Free Wreckers Island (romantic suspense) by L K Harcourt Page A

to pick up some
Spanish, you know, you’re a natural at French, you wouldn’t find it much of a
leap. It was lucky I had my Spanish dictionary with me, otherwise I would have
struggled.’
    ‘It goes to show,’ laughed John, ‘you should
always make sure you take your Spanish-English dictionary on holiday, whether
it’s to Tenerife or Magaluf or even, a lighthouse off the coast of Cornwall.’
    Dan smiled. John was good at silly dialogues
like this. He was much better at the banter than himself and although he couldn’t
usually respond in kind, he did find it funny. ‘I don’t want to be ungrateful
on a day like today,’ replied Dan, ‘but do you know what would make my cup
runneth over, only it’s never going to happen?’
    ‘Let me guess,’ said John. ‘If you could get
it together with Emma. That is somewhat ungrateful you know, on a day when
we’ve had such marvellous good luck. I think that would be enough for most
people. Anyway, I’m kind of keen on Louise but she just sees me as someone to
flirt with on holiday. It’s very platonic. I think it’s partly ’cos I always
come across as superficial and people don’t realise I do have a deeper side as
well.’
    ‘Let Louise see that side to you,’ replied
Dan, looking thoughtfully at John. ‘If all people see of you is your cheeky
chappy, jokey persona, they won’t get to know the full you.’
    ‘Very true. On the other hand, compared to
you I am a total clown! And hey, who could feel miserable about their love life
within minutes of finding a stash of buried treasure. It’s like a big gold and
silver lining to our failure with women, don’t you think?’
    Dan smiled again as he put a brush through
his thick hair. John would have shrugged and looked on the bright side if
they’d come back with nothing more than an old farthing. Despite being quite
different people, they were good friends whose personalities complemented each
other. Dan was a calming, sensible influence on John while the latter’s chat
and good cheer cut through Dan’s intensity and introspection.
    ‘Right,’ said John. ‘Let’s give the girls a
call and get moving. I want to sink some ice cold continental beer tonight –
out of a tankard while I count my pieces of gold and silver like the smugglers
and wreckers of old. Ah ha!’
    Dan dryly pointed out that such characters
would more likely have drunk a warm ration of English ale or porter than cold
imported lager.
     
    The sea retained a pond-like calm when the
students set out in Louise’s motorboat bound for the shore. It was a lovely summer’s
evening, with the jagged rays of the sinking sun flickering across the water.
    ‘Look at that sun,’ said Emma, ‘like a great
golden coin disappearing from sight.’
    For a second it made her shiver. ‘Do you
suppose our treasure is safe where we left it?’
    The others chuckled. ‘It’s been lying there
undisturbed since 1780,’ pointed out Dan, ‘it couldn’t be in a safer place.’
    Louise moored the boat alongside the jetty
in the harbour and they clambered out, mindful of the need to go shopping
before anything else.
    ‘There’s a hardware store along the lane off
the high street,’ said Louise. ‘We’ll get good torches and batteries there.
Let’s make sure we don’t talk about what we want them for, ok? I know the
shopkeeper in there and he’s a nice chap but loves to know everyone’s
business.’
     
    ‘Now what you be wanting these powerful
torches for missy, I can’t help wondering?’ said Will the shopkeeper as they
trooped to his till with one apiece and plenty of batteries. ‘Going potholing
or exploring them old smugglers’ caves, I’ll be bound.’
    ‘If we told you that, Will, we’d have to
shoot you,’ replied Louise with a grin. ‘Hey, talking of which, I don’t suppose
you know of any tunnels from the shore heading under the sea bed into the bay?’
    The others glanced at Louise, surprised at
her indiscretion. What about her own