Hunter's Prize (41 page)

Pearson broke the surface of the water and drew a gasping breath. He sighted off the stern of the boat Ceddy fell from and dove toward the deep again. Charlie’s pleas to save Denny followed him down, but his only thought was of Ceddy.

His eyes useless within the foggy churn, Pearson relied on touch, spreading his arms and groping in all directions. One second before he shot to the top for more air, the barest tip of his finger connected with soft, swirling hair. With a strong thrust, he lunged. Scooping Ceddy’s limp body from the lakebed, Pearson pushed off, kicking furiously.

Arms reached for them as they rose. A dripping wet Theo and Reverend Stroud leaned over the side of the boat ready to pull Ceddy aboard.

“Is he all right?” Priscilla shrieked from the shore.

Praying he’d be able to tell her yes, Pearson lifted Ceddy toward the men.

Gripping his wrists, Theo jerked him up and laid him on his side in the boat bottom. His little body heaved and water rushed from his mouth.

Pearson pulled himself into the boat and crowded close, briskly rubbing Ceddy’s back. A final trickle poured from his lips, and he started to cough.

Cheers rose from Theo and the reverend, echoed by Addie and Priscilla.

Racking sobs spun Pearson toward Charlie.

He slumped in the other boat, one hand over his eyes. “Don’t you even care about poor Denny?”

Pearson shared an ominous look with Theo. “Get Ceddy to the women.”

Theo nodded.

Pearson stood on the seat and brought his arms overhead. Launching himself overboard, he plunged for the third time into the muddy Caddo Lake. Using the same method as before, he skimmed the bottom, feeling his way with his hands. Coming up empty, the need to breathe forced him up top.

Charlie’s crying had become hysterical. “Where is ‘e, Mr. Pearson? Where’s me best mate?”

“I’ll find him, Charlie,” he called and then plummeted again.

Halfway down, in a spot where the mud had settled, something solid bumped his back. Spinning, he came face-to-face with Denny, tangled in coontail moss. The long, twisting weeds held him like a bug in a web. His tortured eyes stared, and his mouth gaped in a soundless scream.

Swimming around behind him, Pearson pulled hard on the collar of his shirt, ripping him free. With very little hope of reviving him, he hauled him toward the light.

Addie rushed into the shallow water and helped haul the rowboat to shore.

Priscilla danced on alternating feet as the men lifted Ceddy and hurried to place him in her arms. She sank to the ground under his weight, cradling him on her lap. “Don’t cry, darling. Hush now, Auntie’s here.”

Kneeling beside them, Addie murmured comforting words while wrapping Ceddy in her shawl and picking bits of debris from his hair.

“We almost lost him,” Priscilla said, meeting Addie’s eyes. “But for Pearson, he’d be down there still.” Visibly shaken, she rocked Ceddy. “And after the way I treated that young man, I’m so ashamed.”

“We have to forgive ourselves,” Addie said, patting her back. “It’s what Pearson wants. All we can do now is try to make it up to him.”

Ceddy lifted his arm toward Addie, something clenched in his fist.

Firing a questioning glance at Priscilla, she opened her hand. The jasper pendant fell into her palm, the stone cool against her skin. Gripping it tightly, she shed tears of gratitude. “Thank you, honey,” she whispered. “Thank you for keeping it safe.”

Struggling away from Priscilla, he staggered over and fell against Addie, sinking to his knees in her lap. He stroked her cheek with theback of his hand and shook his head. “Nuh. N–nuh.”

Priscilla covered her mouth with her hand. “Oh Addie … I don’t believe it. He’s comforting you. His mama used to soothe him the same way.” She shook her head. “It’s the first time in his life he’s done such a thing.”

The first boat reached the bank in a jubilant celebration. Pearson rowed the second to shore in a tragic shroud of grief.

Denny’s body lay in the bottom of the boat, his head cradled in Charlie’s lap. The big man cried softly, sniffling and running his sleeve under his nose.

