Page 34 of Chance

If she wanted him around.

Trent was gesturing around the cave. They couldn’t hear what he was saying, but he seemed emphatic about this place.

They all started exploring. In the corner was a chest. It wasn’t clear until Chance ran his hand across the top and felt the metal. Trent signaled for them to pick it up and take it. Chance tugged at it, but it was heavy. With some heaving, they managed to carry the chest back, and he was grateful for his flippers propelling him onward.

Chance kept his eye on Kelly as she tagged along with them.

When they got back to their base camp, he and Trent lobbed the chest to the top.

Trent ripped his mouth guard out and said, “I can’t believe this. I seriously can’t believe this.”

They all scrambled to get up on the side and took their scuba gear off.

The chest was locked, and Trent messed with the combination. It wasn’t ancient, probably manufactured in the eighties. “We’ll have to take this back and just smash it or cut it or blowtorch it.”

Trent pulled out his phone and called Trey.

Suddenly, it turned into a family call with all of the siblings.

They tried different combinations. Then Kensi said, “Try Mom and Dad’s anniversary. 10-26-69.”

Trent gave her an incredulous look, but he obeyed.

Amazingly, the lock clicked open.

Chapter 19

If someone had told Kelly that she would be part of an actual treasure hunt, she never would’ve believed them. But here she was, opening a treasure chest with the man she’d almost married.

Trent dumped out the contents. A lot of water came out, and an old glass bottle. “Oh my gosh, this is crazy. This is kind of what happened before.” He procured a pocketknife from some pocket in his swimming suit and carefully broke the seal on the bottle.

“Do you think this is from your dad?” Chance asked.

“I have no idea.” Trent used his pocketknife to maneuver the paper out. He unrolled it and stared at it, wide-eyed.

Kelly and Chance gathered around the paper.

If you happen to come at the right time, and the tide went out, then I would call it destiny. Remember, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost have all the answers. Windsong.

All of them were quiet for a few seconds.

“What is Windsong?” Trent asked.

Her mind raced and she turned to Chance. “Windsong Reservation in Wyoming?”

He looked baffled. “I don’t know.”

All of the siblings were chattering on the phone.

“Let’s get back to everyone,” Trent said. He shoved the paper back into the bottle, stuffing it shut with the cork. “We’re coming. Talk soon.” He ended the call.

They all scrambled to gather the scuba gear, and they ended up putting some inside the chest. They were working so fast that Kelly had no time to ask a million questions. When they emerged from the cave and started walking toward the speedboat, she had her chance. “Who wrote that? Whose writing was that?”

Trent had a weird look on his face. He said, “I think it might be my dad’s writing.”

When they got to the speedboat, Trent called his brother Brooks, who once again looped in everyone on the call, even the Cross family.

Quickly, Trent briefed them all on the situation.