Carnal Innocence

who’d taken this side of the creek.
    “They’re nearly done on the other bank,” Burke said. He was keeping a wary eye on Junior, ready to move in if Darleen’s husband started to relieve his anxiety by shooting at something more than a snake. “Singleton and Carl called in from McNair swamp. It’s all clear so far.”
    Toby March laid his rifle in the bed of the pick-up. He thought of his own wife, his own daughter, and though it shamed him, in his heart he was grateful whoever was killing was choosing white skin.
    “We still got about six hours of good daylight left,” he said to no one in particular. “I was thinking maybe some of us could ride down to Rosedale and Greenville and such. Ask around.”
    “I’ve got Barb Hopkins calling all the motels, hospitals, the local police.” Burke took Junior’s gun and laid it with his own in the truck. “County’s sending her picture out.”
    “There you go.” Will Shiver gave Junior a hearty slap on the back. “They’ll find her holed up in some motel, sitting on the bed, painting her toenails and watching TV.”
    Saying nothing, Junior shrugged off the hand and walked away.
    “Give him a minute,” Burke murmured.
    The men shifted their gazes politely away. Toby squinted, adjusting the brim of his hat to cut the glare of the sun. “Somebody’s coming.”
    It took several seconds before anyone else could make out the plume of gravel dust or the faint glint of metal through the waves of heat rising from the road.
    “You black boys got eyes like hawks,” Will Shiversaid good-naturedly. “That car must be two miles away yet.”
    “The eyes’re organs,” Toby returned with a sarcasm so subtle and smooth that Tucker had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from grinning. “You know what they say about our organs.”
    Interested, Will cocked his head. “I heard tell that was a wives’ tale.”
    “Yes, sir,” Toby said blandly. “There’s plenty of wives who’ll attest to it.”
    Tucker coughed and turned away to light a cigarette. It didn’t seem quite right to laugh out loud with Junior suffering so close by. But my, it was good to smile for a minute.
    He recognized the car a moment later, by the color and the speed with which it was traveling.
    “It’s Josie.” He shot a glance at Burke. “Looks like she’s earning herself another speeding ticket.”
    She skidded to a halt, spitting gravel and waving a hand out of the window. “Barb told us we’d find Y’all here. Earleen and I brought you boys some supper.”
    She slid out of the car, looking cool and fresh in shorts and a halter that left her midriff bare. Her hair was tied back with a chiffon scarf, reminding Tucker of their mother.
    “That’s real obliging of you ladies.” Will slanted Josie a smile that would have earned him a sharp slap from his fiancée.
    “We like to take care of our men, don’t we, Earleen?” After answering Will’s smile, Josie turned to Burke. “Honey, you look worn out. You come on and have a glass of this iced tea. We brought two jugs.”
    “Got a pile of ham sandwiches, too.” Earleen hefted a hamper out of the backseat. She set it on the shoulder and threw back the lid. “Y’all have to keep up your strength in this heat.”
    “Yes, sir, meals on wheels.” Josie kept up a bright chatter as she dug into the hamper. “Earleen and I got this together so fast, we’re thinking we might go into the catering business. Junior, you come on and get one of these now, or you’ll hurt my feelings.”
    When he didn’t even turn around, she gestured to her brother. “Tucker, pour me a cup of that tea.” While she waited, Josie unwrapped a sandwich and laid it on a paper napkin. “Earleen, you see that these boys leave enough for our next stop, you hear?” She rose, took the cup Tucker held out, then skirted around the truck.
    Junior continued to stare down the road. Josie could see a muscle in his cheek twitch. She set the sandwich on the hood of the truck, then pressed the cup of tea into his hands.
    “Now, you drink that, Junior. This heat steals all your fluids. A man could drink a gallon and not piss an ounce. Come on.” Gently, she rubbed a hand up and down his back. “Getting heat stroke’s not going to help.”
    “We didn’t find her.”
    “I know, honey. Take a drink.” She nudged the cup closer to his lips. “I was down at your mother-in-law’s before. When I left, you little boy was sleeping like an angel. He’s got a