Pearson had sacrificed Denny for Ceddy, but there’d been no other choice. Still, it grieved him to the depths of his soul.

Rowing in ten yards down from the others, he leaped to the bank where Theo and the reverend met them and tied up the boat.

Charlie gathered Denny’s body and prepared to stand, but Reverend Stroud held up his hand. “Leave him here for now, son. We don’t want the boy to see him.”

Stretching out his arm to brace Charlie, the reverend helped him to dry land. Charlie winced and probed a gash beneath his left eye, the skin around it swollen and bruised.

“That’s a nasty cut,” Pearson said. “Did it happen when you fell from the boat?”

Charlie shook his head. “The little nipper smashed me in the face.” He pouted a bit. “With Denny’s diamond.”

Pearson’s head came up. “A diamond? Are you sure?”

“I’m sure, all right. Saw it coming from the corner of me eye.” He held up his fingers in a circle. “Great white stone about this big around.”

So Addie was right.

Pearson patted him on the back. “We’ll find a doctor in town to look at you,” he said, then ran to join Addie and Ceddy.

Ceddy lay cuddled in her lap, his arms wrapped around her waist. Longing to offer comfort, Pearson massaged his shoulder. “Is he all right?”

Tears in her eyes, she nodded. “He’s quite shaken, but I think he’ll be fine.”

“That was a close call.”

“Entirely too close,” Pricilla whispered, her voice choked. “Thank you, son.” A startled look crossed her face. “Heavens, that sounds so inadequate to express what my heart feels.”

Pearson smiled. “It’s plenty.” He reached for Addie’s hand and frowned. “What’s this?” he asked, his fingers fumbling with the large stone.

“My jasper pendant. It’s very precious to me. It belonged to my grandmother.” She smiled down at the boy’s wet head. “Ceddy kept it safe for me.”

Pearson turned it over in his palm. “It’s very nice. I’m glad you got it back.” Remembering, he lifted his head. “Where’s the diamond?”

“He doesn’t have it.”

“Sure he does. He bashed Charlie with it.”

Her brow creased. “Priscilla searched his clothing. It’s not on him.”

“Do you suppose he hid it?” Theo asked.

She shook her head. “He would’ve hidden them together.”

“Then where?”

She shrugged. “I can’t imagine.” She stared at the lake. “You don’t suppose he dropped it?”

They shared a look before Pearson stood.

Combing the ground, he retraced their steps to the bank, searched inside the boat and in the shallows beneath it. Finding nothing, he and Theo rowed out to the spot where Ceddy went down.

Steeling himself to return to the cold water, Pearson dove repeatedly and groped along the bottom. He searched until exhaustion forced him to quit.

Back onshore they held a meeting to decide what to do. Reverend Stroud agreed to stay behind with Charlie and the body while they used his wagon to take Ceddy and the women home. Pearson promised to send Theo back with the sheriff, a fresh horse, and the liveryman to tend his wounded animal.

“Are you sure you can handle things here, Reverend?”

He made a face. “Of course.”

“I don’t think Charlie’s dangerous without Denny’s influence, but be careful just the same.”

The reverend tossed a look over his shoulder. Charlie sat on the log by the fire, staring into the flames. “He’s a broken man, son. I think he’s harmless.” He nodded at the shotgun he held and patted the pistol at his waist. “But just in case, I think I’ll be fine.”

Pearson gave him a wry smile. “No swashbuckling involved, but you’re finally getting your adventure.”

He nodded at Charlie. “Yes, but I regret that it’s under such tragic circumstances.”

Seeking the heavens for guidance, Pearson approached Charlie and sat beside him on the log. “I can’t tell you how sorry I am about your friend. I wish things had turned out better.”

Charlie sniffed. “It ain’t your fault. You ‘ad to bring up the lad.” He turned with tormented eyes. “It’s on me, what ‘appened to Denny. I upset the boat and ‘e fell.” He wiped his nose on the back of his hand. “Denny fell and ‘e couldn’t swim a stroke.”

