Read Online The Crocodile's Last Embrace by Suzanne Arruda - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Suzanne Arruda
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Very penetrating blue eyes.”
Beverly laughed. “Just the opposite, Dr. Mathews. Shorter than you by several inches, straw brown hair, beard, brown eyes, strongly built chest. But he did sound Cornish.”
“Ah, possibly a brother or cousin, then, of the man I knew.”
Emily joined them, accompanied by Mr. Lippincott, a clerk in the land office. His thick spectacles gave him a serious, scholarly appearance, especially with his graying temples. Holly returned at that moment with the girls, a big straw lion in his arms. At least, Jade assumed it was a lion, with the mass of straw protruding at all angles from the head end. A red heart was pinned just behind the shoulders, or what passed for them. Holly set it down with a sneeze and dusted the loose straw from his coat. Mary and Helen giggled as they adjusted the wooden limbs supporting the straw beast while Holly hurried back towards Jade.
“Lippincott,” Steven Holly called, “you’re just the man to tell me about this gold mine. I’m sure you’ve seen the papers that Mr. Waters filed.”
“I don’t recall, but then I don’t always handle the mining paperwork,” Lippincott said.
“That’s quite enough, gentlemen,” said Beverly. “The girls are going to demonstrate some of their woodcraft skills for us.”
She took a whistle and lanyard from the pocket of her dress and blew it once to gather the girls together. It also served to gain everyone else’s notice. Conversations ceased or dropped to a murmur as people speculated on what was about to transpire. The girls clustered around Jade and Beverly, each taking a turn at petting Biscuit.
“Girls,” Beverly said, “get your bows. Mary, you may bring out the arrows.” When the girls ran off in various directions to fetch their weapons, Beverly addressed the adults. “Ladies and gentlemen, as you know, in keeping with the Girl Guide manual, the Ivy Leaf Patrol has been working hard to gain a wood-lore badge. They’ve studied tracking and bird identification—”
“And how to bring down an ox with a stone,” said Clarice Chivell’s father. He had made the trip into town with his wife just to see his daughter, who boarded at school, as did Helen.
A round of laughter followed his little joke. Jade noticed that Lady Northey didn’t join in and her smile looked pinched and forced.
“Yes, indeed. David defended his flock with a sling, and the girls are learning its value, too,” said Beverly.
Jade knew that Beverly was referring to the biblical David and not her former beau, but at the mention of his name, she shuddered. Perhaps it was the crowd and the noise, but all through this party she’d fought the urge to bolt for safety, sometimes imagining she saw shadows out of the corners of her eyes. She caught Dr. Mathews’ concerned look and fought for self-control.
“But today we have a treat. The girls are going to demonstrate their newest skill, archery. Bear in mind that they’ve only had one lesson, but I believe with practice we shall have a set of proficients. Girls, are you ready?”
The patrol stood ramrod straight in a line, bows in one hand and quivers of arrows slung over their backs. Jade saw a larger bow, the one she’d used to demonstrate with, leaning against a tree.
The parents and family friends gathered behind Beverly to watch the girls. Helen, as the patrol’s senior member, announced that Mary would have first crack at the target, since it was her birthday. Mary stood thirty feet from the straw lion, nocked her arrow, and assumed the proper sidewise stance. Jade noted with approval that she kept her left elbow slightly flexed and the wrist gripping the bow straight. Mary drew the arrow’s fletching to her cheek and let fly. The arrow pierced the dummy’s head and exited the other side.
Cries of “Bravo” and “Well shot” followed. Mary made a slight bow before returning to the end of the line. One by one, the younger girls took their turn, some standing closer to
Beverly laughed. “Just the opposite, Dr. Mathews. Shorter than you by several inches, straw brown hair, beard, brown eyes, strongly built chest. But he did sound Cornish.”
“Ah, possibly a brother or cousin, then, of the man I knew.”
Emily joined them, accompanied by Mr. Lippincott, a clerk in the land office. His thick spectacles gave him a serious, scholarly appearance, especially with his graying temples. Holly returned at that moment with the girls, a big straw lion in his arms. At least, Jade assumed it was a lion, with the mass of straw protruding at all angles from the head end. A red heart was pinned just behind the shoulders, or what passed for them. Holly set it down with a sneeze and dusted the loose straw from his coat. Mary and Helen giggled as they adjusted the wooden limbs supporting the straw beast while Holly hurried back towards Jade.
“Lippincott,” Steven Holly called, “you’re just the man to tell me about this gold mine. I’m sure you’ve seen the papers that Mr. Waters filed.”
“I don’t recall, but then I don’t always handle the mining paperwork,” Lippincott said.
“That’s quite enough, gentlemen,” said Beverly. “The girls are going to demonstrate some of their woodcraft skills for us.”
She took a whistle and lanyard from the pocket of her dress and blew it once to gather the girls together. It also served to gain everyone else’s notice. Conversations ceased or dropped to a murmur as people speculated on what was about to transpire. The girls clustered around Jade and Beverly, each taking a turn at petting Biscuit.
“Girls,” Beverly said, “get your bows. Mary, you may bring out the arrows.” When the girls ran off in various directions to fetch their weapons, Beverly addressed the adults. “Ladies and gentlemen, as you know, in keeping with the Girl Guide manual, the Ivy Leaf Patrol has been working hard to gain a wood-lore badge. They’ve studied tracking and bird identification—”
“And how to bring down an ox with a stone,” said Clarice Chivell’s father. He had made the trip into town with his wife just to see his daughter, who boarded at school, as did Helen.
A round of laughter followed his little joke. Jade noticed that Lady Northey didn’t join in and her smile looked pinched and forced.
“Yes, indeed. David defended his flock with a sling, and the girls are learning its value, too,” said Beverly.
Jade knew that Beverly was referring to the biblical David and not her former beau, but at the mention of his name, she shuddered. Perhaps it was the crowd and the noise, but all through this party she’d fought the urge to bolt for safety, sometimes imagining she saw shadows out of the corners of her eyes. She caught Dr. Mathews’ concerned look and fought for self-control.
“But today we have a treat. The girls are going to demonstrate their newest skill, archery. Bear in mind that they’ve only had one lesson, but I believe with practice we shall have a set of proficients. Girls, are you ready?”
The patrol stood ramrod straight in a line, bows in one hand and quivers of arrows slung over their backs. Jade saw a larger bow, the one she’d used to demonstrate with, leaning against a tree.
The parents and family friends gathered behind Beverly to watch the girls. Helen, as the patrol’s senior member, announced that Mary would have first crack at the target, since it was her birthday. Mary stood thirty feet from the straw lion, nocked her arrow, and assumed the proper sidewise stance. Jade noted with approval that she kept her left elbow slightly flexed and the wrist gripping the bow straight. Mary drew the arrow’s fletching to her cheek and let fly. The arrow pierced the dummy’s head and exited the other side.
Cries of “Bravo” and “Well shot” followed. Mary made a slight bow before returning to the end of the line. One by one, the younger girls took their turn, some standing closer to
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