X Marks the Spot

s never hear

the ending! How

d, kissing the child on the forehead as

aimed, leaping upright and flailing his pudgy arms about in an i

in a vain attempt not to smile. She tucked the child in one last

. He flipped his body away from the door and pulled the sheet

an along the frail smooth skin of her face and through the auburn curls of her hair. Her emerald eyes

and his im

she said, making her way across the creaky floorboards and taking a seat nex

stale salt-filled air. A thin straight-paneled dublin bobbed between the man’s weathered lips, the small ember

you read to me,”

miration. He ran the tip of his finger along the chiseled edge of his pipe, puffing

Diane’s lips as her brow narrowed

ips and offered a grin. “All I’m suggesting is that it is time to start th

mfortable with this particular conversation. “Where is t

t the bowl of his pipe as he contemplated his next words carefully.. “I appreciate everything you have d

e huffed, the tension in her voic

n his hand, the ember now faded to a soft cinder. He brought the rod back to his lips, fan

hat had filled the room. “Were we expecting company?

the smoldering pipe atop the mantle before hobbling over to the door, his cane clipping across the hard floor as he shuffled al

sked. He lowered the scarlet cavalier from atop his head and clutche

r. What business do

ched furiously with discomfort as he reached into the breast pocket of his

s you speak

ng throughout the still night. Realizing the level of enthusiasm was

he crew was transporting from the East. The Ivory Lilly was not much of a vessel. Bastards sank it as they left.” The man’s hands trembled a

ent close to his chest, his thumb slowly tracing the still wet wax of the delicate seal. He nodded his r

asked before the old man coul

ne quivered in his hands as he hobble