Pearson tightened his hand on his shoulder. “It’s not that simple, Charlie. Denny fell because he was standing up.”

Charlie blinked at the fire. “Yeah? Den always told me not to stand up in the boat.”

“That’s right. And he drowned because he got tangled in the weeds. If not for that, he would’ve bobbed to the surface and held on to the boat until we pulled him in.”

Charlie faced him, his eyes pleading. “So it ain’t my fault?”

Pearson shook his head. “It’s not your fault.”

His plump bottom lip trembled. “Denny was me best mate.”

“I know, buddy. I know.” Standing, Pearson gave him a gentle shake. “Will you be all right?”

He stared up at Pearson. “I’m going to jail, ain’t I?”

“I don’t know. I suppose that’s for the sheriff to decide. But if I can do anything to help you, just send for me.”

Charlie’s eyes narrowed. “You’d do that for me? After what we done?”

“Sure I will.” He lifted his chin at Reverend Stroud. “So will the reverend. Just remember that, all right?”

Tears flowing freely, he nodded.

Addie touched Pearson’s arm. “We’re ready to go.”

Over her shoulder, he saw Priscilla in the wagon, cradling Ceddy and trying to keep him warm. Theo sat in the driver’s seat holding the reins.

Behind Pearson, most likely buried in lake-bottom mud, lay the biggest treasure he’d ever sought. In front of him stood the most valuable.

Glancing at the boat that held the body of poor Denny Currie, Pearson suppressed a shudder. Just like he’d said to Catfish John—some things weren’t meant to be.

A
ddie stood at her bedroom window, watching Pearson and Ceddy in the garden. Pearson chased him through the hedges, deliberately allowing him to escape. Catching up to him occasionally, he’d lift him high and swing him in the air. Ceddy’s delighted squeals echoed across the yard.

“Isn’t that a wonderful sound?”

Addie turned to smile at Priscilla, standing on the threshold. “Yes, it is. A glorious sound.”

She crossed the room and joined Addie at the window.

Outside, Pearson strode back and forth with Ceddy chasing at his heels like a clumsy, flop-eared puppy.

Priscilla placed a hand at Addie’s back. “I want to thank you for sharing your good news with me. It’s an honor, especially knowing you told me before you telephoned your mama.”

Addie leaned into her. “We wanted you to know. Besides, since we’re having the wedding in Marshall, I’ll need your help to make plans. Mother can’t come until the day before the wedding.”

“And your daddy?”

She beamed as brightly as the light in her heart. “He’s coming with her. They’re bringing my sisters as well.”

Priscilla nodded. “Well, your news was a fresh breath after the ugliness of the other day. We needed something happy to focus on.” Shepatted Addie’s waist. “I can’t tell you how proud Reverend Stroud is that Pearson asked him to officiate.”

“He’s a good friend and a wonderful pastor.”

“That he is.”

Addie sobered. “As happy as I am, I’m very burdened at the same time.”

Priscilla’s mouth dipped into a frown. “Goodness! Why? A bride shouldn’t be burdened.”

“I’m going to miss you all so fiercely when Pearson and I leave for Galveston.” She choked back her tears. “Especially Ceddy.”

Priscilla tugged her arm, drawing her to the bed. “Sit down, dear. I have something I’ve needed to discuss with you, but I couldn’t find the right time. I suppose you just gave me the perfect opening.”

Addie watched expectantly while Priscilla settled onto the bed next to her and clasped her hands in her lap.

“Adelina McRae, the changes you’ve wrought in my great-nephew are nothing short of miraculous. He’s alert, receptive to touch. He’s making eye contact more and more, and the biggest blessing of all, he’s becoming affectionate. This morning he looked me full in the face and smiled.” She beamed. “It came and went so fast, I thought I’d imagined it, but my heart says I didn’t. It’s as if you reached inside him and turned a switch.”