Part 17 (1/2)
To demonstrate his sensitivity to Landon's paranoia, Kurt was always very careful to make a point of stepping on deck with his left foot first.
Of course, he made sure Landon was watching.
In a whirlwind of fury, Joanna stomped up the stairs. She had clearly overheard Landon spouting superst.i.tion like an old sailor.
”Yes, Wolf,” she said scathingly with blue sparks shooting out of her eyes. ”A woman is on board.”
Royce, who had been engrossed in reading his maps, not really paying attention to the conversation, knew that shooting blue sparks were a bad sign.
”Kurt, what is it they say about a dog being near fis.h.i.+ng tackle?”
Joanna asked with heavy sarcasm. ”You might want to move it to the other side of the boat,” she suggested to Landon.
Stepping closer to Joanna, Landon goaded, ”A fully clothed woman is bad luck, but a naked one can turn the tide. How far are you willing to go to see this mission succeed, JO--anna?”
Oh, this was going to be an entertaining day all around. Kurt glanced toward Royce to see how he was going to react to the latest comment from Landon, but he wasn't paying all that much attention to the spatting couple. After all, Joanna was easily capable of holding her own without interference from big brother.
”I'm sure that line of s.h.i.+t was dreamed up by a man who had trouble getting laid, which explains why you know so much about it.” Royce decided now would be a good time to intervene before Joanna lost all control and turned Landon into a goat or something far worse. ”Jo,” Royce said catching her arm before she decided to use it for evil. ”Landon's on our side. Where are your manners?”
”He started it,” Joanna complained as she wrenched her arm away from Royce.
”I'm finis.h.i.+ng it,” Royce declared. ”Enough!”
Joanna knew when to retreat and just what to say to get Royce off her a.s.s. ”Sorry, I'm just uptight today. PMS.”
Kurt inwardly groaned. Deja vu. He knew entirely too much about a woman's temperament in conjunction with her cycle. At one point there had been four girls, including Becki under his roof. He had never known what he was walking in to.
Royce, on the other hand, called her out, ”Nice try, Jo, but I'm not buying what you're selling.”
d.a.m.n! Joanna rolled her eyes and turned to go below deck without another word.
Kurt frowned remembering a recent conversation with Becki.... ”We need to talk,” Royce insisted dragging her to the front of the boat where they could have some privacy.
”What the h.e.l.l is wrong with you? You're antagonizing someone who is trying to help us. In case you don't get it, there's a Wolf just under the surface! For G.o.d's sake, Joanna, get your s.h.i.+t under control.”
”A lot has happened in the last few years, Royce. Let's just say I'm somewhat off men right now. I'm a little touchy,” Joanna explained rubbing a stress knot that had formed in her shoulder. ”Sorry, I'll tone it down.”
”What do you mean a lot has happened, Jo? What happened?” Royce knew that it took something major to rattle his sister. What the h.e.l.l had happened while he was MIA?
Joanna smiled at her brother and patted his chest. ”Nothing I couldn't handle. I'm fine; I'll even apologize to the Wolf,” she said as she walked back toward the group.
”This discussion is not over, Joanna. We'll put it on the shelf for now, but you and I are going to talk,” Royce a.s.sured her as she walked away.
”She's a Witch!” Landon whispered as soon as Royce and his sister had moved away from them.
Kurt laughed and said, ”What? Just because she didn't fall at your feet, you result to name-calling?”
”No,” Landon explained slowly, ”I mean she's a real Witch. Black heart... crooked teeth... wart... that kind of Witch!”
”He's right.”
s.h.i.+t! Landon had forgotten all about Sean!
”Well, except for the black heart and crooked teeth part,” Sean grinned. ”I'm pretty sure she doesn't have warts either.”
Kurt clapped Landon on the back, ”Way to go, buddy.” ”Joanna's mother is a former council member; she's also a pure-bred Witch. The bloodline is very strong. It was only slightly diluted in Joanna even though her father was not of pure-blood. Her powers are every bit as strong as her mother's now, so don't p.i.s.s her off,” Sean warned Landon. ”I think it's a little late for that bit of advice,” Landon reminded him as he watched Joanna rub tension out of her neck and shoulder. ”Look, can you give her a break? She got into a-- situation a few years ago, and she's doing the best she can. Royce doesn't know about it, and I won't be the one telling him. Let's just say she's been through some s.h.i.+t and leave it at that. Jo's temper sometimes gets the better of her. She always feels bad later,” Sean promised.
