The Seawind cut through the swell, splashing up ocean spray. Gulls circled lazily overhead. Sun tipped the bouncing waves with silver. Charlotte was too excited to notice. “Can’t we go faster?” she begged.
“We’re almost there,” Grandpa called over the engine noise.
Closer to the beach, Grandpa turned off the engine and dropped anchor. He climbed over the side and down a ladder to a rubber dinghy.
“All aboard,” he called up to Charlotte an d Jacob.
Charlotte climbed down the ladder first. Jacob was right behind her.
When they reached the shore, they pulled the dinghy high onto the sandy beach. They shrugged out of their life jackets and grabbed their backpacks.
“The tide’s out,” said Jacob.
“It’s the best time for treasure hunting,” said Charlotte.
Grandpa tied the dinghy to a large rock. “Everybody ready?”
“Let’s go!” Charlotte’s voice drowned out Jacob’s.
“What do you think we’ll find?” Jacob didn’t wait for an answer. “Maybe caves? Or secret hideouts?”
“Wait.” Charlotte stopped. “If we’re going to look for pirate treasure, we have to have pirate names.”
Jacob spoke quickly, before Charlotte could choose first. “My name is Shark,” he growled in a piratey voice.
“I’m Patch Eye,” said Charlotte. “Captain Patch Eye, commander of the pirates.”
Jacob rolled his eyes. Leave it to Charlotte to take the best job, he thought.
“Grandpa, you need a name too,” said Charlotte.
Grandpa thought for a moment. “I’ll be Hawk,” he said.
Charlotte took the lead. “Shark and Hawk, follow Captain Patch Eye. We’re off to find pirate treasure.”
Jacob glared at Charlotte’s back. Sometimes Charlotte was the bossiest sister in the world.