Catherine's Cross (23 page)

“What's that?”

“It's called Skeleton Island by locals.”

“Why?”

“About twenty-five years ago, an archaeologist uncovered the skeletons of three bodies. They were chained together and staked out. No one knows who they were or why they were treated so unmercifully.”

“Those poor people,” Jenks responded.

“The facial features of the skulls were reconstructed and scientists determined the bodies were of African origin.” Seth shook his head and said, “Slavery was a brutal institution.”

They spent the next thirty minutes talking. In the western sky, dark clouds were beginning to build up and a distant rumble of thunder sounded. The Pattersons emerged near the boat and Dave said, “Miss Jenkins, I didn't come across anything new on this dive. We'll go down one more time, but that's it.”

He looked to the west and said, “We may have to make this a short dive.”

After the couple started the next dive, Jenks put her hand on Seth's shoulder. “Have you heard any more about Maggie Reynolds's condition today?”

“Thomas phoned me and said she was improving. I'm thankful that I was able to get her out of the car.”

Another rumble of thunder sounded in the west, and the sky was beginning to take on an unusual deep-green to black appearance.

“I don't like the look of those clouds. The color is strange,” Seth observed.

A cool wind suddenly caught the Bimini top, and it flexed up and down in the breeze. The storm was approaching their position from the west. “I hope they come up soon,” Jenks said in a concerned voice.

A cloud-to-ground lightning bolt burst from the base of the thunderhead, followed by a loud crack of thunder. Feeling the electricity in the air, Jenks anxiously looked over the side of the boat for the divers. Within a few minutes, they both surfaced, empty handed. They swam to the side of the boat, and Jenks and Seth helped them with their diving tanks.

Dave turned his head to the west and said, “I think we should get off the water.”

He drove the boat to the pier at Hunting Island State Park and tied the watercraft off at the dock. The winds were now howling, and rain was pelting them with heavy drops. The foursome ran to one of the bath houses and stood inside as a terrific storm descended upon them. Visibility was next to nothing; the rain was so heavy that Jenks lost sight of the Pattersons' boat.

“Miss Jenkins?” Dave said, raising his voice above the storm.

“Yes?”

“I think somebody's trying to tell you something.”

That evening, Jenks and Seth made dinner together at the Walker's home. They grilled shrimp and vegetables and then sat down at the kitchen table to dine.

“Have you given up on the Elliott treasure?”

“I've concluded that we could look in that area every day for the next one hundred years and never find anything.”

“I'm thankful you've realized that.”

They looked into each other's eyes for a moment, and then Jenks asked, “Have you spoken to Rory lately?”

“No, not in the last few days. As far as I know, he still hasn't had a job offer. I'm going in to work early tomorrow, and we can go out to see him in the late afternoon. I'll let him know we're coming.”

After dinner he played several songs on the piano for her. Then they danced to jazz music until a sultry rendition of “At Last” performed by Etta James began to play.

At last

My love has come along

My lonely days are over . . .

Seth began to kiss her passionately as they danced. His hands caressed her back, and she felt her entire existence become fiery hot.

In a trembling voice she said, “Seth—I'm in love with you. I've been waiting for you.”

He tilted her head back from his chest and looked into her eyes. “I'm in love with you too.”

She could feel his hardness against her, and she hugged him even closer. “I want you, Seth.”

He continued to kiss her repeatedly on the mouth, and between kisses he whispered, “Baby, I don't want to get you pregnant. I'll use protection.”

“I went to see Dr. Wray for birth control.”

“You've been thinking about this for a while,” he said as he ran his hand up and down her back.

She blushed, and her face felt extremely hot. “I have.”

With those words he lifted her in his arms and carried her into his bedroom. He gently placed her on his bed. After removing his shirt, he pulled her tightly against him and his hands roamed her body with strong caresses. She cried out with excitement as he pulled her shirt over her head and then fondled her breasts. Gradually, they removed their clothing. She was in the throes of passion as he ran his tongue from her throat to her breasts, gently kissing her nipples. With his touch, she felt deeply moved by desire. She gasped for breath as their naked bodies came together, and she felt the hard muscles of his chest against her own. As she lost herself to him, she cried out his name and wept tears of pleasure. When he stilled against her, he gently wiped the tears from her face and held her until she fell asleep.

Jenks woke in the morning to light tickling on her face and arms by Seth's fingers. She looked into his eyes, which were gleaming golden-brown with the first rays of sunlight shining into the room.

“That feels good,” she quietly said.

“I have to leave you soon,” he whispered.

She turned and put her arms around him. “I don't want you to go.”

He kissed her and softly said, “I'll see you this afternoon. I'll pick you up around five at your house.”

