Higher Than Eagles (Donovans of the Delta) by Peggy Webb Page A

the back drowning out the sounds of laughter. She knew they were laughing, for both of them had their heads thrown back.
    “Reasons I can’t discuss,” she continued. “There is no need for me to chastise you about calling him. You did what you thought was best.” She leaned closer to the old woman, her face earnest. “But you must know this, Vashti. All your matchmaking efforts are a waste of time. Nothing can ever work between Jacob and me.”
    Vashti merely looked out over the water, nodding and smiling, as if she were carrying on a private conversation in her own head.
    Rachel thought it was odd that Vashti didn’t try to protest, but she didn’t have time to say so. Jacob and Benjy came ashore, laughing and talking at once, like two naughty little boys.
    “You should’a seen that alligator. It was bigger than a house.”
    “At least that big,” Jacob added. “Maybe even as big as a barn.” The two of them burst into fresh laughter.
    “You took my son alligator hunting?”
    Jacob sobered. He hadn’t known the sight of Rachel would tear a hole in his heart. But it did. After the previous night, nothing would be the same again.
    They had both said, “Nothing has changed.” But it had. Seeing her with the morning sunlight on her hair, with her long legs stretched out, slim and honey tinted, with her eyes still far away and dreamy looking, he almost reeled with desire. His quest for truth faded into the background of his mind, faded so far, it almost vanished.
    “The swampy areas around the edge of the lake are teeming with wildlife, Rachel. Not only have we seen alligators, but Benjy and I have seen all kinds of wetland birds.” He looked deep into her eyes. “You never know what you’ll discover around this lake.”
    Rachel wanted to run—straight into his arms—but she forced herself to sit quietly in her folding chair.
    “It’s more fun than the zoo, Mom. Come with us.”
    Rachel lifted her eyebrows at Jacob for confirmation. His closed expression didn’t tell her anything. They gazed at each other for a long while, memories of the night before rising up between them so bittersweet, it hurt.
    Benjy tugged her hand. “Will you, Mom? Will you?”
    Jacob reached for her other hand. “Come, Rachel. There’s room for one more in the boat.”
    He didn’t let her hand go, even after she had risen from her chair.
    Vashti watched the two of them walk hand in hand to the water. She noted how he lingered over her, helping her into the boat. She saw the smiles they exchanged, private smiles, like two people in love. Leaning back in her chair, she was content.
    As the airboat’s motor revved and Jacob pulled it out onto the water, she turned to see a lone green-headed mallard, waddling along the bank, looking for a handout from the tourists.
    “Seems to me this matchmaking plan of mine is working to a tee, even if I do say so myself. Yessir, seems like things are working out smoother than ice cream on a summer day.”

 
     
    CHAPTER SEVEN
    The boat skimmed the top of the water, parting the marshy grasses at the fringes of the lake. A large bird rose from the bare branches of a dead tree.
    “Look,” Benjy shouted. “What’s that big bird?”
    “An osprey.” Jacob cut the motor, letting the boat drift, and bent over the little boy in Rachel’s lap. “He’s a bird of prey.”
    “He says his prayers?”
    “No. It’s a different kind of prey. That means he hunts for his food. See how he’s circling the water? He’s looking for fish. Here. Let me lift you up so you can see better.” He took Benjy and held him high, explaining the bird’s hunting habits, his nesting preferences, even his different calls.
    Benjy asked a dozen excited, little-boy questions. Jacob patiently answered every one. Finally the osprey lifted its great wings and soared far across the lake, out of sight. Jacob settled the boy back onto Rachel’s lap.
    “Until today, I never knew what I was missing,” Jacob