Prologue
“Sam, why does it have to be tonight?" I whined to my brand new husband. I’m really not asking too much. I’ve moved from my home to be with the man I love, the least they could do was give me one night!
"Sorry, Elaine. I know this isn't the honeymoon we'd planned on. But The Captain gave orders. I have to take this wretched treasure off our lighthouse before the storm hits," he sighed.
He doesn’t look any happier about doing the chore than I do. He is such a good man. He will follow all his orders to the letter, and if his Commander told him he has to leave on his wedding night, well…
I could feel the prickle of tears pushing behind my eyes. This is not what I wanted at all! We were supposed to have the next week off. Why did this have to happen now? The man I love is being taken away from me, and he won’t be back for who knows how long. I don’t want to be left all alone, away from everyone!
"We've only been married for two hours, and he is pulling you away from me," I choked. Is this how it’s going to be until the day we die? He has orders and leaves me here all alone? I don’t even have my family here to comfort me or have a way to contact anyone.
Samuel pulled me into his big strong arms and let me cry. He is good at this. This is why I married this man and left my family to be with him. He is caring and compassionate. I know he loves me and he wants to be with me as much as I want to be with him. He rocks me in his arms as I mourn our separation.
"I'm sorry, my darling wife. I promise to return as soon as I can. It shouldn't take longer than a week or two. Then you are all mine!" he teased, sealing his promise with a kiss.
Is there a more perfect man than him? I’ve been waiting forever to have him to make me his. And now that I belong to him, I have to wait longer! Why? Why can’t someone else take that damned treasure?!?
I held on to that kiss for minutes, refusing to let him leave me like this. I left my family back in South Carolina, to marry my handsome sailor, who was given his new position as the Lighthouse Keeper, somewhere in the Bermuda triangle. No one can come on the island except Sam and me…
"I love you, Elaine. And I will always come back for you," he promised again, as he pulled away from my arms. I could see the tears in his eyes as well. Is there no pity in the universe for us?
Then he turned from me, hauling that cursed treasure out the little front door of our cottage house attached to the main lighthouse. The treasure is heavy. I know, I’ve tried to move the thing myself. It wouldn’t budge! I don’t know how he can carry it across the sea slick rocks and not stumble over the edge!
A crash of heavy waves smashed into the side of the lighthouse, causing me to shriek. It isn’t safe here! How do they expect me to stay while they all leave me?
"I'm coming with you!" I demanded, striding up to him. This is the most logical decision I’ve made in my life! If they are leaving, I’m getting the hell off this rock! I don’t belong here without my husband!
"No, sweetheart. Someone must watch the lighthouse, and warn others while I'm away, and bring them home to safety," he rushed in a panic. "Elaine, this is the safest place for you, with the storm almost here." He raised his voice loud enough to be heard over the howl of wind, spraying mist all over my new living room floor.
A sense of foreboding prickled my skin. This was not going to end how they had planned. Mother Nature doesn’t like to be tested! As a flash of lightning landed near our little rock, not big enough to be considered an island, the crash and boom of thunder dominated the sky. The tumultuous ocean waves challenged the sky for its superiority.
"Then stay here!" I shouted back. If I can’t go, why can’t he stay with me? I can’t live without him. My heart will break right in two! Doesn’t he know that by now?
I'm not too full of myself to admit that there was panic in that demand. I can't stay here without him! I don't want to be all alone!
"I'm sorry, Elaine! I WILL COME BACK!" he shouted on his way to the gangplank. I watch him cross the shaky bridge praying he doesn’t fall overboard on his way to the ship. But his footing is sure and his strength is true. He made it safely on the boat that is determined to take my love from me.
Horror and sorrow warred within me as I saw a large wave crash onto the upper deck of the old schooner. I don’t know if I can stand watching like this! I want to run to him… But I can’t!
Not sure what else to do, I did the only thing I could think of. I dashed into the lighthouse, climbing the winding staircase. My legs burned in noncompliance, but I ignored them. My body was already freezing from the water and the cold, causing my muscles to spasm uncontrollably, but I didn’t care. I had a mission to accomplish and that was reaching the catwalk.
I also ignored my burning lungs that were telling me I could no longer pull enough breath into my body, and the black spots I was starting to see before my eyes were not a good thing. I was getting dizzy and not sure how much longer I could stay on my feet. I pushed on harder.
I panted as I finally made it to see the lights on and sighed in relief as I exited onto the catwalk to watch the ship pull away from our tiny rock, with my handsome husband looking into my eyes.
In slow motion, shock took over me as I saw a huge wave come from nowhere. I reached out for Samuel, even though I knew it was a fruitless attempt to rescue him, but the tsunami size wave crashed over the starboard side, capsizing the old ship right in front of me.
"NO!" I screeched, as I watched my husband take his last breath. I screeched like a banshee, when all of a sudden a flash of light crashed down from the heavens above, landing on my heart.
It was the last thing I ever saw.
