Read Online China Jewel by Thomas Hollyday - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Thomas Hollyday
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which was also suffered here, has been reported from New York. It was on a return voyage from China. Captain Tolchester and the crew were drowned. All that was left of the fine brig, one of the fastest in the China Pacific trade, was the jolly boat. By the Lord’s providence was found, within the boat, wrapped in oilcloth, a copy of the Bible belonging to Richard Tolchester, the Captain of the ill-fated ship. One section of the ship’s wooden nameplate with her name was recovered in the surf. This established the brig was indeed the Peregrine, lost with all hands.”
She looked up at him, “You know, saving your butt ought to earn me dinner.”
Later, at her condominium overlooking Baltimore harbor, they were lying in bed. In the dark background the tiny flame from a thick candle spread gently moving shadows over their bodies. Earlier, at dinner in their favorite Fells Point restaurant, they had talked a long time, about the Peregrine, his son, as well as the book she was writing on Civil War costume. He liked talking to her about her interests, listening to her intelligent brain discuss problems, watching the way she moved her mouth as she spoke. Now, in bed, he couldn’t see her face as he gently stroked her bare leg.
“Do you remember how we got together?” she asked.
“Five years ago. I was researching the purchase of factory land for a stateside project. It was a strange job for me because usually Bill had me doing something overseas.”
“You worried about pollution on the real estate.” Cutter remembered how he had gone to the museum to check out an old Baltimore street atlas. He wanted to find out any background on that property.
He said, “You were an assistant curator in those days,” he said.
She grinned, “You were the most handsome real estate man I had ever seen.”
“You were the most beautiful history professor I had ever seen.”
“You took me for a coffee down in the museum cafeteria.” The back of her hand gently touched his cheek.
“I liked that little restaurant.”
“They’d be happy if you told them you thought it was a restaurant.”
“Well, it’s not big but we had fun.”
“You came back every day for a week before you asked me out.”
“I had to have coffee.”
She tapped his leg with her toe. “You liked me and you know it.”
He tickled her stomach. “All right. So I fell for you.”
“You waited until Friday afternoon at closing time before you asked for a date. The women at the museum had bets going.”
“I was doing a lot of thinking about my kid in those days.”
“Jamie and I get along great, you know that.”
“He really likes you, that’s for sure.”
“The past wasn’t your fault.”
“He thinks it was. I was always working. My wife found another guy and he’s been good to the boy.”
“I remember I couldn’t get you to walk along the harbor with me. The only thing you talked about besides your son was a garden you wanted to plant.”
“I never liked the water.”
“You told me boats brought you bad luck.”
“I still feel that way.”
“You’re involved in with a sailing ship.”
“Strange, isn’t it?”
She rose up on her elbow. He could see the beautiful shape of her face with her hair just touching her cheeks. “I think we ought to find out if Captain Tolchester had relatives. The Bible might still be around and it could tell us something,” she said.
“Sounds good.” His fingers touched her nipples, one after the other.
She whispered, “Maybe we’ll be lucky.”
He slowly leaned over and lightly kissed her lips.
“I’m lucky now,” he murmured. He moved his body towards her as she reached for him with a sigh of anticipated pleasure.
Chapter 6
June 15, 9 AM
Staten Island, New York
Katy had discovered the location of Captain Tolchester’s Bible, the one from the wreckage of his ship. They were on the way to study it.
“Hotshot driver,” Cutter said as she weaved through the turnpike
She looked up at him, “You know, saving your butt ought to earn me dinner.”
Later, at her condominium overlooking Baltimore harbor, they were lying in bed. In the dark background the tiny flame from a thick candle spread gently moving shadows over their bodies. Earlier, at dinner in their favorite Fells Point restaurant, they had talked a long time, about the Peregrine, his son, as well as the book she was writing on Civil War costume. He liked talking to her about her interests, listening to her intelligent brain discuss problems, watching the way she moved her mouth as she spoke. Now, in bed, he couldn’t see her face as he gently stroked her bare leg.
“Do you remember how we got together?” she asked.
“Five years ago. I was researching the purchase of factory land for a stateside project. It was a strange job for me because usually Bill had me doing something overseas.”
“You worried about pollution on the real estate.” Cutter remembered how he had gone to the museum to check out an old Baltimore street atlas. He wanted to find out any background on that property.
He said, “You were an assistant curator in those days,” he said.
She grinned, “You were the most handsome real estate man I had ever seen.”
“You were the most beautiful history professor I had ever seen.”
“You took me for a coffee down in the museum cafeteria.” The back of her hand gently touched his cheek.
“I liked that little restaurant.”
“They’d be happy if you told them you thought it was a restaurant.”
“Well, it’s not big but we had fun.”
“You came back every day for a week before you asked me out.”
“I had to have coffee.”
She tapped his leg with her toe. “You liked me and you know it.”
He tickled her stomach. “All right. So I fell for you.”
“You waited until Friday afternoon at closing time before you asked for a date. The women at the museum had bets going.”
“I was doing a lot of thinking about my kid in those days.”
“Jamie and I get along great, you know that.”
“He really likes you, that’s for sure.”
“The past wasn’t your fault.”
“He thinks it was. I was always working. My wife found another guy and he’s been good to the boy.”
“I remember I couldn’t get you to walk along the harbor with me. The only thing you talked about besides your son was a garden you wanted to plant.”
“I never liked the water.”
“You told me boats brought you bad luck.”
“I still feel that way.”
“You’re involved in with a sailing ship.”
“Strange, isn’t it?”
She rose up on her elbow. He could see the beautiful shape of her face with her hair just touching her cheeks. “I think we ought to find out if Captain Tolchester had relatives. The Bible might still be around and it could tell us something,” she said.
“Sounds good.” His fingers touched her nipples, one after the other.
She whispered, “Maybe we’ll be lucky.”
He slowly leaned over and lightly kissed her lips.
“I’m lucky now,” he murmured. He moved his body towards her as she reached for him with a sigh of anticipated pleasure.
Chapter 6
June 15, 9 AM
Staten Island, New York
Katy had discovered the location of Captain Tolchester’s Bible, the one from the wreckage of his ship. They were on the way to study it.
“Hotshot driver,” Cutter said as she weaved through the turnpike
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