Read Online Eastland by Marian Cheatham - Free Book Online Page B

of the carriage on the muddy streets, I felt the prick of coiled
springs through the worn, red leather seat. The interior was
every bit as muggy as the motorcar’s had been. But our carriage
had one important difference—the dank stink of wet horse.
Karel snuggled closer, and I caught the scent of his ginger
aftershave. Not Brach’s chocolate, but still, dangerously delicious. I inhaled deeply, purging my senses of the horsey smell.
“Where to first, Mr. Karel?” Salvatore asked over his shoulder.
“Iroquois Memorial Hospital on Market Street.” Karel
heaved a sigh. “Wish we were going somewhere else. Anywhere
but there.”
Me too. Anywhere with Karel would be divine, but I had
to check myself. This wasn’t a date. This was a mission. There
would be time for fanciful thoughts later when Mae was home.
“Karel.” I put my hand on top of his. “I never got the chance
to thank you.”
I never had the opportunity to thank anyone properly. The
nurse, the unnamed family who had driven me home, Lars
Nielsen and his turquoise eyes. They’d all been strangers who
had gone out of their way to assist me. I would never see any of
them again.
What was my problem? Why the self-pity when Karel was
here with me now? Time to set things right between us.
“You were there for me today. Without you, I would have
drowned.”
A vision of the redhead in the lacy, yellow frock plummeting
to her death flashed before me. I winced.
“I couldn’t let you die.” He clasped my fingers in his warm
hand. I felt safer than I had all day. “There wasn’t any question.
You were coming over that railing with me.”
“I hope you know I’d do the same for you.”
He smiled. “Of course, I know.”
“Good.” I hesitated, not wanting to ruin this moment, but
something, someone , was along on this ride with us. “If only
we’d had the time to get to her.” A sob pressed against my chest.
I started to cry. Karel pulled a handkerchief from his waistcoat
pocket and handed it to me.
“What could we have done differently, Dee? It all happened
so fast. You know that. There wasn’t time to get downstairs.” He
shook his head as though he was trying to convince himself as
well as me. “And what if we had made it to the salon? Could we
have even reached her in time? You saw all those people.”
I thought about the dance floor overflowing with passengers.
Mae and Johnny pressed into a corner.
“And what if we had all been together in the salon? We probably wouldn’t be having this conversation right now. We’d all
be dead.”
“Maybe there was nothing else we could have done.” Except
maybe to have died with her, so she wouldn’t have been alone
and terrified. “It’s only that you and I, well, we had each other.”
“Mae had Johnny. And I’m glad. It brings me comfort to
know she didn’t face that horror on her own.” Karel took my
other hand and pressed them both together in his. “We can only
hope Mae never knew what hit her.”
“You’re talking like she’s already dead!”
“Dee, be reasonable.”
I slid my hands out from under his. “I won’t believe that. Not
without proof. ’Til then, we have to have hope.”
Karel sank back against the seat, looking deflated. “All I
know is that we survived. We’re here, and we have a chance for a
life.” He let out an anguished sigh. “I never appreciated all that I
had. The advantages, the money, a younger sister.” His striking
face twisted with regret.
I ached to make him feel better. But how? What could ease
the agony of this night?
“I was supposed to be watching her today. But she wanted to
dance. I didn’t, so I left her below deck.”
“I abandoned her, too.” To find you. What kind of friend did
something like that?
“You weren’t responsible for her. I was.”
“You thought you left her safe and sound in the salon. How
could you have known what might happen?”
His eyes widened. “Your mother’s premonition! I should