Read Online Secrets in the Lowcountry--The River by Janet Cooper - Free Book Online
Authors: Janet Cooper
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chest w ashed up on the bank, w e don’t kno w , yet. Ho w ever, Rod didn’t run a w ay. Yes, he did a stupid thing by going fishing in bad w eather, but he loved you and w ould never leave you.”
She w anted to hear these w ords, w anted the m to be true, but w as Jeff saying this to ease her anger and grief? “Ho w do you kno w ?”
He gazed directly at face, a s if forcing her to keep her attention on him. “ Rod has al w ays desire d you. I can’t tell you ho w often he told me. He added that Beaufort held everything he ever required ; fishing, crabbing, hunting, golf, position in the community , his business, and most important, and the gal he loved . W hy thro w all that a w ay? W hy start a ne w life some w here else? He had established himself here. His business’ and social connections , important w hen one is a developer and investment counselor, are here. And most important of all , the w oman he adores .”
“He said this?” S he search ed his face fo r any sign of untruth .
Jeff nodded. “ Too m any times to count . W hen I moved a w ay, he called me a fool for l eaving my net w ork. He added it took too long to develop these associates.”
Taylor stood silently, considering his w ords , crav ing them to be true . “Y ou ’re sure?”
“Totally,” he replied, shaking his head yes , w hile h is eyes stayed on hers.
She felt her spirits lift. “I best check the horses, but thanks for sharing.” She kissed his cheek lightly and raced w ith a lighter step to w ard the barn.
Jeff stood there for a moment, sighed and w ent in search of Dr. Harris . W hen he found him, sitting in the living room, map laid out on the table, paper and penci l beside him, Jeff approached . A s he did so he noticed the doctor had aged overnight . “If you don’t need me, sir, I’ll join one of the boats going out to look for Rod.”
Glancing up from the paper w ork, Martin ’s face lightened, if only briefly, before he said, “Actually, Jeff, if you could stay here and coordinate the volunteers , I w ould appreciate that . W ith Julia Ann’s passing, I mus t start arranging her funeral. Dear God,” he stopped and shook his head in disbelief, “yesterday w as hell . ” Sighing, he added, “ I fear today w on’t get better.”
“ I’ll help w herever I’m needed.”
“Thanks. Even as a child, one could al w ays count on you.” He patted Jeff’s shoulder, sighed again as if dreading the day ahead. “I’m going to sho w er and change. T hen I’ll be in my study making phone calls on my cell, w hich will keep the landlines open for incoming calls . If you learn any ne w s , please come get me.” He shuffled to the stairs , his normal stride gone. Grasping the railing, he climbed them very slo w ly.
Martin’s behavior reminded Jeff of his o w n father w hen he’d lost his w ife. Although vastly different circumstances, since his mom had died of cancer, the t w o men’s reaction almost mirrored each other. Ho w telling. For the first time, Jeff sa w ho w deeply the Doc cared for Miss Julia Ann. Love remained regardless of w hat else happened, not time, not situation, not. . . He stopped for instead of the Doc, he thought about his o w n love. Don’t go there .
Mentally sha king his mind clear, Jeff strolled to the table and surveyed the items on top. T he last thing Jef f w ished to do w as stay inside. W ith the D N R in charge, the job w as much smaller than yesterday . Anyone could man the phones and notify Doc if ne w s came in . Before he could consider w hich person to tap, Tim, the one w ho couldn’t go on a boat, appeared from the direction of the dining room.
“Can I do anything?” he asked, holding a glass of Coke in his hand.
“As a matter-of-fact, yes. ” Jeff took him to the library. “I think w e should move the ‘command post’ here. That will free up the l iving room giving people some place to congregate. Doc Martin’s changing and will be in his study arranging …
She w anted to hear these w ords, w anted the m to be true, but w as Jeff saying this to ease her anger and grief? “Ho w do you kno w ?”
He gazed directly at face, a s if forcing her to keep her attention on him. “ Rod has al w ays desire d you. I can’t tell you ho w often he told me. He added that Beaufort held everything he ever required ; fishing, crabbing, hunting, golf, position in the community , his business, and most important, and the gal he loved . W hy thro w all that a w ay? W hy start a ne w life some w here else? He had established himself here. His business’ and social connections , important w hen one is a developer and investment counselor, are here. And most important of all , the w oman he adores .”
“He said this?” S he search ed his face fo r any sign of untruth .
Jeff nodded. “ Too m any times to count . W hen I moved a w ay, he called me a fool for l eaving my net w ork. He added it took too long to develop these associates.”
Taylor stood silently, considering his w ords , crav ing them to be true . “Y ou ’re sure?”
“Totally,” he replied, shaking his head yes , w hile h is eyes stayed on hers.
She felt her spirits lift. “I best check the horses, but thanks for sharing.” She kissed his cheek lightly and raced w ith a lighter step to w ard the barn.
Jeff stood there for a moment, sighed and w ent in search of Dr. Harris . W hen he found him, sitting in the living room, map laid out on the table, paper and penci l beside him, Jeff approached . A s he did so he noticed the doctor had aged overnight . “If you don’t need me, sir, I’ll join one of the boats going out to look for Rod.”
Glancing up from the paper w ork, Martin ’s face lightened, if only briefly, before he said, “Actually, Jeff, if you could stay here and coordinate the volunteers , I w ould appreciate that . W ith Julia Ann’s passing, I mus t start arranging her funeral. Dear God,” he stopped and shook his head in disbelief, “yesterday w as hell . ” Sighing, he added, “ I fear today w on’t get better.”
“ I’ll help w herever I’m needed.”
“Thanks. Even as a child, one could al w ays count on you.” He patted Jeff’s shoulder, sighed again as if dreading the day ahead. “I’m going to sho w er and change. T hen I’ll be in my study making phone calls on my cell, w hich will keep the landlines open for incoming calls . If you learn any ne w s , please come get me.” He shuffled to the stairs , his normal stride gone. Grasping the railing, he climbed them very slo w ly.
Martin’s behavior reminded Jeff of his o w n father w hen he’d lost his w ife. Although vastly different circumstances, since his mom had died of cancer, the t w o men’s reaction almost mirrored each other. Ho w telling. For the first time, Jeff sa w ho w deeply the Doc cared for Miss Julia Ann. Love remained regardless of w hat else happened, not time, not situation, not. . . He stopped for instead of the Doc, he thought about his o w n love. Don’t go there .
Mentally sha king his mind clear, Jeff strolled to the table and surveyed the items on top. T he last thing Jef f w ished to do w as stay inside. W ith the D N R in charge, the job w as much smaller than yesterday . Anyone could man the phones and notify Doc if ne w s came in . Before he could consider w hich person to tap, Tim, the one w ho couldn’t go on a boat, appeared from the direction of the dining room.
“Can I do anything?” he asked, holding a glass of Coke in his hand.
“As a matter-of-fact, yes. ” Jeff took him to the library. “I think w e should move the ‘command post’ here. That will free up the l iving room giving people some place to congregate. Doc Martin’s changing and will be in his study arranging …
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