The Saints of Swallow Hill(60)

Only the light, cool touch would come again, and she’d turn into it, let it lead her back to Heaven and the tender, soothing state of rest.





Chapter 21


Del


He showed up to the little house beside the commissary before the sun was up, having spent the evening worrying, half expecting someone to come with the bad news. If the woman didn’t live, he would tell Peewee to call in the sheriff. If she did live, he wanted Peewee to kick Crow out of the camp. Hat in hand, he knocked on the door. Cornelia opened it and almost immediately started giving him an update.

“She ain’t changed much since yesterday. She’s hanging on, but barely. I was sure she was a goner a time or two,” Cornelia said.

Del said, “It’s hard to believe she ain’t.”

Cornelia said, “You want to see her?”

Del said, “If your husband don’t mind. It’s early yet.”

Cornelia waved a hand in dismissal. “Shoot. He ain’t even up.”

She took him to the backroom, where the wick was set low in the lantern, throwing his shadow tall and thin against the wall. Cobb lay there covered with only a thin sheet, her shoulders bare above it. She looked . . . well, she looked like hell. Her skin was pale, the color of flour, and her cheeks and eyes created hollow, dark areas that gave her the look of the dead. Her mouth was the brightest thing about her because her lips were reddened, swollen, and cracked.

Cornelia said, “I swiped some lard on her lips to help, but they still look painful.”

Del murmured, “You’re doing all you can,” as he approached the bed.

He couldn’t tell she was breathing, but there, there it was, a slow rise and sinking of the sheet. It hadn’t been quite as hot for him as it had been for her. He’d been trapped for a day. She’d lasted three. He stared down at her, curious about the story that went along with her reasons for disguising herself. If she made it, and right now that was still seeming a little sketchy, he was sure she was, had been, someone he’d have found admirable.

Cornelia whispered to him. “Had to burn them clothes a hers. I’ve been wiping her down with cool cloths. Been able to get a tiny bit of water in her. She swallered a time or two, then got choked, but I’m doing it often as I can, though she can’t take in but a small amount. I been putting a bit a sugar in it. She’s got a fever, but for now, it’s all I know to do.”

Del said, “You know more’n me. Thank you.”

Cornelia folded her arms and shook her head in amazement. “If she makes it, it’ll be a wonder, as much as I hate to say it.”

Del said, “If there’s anything she needs, I’ll pay for it.”

“Ain’t no need of that.”

Otis appeared like magic in the doorway, his hair stuck up on one side.

“Dammitall, Cornelia! How stupid can you be?” To Del, he said, “Hell yeah, if something costs, you’re gonna pay. It ain’t like we running some free-for-all here.”

Del said, “I ain’t got no problem with that.”

“Damn right, you ain’t.”

Del held back. There was no need to get into a competition of last words with Otis. What a pair him and Crow were. Del couldn’t imagine what made people like them so hateful.

Del said, “I’ll come back by around dinnertime and check on her.”

Cornelia said, “You’re welcome to eat with us if you want.” Del wouldn’t have minded a good home-cooked meal, but not while sitting at the same table with Otis, who was as congenial as a snarling bear. “We barely got enough for ourselves.”

Cornelia said, “Oh, Otis . . . we have plenty. We always have leftovers.”

Otis opened his mouth, and Del was quick to politely decline and start making his way out.

“I ’preciate it, but I won’t have the time nohow.”

Otis said, “Oh, sure, sure. He’s a big boss man now. Real important and all. Ain’t got time to eat with us common folk.”

Otis reminded him of the bad smells he’d tried to get rid of, unsuccessfully, back at number forty-two. No matter how hard he tried, they remained, steadfast and annoying. He couldn’t imagine how an attractive woman like Cornelia got tangled up with the likes of him. It wasn’t that he was ugly, only his ways. Maybe he’d charmed her, until she’d married him, and then changed. It happened. He gave Cornelia an understanding look, while Otis demanded his breakfast. Del backed out of the room, and took his leave. He wanted to catch Peewee anyway, if he could, and his timing couldn’t have been better. Peewee was in the process of unlocking the office door and turned around in surprise at the sight of Del.

“Thought you’d be in the woods about now.”

Del said, “Do you know what Crow did? He tell you?”

He said, “What now?”

Del unloaded. “Let’s just say I found out where Cobb went. To add to the problem, Cobb’s a woman. That bastard put her in the sweatbox for three days, and we all know why. He thinks he’s running this place. You got to do something about him.”

“Wait, whoa, wait. Cobb’s . . . he ain’t a he?”

“No.”

“I knew something won’t right about that situation. How’d you find out?”