Read The Red Pearl for Free Online Page B

his auburn head through the doorway.
    “Good. You’re up,” was all he said to her, before marching up the front hall.
    Dr. Watkins shook his head. “It may not be evident, my dear, but I swear, his mother and I raised him with manners.”
    Antonia followed the men out to the shed, sidestepping Maverick, who wove excitedly between their legs. The carriage, parked on a dirt path, overflowed with bags of food the men had managed to scrounge together, and what looked like gardening tools. “Why do we need a shovel?” she asked, fingering the steely item curiously.
    “I’m on a hunt, Annie,” grunted Robin, his back to her as he rummaged through a cobwebby bag on the shed floor. “Ever heard of digging for buried treasure?”
    Antonia blinked. Buried treasure? But before she could inquire further, Robin issued a confused sound, and extracted a rusty pair of iron manacles. “Why on earth do you have these, Thad?”
    Dr. Watkins’s face lit up. “So that’s where those were hiding!”
    His son arched an eyebrow.
    “Your great grandfather, the constable, gave me those years ago.” He grinned. “Neat, aren’t they?”
    “Hmm.” Robin surveyed the wrist cuffs, opening and closing them. “Mind if I borrow them? Might come in handy.”
    His father shrugged. “Be my guest.”
    Antonia stepped back as Robin tossed the manacles into the carriage. They landed with a clang atop a crate of glass water bottles. “I think that’s enough supplies, Robin,” she decided.
    Surprisingly, the man did not argue, only rose to his feet and brushed the dust from his trousers.
    After adding the valise of summer gowns to the carriage, Antonia thanked Dr. Watkins again. He shook her hand, then embraced his son. At last, she, Robin and Maverick climbed into the horseless carriage, and Robin shoved the key into the ignition. The motor rumbled, vibrating beneath them, and Antonia gave a start. She’d watched the vehicle move the previous day, but hadn’t known what it felt like to ride inside, until then.
    Robin extended his foot to the pedal, and the carriage launched down the dirt path, heading west while the sun rose behind them. Antonia’s heart hammered as the wind rushed through her hair. The experience was both terrifying and exhilarating at once.
    Beside her, the black dog had no reservations, squinting against the racing breeze, its tongue lolling out the side of its muzzle. Antonia groaned with dismay as a trickle of drool issued down onto her skirts.
    She turned to Robin. “So, we’re headed to Axacola now?” She had to shout to be heard over the motor.
    “Aye,” he replied, just as loudly.
    “Then shouldn’t we go north,” she inquired, “where the road continues?”
    He shook his head, ochre hair flapping in the breeze. “With this thing,” he patted the steering wheel appreciatively, “we can shuttle straight through the Pirsi Desert!”
    Antonia felt a chill at these words. “I don’t know if driving through the desert is such a good idea, Rob…”
    But he only pointed to a rippling pond as they zoomed past. “Look, Annie, swans!”
    A bevy of swans indeed gathered there, luxurious wings flapping as they landed with grace into the water. Antonia was momentarily disarmed by their beauty, arching her neck to watch until she and Robin rounded the road’s bend.
    They drove through the day, stopping only briefly for lunch, and continued well into the afternoon. While at first, they’d conversed to pass the time, their voices were now tired from lifting over the chug of the motor, cheeks raw from the constant whip of wind in their faces, and Antonia’s spine felt stiff.
    “Evening approaches,” she warned her companion, indicating the oncoming sunset. “We won’t be able to see for much longer.”
    “I know.” Robin eyed the surrounding scenery. The trees had long since thinned out, the landscape becoming dustier and rockier by the mile. “I’d wager here’s as good a place as any to stop.”
    He