Ain't Shady Baby, I'm Hot

38

"Hey, guys. So, like, my dad's already gonna kill me. So what's this mandatory meeting about?" Pope asked as we lounged around a fire. Kie and I still in our Midsummers attire.

"Right, might as well tell him, man, before we're gaffed." I rose an eyebrow at JJ as I undid my heels.

"You ready for this?"

"Yeah." Kie was super quick clearly just as impatient as the rest of us.

"So, the gold never went down with the Royal Merchant." I froze mid-removal and stared at John B from across the fire.

"And here we go again." Pope sighed.

"No, Alright. Wait. Hear him out." JJ pleaded as I continued taking my shoes off.

"It's been here the whole time."

"Like on Outer Banks?" I asked rubbing my ankles.

"It's on the island." John B confirmed.

"Then what are we doing? Let's go find it!" I got excited. Before this treasure hunt it was pretty much days on end of doing the expected. The only variation I had was when I started pranking Rafe or spontaneously hanging out with the Pogues. I thought it was fair for me to jump at the chance.

"Whoa, there Indiana Jones." John B mocked getting me to settle down. As I grinned. I'm so buying a brown fedora now.

"I'd like to voice my skepticism."

"I'm sure you would, Pope, but can I please present you with my evidence, sir?"

"Proceed." I snorted watching Pope wave his hand.

"Alright. So, in my backpack," John B theatrically unzipped his back and pulled out a piece of paper, "I have a letter from Denmark Tanny."

"Who the hell is that?"

"He is the founder of Tannyhill." I answered, looking up at John B who seemed surprised, "he was a slave but became a freeman when he bought the plantation."

"Uh, yeah. How do you know that?"

"I'll explain later." I waved him off letting him continue.

"Right, so Denmark Tanny was a slave who became a freeman. But, more importantly, he was a slave that survived the Royal Merchant wreck." My eyes grew wide as I took into account what he meant.

"B, if Denmark survived the wreck as a slave, then that gold he payed for the land with-" he nodded, finishing what I was starting to say.

"Is the four hundred mil we are looking for." John B concluded for me. "Bingo."

"Shit, B! You did it, you actually fucking did it."

"Wait, I'm not tracking." Pope piped in, making John B rewind and explain.

"My dad found the full manifest of the ship showing Tanny was in-fact on board. So Tanny used the gold from the Merchant to buy his freedom. After that he bought his farm. Which is, drumroll please," we did as he requested, "Tannyhill Plantation, like Xena said."

"So then, he uses his money to free a whole bunch of slaves. Sells a lot of products which pissed off the white planters, so they decide to lynch him." I slid over and leaned on Pope as we both looked at the letter in his hand. "So on the day they were coming to get him, he writes a letter to his son as a farewell, and in the last line of that letter, he leaves a crossed message about where to find the gold."

"Did you find out? I can probably get this translated if that was necessary." I piped up trying to read the old creole language.

"You know Gullah?" John B asked as I looked up.

"My mom's a history buff. She's got tombs of languages stored in her safe."

"Good to know. But no, I had someone help. It says harvest the wheat in parcel nine near the water. Except, there's no wheat. You see, wheat is code for gold. The gold is in parcel nine by the water."

"Holy shit." Pope gasps as Kie laughs. I just smile.

"All we need is an original survey map of the property and we've found the gold." John B threw his hands out laughing slightly.

"Okay so this may have a small chance of actually being true." Pope was hesitant but I could tell he was bought in.

"Okay, I could probably get that. Make something up, get my mom's help too."

"Uh, T, is there something you haven't told us?" John B asked as he was pulled into a hug by JJ. "Hey, whoa, fire, fire. You're near the fire. You're gonna burn." JJ set John B down before they both turned to look at me.

"Yeah, what John B was asking. I'm curious too, Rafe was going off about something weird." I sighed.

"Well, as a matter of fact, I have a few things to address."

"Please don't tell us you're pregnant."

"What the? JJ!" I yelled tossing a small stick at him. "No, I am not pregnant. And for your information still a virgin, not that it was necessary for you to know." The three boys crinkled their nose as Kie laughed. "But, I haven't been fully honest. Gray works really close with Ward in his realtor development business and they had dinner one night, and it led into Ward and Rose asking me to help Wheezie out for the summer. So, she's the kid I've been tutoring."

"Whoa. So you were at the Kook Palace every time you were tutoring?" JJ asked.

"Unfortunately, yes. Look, the reason I know about Tannyhill is because I had a little free-time during a session and well, Ward entertained my questions about the property."

"Okay, so what about Rafe?" Kie pipped in making me groan. "Hey, I'm just asking. You pretty much walked in with him then danced like I've never seen before. I just want to know what's up."

"Me too, actually." Pope chimed.

"You know y'all are my best friends. My only friends might I add. And y'all can't hate me for what I'm about to disclose."

"No promises."

"Thanks for being honest, JJ." I sassed as I cleared my throat.

"Well, I don't know if you recall Kie mentioning a New Years Ball earlier this summer. But it was a masquerade. And reality ruined my magic. The guy I danced with at the ball, the one I said gave me butterflies. It was Rafe Cameron." Everyone's jaws dropped. My head in my hands as I glared into the fire. "And knowing that information makes me want to scream." I admitted. "Because of course this perfect fairytale night would come crashing down with the revealing of the Kook Prince."

"So, is this gonna change anything?"

"No. Nope." I shook my head looking to John B. "Does getting that out in the open finally and letting you all know I have ties to the Cameron family mean y'all are gonna act different around me?" JJ and Pope thought about it for a second. Kie sighing as she shook her head no.

"No. I mean, actions speak louder than words, and so far you've been with us everytime." Pope started, JJ agreeing.

"Yeah, might be an adjustment, but you're still one of us, Wifey." I grinned, a weight lifting off my shoulders.

"B?" I asked looking at the male who was biting his lip.

"Uh, yeah what they all said. But, I uh, I've got something to come clean about too."