“Promise?”

“Yes, ma'am.” He paused as he looked into her eyes. “Loving you last night was beautiful.”

She brought his fingers to her mouth and kissed them. “I'm certain you're the man I've been waiting for.”

He smiled with her words and stroked the side of her cheek. After kissing her again on the forehead, he rose from the bed. Captivated by his well-toned physique, Jenks thought his muscular build reminded her of the statue of a Roman youth she had seen years before, on a trip to the British Museum with Gigi. The youth had a perfect physique and thick curly hair. He was in the course of a hunt and his determination showed vividly in his eyes.
What would Seth's hair look like if he grew it out?

When she returned home, Jenks took a long walk around the Port Royal community. Even in the early morning hours, the humidity was oppressive and sweat ran down her chest and back.
Ladies are supposed to perspire—but this is sweat.
After a shower, she started cleaning Gigi's house, but found that she could not keep her mind off of Seth.

He had deeply stirred the passions within her. During lovemaking, his caresses had stimulated her into breathless desire, and new sensations enveloped her existence with deep pleasure.
There had never been any of this in my relationship with Alex Conners.
Jenks had declared her love for Seth, and she only knew that she wanted to be with him again.

Seth rang the doorbell at five o'clock and when she answered the door, she bounded into his arms. Holding him tightly for a few moments, she leaned her head back and looked up into his eyes.

“I've missed you today.”

“I've missed you too,” he said as he kissed her repeatedly on her face.

“What time is Rory expecting us?”

“I told him around six.”

She let go of him and retrieved her purse. After locking the front door, Jenks held his hand as they walked down the path to his car. He opened the door for her and then closed it once she was seated.

“Seth, do you think we have enough time to stop by and speak to Miss Meta and Miss Ida?”

“We'll have to make the visit a short one.”

They drove out to Coffin Point and Seth parked his vehicle in the grass yard near the house. He opened the door for Jenks, and they walked together up the steps. The sound of cicadas in the trees was almost deafening as they stepped to the front door. They went inside, and Jenks rang the bell. Within a few seconds, Jenks heard Ida Mae's voice from the rear of the house. “I's comin.”

As soon as she stepped into the foyer, a smile swept across her face and she said, “Miss Jenkins, how nice to see you . . . and who is dis with you?”

“Miss Ida, this is my friend Seth Mason.”

“Mmm mmm,” she said. “Meta, come to de front of de house!” she called out. “Miss Jenkins has come by for a visit.

“Mr. Seth, nice to meet you. Those were beautiful roses that you sent to us, Miss Jenkins. You didn't have to do dat.”

“I wanted to send you the flowers. You were so kind to allow me to read through your ancestor's journals.”

Seth came forward and shook her hand. “It's a pleasure to meet you too, Miss Andrews.” Jenks noticed how intently Ida Mae gazed into his eyes.

“Come into de parlor,” Ida Mae gently said.

They walked into the room and the ceiling fan was operating at full speed, filling the room with a circulating breeze.

“What brings you out dis way dis afternoon?”

“We're going to see a friend, but I wanted to come by and give you an update on the gold cross I was attempting to locate.”

“Did you find it?”

“No, ma'am.”

Meta Jane entered the room, and she smiled warmly at Seth and Jenks.

“Miss Jenkins, is so nice to see you agin. De roses you sent us were lovely. Who is dis handsome man with you?”

Seth stood and shook her hand. “Thank you, I'm Seth Mason. It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Andrews.”

“Likewise,” she responded.

“Meta—Jenkins has someting to tell us 'bout de cross she look for.”

“I thought I had calculated the area where the ship
Defiance
went down near St. Helena Sound.” Jenks glanced at Seth. “I hired a professional diver to search for any remnants of the ship. He and his wife performed several dives, but all they could find was marine debris.”

“It like looking for de needle in de haystack,” Ida Mae commented.

“Miss Jenkins, maybe it better dat de treasure stay where it is. It in a place of rest.”

“Yes, ma'am.”

Meta looked closely at Seth and Jenks. “May I tell you two someting?”

“Yes, ma'am.”

“Miss Jenkins, after de first time you come here, I told you I felt de presence of an aura 'bout you. I feels dat same energy round you today, but I feels an almost identical energy from you . . . Mr. Seth. You know live peoples gives off dere own unique energy pattern. Dis is like de energy I sense when I around identical twins.”

Seth's face turned pale and he asked, “Miss Meta . . . how could that be possible?”

“De energy in an aura is from de soul of someone who is not at rest. Dey may not have accomplished someting important dat dey's here to finish, or dey may have died violently before dere time. One other reason is—dey's here to protect a live person from harm.”