The Whippoorwill Trilogy - Sharon Sala Page 0,272

a quick hug.

Eulis had stayed in the background of the conversation, leaving the women to work out the issue on their own, but once the decision had been made, it was Eulis who taken shovel in hand and headed for the edge of the clearing in the back of their house to dig a grave.

Letty watched him walk away and was struck by how life always managed to come full circle. Back in Lizard Flats, before they’d begun their religious odyssey across the territories, Eulis had dug plenty of graves. In fact, if one ever got dug, he was the man who did it—and all for a bottle of whiskey. But today, it was to ease a grieving mother’s pain.

The man made her very proud.

The drizzle was soft against Eulis’ face as he walked into the trees. Except for the sound of water on the leaves, the forest was silent. He walked slowly, searching the area for a place that seemed proper. It seemed a good idea to dig near a big tree. Even if this child would never grow to climb a tree, or see the sunshine or take relief in the cool, dark shade, it seemed right to lay her to rest here where she might have played.

He chunked the shovel into the earth, testing to make sure he wasn’t digging into roots. Eulis grunted with satisfaction as the shovel sank easily into the dark, wet earth. He began to dig.

T-Bone had followed Eulis to the edge of the clearing, and once Eulis stopped, the pup trotted off to do his own exploration. Every so often, Eulis heard him bark, but other than the sound of spade to earth and the raindrops on the leaves above his head, the place was silent.

He couldn’t imagine Alice Mellin’s distress or sadness, but he knew what it was like to lose his family. He knew how empty and afraid he’d felt when his own had been killed. He’d lived with the fear and loneliness ever since—until Letty. She strengthened him without anything but her faith and presence.

One hour passed and then another, until he’d managed a decent opening, and was just cleaning up the corners of the grave site when T-Bone appeared.

“Woof.”

Eulis looked up and grinned.

“Hello, to you, too,” he said.

T-Bone whined a couple of times, and then offered another woof.

“Yeah, I hear you, but there’ll be no squirrel huntin’ today.”

T-Bone wagged his tail one more time and bounded off into the woods.

Eulis glanced back down at the grave, then shouldered the shovel and started back to the house. He was going to have to use his horse to bring the coffin up here. It was too slick and muddy to take the wagon down, but he figured he could tie the little coffin onto the saddle, and lead the horse down the path that stretched from the back of the house.

He was halfway across the yard when T-Bone came running out of the trees. It took Eulis a few seconds to realize the pup had something in his mouth.

“Hey, T-Bone. Come here, boy.”

Now that the pup had Eulis’ attention, he had no intention of giving up his prize. Every time Eulis got close, the pup darted just out of reach. Finally, Eulis had enough. He was tired and wet and still had a baby to bury. Whatever it was that T-Bone had dug up, he could have.

Finally, he picked the shovel back up and went to the house, but he was too wet and filthy to go inside. Instead, he stood in the open doorway calling Letty’s name.

She soon came running. Concern etched her face as she saw him.

“Eulis! You’re soaked clear through. Come in and get some dry clothes.”

“Not yet,” he said. “I’ve yet to go get the baby. Reckon I’ll go now while I’m still wet, instead of goin’ later and ruining another set of clothes.”

Letty frowned. “I don’t want you to get sick.”

He grinned. “Letty. It’s me, Eulis. Remember? I’ve passed out and slept in worse weather dozens of times. Remember when them kids back in Lizard Flats doused me with sorghum molasses after I’d passed out drunk. I woke up with ants biting me all over. And the night I passed out in the snow. And the day—”

Letty rolled her eyes.

“Okay, okay, I get your point. So, do you want me to go with you into town?”

“Naw… I’ll just tie the coffin onto the saddle and walk it up.”

“What about a preacher to say words?” Letty