Read Claire Gulliver #04 - Cruisin' for a Bruisin' for Free Online Page B

this was a popular spot and not just for the smokers, who had limited areas on the ship to enjoy their habits.
    “Let’s check out the buffet.” Sean was much more interested in food than his brother was. But Ian followed him inside and helped himself to some of the offerings.
    “I can’t believe you can eat all that after the breakfast we had.”
    “Hell, that was five hours ago and then we spent an hour in the gym before skeet shooting. I have to keep my strength up. Eat up, little brother. I’m sure you can work it off before dinner.”
    Ian smiled. He admitted to being a little over zealous about maintaining his weight. But it was part of his livelihood. He didn’t dare let his weight hold him back or slow him down. And he did strength training religiously, not because he liked to show off his muscles, but because he needed those muscles for the work he did.
    “So, are you still mad at me? Are you still thinking you want to forget about all this luxury and go home when we reach Victoria?”
    Sean took a sip of his coffee and looked at his brother. “I’ll stay, if only to make sure you get through this safely. Not that I approve of what you’re doing. I think it’s a crazy risk, but you’re a grown man and capable of making your own life decisions.”
    He could see the relief in Ian’s eyes.
    “What did you think of it, after the shock, of course? It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”
    Sean shook his head. “Actually, I thought it looked a little sad. Pap wouldn’t have let it get in that shape. He had more respect than that.”
    “Sean, you ever think what Pap’s life would be like if he hadn’t lost that hand of poker? What it would have been like for us to grow up if Pap had been the owner of the Heart of Persia ?”
    Sean said truthfully, “I can’t even imagine it. I tell my grandchildren, it’s not what you have: it’s what you do with what you have. Pap spent too much time and energy making up for the loss of the Heart . And frankly, I’ve wondered if that one decision to risk it wasn’t what started a whole string of incidents that were destined to end in his disaster. Don’t you?
    “If he owned the Heart would he have continued stealing jewelry? And if he hadn’t, would you have stayed with it all these years?” Sean mused, thoughtfully.
    “And for sure he wouldn’t have gotten involved in that plan to retrieve it, which resulted in his death. If only he had passed on that one, he wouldn’t have died of gun shot wounds.
    “You know only a couple of years ago there was a story about it on one of those news shows. It’s like it will never, ever go away.”
    He looked at his brother seriously and continued, “Ian, Pap’s proclivity for jewels, especially those not belonging to him, has shaped both of our lives and not for the better. Frankly, you’ve been infected with the same malady he had. The Heart of Persia is not yours. Give it up. You’ve managed to stay free all these years while accumulating a nice bank account. Why risk a comfortable life for the ownership of something Pap wanted? How smart is that?”
    Incredulity spread over Ian’s face. “Give it up? You’re the one who is crazy? Didn’t you see the gleam? Didn’t it wink at you and promise you the riches Pap wanted us to have. There, except for the turn of the wrong card, is our heritage. It should have been ours. And it will be!”
    “Ian, I loved Pap. He was a super guy and a wonderful father, but he was a crook, a jewel thief, Ian. And you’re making too much of this Heart of Persia .
    “And Pap made too much of having it. He had it in his hand. The one precious stone he owned honestly, but he still risked it on a turn of the card. He deserved to lose it. Don’t you see that? If he hadn’t lost that hand, he would have risked it again, and again, until eventually he would have lost it. He was that kind of a guy, Ian. He loved the risks. And he loved telling the stories and making up ‘what ifs’ to drive