Orchid Blues (2001) by Stuart - Holly Barker 02 Woods

Author:Stuart - Holly Barker 02 Woods [Woods, Stuart - Holly Barker 02]
Format: mobi
Published: 2011-01-07T16:35:52.625000+00:00

"Let's get out of here," Holly said, and got into the truck.

Ham had dinner at the table with John and Peck. A pecking order seemed to have been established in the compound, and he figured, from the seating arrangements, that he was pretty near the top of it.

"Peck," John said, "you think you can find a bed for Ham in one of the houses?"

"Sure," Peck replied.

Ham raised a hand. "Listen, guys, I appreciate the thought, but I'm real comfortable in the bunkhouse. I've spent a big chunk of my life in barracks, and I like it." This was an outright lie. He'd spent as few nights in barracks as possible, and he didn't care if he ever spent another one there, but he had to be on the lakeshore when his people showed up with the phone, as he had no doubt they would do.

"Whatever you say, Ham," John replied. "As long as you're comfortable. If you change your mind, let me know."

"Okay," Ham said.

Harry, Holly and Doug, in the pickup truck, worked hard with the large-scale map and a flashlight to find a way to the eastern shore of Lake Winachobee. The dock didn't seem to have a real road leading to it, and they had been picking their way along overgrown lanes for more than two hours.

"The hell with the dock," Holly said. "It's after midnight, and we can launch the dinghy from the shore. I don't mind getting your feet wet."

"Thanks," Harry said.

"Just drive west until we end up in the lake," she said.

"I'm doing the best I can, Holly."

"There," she said, pointing to an opening that appeared in the headlight beams. "That track looks like a car might have once driven down it, and it's headed in the right direction."

Harry turned down it, and a deer ran across the road, nearly striking the truck. "That's all I need," he said.

Then the track opened into a clearing, and the starlight glinted on water.

"There!" Holly nearly shouted. "Douse the headlights."

Harry switched them off and stopped the truck. They sat and waited for their eyes to become accustomed to the darkness.

"Thank God there's no moon tonight," Harry said.

"Not yet, anyway," Doug replied. "We should have checked an almanac."

"Come on," Holly said, "let's get the boat into the water."

They got out and heaved the lightweight dinghy off the truck and to the lakeshore. Holly took off her shoes and rolled up her jeans. "Hand me the motor." She accepted it from Doug and clamped it to the stern of the dinghy. "You can handle the batteries," she said. "Put them side by side." She climbed into the dinghy.

Doug placed the batteries in the bottom of the boat and fixed the alligator clips to the terminals of one. "There you go," he said. "Are you sure you don't want company?"

"I can handle it alone."

"Look across there," Harry said, pointing. "The house with all the lights must be Peck's place. The barracks has to be farther along the shore to your left. I'd stay away from it, just use it as a landmark.

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