Wind in My Sails

Chapter 10

"Land ho!" Kit shouted.

Crew members began pulling the ship to shore before getting off it. They crowded around the beach and looked to their captains for direction.

"MC, Q, MA, T, Satan and Bratt! You are with me!" Sly yelled. "The rest of you women, guard the ship!"

"Finn, Noah, Samuel, Michael and Malcolm! You're with me!" Shue was right behind her. "Men, help the women."

"Say your goodbyes because we may not come back alive!"

The crew said goodbye to the elite squad before Arthur, Majors and Rachel said goodbye to their spouses.

"Come on!" Sly waved a hand.

The eleven started out easily enough. The tablet had translated the map perfectly so it was only a matter of what was on the map versus what was in the area since the map was made.

It took four days to reach an unassuming lean-to in the thick forest.

"Are you sure this is it?" Sly was very unimpressed.

MA handed her the map. "Tis what it says. A bramble of branches sunk low into the ground."

Sly sighed. "Do we open it?"

T lifted a hand. "I'll go first."

"Be careful." Michael warned.

T nodded before getting on her hands and knees and crawling forth. She opened the uncharacteristically closed lean-to and crawled inside. She poked her head out. "There are stairs!"

Sly grinned. "What are you waiting for?! Let's go!"

One by one, they crawled into the lean-to and went down the stairs. It was pitch black so they turned on the lanterns they brought by striking matches against the stone around them.

They traveled for hours, going from stairs to halls and back to stairs again until they reached a large room with sconces on a wall.

"There's nothing here." Noah commented.

"You have much to learn, my love." MC cupped his chin.

Q nodded. "Spread out!"

The girls took a section of wall and began patting it down. MA took one of the sconces down to light it for vision but it only moved down.

The room rumbled and they wondered if they'd stepped into a trap. But the wall only opened with seven uniquely shaped holes.

Sly and the girls smiled before each slid a key into each individual slot. The room rumbled again as the wall fell down. It revealed another set of stairs.

Everyone walked down them for about a mile before the stairs stopped abruptly in a large cavern that was nearly floor to ceiling with riches.

Everyone's mouths dropped. Even though they'd wanted it, they didn't always believe it existed.

"Wow!"

They all ran around, rejoicing in the gold coins and jewels.

"How do we get out of here?" Satan brought up. "We can't take the money with us if we're trapped down here forever."

"I hear rushing water." MA climbed to her feet and followed the sound. She walked down an opening until she saw falling water. At first, she was really confused until she peeked out from behind it. She rushed back to her crew. "Tis a waterfall!"

"The cavern is behind a waterfall?" Malcolm shook his head. "Of course it is."

"Let's start loading up chests then we'll find our way back to the beach." Sly decided. "We'll come back with more crew members for the rest of it."

Shue wrapped his arms around her as the younger set started filling chests with treasure. "You've found your treasure."

Sly smiled. "I really did."

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"How were they while we were gone?" MA asked.

Majors turned a gold coin over in her hand. "They missed you but I was able to keep them fed and alive. I suppose happy."

"I know you kept them happy." MA looked to where the twins were playing on the floor with their father. They were over a year old now and getting into everything.

Majors smiled at her and took her hand. "What are we to do now? We're wealthy outlaws."

"I think I may be done with a pirate's life. At least right now." MA rubbed her stomach, where a new baby was growing. "I still want that cottage. Are you in?"

Majors leaned against her. "Aye. Aye, I am."

MA began singing softly while the ship rocked in peace and they set sail for another adventure. "I love you so."