Fate's a Funny Thing

Chapter 5

Rick left their cabin a few hours later with his gun sack leaving Krista to go to sleep early, having been worn her out from their earlier activities. Once he reached the top deck he decided to try and find a quiet place to clean his gun. That was when he noticed Jonathan, Kris' older brother and three Americans playing poker.

"Sit down, O'Connell, sit down, we could use another good player. Where's Krissy at, then?" Jonathan called out, finally noticing Rick.

Rick grinned at the men, "Your sister decided to turn in early, poor thing is exhausted. And she would kill me if I gambled away all the money, besides I only gamble with my life."

Jonathan shot him a disgusted look, understanding his innuendo pertaining to his baby sister while the other men smirked.

"Never?" One of the Americans questioned smirking up at Rick, "What if I was to wager five hundred dollars says we get to Hamunaptra before you? I'm sure the missus wouldn't mind too much."

Rick looked at the man in confusions, "You're looking for Hamunaptra?"

"Damn straight we are." The blonde American confirmed.

"And who says we are?" Rick questioned already having a pretty good idea as to who spilled the beans.

All three Americans pointed to Jonathan, "He does."

Jonathan looked up at Rick sheepishly and shrugged.

The dark haired cocky one spoke up again, "So how bout it? Is it a bet? Or are you too afraid at what your wife will say about it?"

O'Connell returns the man's cocky look, "All right, you're on."

Suddenly right across from where they're all sitting a man with a fez and monocle cut in, "What makes you so confident, sir?"

"Well, what makes you?" Rick smarted back

The blonde cowboy spoke up this time, "We got us a man who's actually been there."

Rick's poker face slipped at bit at that news, while Jonathan looked up and opened his mouth, "I say, what a coincidence, why O'conn..." he never got to finish his sentence because Rick 'accidentally' hit him in the back with his gun sack, shutting him up.

Jonathan quickly covers, "...whose deal is it? Is it my deal? I thought..." he trailed off

Rick looked back up at the men, "Gentlemen, we got us a wager. Good evening" he nodded to the men, "Jonathan." He said as he placed his hand on Jonathan's shoulder and squeezed so hard the joints popped before walking off.

Once Rick gets a good bit of distance between them he finds Evelyn Carnahan sitting at a table reading a book. He smirked as he walked up her and...bang! The gun sack dropped onto the table, startling her.

Rick snickered, "Sorry didn't mean to scare you."

Evy huffed, "The only thing that scares me, Mr. O'Connell, is your manners."

Rick winced playfully, "Still angry that I kissed you, huh? Or are you angry that I married your sister and knocked her up?"

Evy chose to ignore the comment he make about Krista, "If you call that a kiss."

Rick smirked as he snapped his bag apart, once it was opened inside there were revolvers, pistols, hunting knives, a massive elephant gun, and a half dozen carefully wrapped sticks of dynamite.

Evy looked on curiously, "Did I miss something? Are we going into battle?"

Rick started dismantling and cleaning the guns, "Lady, there's something out there, you know, something under that sand." Evy waived his warning off, "Yes, I'm hoping to find a certain artifact, a book, actually, my brother thinks there's treasure. What do you think is out there?"