With The Tide (Outerbanks JJ Maybank x OC)

Chapter 13 - Denmarks Gold

So i have to apologize in advance for this chapter. I struggled with this one. I deleted this and rewrote it several times until finally just giving into it. This is a filler chapter that is needed to get to where i needed to get but seems rough as i re-read it.

Anyway this is really just background that we all know on Denmark that they Pogues had to figure out at some point.

So anyway heres this chapter and hope you stick with this story even if this isn't the best chapter.

"What the hell are you talking about Pope?" Kie asked. Once he could breathe again he began pacing walking between us and around the hot tub.

"So, I was at home right, working on my scholarship essay and I couldn't get the image of the wheat on those bars out of my head, so I thought hey, that could be something. Anyway I went to the Library because the internet is still out at my house..."

"Dude." I said stepping in front of him and holding his arms to stop him from pacing. "The point Pope... get to the point."

"Right... Right." He nodded and looked up at the others. "You all know the story of the Royal Merchant yeah?"

"The ship that went down of the coast, people have been looking for it for years." Sarah questioned and Pope nodded eagerly.

"Wait the gold on Scooters boat... are you telling us that's from the Royal Merchant?" I asked turning to JJ who was staring wide eyed at Pope in disbelief.

"My dad was working on research for the Royal Merchant before he disappeared." John B said quietly pulling out his father's compass running his thumb over the top of it.

"If you fathers compass was in Scooters boat with some of the gold from the Merchant...." Kie commented piecing together all the information. Pope had finally stopped moving and had sat himself on the cover of the hot tub. He seemed to be enjoying watching us all come to the same conclusion he had earlier.

"John B, did your dad find the Merchant?" I asked turning to him and he seemed to be lost in thought staring at the watch.

"How much did they say was on the Merchant?" JJ asked looking at all of us. Pope leaned forward and slowly answered JJ.

"400 Million in gold." He stated and an audible gasp filled the air around us.

"Holy shit." JJ state his hand running through his hair.

"So why did Grubs have it? And why are those guys looking for it?" Sarah asked and none of us had any answers. John B still seemed to be stuck in his head, his eyes not leaving the compass. There were so many more questions that we had now, but none were going to be answered that day. The sun was starting to set and myself personally, I was exhausted. Having been up since the day before with little to no sleep my brain wasn't going to be able to process anymore.

"Sarah... that guy your dad has hanging in his office, what his name again?" I asked sleepily from my place in the Hammock, JJ lying beside me his hand running through my hair softly. The others were set up around the fire beside us talking. The conversation around the gold had died down when we started talking in circles and getting frustrated, now it was mindless banter about whatever we could think of.

"You mean Denmark Tanny?" She answered and I nodded turning my head to look at her as she turned in John B's arms.

"Didn't you say he bought a bunch of land with gold?" I asked.

"Yeah. He's kind of a mystery though. He showed up with a bunch of gold freed all the slaves and then bought all the land around Tannyhill." She shrugged and I could see everyone else's interest peak as she spoke. "You think he had the gold?"