Queen of Kingston by J.L. Campbell & Pat G’Orge-Walker

Author:J.L. Campbell & Pat G’Orge-Walker [Campbell, J. L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9789768307187
Publisher: The Writer's Suite

CHAPTER TWENTY

The John crows, or turkey buzzards, soaring overhead raised the hairs on the back of Kingston’s neck. They only came around when dead meat was nearby, or when it was about to rain, but the sky was cloudless. According to his grandmother, when they settled on the roof of a house, someone who lived there would die. He pushed that thought away and threaded his fingers through Sam’s soft hair.

Around them, the vegetation on both sides of the Martha Brae River reflected the signature green tinge of the water. Sam’s gaze was fixed on the trees as the thirty-foot bamboo raft headed downstream. Their captain, Anthony, skillfully steered while telling them about the plant life and pointing out several varieties of birds, including woodpeckers that kept up a racket as they sailed by, barely creating ripples on the water. At the same time, he divided their attention by carving a small replica of a raft out of a gourd, all while talking.

Sam nuzzled his jaw, then whispered, “Are you feeling any better about this?”

Kingston flexed the muscles in his shoulders. “Not really. I think your uncle is reckless. Being stir crazy has made him lose perspective, not to mention a handle on reality.”

She squeezed his thigh. “I kinda understand his position. It’s hard staying locked up when you’re home and want to be out and about.”

“This is my home, too, but safety is common sense.”

“The truth is, I was worried earlier until I realized he simply wanted to meet with the agent who oversees his properties on this side of the island. Stop worrying, we’ll be fine. Ted and I are safe and we’ll remain that way.”

He didn’t comment, but told himself that perhaps he was being apprehensive for no reason. Maybe that story being released was giving him the heebie-jeebies. Ted’s blackmailers had failed to get the financial reward they wanted, so went ahead with blasting their information all over the news. What more would they do if they didn’t get the money they’d been demanding?

“You know this is the parish where Usain Bolt was born?” Anthony asked.

Sam met Kingston’s eyes and they burst into laughter.

“Yeah man,” Sam answered, “we know dat.”

Anthony blinked twice at her slip into Patios.

She hadn’t spoken more than a few words, so Anthony didn’t realize she was Jamaican. Kingston was aware that Sam took it in stride because she was used to being thought of as a foreigner because of her appearance. In a country where people of African descent made up more than seventy-six percent of the population, most gave her a second and third look when they heard her accent. Even now, Sam didn’t like being singled out because of her olive skin.

When Kingston looked at her, he didn’t see any of that, only the woman he loved. He used his forearm to turn Sam’s head and grazed her lips with his. She was the center of his world in this moment.

Yet his mind traveled to the past without his permission.

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