Lynn's Search by C. J. Petit

Author:C. J. Petit [Petit, C. J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-12-23T06:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 7

The sun hadn’t quite enveloped the landscape with its harsh rays when Captain Clyde leaned over to the speaking tube and shouted, “Ahead one third!”

After hearing his order repeated, he turned to the pilot and said, “Get us into the river, Pete.”

Pete Gilliard nodded and as he felt the sternwheels begin to push the Alberta away from the wharf, he spun the big spoked wheel a full turn clockwise before catching it again.

The bow pushed aside the waters of the Missouri and the sternwheeler pulled away from Fort Benton to begin its long journey back to St. Louis.

_____

Addie felt the boat shudder and Betty said, “I haven’t felt that since I arrived on the Providence almost eighteen years ago.”

Addie finished her coffee and set the cup on the tray as she replied, “Captain Clyde said that there was only one more riverboat coming here this year. He said that if Lynn didn’t find his answer before it left, he’d be stuck there until spring.”

“He may never find it, Addie. I don’t know how he’d ever really know which of them is his real father.”

“That’s why I had to tell him that it didn’t matter to me.”

Betty picked up one of the four books that they’d found in the cabin and said, “Well, at least we’ll have something to read. Some kind soul left them behind.”

“I think this was Lynn’s cabin, Mama.”

“Did the captain tell you that?”

“No, but I can almost feel him here and these books are all titles that I wanted to read, almost as if he knew that I’d need them.”

“He didn’t even know we existed when he left the boat, Addie.”

“I know.”

_____

Even as the Alberta was beginning its downriver journey, six hundred miles away, the Princess of Ohio, was entering the river to continue its battle with the Missouri’s current as it headed northwest.

_____

Lynn had heard the Alberta’s steam whistle announcing its departure an hour earlier, but he had only made a quick dash to the privy since then.

As much as he wanted to start his search for the answer to the question that had driven him to Fort Benton, he wanted to take some time to let the riverboat get further down the Missouri. He’d seen the remains of three sunken riverboats on his long journey upriver and wanted the Alberta to be far enough downriver so if it foundered, the passengers and crew wouldn’t return to Fort Benton.

He’d already planned on getting in some target practice and decided that it would be a good chance to let Griffin run too. His last request from his parents about the bank would have to wait until tomorrow if not the day after. After all he’d heard about the chief clerk, he was concerned that seeing Mister Capshaw might create a stir, and he wasn’t ready for it.

After having breakfast, he headed to the livery where he saddled Griffin while Slim went to his room for the Winchester.

He really wanted to tell Slim about Addie and Betty’s

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