Dorothy Garlock (26 page)

“This evening has been like all my Christmases rolled into one,” he whispered against her forehead.

“I enjoyed it, too.”

He opened the car door and got out. They walked up the path to Doc’s porch with arms around each other.

Chapter 20

I
T WAS TO BE A NIGHT THAT
A
PRIL
would not soon forget. She stayed at Doc’s while he and Joe went to look over the situation along the riverbank.

“There isn’t anyone in the area who can read the river like Oran Callahan,” Joe explained. “Callahan has lived on the river all his life, and he must be in his sixties. He taught his boys the ways of the river, and they are good fishermen. They’ve made their living catching and selling fish.”

Doc drove slowly along the river road, the car’s headlights reflected on the water that was coming up into the yards and filling the ditches. Lights were on in the houses as the concerned families prepared to leave their homes should it become necessary.

Some were experiencing their first flood. Others remembered the flood of the early 1920s when the water rose until it reached the main street of Fertile. They’d had to live in makeshift shacks on higher ground until the water went down. Then came the backbreaking work of clearing away the river silt and salvaging what was left of their homes.

They found Callahan in his hip boots, with a lantern and the bamboo pole he used to measure the depth of the water.

“How fast is it comin’ up?” Doc asked.

“Fast. That you, Doc?” The grizzled fisherman squinted at the men standing on the road.

“Yeah. Joe Jones is with me.”

“It don’t look good, Doc. Folks ort to be packin’ up. Judgin’ by what’s comin’ downriver, they’ve had a real turd floater up north. That rock pile in the river down at Calmar has got the water backin’ up. Them fellers ain’t got no more brains than a stump.”

“Didn’t the court tell them to clear the dam out?”

“They was told. But they’re a stubborn bunch and paid no mind a-tall. There’ll be trouble if folks are flooded out because of it. They ain’t goin’ to stand for it.”

“Trouble in more ways than one,” Doc said. “All the water wells along here will be contaminated. People will be coming down with typhoid.”

“My boys is bringin’ the boats in. We’ll use ’em to help folks that gets stranded.”

Doc and Joe went back to the car. “I’ll take you back into town, Joe. I’ve got to get to Caroline.”

“I’ll get Jack and Corbin. I’m afraid some of the hotheads down here will make a trip downriver to blow up that rock barricade. I’ve heard talk of it, and this just might push them to act.”

“Hell, I hadn’t thought of that. I’m going to get Caroline and take her to my place. And I don’t give a goddamn what anyone thinks.”

“Have you told April?”

“Nobody but you.”

“You won’t be disappointed in April. I’d bet my life on it. if you need any help, just say the word. I’ll be there and so will Jack.”

“Thanks,” Doc said gruffly.

As soon as Joe got out of the car in front of the hotel where Jack had a room, Doc made a U-turn in the middle of the street and headed back toward the river road. Joe went up the steps and into the hotel lobby. He had to pound the bell on the desk before a bleary-eyed night clerk came from behind a screen.

“Is Jack Jones here?”

The clerk stretched and yawned before he answered. “May I ask who wants to know?”

“No, you may not. Is he here?”

“Is this police business?”

“That’s none of your damn business. What room is he in?” The man’s attitude was causing Joe’s temper to rise.

“I have to know if this is an emergency before I can disturb him.”

“Hell and damnation. Have you got shit for brains? Unless you want your head shoved up your ass, tell me what room he’s in.”

The startled clerk stood back from the fury in Joe’s face and murmured, “You don’t have to be so ...rude. He’s in 206.”

Joe took the stairs two at a time, went down the dim hall and pounded on the door of his brother’s room. Seconds later it was jerked open. Jack stood there shirtless and shoeless, his hair standing on end.

“What the hell—is something wrong? The folks ...?” “Nothing wrong with the folks. The river’s rising—fast.” Joe took off his coat. “Do you have a pair of old pants and a jacket I could borrow? This is my churchgoing suit.”

Jack threw clothes to him from a drawer. “Tonight was the big date?”

“Yeah. We discovered water coming over Callahan’s dock when we came back from Mason.”

“The hell it is!”

