“Maybe not, but Uncle Julian knows a lot o’ powerful people in Savannah. Sooner or later, he’ll find a way. Just giving you fair warning so you can head him off.”

Peyton knew what his cousin said was true. Despite his mother’s best efforts, Uncle Julian might find a way to do this horrific thing. Not only that, but he’d enjoy every minute of it. Without stopping to weigh his options, Peyton threw down his fishing rod and jumped in the river.

“Where in the Sam Hill are you going?” Winston shouted as he and Prentiss, both looking stunned, sat together in the boat, now oblivious to the fishing rods dangling from their hands.

“Back to the hospital!” Peyton shouted as he swam toward the bank. He scrambled up and ran the distance to his bicycle, then pedaled furiously up the county road.

Before he could get very far, Police Chief Herschel Bramlett pulled up beside him in his pickup truck. “Son, you look like you need to get somewhere.”

“Yes, sir, I sure do. I need to get to the hospital to see about Daddy.”

The chief’s eyes narrowed. “Marshall take a turn?”

“No, sir,” Peyton panted. “I just all of a sudden feel like I need to get back.”

“Well, throw your bike in the truck bed and climb in.”

“I can just sit in the back. I’m all wet from jumping in the river.”

“I ain’t worried about that,” the chief said as Peyton lifted his bicycle into the truck. “I keep some old towels under the seat for emergencies. Looks like you got one. Climb in and you can dry off on the way.”

Peyton took the passenger’s seat and began drying off with the towels as the chief headed for the hospital. Leaning his head out the window, he let the warm wind whip through his hair and hoped it would dry his clothes at least enough so he didn’t drip. Dripping would most definitely get him thrown out of the hospital, especially if Nurse Buck was on duty.

“How’s your mama holdin’ up?” the chief asked.

“Pretty good, I reckon,” Peyton said as he blotted his face with a towel. “She looks real tired, though—’specially after a visit from Uncle Julian.”

The chief frowned and scratched the back of his head. “I don’t mean to speak ill o’ your kin, son, but that one ain’t changed one iota since he was a kid. He was useless then, and he’s useless now.”

“You won’t get any arguments from me.”

“He givin’ your mama trouble?”

“Yes, sir. I just found out he’s trying to get Daddy sent to Milledgeville. That’s why I need to get to the hospital.”

“Milledgeville? That’s low even for Julian. Listen, son, if it looks like he’s about to have his way, you get on the phone and call me, okay?”

“What could you do, Chief?”

“I could slow things down. Your uncle’s got connections, but I got a lot o’ people around here that I’ve helped out, and they owe me a favor or two. I wouldn’t hesitate to call ’em in for your daddy.”