Part 16 (1/2)

”I can do it.”

”See this here's a southern pole, and I 'xpect you prob'ly used to them newfangled northern poles.”

”You're right, that's all I use. Northern pole.”

To his credit, Diamond never cracked a smile, but just took the pole, showed her how to hold it, and then threw a near perfect cast.

Lou watched his technique carefully, took a couple of practice tosses, and then sailed a pretty cast herself.

”Why, that was 'bout good as any I throwed,” Diamond said with all due southern modesty.

”Give me a couple more minutes and I'll do better than you,” she said slyly.

”You still got to catch the fish,” Diamond gamely replied.

A half hour later Diamond had hooked his third small-mouth and worked it to sh.o.r.e with steady motions. Lou looked at him, properly in awe of his obvious skill, but her compet.i.tive streak ran long, and she redoubled her efforts to trump her fish-mate.

Finally, without warning, her line went tight and she was pulled toward the water. With a whiplike effort, she reared the pole back, and a thick catfish came halfway out of the stream.

”Holy Lord,” said Diamond as he saw this creature rise and then fall back into the water. ”Biggest catfish I ever seed.” He reached for the pole.

Lou cried out, ”I got it, Diamond.” He stepped back and watched girl and fish fighting it out on roughly equal terms. Lou appeared to be winning at first, the line going taut and then slacking, while Diamond called out words of advice and encouragement. Lou slipped and slid all over the unsteady pier, once more almost going in the water, before Diamond yanked on her overalls and pulled her back.

Finally, though, Lou grew weary and gasped out, ”I need some help here, Diamond.”

With both pulling on pole and line, the fish quickly was dragged to sh.o.r.e. Diamond reached down, hauled it out of the water, and dropped it on the boards, where it flopped from side to side. Fat and diick, it would be good eating, he said. Lou squatted down and looked proudly at her conquest, aided though it had been. Right as she peered really closely, the fish s.h.i.+mmied once more, then jumped in the air, and spat water, the hook working free from its mouth at the same time. Lou screamed and jumped back, knocked into Diamond, and they both went tumbling into the water. They came up sputtering and watched as the catfish flopped itself over to the edge of the pier, fell in the water, and was gone in a blink. Diamond and Lou looked at each other for a tortured moment and then commenced a t.i.tanic splas.h.i.+ng battle. Their peals of laughter could probably be heard on the next mountain.

Lou sat in front of the fireplace while Diamond built up the flames so they could dry off. He went and got an old blanket that smelled to Lou of either Jeb, mildew, or both, but she told Diamond thank you as he put it around her shoulders. The inside of Diamond's house surprised her because it was neat and clean, though the pieces of furniture were few and obviously handmade. On the wall was an old photo of Diamond and a man Lou a.s.sumed was his father. There were no photos Lou could see of his mother. While the fire picked up, Jeb lay down next to her and started attending to some fleas in his fur.

Diamond expertly scaled the ba.s.s, ran a hickory stick through each, mouth to tail, and cooked them over the fire. Next he cut up an apple and rubbed the juice into the meat. Diamond showed Lou how to feel the rib cage of the fish and pry thick white meat from tiny bones. They ate with their fingers, and it was good. ”Your dad was real nice-looking,” Lou said, pointing to the picture.

Diamond looked over at the photo. ”Yep, he was.” He caught a breath and glared at Lou.

”Louisa told me,” she said.

Diamond rose and poked the fire with a crooked stick. ”Ain't right playing no tricks on me.”

”Why didn't you tell me on your own?”

”Why should I?”

”Because we're friends.”

This took the sting out of Diamond and he sat back down.

”You miss your mom?” Lou asked.

”Naw, how could I? Never knowed the woman.” He ran his hand along the crumpling brick, mud, and horsehair of the fireplace, and his features grew troubled. ”See, she died when Fs born.”

”That's okay, Diamond. You can still miss her, even if you didn't know her.”

Diamond nodded, his thumb now idly scratching at a dirty cheek. ”I do think 'bout what my momma were like. Ain't got no pitchers. My daddy told me course, but it ain't the same.” He stopped, nudged a piece of firewood with a stick, and then said, ”I think mostly 'bout what her voice was like. And how she smelled. The way her eyes and hair could'a catch the light just so. But I miss my daddy too, 'cause he were a good man. Schooled me all's I need to know. Hunting, fis.h.i.+ng.” He looked at her. ”I bet you miss your daddy too.”

Lou looked uncomfortable. She closed her eyes for a moment and nodded. ”I miss him.”

”Good thing you got your momma.”

”No, I don't. I don't, Diamond.”

”Looks bad now, but it be okay. Folks don't never leave out, less we fergit 'em. I ain't knowed much, but I knowed that.”

Lou wanted to tell him that he didn't understand. His mother was gone from him, without question. Lou sat atop quicksand with her mother. And Lou had to be there for Oz.

They sat listening to the sounds of the woods, as trees, bugs, animals, and birds went about their lives. ”How come you don't go to school?” Lou asked. ”I's fourteen year old, and doing just fine.” ”You said you had read the Bible.” ”Well, some folks read parts of it to me.” ”Do you even know how to sign your name?” ”Why, everybody up here knowed who I is.” He stood and pulled out the pocketknife and carved an ”X” in a bare wall stud. ”That's how my daddy done it all his life, and it be good enough fer him, it be good enough fer me.”

Lou wrapped the blanket around her and watched the dance of flames, a wicked chill eating into her.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN.

ONE ESPECIALLY WARM NIGHT THERE CAME A POUND-ing on the door about the time Lou was thinking of going upstairs to bed. Billy Davis almost fell into the room when Louisa opened the door.

Louisa gripped the shaking boy. ”What's wrong, Billy?”

”Ma's baby coming.”

”I knew she were getting on. Midwife got there?”

The boy was wild-eyed, his limbs twitching like he was heatstroked. ”Ain't none. Pa won't let 'em.”

”Lord, why not?”

”Say they charge a dollar. And he ain't paying it.”

”That a He. No midwife up here ever charge a dime.”

”Pa said no. But Ma say baby ain't feel right. Rode the mule come get you.”

”Eugene, get Hit and Sam doubletreed to the wagon. Quick now,” she said.

Before Eugene went out, he took the rifle off the rack and held it out to Louisa. ”Better be taking this, you got to deal with that man.”

Louisa, though, shook her head as she looked at a nervous Billy, finally smiling at the boy. ”I'll be watched over, Eugene. I feel it. It be fine.”

Eugene held on to the gun. ”I go with you, then. That man crazy.”

”No, you stay with the children. Go on now, get the wagon ready.” Eugene hesitated for a moment, and then did as she told him.