Discovering Sophie by Anderson Cindy Roland

Author:Anderson, Cindy Roland [Anderson, Cindy Roland]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780615901992
Publisher: Winsome Press Publishing
Published: 2014-01-09T08:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

It only took Jack a few minutes to confirm that Carlos was the village leader and where he could find him. He pivoted on the walking stick and sucked in a quick breath at the sharp pain that jolted up his leg. A wave of nausea hit him, and he stood still until the world stopped spinning. At least Sophie was no longer watching him. She wouldn’t let him take one more step if she knew how bad he felt.

It was so stupid to be this incapacitated, unable to simply walk without assistance. His hand tightened its hold on the stick, and he forced himself to ignore the pain the movement caused and to keep going forward. As he slowly made his way south, Jack detected an ache in his back that made his skin feel prickly. In fact, his body ached all over, making him wish he’d taken two pain pills instead of one.

Many of the locals watched Jack as he limped along the path. Several children followed alongside him. Their curiosity at the stranger was evident by their comments to one another as they speculated about what had happened to the gringo to make him walk so funny. Despite feeling so bad, he offered a smile to the kids and reassured them he had not been attacked by a puma.

When he spoke in their native tongue, the group of children started pummeling him with questions, wanting to know where he was from, why he was here, and if he had seen a puma. Apparently, the large cat had been sighted outside the village a few nights ago and had killed a goat.

Already slowed by his injury, Jack’s progress was heeded even more by the growing masses of brown skinned boys and girls. He finally had to stop moving and leaned heavily on the walking stick. Then, to his relief, a loud voice instructed the children to leave the man alone.

The kids scattered like cockroaches, and Jack found himself standing eye to eye with an older gruff looking man that had to be Carlos.

“Hola,” Jack said, offering his hand. “Are you Carlos?"

The man took his hand, shaking it briefly. “Sí.” He studied Jack with somber brown eyes. “You have come to find Dr. Edward?”

“Yes,” Jack said hopefully. “Is he here?”

Carlos slowly shook his head. “I’m sorry, amigo, but he is not here.”

Jack didn’t want to ask the next question. He was sure he wouldn’t like the answer.

“Do you know where he is?”

The man lowered his eyes as an uncomfortable silence followed. Jack waited and could feel his pulse throbbing in his aching head. Finally, Carlos met his gaze and said, “You have brought Dr. Edward’s daughter, ¿no?”

When Jack nodded his head, he immediately regretted the movement. The mounting headache was making him dizzy.

Carlos pointed to a hut a few yards away. “Dr. Edward’s bungalow is over there. He hoped his daughter would come looking for him if anything ever happened to him.”

Jack knew right then the news wasn’t good.

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