Free Dunaway's Crossing by Nancy Brandon Page A

She stuck her tongue out at it before trudging up the embankment, and then a frightening thought occurred to her. What if that turtle had been a snake? Weren’t there water moccasins out here? What about alligators? She shivered at the thought and made her heavy legs push her up the embankment and into the house. No more outdoor business for her. She would just have to fashion herself a chamber pot and then ask Will Dunaway to phone Ralph. There had to be a better option than this shabby fishing camp.
    She went back to the stiff wooden chairs, propped up her feet, and returned to The Elusive Pimpernel , taking short breaks to stretch her aching back and to light an oil lantern once the sun began to set.
    “Where is my cousin Bea Dot?” she asked the bare walls. Then as if on cue, voices drifted through the open window, and she peered out to see Will Dunaway’s wagon by the lake. Bea Dot stood on the back of the wagon while Will was doing something to the hem of her skirt. What on earth could they be doing? Then he took her by the waist and put her on the ground. He spoke to her briefly before she took his arm and walked with him to the house. They looked like a courting couple, except her hair was a mess, and what in the world happened to her skirt? She went to the open door, stopping at the top step.
    “Hello! Bea Dot, dear, it’s so good to see you!” Up close her cousin looked even more disheveled. Her hair was a rat nest underneath her hat, and her dirty face was streaked from drips of perspiration. “Will, thank you for bringing my cousin to me.” She held her arms out to Bea Dot as the young woman slowly ascended the steps. Why did she walk so stiffly, as if she’d just gotten a lashing?
    “Hello, Netta,” she said with a tired smile. “It’s good to finally be here.” Bea Dot held her arms out, and Netta embraced her. Good heavens! She smelled like Will Dunaway’s horse.
    “Do come in. You must be exhausted.”
    Netta led Bea Dot into the camp house, and Netta’s nervousness escalated as she saw Bea Dot’s face fall at the sight of the two rickety cots, the wobbly table and chairs, and the wood stove in the corner.
    “I know it’s not much,” Netta said as cheerily as she could. “But it’ll just be for a few days, until Ralph can get that flu bug contained in town. Then we’ll go back to my house. Oh, you’ll love it, Bea Dot. It has such a beautiful porch.”
    “Yes, I saw it,” Bea Dot said dully, not taking her eyes off the two cots. Then she turned to Netta and smiled politely. “I’m sure it’s lovely on the inside as well.”
    “Excuse me, ladies.” Will entered the cabin carrying Netta’s rocker. Netta’s heart leapt at the sight of it. At last a comfortable place to sit. He set it in the middle of the room. Though a small piece of furniture, it consumed the entire space. Will stood with hands on hips and surveyed the cabin, one eyebrow raised.
    “Do you have everything you need here, Netta?” he asked.
    Actually, what she needed was her own house. “Well,” she replied uncertainly, “I think we have enough to get us by for the next few days.”
    “Hmm.” He stepped over to the table and two chairs and peered into the two crates on the floor. “Is this all the food you brought?”
    “Yes.”
    “How will you get more if you need it?”
    “I was hoping you would help me with that.” Netta smiled sheepishly.
    Will frowned slightly and stepped to the door, looking out. After a pause, he returned. “Ralph didn’t leave the Model T with you?”
    “No, he said he needed it in town to call on patients.” She knew he should have left that machine. Even Will thought so.
    Will rubbed the back of his neck and looked out the door at the setting sun. Outside the world was turning gray. He exited the cabin and disappeared around its corner.
    “Where is he going?” Bea Dot asked.
    Netta shrugged. Then she asked, “How was your trip? Was the train on time?”
    Bea Dot opened