Passage to Natchez by Cameron Judd

Author:Cameron Judd
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781504028066
Publisher: Open Road Media

CHAPTER 27

In a tavern on the south bank of the Ohio River

Thias Tyler stared into his cup. Little in it now, but soon it would be refilled, and when it was emptied once more, refilled again. He would drink until he no longer felt regret over long weeks of searching for Clardy and not finding him, until he was so drunk that he no longer cared that he had lost everything he’d ever owned that was of value, and every bit of his family besides. He would drink until he was beyond all worry, including worry about his own empty pockets, so empty he couldn’t even pay for the liquor he was consuming. So far the landlord hadn’t demanded payment, happily. Whenever he did, Thias could only imagine how hot he would be to find out no payment was to be had for the liquor, or the hot meal that preceded it.

This is like something Clardy would do. The thought made Thias chuckle coldly. Indeed, he was acting more and more like Clardy. He didn’t seem to be himself anymore. Ever since he left the Farris inn, his situation had spiraled downward like a falling maple pod. He had left with strong hopes of finding Clardy, but now here he was, all the way to the Ohio River, and still no Clardy. And he was more worried than ever about him. All he heard about anymore was the terrible killing spree of the Harpes. He couldn’t shake the fear that Clardy had become one of their victims. Bodies of several Harpe victims had been found, but who could say there were not others as yet undiscovered, hidden in the forests or sunk in the rivers?

Thias took another swig, sloshed the liquor about in his mouth, then swallowed with a grimace. He had taken to drinking like this only over the past couple of months, as his depression and poverty grew. He had taken up stealing as well, filching small items, food, tobacco … once he had even stolen a horse. He wondered how the folk along Beaver Creek would react if they knew that Thias Tyler, the “good” Tyler brother, had taken such a quick turn for bad. They wouldn’t understand it, most likely. For that matter, Thias didn’t understand it himself.

He must have fallen asleep, because the next thing he was aware of was awakening when a cool blast of moist air breezed against the back of his neck. He sat up, feeling raindrops running down the back of his shirt.

He turned toward the open door and the man who stood in it. “Close that door!” he bellowed drunkenly. “The bloody rain’s nigh to drowning me!”

The man looked directly at him, and Thias blinked in astonishment. Then he rose slowly, feeling unsure on his feet, and looked more closely to make sure this rain-soaked creature was indeed who he seemed to be.

“Billy French! Billy—that is you!”

Thias lunged forward, almost falling. Billy French turned on his heel and ran back out into the rainy night.

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