Page 62 of A Treacherous Treasure

He almost wished he had kissed her so he could gauge her response.

He was surely losing his mind.

He caught sight of Caroline and Margaret just beyond the garden next to a stand of trees.

“I think we found it,” he said as he drew near.

Caroline clasped her hands together, her eyes and her mouth opening wide. “You found the treasure?”

“I think we found the rock and the tree that were on the map, and therefore where the treasure is buried.”

“Can we see?” Margaret asked excitedly.

Benjamin stepped out of the trees. “I saw you carrying Rebecca.” His tone was sullen, as was his expression.

“She stepped in a hole and injured her ankle.”

“Oh no!” Caroline cried. “Is she all right?”

“I think so. She didn’t want me to send for the physician just yet, but she’s resting, and Mother and her mother are with her.”

“I hope she doesn’t miss the ball,” Margaret said. “Then I won’t be able to hear who danced with whom.”

Caroline nudged Margaret’s shoulder. “I would tell you all about it, but you ought to be nice to your sister.”

“I will.” Margaret grinned.

Thomas let them follow him to the rock and the tree. He wanted to make sure he could find it again. As they drew near, he pointed at the ground.

“Take care,” he said to Margaret. “That’s the hole your sister stepped in.”

When he showed them the rock and the tree, Caroline and Margaret took the map and examined it, chattering excitedly.

“It seems we found it just in time,” Thomas said. “I doubt the tree would have stood much longer. It looks dead and starting to rot.”

Benjamin hung back with his arms crossed. He was still sullen after seeing Thomas carrying Rebecca. But if he was in love with her, shouldn’t he be more worried about her than angry with him?

For that matter, shouldn’t Thomas care more about how Rebecca felt than whether Benjamin’s feelings would be hurt if she chose Thomas? After all, Benjamin was only seventeen. He’d find his own love when the time was right. Obviously, he was a bit immature still for marriage.

“Are we going to dig it up?” Benjamin said, finally uncrossing his arms and kicking at the dead leaves where the treasure should be.

“We cannot let anyone else know, I wouldn’t think,” Margaret said. “It has to be us.”

“Margaret and I will help,” Caroline said, winking at Margaret.

Benjamin frowned at Caroline. “You wouldn’t last five minutes with a shovel.”

“That’s five minutes you can rest.” Caroline smirked.

“Ben and I can dig it up.”

“I will help too.” Margaret lifted her chin and crossed her arms.

“It is hard work,” Thomas said, trying his best to look serious and respectful as he gazed down at Rebecca’s little sister.

“I don’t want to be left out of retrieving this treasure. I want to be there when it’s found.”

“Very well.” Thomas nodded.