B. David Aldridge
1820. Genny braves an Atlantic voyage from Europe to America secure in the knowledge that her uncle has planned a prosperous, new life for her. Instead, her future becomes chaos as everything changes.
A century and a half later, Chad, Genny’s descendant, struggles to make a new life for himself after his wife’s death. His lonely explorations along the banks of the Mississippi draw him to an unexpected connection with Genny. Old family stories surfacing gradually in his mind solidify that connection and Chad begins a challenging, perhaps illegal, attempt to fulfill Genny’s dream.
How can he, all alone, accomplish the task she sets for him? Three fascinating women become Chad’s partners on the dangerous trail he decides to follow. With their help he hopes to carry out Genny’s plan; however, two amazing surprises along the way bring even more change into his life.
Will he and his partners be able to escape the cunning adventurers who are tailing them, or will the difficulties of their dangerous journey be more than they can overcome?
David Aldridge grew up in southwestern Mississippi, where fascinating tales of local history captured his imagination. During World War II he served in the European and Pacific theaters. Afterward he came back to the South to finish college.
He spent summers during college assisting on the family farm and working for an engineering company. After graduation, he worked for many years with a large paper company, retiring as a forest engineer. He holds a patent on equipment designed to reduce the cost of land clearing.
His hobbies include bread baking, making jewelry, and fashioning unique walking sticks.
The author and his wife enjoy traveling in the United States and abroad as they research for his novels.
“With the legal aspects aside, I must tell you the story of my great-great grandmother, Genny.” Chad related the pirate story to Jessica. “I’ve literally heard that story from the cradle--first from my mother before she died and my Aunt Mary, just a few years ago. I believe it, Jessica, as has each generation before me. I realize this trove may not be the same one, but it meets all the criteria as passed down to me: the gold, coins, jewelry, and even its location. I’m sure in my own mind that it is our family fortune, and I am going to do my damnedest to fulfill Genny’s wishes and desires.
“Now you understand why it is a game as well as a personal matter with me. The venture is dangerous and not without some hardships. I’ve been long-winded,” he apologized, “but if you are willing, it should net us a small fortune.
“I would rather have your help, Jessica, more than anyone I know because you are a charmer and I enjoy being with you. Will you be my partner for one fourth of the profits and the fun of it?”
“First, I have to tell you that I loved the story of Genny’s life. It’s sad, but beautiful and I understand your personal feelings about the trove. It doesn’t make any difference whether I believe it is the same trove or not, but yes, Chad, I want to be with you in this. It will be adventurous and intriguing. Think about Stevenson’s Treasure Island, except we have the treasure and will be trying to find a place to secrete it. It will be exciting!”
“One last thing concerning our exciting adventure, Jessica, is that we’ll be together for weeks and months in unfamiliar situations. How do you feel about that and about our friendship, considering the difference in our ages?”
Jessica smiled. “Come to my room tonight and we will discuss it.”
***
That night Chad entered Jessica’s room to find the cover turned down for him. Her blue nightgown accentuated her bright, dancing eyes. Chad lit the candle he had brought with him and placed it on the nearby nightstand.
“Aha, look who is the romantic.”
“Jessica, you are a lovely woman and a little light will only make you more beautiful.”
She knew his words came from the heart, and she loved this man. She moved to him.
The night was cool; the darkness was soft and quiet, and only the glimmer and flutter of the candle’s flame witnessed their loving embrace. Jessica offered her warm, smooth lips for his kiss, parting them just enough for Chad to caress their surface with his tongue. He felt a bound of ecstasy as he continued to caress her neck and nibble her ear lobe. She fondled and twirled the hair on his chest, gradually following a downward path. Jessica moaned under Chad’s gentle rotation of her breast and as he circled her taunt nipple with the feathery touch of his fingertip. His fingers softly moved down her side to her flat stomach and slowly circled her navel. As he stroked the soft hollow of her hip, Chad whispered in her ear, “Your whole body is as lovely and as soft to the touch as purest velvet. I love you, Jessica, my darling.”
Light was just beginning to filter into the eastern skies, only a suggestion at first, as if the sun perhaps was resisting the new day. Then a soft, rosy glow seeped into the first light. By the time Chad was dressed, the sunrise had turned to red, and light poured over the hills. It was a beautiful new day! He reminded himself that he must call Shelley.
Dressed in his western garb and carrying his big-knob walking stick, Chad walked briskly toward the city for thirty minutes
A bread lady, with front and back baskets filled with fresh loaves of bread, peddled her bicycle past him, treating him to a smile and a nod of the head, and wishing Chad bonjour. He tipped his broad-brimmed hat and raised his walking stick as a salute to her as she continued on her route.
His walk soon completed, Chad returned to his hotel. Just as he unlocked the door to his room and entered, he realized someone was there or had been there. Instantly he held his stick in front of his body ready to thrust with it or use the stick as a club, whatever was necessary.
He heard a slight noise, perhaps a movement, or was he imagining things? He stood in the doorway, the only way out unless intruder dove through the window. A few seconds had elapsed when he caught a faint scent that gradually became stronger. Someone was still in the room, someone who used tobacco. Chad caught a waft of the heavy essence.
The advantage was his; the intruder was in a trap and Chad sensed it was a man. No noises now-- no movement. A few moments passed. Standing on the balls of his feet, Chad was alert, waiting for the intruder to make the first move.
He felt his heart beating, slamming in his ears; his hands ached from holding his stick so tightly. He forced himself to relax, as the long moments passed.
How long had it been? Three minutes? Longer? He didn’t know. The atmosphere was electric. Chad could almost hear the cornered man’s heart thump, or was it his own? The trespasser’s nerve broke. The strain of anticipation was too much for him. There was a shuffle!
Suddenly, he was there! The dark, wild-eyed man plunged from his hiding place straight toward Chad with something in his hand, held low. Chad placed his left foot forward, gripped his stick as a lance. He timed his thrust perfectly toward the belly of his attacker. The blow must have hit him in the chest or the pit of his stomach, Chad sensed.
A piercing cry of pain filled the room and spilled out into the hallway. The intruder fell heavily to the floor. Grasping the side of the bed, he pulled himself to his knees and started to rise. Chad reversed the big-knobbed stick and creased the man’s skull. The would-be thief collapsed; he did not try to rise again.
Claire burst into the room just as Chad was trying to call the hotel manager, who was actually already on his way. So were the police, the desk clerk informed him.
The manager was efficient in calming the other guests who had gathered in the hall. After glancing at the swarthy man, he summoned an ambulance.
The police soon arrived and visually examined the prone figure that was just now beginning to moan and stir. The officers immediately recognized him as a local bully, smuggler, and a petty thief. The blow had seriously injured his mid-section. Judging from the way he held his lower left rib cage, there may have been a broken rib or two, a policeman surmised.
