The Reef

The Reef by Nora Roberts Page B

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Authors: Nora Roberts
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yours. Be ready at dawn, kid,” he told Tate. “And for a taste of real work.”
    â€œI’ll be ready.” Despite the fact he hadn’t asked for help, she went to Buck’s other side, draped his arm over her shoulders. “Come on, Buck, time for bed.”
    â€œYou’re a sweet kid.” With drunken affection, he gave her a clumsy squeeze. “Ain’t she, Matthew?”
    â€œShe’s a regular sugar cube. I’m going down the ladder first, Buck. If you fall in, I might let you drown.”
    â€œThat’ll be the day.” Buck chuckled, shifting his weight onto Tate as Matthew swung over the side. “Thatboy’d fight off a school of sharks for me. Lassiters stick together.”
    â€œI know.” Carefully, rocking a bit under his weight, Tate managed to maneuver Buck over the rail. “Hold on, now.” The absurdity had her giggling as he swayed over the ladder and Matthew cursed from below. “Hold on, Buck.”
    â€œDon’t you worry, girl. There isn’t a boat been made I can’t board.”
    â€œGoddamn it, you’re going to capsize us. Buck, you idiot.” As the dinghy pitched dangerously, Matthew shoved Buck down. Water sloshed in, soaking both of them.
    â€œI’ll bail her out, Matthew.” With a good-natured chuckle, Buck began to scoop water out of the bottom with his hands.
    â€œJust sit still.” Matthew took the oars out of the locks, glanced up to see the Beaumonts grinning over the side. “I should have made him swim for it.”
    â€œÂ â€™Night, Ray.” Buck waved cheerfully as Matthew rowed. “There’ll be gold doubloons tomorrow. Gold and silver and bright, shiny jewels. A new wreck, Matthew,” he mumbled as his chin dropped to his chest. “Always knew we’d find it. Was the Beaumonts brought us the luck.”
    â€œYeah.” After securing the oars and the line, Matthew eyed his uncle dubiously. “Can you make the ladder, Buck?”
    â€œSure, I can make the ladder. Got the sea legs I was born with, don’t I?” Those legs wobbled, as did the small raft as he weaved toward the side of the Sea Devil.
    Through more luck than design, he gripped a rung and hauled himself up before he could turn the inflatable over. Soaked to the knees, Matthew joined him on deck. Buck was weaving and waving enthusiastically to the Beaumonts.
    â€œAhoy the Adventure. All’s well.”
    â€œLet’s see if you say that in the morning,” Matthew muttered and half carried Buck to the closet-sized wheelhouse.
    â€œThose are good people, Matthew. First I was thinking we’d just use their equipment, string them along, then take us the lion’s share. Be easy for you and me to go down at night, lay off some of the best salvage. Don’t think they’d know the difference.”
    â€œProbably not,” Matthew agreed, as he stripped the wet pants off his uncle. “I gave it some thought myself. Amateurs usually deserve to be fleeced.”
    â€œAnd we’ve fleeced a few,” Buck said merrily. “Just can’t do it to old Ray, though. Got a friend there. Haven’t had a friend like that since your dad died. There’s his pretty wife, pretty daughter. Nope.” He shook his head with some regret. “Can’t pirate from people you like.”
    Matthew acknowledged this with a grunt and eyed the hammock strung between the cabin’s forward and aft walls. He hoped to God he wouldn’t have to heft Buck into it. “You’ve got to get into your bunk.”
    â€œYep. Going to play straight with Ray.” Like a bear climbing into his cave, Buck heaved himself up. The hammock swayed dangerously before he settled. “Should tell them about Angelique’s Curse. Thinking about it, but never told nobody but you.”
    â€œDon’t worry about it.”
    â€œMaybe if I don’t tell them, they

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