Secrets in the Lowcountry--The River Read Online Free PDF

Instead of ans w ering , he c hanged the subject saying , “I th ink you’d better slo w do w n more . W e’ve reac hed the area w e told your d ad w e’d explore. Let’s check one side on our w ay south and the other after w e turn back. ” He gave a quick glance in her direction.
    “ W hile I drive, if I s t ay in the middle of the river or as close as the depth finder will let me , I can check the left side, w hile you do the right,” she countered, picking up the glasses and placing them to her eyes.
    “Sounds like a plan .” He resumed his position, picked up the binocula rs, and began examining the shore line on right side of the skiff looking for a boat.
    * ~ *
    They’d combed almost the w hole area, w hen Taylor said, “Let’s check Brays Creek. Last w eek, w hen Rod and I came to shrimp, he sa w red fish tailing and said he should have brought his fly rod.”
    “I’ll call your Dad and update him .”
    “Maybe he has some ne w s for us,” she said, hopefully, although her dad w ould h ave gotten in touch if there w ere any . She steered into the narro w creek, careful to ke ep an eye on the depth meter. For some strange reason, the shoaling from the smaller feed streams often caused the middle to be shallo w er than the sides.
    “Doc , Jeff, anything ne w ? Nothing, okay, I’ll tell Taylor. W e’ve check most of the W hale Branch and no w are looking at the smaller streams. She suggested that w e check Brays Creek, since she and Rod came here last w eek. ” He paused. “ Here she is.” Jeff handed her the phone.
    Dropping the binoculars so that they dangled from the strap and t aking one hand off the w heel, she listened to her dad .
    “Taylor, the Coast Guard’s helicopter started their search at the coast since the tide had turned a couple of hours after Rod w ent out. The DNR is going do w n the Broad, you might see their boats and maybe hear the Search an d Rescue helicopter. If w e learn a nything, w e’ll call. W e’ll locate him,” her father added.
    She s w allo w ed before saying, “I just w ant us to find him sooner rather than later. I love you , Dad .” Taylor fought back the tears, shook her head, and cleared her throat.
    “ Love you, too,” he replied.
    S he clicked off , handed the cell back to Jeff , s w i ped the tears forming in her eyes w ith her palm and sniffed.
    Jef f moved behind her placing his arms around her shoulders. She leaned back abs orb ing his strength , w hile keeping one hand firmly on the w heel . Realizing she should concentrate on the search instead of relaxing , she eased a side .
    “Blast Rod !” Taylor shook her shoulders, trying to chase the fear tha t had started to invade her w hole being . She held up her hand to restrain Jeff as he edged closer . “I’m all right .”
    Jeff resumed his original spot by the console. He picked up the binoculars and resumed scanning for the boat and the man .
    Taylor turned sharply starboard and entered the much smaller Brays C reek.
    Jeff s w ayed briefly before regaining his balance. “Is there enough w ater for us?” he asked incredulously, dropping his glasses so they hung only by the strap and shifting his gaze from one marsh flat to the mirror image on the opposite side .
    “The skiff only dra w s t w elve inches and if w e st ay in the channel, w e’ll be all right ,” she responded casually, but kept her eyes rooted on the depth finder .
    “I hope you remember this channel,” he said, quietly , looking over his shoulder and shifting his attention to t he depth meter . “ W e w on’t need our binoculars here. I could almost touch each side of the creek at the same time.”
    She nodded, but didn’t speak.
    “This stream isn’t very long, is it? ” he asked, concern sho w ing in his voice. “ If I remember right, doesn’t it end in marsh grass?”
    “That’s right. ” The w ater w idened slightly to t w enty feet. T he depth remained shallo w , but passable. Taylor allo w ed her