me pics of those. Thank G.o.d," Becki said grimacing. That was just way too much for her. Those had to hurt like a mother.

"Just wait. I'm sure you'll be able to catch them on Facebook," Natie teased.

"Probably," Becki agreed.

Jenna was a free spirit. She was into body piercings and tattoos, liked to smoke a little pot, and ride her Harley. She reminded Becki of a chocolate covered cherry-- hard on the outside and mushy on the inside. Jenna also had a pet snake that Becki and Natie were not so fond of. She insisted that he was a real "sweet heart." But even so, they made her leave him at home, when she visited one of them.

"You should so get Jenna to come with you," Becki said.

"Oh G.o.d, can you imagine the three of us together on an island? That place would never be the same! Me with my b.o.o.bs hanging out, her with tattoos and piercings everywhere, and you trying to get us all drunk. I'm not sure the locals could take it. And then there's the "midnight ride". That alone would probably get her thrown in jail!"

Jenna liked to ride her Harley in the buff during the full moon. She had tried to talk Becki and Natie into it several times but hadn't been successful, yet.

It was nice to hear Natie so happy. It had been a long time since Becki had heard that sparkle in her voice.

"You should ask her anyway. She might be ready for a change," Becki urged.

"I will; next time I talk to her. I have to figure out what I'm going to do before I pull her into the mix," Natie reasoned.

A call beeped in, and Becki saw it was Clarissa. "I need to take this call, Natie. It's Clarissa...and Kurt is out on the boat."

"Ok, we'll talk later. Bye," Natie said before disconnecting the call.

Becki picked up Clarissa's incoming call.

"Hi, Hon. What's up?" Becki asked as she topped off her gla.s.s with just a tad more wine.

"Becki?" Clarissa began nervously.

"What's wrong, Clarissa. Is everybody ok?" Clarissa sounded as if she had been crying.

"Yes, but these men came to the door and wanted me to ask them in to wait on my Dad. I told them I couldn't let anyone in when my dad wasn't home."

Beck swallowed the panic rising in her throat as Clarissa continued, "They went back out and sat in their car for a while, just watching the house. And, then I saw these other really big guys start walking over toward their car, and they took off. Then the big guys walked all around our house. It was just weird the way they kind of left all of a sudden."

"I'll be right there," Becki promised as she ran into the house to find her keys.

"I'm a little scared. We have the doors locked, but I don't know when Dad will be home," Clarissa concluded, sniffling.

Becki knew she was more than a little scared.

"I'm on my way now. Just sit tight and don't answer the door for anyone. If someone else shows up, call 911," Becki insisted. "Understand?"

"Yes," Clarissa responded.

With her heart in her throat, Becki said, "I'm going to put you on speaker, so I can have both hands to drive. You stay on the line with me. Tell me if you see anyone at all."

Becki activated the Bluetooth speaker system, "Can you hear me, Clarissa?"

"I hear you," she confirmed.

Becki was more frightened than she had ever been in her life. Even if she could get in touch with the guys, they were out in the middle of the water somewhere. It would take them too long to get home. Please keep them safe, Lord.

"Where are your sisters, Clarissa?" Becki asked.

"They are right here with me. We're upstairs watching out the windows. I'm getting a little freaked with all these strangers around. No one is usually down here that I don't know. We are supposed to go out for dinner, so Dad should be home soon. I wish he was home now," she finished in a whisper.

Becki flew. In the quiet little cul-de-sac everyone stuck together. There was no reason for anyone to be down there that Clarissa didn't know. A bunch of strangers milling around was quite disturbing.

Her phone beeped indicating a call coming in, but it didn't display who was calling. Please let it be Royce. Becki's tires squealed as she made the turn into the addition.

"Hold on, Clarissa. I have a call ringing in. I'm pulling in to the addition right now; I'll be there in two minutes or less," Becki promised.

"Ok, I'm going to try to call Dad again. I'll see you in a minute," Clarissa said.

Becki clicked over to the new call. "Royce, where are you? Are you back yet? Is Kurt with you?" She was firing off questions without waiting for answers.

"What's wrong, Doll?"

"Trev," Becki said with tears of disappointment thickening her voice. "I can't talk now. There's trouble, big trouble. I have to find Royce."

Becki hung up before Trevor could formulate a question.

Her phone rang again, and this time the caller ID chose to work properly. "Royce," she choked past the lump clogging her throat.

"What's wrong, Becki?" Royce asked anxiously.

He had just gotten out of the shower and was in the midst of getting ready for their date. He couldn't stop thinking about her. Becki was beautiful. She was also kind and caring. She was not afraid to stand up for herself and what she believed was right. In many ways Becki was like Joanna, who had really p.i.s.sed him off earlier.

Joanna had pushed too hard today. She had risked her health because of her d.a.m.n stubbornness. Joanna would fight to the death to protect those she loved. Becki was like that when it came to her family.

Royce didn't know how he was going to keep Becki out of the middle of this mess. He would never forgive himself if something happened to her, but he couldn't seem to stay away. He found himself just wanting to be with her. To care for her... protect her.

Recognizing the concern in his voice and because she was terrified, Becki started to cry. "Royce, Clarissa called and there have been people watching the house. They even went up to the door and tried to get inside. I'm pulling up to the driveway now," Becki explained as she jumped out of her car.

Royce heard the car door slam and then heard the girls crying. They must have run out to the car when Becki pulled in the driveway. He felt a chill as he began running toward his own car.

"Get the girls back in the house right now and lock the doors!" Royce ordered. "I'm on my way."

"Royce says to get back inside and lock the doors," she explained as she disentangled herself from three sobbing girls.

"Becki, do not answer the door for anyone," Royce barked sternly. "Do you understand me? Kurt is on his way home, and I'll be there in a few minutes. If you're not inside, get there! Now!"

Becki heard another car door slam and turned to see strangers appearing in the cul-de-sac. They were moving quickly toward the driveway where she and the girls stood. Suddenly, Landon's door opened. Thank G.o.d, she hadn't known he was home.

However, it wasn't Landon who appeared in the doorway. Bursting out of Landon's house were several very large men. Men she didn't know and had never met. What the h.e.l.l? Those were some scary dogs the guys had. Or were they dogs? Whatever they were, the things were growling and snarling and- s.h.i.+t-- running toward her.

Becki pushed the girls back into the house. Without pausing to look again, she slammed the door and threw the deadbolt home.

Joanna had regained consciousness a few minutes ago. She was, however, strangely subdued. Her eyes were downcast, and if he hadn't known better, Landon would have sworn she wiped away a tear.

As she surfaced, Joanna felt a rush of emotion. Royce was really p.i.s.sed! She had messed up big-time. But she had been so close! Something was dancing around the edges of her mind trying to get her attention. She had almost zeroed in on the elusive whisper-like thought. She would have to be more careful because something extremely powerful was trying to reach her. She felt better but was still a little tired. G.o.d, her head was killing her. She was certain her forearms had to be streaked with blood along with her face. However, she couldn't quite bring herself to look.

"You OK?" Landon asked softly.

Joanna jerked her head around to see him standing close, a little too close. He was watching her a little too intently as well. Then she focused on the gla.s.s of water and aspirin he held in his hands.

"You do this often?" Joanna asked as she struggled to sit up.

Landon slid an arm around her shoulders and lifted her up, leaning her against his chest. Keeping his arm around her, he handed her the pills and then the water.

"Not too often," he answered, his breath whispering across her cheek.