”Sounds like someone else I know, huh, Landon?” Kurt observed.
”Like the kid said, give her a break. You might be surprised.” ”Um, yea, I'll have to take your word for that,” Landon said pessimistically.
”I'm sorry for my behavior earlier,” Joanna said as she approached. ”I'll just claim jet lag if you'll allow it. My mother would be appalled at my behavior,” she confided.
”I'm Royce's spoiled baby sister, Joanna,” she said, extending her hand to Landon. ”And you are?”
The smile that accompanied her apology went straight to his heart. He was honest enough to admit that he had antagonized her more than he should have. His only excuse was her eyes; they were a beautiful shade of blue that actually sparked when she was angry. She was, without a doubt, the most glorious woman he had ever encountered.
”Landon Smith,” he responded as he reached for Joanna's hand. With his trademark charm firmly in place, he brought her hand to his lips. ”I'm pleased to meet you, Joanna.”
A blush swept across her face. To the untrained observer, it would have appeared to be a flush resulting from the attention of an attractive man. To Royce, who was accustomed to Joanna's temperament, recognized the warning signs immediately. All h.e.l.l was about to break loose. Royce inserted himself between Landon and Joanna. Grasping her shoulders, he gave her a slight shake. ”Jo, we have a job to do here,” he reminded her sternly.
Joanna shook off his hold and stomped back down the stairs. Everyone went back to their business except Landon. He watched as she disappeared below deck wondering what he had done wrong this time.
The last thing he saw was her middle finger pointing straight into the air above her head.
Landon chuckled and shook his head.
”I'm telling you, don't bait her. She can be one wicked Witch,” Royce cautioned.
”Wicked?” Landon smiled. ”Sounds like fun. I can do wicked.” Royce gritted, ”Need I remind you that we're talking about my baby sister? And while we're on the subject, I would appreciate it if you wouldn't use words like naked when referring to her in my presence. I won't allow you to toy with her, Wolf or not. Clear?”
”Crystal,” Landon acknowledged.
Joanna was beautiful, bright, and fearless. Royce needn't worry; it appeared that she was quite capable of taking care of herself. Landon glanced toward the pa.s.sageway to the cabin below and muttered, ”I'm probably the one at risk here.”
No matter how quietly it was uttered, Kurt heard Landon's statement, loud and clear. Smiling, he pondered the impending fall of the mighty Landon Smith. Kurt wondered how long it would take for his friend to realize that trying to charm Joanna was the equivalent of waiving a red flag in front of the proverbial bull. Considering the confused look on his friend's face at this moment, it might take him a good while. ”Look alive mates. Land ho!” Kurt said. He was suddenly in an extraordinarily jovial mood.
As the Battery drew closer, Seth and Joanna finished up below and then wondered around the deck.
”What is that place?” Joanna asked, pointing to an overgrown structure situated on an island resting in the middle of Charleston Harbor.
Landon answered ”That's Castle Pinckney. The government built it in 1810. During the Civil War it was used as a prisoner of war camp and after that an artillery position. It's built in the shape of a horseshoe. The Ghosts of Castle Pinckney was written by a guy who grew up out there, E.P.
McClellan. He had some great stories. Everyone still talks about the ghosts there.”
Unable to hold back a s.h.i.+ver, Joanna reached out to touch Landon's forearm as he leaned on boat's railing next to her. ”You need to stay away from that island, Landon. It's not for your kind. There is something-- I'm not sure...” she paused unable to identify the feelings a.s.sailing her. ”Just stay away,” she urged as she turned and walked away. Landon glanced meaningfully at Kurt, who smiled and shrugged.
Talk about a red flag in front of a bull, Joanna would have been better off to keep that last part to herself. As it was, she just guaranteed Kurt and Landon a trip to Castle Pinckney in the near future.