“He’s dead alright,” Virgil said, interrupting Creed’s thoughts. “And you’re right. It’s recent.” He waved the deputy closer. “Recognize him?”
The younger man crouched down and squinted at the figure as if that would make him more recognizable. “Can’t say as I do.”
Virgil snapped his fingers. “Say. We got word on Monday that some federal workers were in the area looking at land for that homestead business of Eleanor Roosevelt. It’s the deal where they’re supposed to build whole towns with schools and churches and stores for folks who’re down-and-out.” He cocked his head and looked harder at the body. “You don’t reckon he’s a government worker?”
Creed didn’t have the least notion. He was more than a little skeptical of those “self-sustaining communities.” Plus, he hated to see this land he loved built up with houses and businesses and who knew what else? He hoped they’d at least stick to the rolling land along the river and stay off his mountain.
“Guess he could be,” Creed said. “Can’t think why anybody’d shoot him, though.”
“Can’t you?” Virgil said. “Plenty of folks don’t want the government meddling in their business. Who knows what sorts of people they’d bring in.” He shook his head. “’Course, could be he just come up on the wrong feller out here by himself.”
This time Creed knew just what the sheriff meant. He’d been the sheriff once himself. Not everyone on Rich Mountain was honorable. There were liquor runners, poachers, and the sorts of ne’er-do-wells that avoided being seen in town. Creed knew most of them, and while he wasn’t afraid of them, he guessed they might not be partial to a stranger nosing around.
“You need help getting the body to the funeral home?”
“I will. But first I’m going to make sure we’ve looked around real sharp.” He tapped the deputy on the shoulder. “Bud, you go back into town and send Gerald out with the hearse. Me and Creed will look the area over real close. By the time you get back, we should be ready to move this poor fella.”
Once the deputy was gone, Virgil took his hat off and rubbed his bald head. He looked Creed up and down. “Anybody asks, I deputized you. You know this mountain and stretch of river better than anybody. And while I know you don’t fancy being a lawman anymore, you’ve got the experience. Ever since that Black Tuesday business back in October, everybody keeps talking about belt-tightening. I’m short-staffed and I’ve got Bud spending most of his time up in Elkins. This”—he waved a hand toward the dead man—“might take some legwork. You up for pitching in?”
Creed glanced back at Loyal, who was watching them as if he could read their movements the way Creed could read the mountain. He saw an eager expectation there and swallowed hard. He’d sworn off taking responsibility for just about anything once he’d finished ruining his son’s life, but maybe it was time to take a step back into the world. If only to look out for his boy. He nodded. “Sure thing. Ginseng won’t be right for digging for another month or more. I guess I can spare the time.”
“I might be able to pay you a little something, but don’t count on it,” Virgil said.
“I won’t,” Creed said, and the two men began to make a slow search of the area.
three
Delphy folded Loyal’s mended shirt, straightening every seam and smoothing every crease. Once this task was complete, she would go out and search for her son. She wet her lips as she set the shirt aside, smoothed her hair, and headed out the back door. She’d begin with Sheriff White and then she’d walk every street, every road, and every mountain trail until she found that boy. And then she just might strangle him.
She tried not to think about the river. The water wasn’t high, and Loyal was a strong swimmer.
As she rounded the corner of the house, she saw them. Not just Loyal, but Creed too. Had the boy been with his father all this time? Astonishment and anger battled inside her. Realizing her fists were clenched at her sides, she flexed her fingers and signed, Where have you been? Her hands felt jerky, her fingers stiff.
Loyal ducked his head and clapped his fists together before pointing at Father. Creed laid a hand on the boy’s shoulder, and Loyal stood straighter, looked at his father with something almost worshipful. It sent an arrow straight into Delphy’s heart. It was how a son should look at his father, but God forgive her if she didn’t think Creed had earned such a look.
“The boy’s had a hard day, Delphy. How about we go inside and tell you about it?”
Delphy felt her lips turn down in a deep frown that was beyond her control. She waved for them to follow her inside. As she turned she saw Loyal reach out and grasp his father’s shirt as they walked toward the back door. It was something he’d done when he first lost his hearing—grasped the clothing of the parent closest to him as though afraid he’d lose them if he didn’t hold on. It nearly broke her heart and filled her with anger all at the same time. She was going to have more than Loyal’s whereabouts to sort out in her mind this evening.
Once inside, she motioned them to the kitchen table and set sandwiches in front of them. She’d gone ahead and made the picnic, telling herself Loyal would turn up any moment. She served them in silence, words tumbling over themselves inside her head. Which should she fling at her husband and son first?
Creed cleared his throat. “Delphy, will you sit?”
For no reason she could understand, tears burned her eyes at the gentle request. She didn’t trust herself to speak but simply sat.
“Loyal found a dead body this afternoon.”
She gasped, and her hand flew to her mouth. She darted a look at Loyal, but he was focused on his supper, clearly hungry. “What are you talking about?” The sound of her voice here in the kitchen surprised her. She rarely spoke when it was just her and Loyal.
“A man’s been shot—no one we know—over at the bend in the river. Loyal found him and came to tell me.”
Questions assaulted Delphy. Why had Loyal been at the river? Why hadn’t he come to tell her? How did he remember the way to Creed’s cabin? And how was it that she suddenly felt like the outsider in the room when Creed was the one who’d left?
But when she found her voice, it wasn’t a question that emerged. “You must have known I would be worried.” She signed as she spoke partly for Loyal’s benefit and partly out of habit.
Creed watched her hands intently as if he could make sense of their dance. “We had to see to the body once I told Virgil.” His eyes darted around the room. “And Virgil might’ve wanted to ask Loyal some questions.”
Delphy felt anger tighten her voice. “And how did you suppose Virgil would do that? Has he learned sign?” She stopped signing and clasped her hands together as though forcing them to be still. “Or perhaps you were going to translate. Oh, but you don’t know sign either. And here I sat imagining the worst.”
“There was a dead man, Delphy. What you were or weren’t thinking wasn’t my main concern.”
Delphy froze and let her hands fall to the table, settling like fallen leaves. “It was foolish of me to think you’d spare me a thought. Why start now?” She stood and took Loyal’s empty plate, pushing her lips into a smile she knew fooled no one. She tousled Loyal’s hair and set the plate in the sink before signing, Wash and get ready for bed. We’ll talk about why you were at the river later.