Free Evelina and the Reef Hag by R.A. Donnelly Page B

circled the fountain clockwise, appearing to examine every inch of it.
    Evelina circled counter clockwise to do the same. She’d had a good look before Frankie showed up, but maybe she’d missed something. After coming full circle, she planted her bottom on the edge for a closer look.
    Frankie did another pass, searching under the lip of the fountain, jumping up on top to walk around the edge.
    Evelina watched him, absently running her hand through the water, scattering the silver and copper.
    Then...
    Her fingers hit a lump.
    She swished the coins aside to get a better look. It appeared to be some kind of large medallion, or, a large sculpture of an old coin. Her blood bubbled with excitement. She leaned closer. It had a ship on it.
    “Frankie!” She wriggled further around the edge of the fountain, swishing away coins until she found another one. “Look at this.”
    Frankie joined her, leaning close, until they were shoulder to shoulder. “Coins! Spanish Doubloons. Way to go! Are there any more?”
    “Three,” she said, uncovering another.
    “Four!” Frankie moved ahead, dispersing coins with both hands. “That’s the outside.”
    They looked at each other and grinned, kicked off their sandals, then hopped in.
    Frankie took one side and she took the other.
    Shifting coins with her feet Evelina discovered another. “Five!”
    “Six!” Frankie splashed around the fountain to join her.
    “Six Doubloons.” Evelina stared up at him. “What does it mean?”
    “There’s a restaurant in the Old City called The Six Doubloons. I think it used to be a tavern.”
    “Come on!”
    They jumped out, slid into their sandals, then sped off.
    The Old City was teaming with tourists. Horse and buggies clopped down the cobblestone streets. The sweet smell of fudge and roasted pecans made Evelina’s belly rumble.
    Lively chatter swirled around them.
    The hum of the crowd seemed to carry them along.
    Then, all of a sudden she was alone.
    A throng of boy scouts exiting the ice cream shop separated her from Frankie. Evelina hopped in the air, but couldn’t spot him. Then, she felt his warm hand clasp hers.
    “Thought I lost you,” he breathed against her ear.
    A delicious shiver rattled through her.
    “There it is!”
    She gazed up to discover the red tavern sign swinging above their heads, scrawled in gold—‘The Six Doubloons.’ It occupied the entire corner of the next street. Coquina walls rose two storeys high, shining like a mountain of crushed pearls. Laughter and music floated from the balcony above.
    But what caught and held her attention most was the tattoo parlor on the opposite corner of the street, or rather the woman sitting on a bench before it. There was something oddly familiar about her.
    Something about the way the woman puffed on the thin cigar wedged between her boney fingers. Or, the dramatic flourish of her hand after, as the smoke curled round her dark cropped hair. She had the look of a Roaring Twenties film star in her black fringed dress—all beads and bangles and sultry looks. Her skin glowed as pale as a fish’s belly, except for her ruby lips and the heart and arrow tattooed around her ankle.
    Evelina hastened her pace.
    But Frankie grabbed her by the arm to stall her.
    The red tourist train rattled by, clanging its bell.
    Evelina sucked in a sharp gasp. She’d been so intent on the woman, she’d almost been flattened like a taco. “Thanks.”
    “No problem.” His hand fell away.
    Her hand tingled where he’d touched it. She made a fist to release the effect, but his proximity negated all efforts. Her blood rushed fast when he was near. There was no use fighting it. Her heart wouldn’t obey her head.
    The Six Doubloons appeared fresh and airy—if it had been an ancient tavern, little remained of its former character. The colorful mosaic floor tiles appeared old, but beyond that the place shone like new silver, from the crisp white tablecloths to the rows of crystal glasses stacked