The Librarian

Episode 3

Sheriff Becker stood in the small office where Harriet was hammering together some shelves with the assistance of Harmon Thatch, the town undertaker.

"I understand you'd like to get past all this, ma'am, and I'm real sorry about havin' to bring it up again, but I need to hear the whole story from you once more. The driver mostly agrees but, well old Ozzie likes to colour his tales, if you follow."

"I can come back in a bit, Miss Folio," Harmon said, nodding to Becker and stepping out of the office.

"The uh- the men will be back from the Black Creek station sometime today and I need to put paid to this with the mayor so's he can do the same with the governor."

Harriet went to her desk and sat. "Please sit, Sheriff, and ask your questions."

"I do appreciate that, ma'am. It's the mayor mostly, and then I have to identify—"

"Just ask your questions please."

He sat, fumbled a moment, then took off his hat and began.

****

Mayor Devlin read over the report and sighed heavily, glancing up at the Sheriff.

"This young woman is a right handful, no doubt about it. The report we got from the overland stage driver about what happened some weeks back is almost the same story – with the same outcome. Did she say anything about that?"

"Nope, and I ain't askin', and you should keep that under your hat 'cause you don't really know what happened. That was trail gossip, Avery. She was calm and told this one like it was," Becker said, indicating his report. "Didn't mince words either. Some I couldn't write proper 'cause of the spellin' but you get the idea. I believe every word – and it matches what she said the first time, and what Ozzie told us."

The mayor set the report down and clasped his hands. "She has a contract to be the town's librarian, Dan! How are folks gonna react to having a female – someone who slaughtered a dozen men, lending them books - and to their kids!"

"Warn't a dozen Avery . . . there you go again. You ain't even spoken to her yourself and you're makin' all these accusations. If folks here don't mind, you're gonna have one legendary librarian, and if they do, then she'll likely have to fold her tent and move on."

"You're no help at all."

"Wait 'til the bodies arrive and I see if they're anyone on my wanted list. You may have to give her a reward after all." Becker stood, grinning at the mayor's long face, and saluted as he left.

****

John knocked on the door; finger combed his hair and waited nervously for an answer. The door opened, and the young woman looked curiously at her visitor, who suddenly looked like he might faint.

"May I help you? The library won't be open for a day or two yet."

"Mmmph- I'm- I mean . . . I brung your ad." He thrust the proof sheet at her and backed up a step.

"Brought."

"Huh?"

"You brought my ad." She smiled and held up the page, tilting her head.

"Yess'm that's what I did – said."

"Would you like to come in while I read this over?"

"Inside?"

Harriet didn't answer, she just turned and walked back to her new desk and chair, rescued from the church storeroom, and sat with the proof. After a second, John followed, standing in front of the desk, rocking from one foot to the other and glancing about the room.