“The light?” Blake asked. “I see it too.”
“Me too,” Jax said, sounding bored. “It’s probably someone walking their dog on the beach.”
“It’s Maria,” Everly said.
Jax shot her a look of disbelief, but kept his eyes on the approaching light. The closer it got, the wider his eyes went. “Oh, my God!”
A shadowy figure dressed in black was outlined by the light of the lantern it was holding. Ronan watched as more details materialized. He could see it was a woman wearing a long black dress.
“Hi, Maria,” Everly said, staying put, waiting for the spirit to come to her.
“You returned, little one,” Maria said.
“I promised you I would.” Everly smiled at the spirit. “I brought some friends to help me tonight. I hope that’s okay?”
Maria nodded, as she turned her attention to the others.
Ronan had seen spirits before, but never one like Maria. Her spirit was nearly invisible, with the light from her lantern keeping her silhouette outlined. He waved to the spirit and noticed Aurora and Wolf doing the same.
“Holy shit, and all the ships at sea.” Jax tumbled backward, landing on his ass in the sand. “That’s a g-g-ghost!”
“Have you seen my darling Sam?” Maria asked, seemingly unbothered by Jax’s histrionics.
“Not yet, but I have something that will catch his attention.” Everly opened her fist to reveal the ring sitting on the flat of her palm.
“That ring belonged to Sam,” Maria said. “He sealed his letters with it, so I would know the message came from his heart to mine.”
Everly reached for Maria’s hand. When she took it, the spirit materialized further.
“I’m not seeing this. I’m not,” Jax babbled. “I had too much to drink and I’m gonna wake up in my own bed with one hell of a hangover, but I’m not seeing a little girl holding hands with a three hundred year old ghost.”
“Hush, son,” Blake whispered loudly.
Of all the people on the beach to freak out over Maria’s apparition, Jax had been pretty low down on Ronan’s list. He supposed Jax was trying to talk himself out of what he wasseeing, so he didn’t have to admit ghosts were real, as was Everly’s gift.
“Sam? I’ve got Maria with me. Can you hear me?” Everly asked.
The only answer was a wave crashing against the shore.
“My dear Samuel. Come to me,” Maria said.
Everly opened her mouth, but abruptly closed it. She pointed out to sea, to the spot where theWhydahhad wrecked and foundered.
Ronan followed where Everly pointed and saw a faint bluish light, which seemed to be moving closer to the beach. He moved to stand behind Everly, just in case she needed him. In case the pirate was as ferocious as his reputation.
The light grew brighter, the closer to the shore it came. “It’s Sam, Daddy. He’s really here.”
A few yards from the beach, Ronan was able to make out the figure of a man. He was tall and wore a tricorn hat. A sword in its scabbard hung at his left side. He was outlined in blue light, reminding Ronan of Obi-Wan Kenobi’s force ghost inReturn of the Jedi. Moments later, Ronan could make out the man’s features. He had a scruffy beard and wore a red shirt. He had no doubt this man was Sam Bellamy.
“Daddy, what is that?” Aurora asked, sounding a bit panicked.
“It’s a pirate ghost!” Wolfie gasped, excitedly. “I gotta go meet him.”
“Hold on, Wolf,” Jude said, in an awed tone. “Let’s give Sam and Maria a minute together.”
Ronan grinned at Wolf. He was of the same mind, wanting to meet Sam Bellamy and try out his sword.
“Darling! You have returned me to at long last.” Maria dropped Everly’s hand and walked forward, holding a hand out to the approaching spirit.