“Doc and I went down to Callahan’s. He was out measuring and said it was coming up fast. It’s almost up to his back porch. He’s higher up than some, which means some folks are sitting in water right now.”

“What am I supposed to do about it?”

“Keep the peace. Help those who can’t help themselves.” “Shit. I don’t know if I’m ready for this.”

“Got a pair of shoes I can borrow?”

“You can wear my old boots if you want.”

“I want.”

The brothers left the room. As Jack passed the desk, he picked up the phone. The operator came on immediately.

“This is Jack Jones, Flora. The river is rising up to flood stage. Call Corbin Appleby and tell him I’m on my way down to his place. Call and let the mayor know about the river. We may need volunteers. Dr. Forbes already knows. I’ll get back to you later.”

“What happened to Diane?” Joe asked as they left the lobby.

“She doesn’t put in the hours she used to. She has a night operator now. Flora Jones.” Jack grinned.

“Jones?”

“We’re not the only Jones family in the world. This one is a beautiful redhead. She came here from Des Moines a week or so ago, but I think her home is somewhere in Minnesota.”

“She’s a long way from home.”

“You should give her a look.”

“I’m taken. Look at her yourself.”

“I might as well. I always did like red hair.”

“What about Ruby?”

“Ruby’s given me nothing but a cold shoulder. If what she wants is a dumb-ass like that lineman she’s keeping company with, then to hell with her.”

“You don’t mean that . . . do you?”

Jack didn’t answer the question. Instead, he said, “Burkhardt left the police car in terrible shape. Wally, down at the station, is working on it. Meanwhile, I walk.”

“April said I could use her car. We left it at Doc’s. Let’s cut through here and get it.” They crossed the street and walked between the drugstore and the theater.

“You’re getting pretty cozy if she’s letting you use her car.” “I’m working on it.”

“Making any progress?”

“I think so.”

“Does Harold Dozier know that? He’s taken a shine to her and bragging that he’s got a date with her next Saturday night.”

Joe stopped in his tracks. “He what?”

“I heard him telling Frank Adler at the drugstore that he has a date with her. He didn’t know yet where they were going, but they were going to talk about it in the middle of the week. He was pretty pumped up about it.”

“It’s news to me.” Joe felt like he’d been kicked in the stomach.

If it was true that she’d agreed to go out with Harold, why hadn’t she mentioned it when he suggested they do a repeat of their date? He thought that she understood they would go out again next Saturday night.

April had responded to his kisses as if they meant as much to her as they did to him. He hadn’t taken her for the kind of girl who kissed lightly or played the field looking over the prospects. If that was the case, Harold would win hands down. He was a lawyer, made good money, owned a nice house, belonged to the town’s upper crust.

What the hell do I have to stack up against that?

April had been watching out the window and opened the door as soon as Joe and Jack were on the porch.

“The city car is out of commission. Does the offer of the use of your car still hold?” Joe asked without preamble as he stepped into the house. Jack crowded in behind him.

“Of course.”

“The town will pay for the gas. If not, I will,” Jack said. “Don’t worry about it.”

“Doc will be back in a while,” Joe said.

“I’ll stay until he gets here. I’ve already told Flora. I don’t want her calling me at Mrs. Poole’s this time of night.” She looked directly at Joe, but he avoided her gaze by bending to tie the laces on a pair of well-worn boots. He had changed clothes and no longer looked the well-dressed, well-mannered man who had taken her to dinner.

“Doc had personal business to attend to,” Joe said. “He’ll have someone with him when he comes. Someone who is
very important
to him. Remember that.”

April’s professional expression slid over her face to keep him from knowing how confused she was by his words and his attitude. Why was he acting like this? This was a Joe she had not met before. His face was as stern as his voice, which was so set she thought it would crack if he smiled. He hadn’t looked at her once since he came in the door.

“Is this person ill? Shall I get a bed ready?”

“You’ll know when Doc gets here,” he said with a note of irritation. “We’d better go, Jack. Corbin will be waiting—”

“You have the keys to the car,” April said. “Keep it as long as you need it.”

“Thanks,” Jack said as he followed Joe across the porch. What in the world was the matter with him? He hadn’t even said good-bye. April didn’t have time right then to speculate on Joe’s strange behavior.

The phone rang. It was Corbin Appleby.

“Doc isn’t here, Mr. Appleby. Joe and Jack Jones were just here and said he would be here shortly.”

“My wife is having back pains, and I want to be sure he’s where I can reach him if we need him. There will be plenty of people to help get the folks out of the river bottom without Doc pitching in.”

“Shall I have him call you?”

“Just tell him to stay put, and I’ll call if I need him.” April smiled at the nervous tremor in the usually composed paper editor’s voice. After assuring him that she would deliver the message, April tied a dish towel about her waist and washed the dirty dishes in the pan on the counter, dried them and put them away.

While she was sweeping the kitchen floor, she had three phone calls. Flora phoned to tell her that a call had come from Blackton, a town in Iowa fifty miles to the north. The chief of police wanted the word passed to Officer Jones that it was raining cats and dogs up there. April smiled at Flora’s description and promised to tell Doc when she saw him or send word if the chance presented itself.

Another call came from Flora asking to have Officer Jones call in if he came back to Doc’s. There had been a domestic disturbance he might want to look into.

A man who identified himself as a volunteer fireman phoned to ask if Dr. Forbes needed any help. April thanked him, took his name and told him that she would have Dr. Forbes call if he was needed.

Joe’s caution that Doc was bringing someone who was very important to him suddenly registered in April’s mind. Doc had been here almost twelve years and knew the people along the river as well as he did those in town. He was probably bringing an elderly person who lived alone. He would want him or her to be comfortable. She went to his bedroom and found there was nothing to be done there. The bed was made; the room was neat. She checked the bathroom and found it the same.

Back in the living room, she sat down in the chair beside the window and slipped off her shoes. It was two o’clock in the morning. She wondered, with a smile, if Mrs. Poole was staying awake waiting to see what time she came home.

The headlights of Doc’s car forged a path down the lane. River water had already come up to the back of the house. He drove in and stopped near the front door. A light shone from the window, and the door opened before he reached it.

“It’s Mistah Doctah,” Silas said over his shoulder and held open the door.

Doc went straight to Caroline, who was putting things in a trunk Silas had lifted up onto a table. She turned and threw her arms around him. Her beautiful eyes were anxious.

“I knew you’d come.”

“It’s going to be all right. You’re coming to my house.”

“I can’t do that. No, Todd.” She shook her head. “Take me someplace else.”

“Hush, now. You’re coming home with me, and that’s all there is to it.”

“No, please. You’ll be ruined and I couldn’t stand . . . that.” Her voice had a sob in it.

“Caroline,” Doc said firmly, “you and our baby are coming home with me.” He put his hands on her shoulders and drew her to him. “Sweetheart, your place is with me. Don’t argue. We’ve got a lot to do and not much time to do it. Now, what are you doing here?”

“I’m putting Papa’s things in the trunk. Silas says he’ll put the chairs on the table and the trunk on it so it won’t be ruined if the house floods.”

“We’ll take the trunk with us.”

“I’ve got to save Mama’s wedding ring quilt, her picture album and Daddy’s mother’s and father’s pictures.” She climbed up onto a chair to take the pictures off the wall.

“No climbing.” Doc was behind her and lifted her down. He removed the pictures and placed them in the trunk. He grabbed the pillowcases off the bed. “Put clothes and things you want to take with you in these. And hurry, honey. The water is coming up fast. Silas and I will take care of the trunk. Is there anything out at your place you want to take, Silas?”

“Naw, suh. I got it right here in my pocket.”

Doc filled the trunk with pictures, books and Caroline’s miniature cedar chest, which held her treasures: the things he had given her and the necklace made from her mother’s hair. There was a little room left in the trunk, so he packed Caroline’s china coffee service between the folds of the quilt before he closed the lid.

Silas set everything that water would ruin up off the floor and onto tables, counters, and chest. He even rolled up the braided rag rug Caroline had made one winter and shoved it through the hole leading to the attic.

A half hour later they were ready to go. When Doc opened the front door, he stepped out into water. Telling Caroline to wait, he and Silas carried the trunk and the pillowcases to the car. The trunk wouldn’t fit in the backseat, so they set it on the top of the car. Silas would stand on the running board and hold on to it to keep it from sliding off.