Keep Me Safe

Chapter Twelve

They managed to leave the parlor before noon and with four dollars still in Ethyl's pocket. Meredith and Lottie had decided on a simple wash and styling, but Ethyl insisted on a hair cut. And unfortunately, it was not a trim. Ethyl's beautiful hair that once went halfway down her back was now above her shoulders.

"Mama is going to murder you," Agnes said as they left the shop. She had refused to let Dottie anywhere near her hair, no matter how many people told her it needed to be washed.

Ethyl was too busy admiring her reflection in a pocket mirror she definitely didn't have the day before.

"I hate to say it," Meredith chimed in, "but I'm going to have to agree with Agnes. You told Mama you were just going in for a style!"

Lottie came up behind Ethyl and fluffed her hair. "In her defense, it technically is a style. And I think it's just too cute!"

"You're not helping!"

As soon as Lottie looked up, her smile instantly disappeared. Her eyes were locked on something just over Agnes' shoulder, and they were filled with fear. She froze, mid-step.

Agnes followed her gaze and noticed a man she had never seen before, standing on the other side of the street and talking to a few locals. He was tall, around six-and-a-half feet, and built like a tree. His shirt was tight over his bulging muscles, and she could make out his frown even from a distance. Judging by the angry aura that radiated from him, she was willing to bet that he was somehow connected to the Blackwell.

She looked back at Lottie. "Do we need to leave?"

Her gaze was still focused on the stranger, but she began to nod vigorously.

"Alright, we're heading home." Agnes began trying to herd her sisters in direction of their house. "The day is over."

"The hell you doing?" Ethyl asked, pulling away. She pointed angrily in the direction of the diner and stomped her foot. "We're going that way."

Agnes grabbed her wrist and yanked her. "Not anymore."

"Stop it!" Ethyl cried. She swatted at her older sister's hand, which remained tightly clamped around her wrist. "Let me go!"

Yanking Ethyl closer, Agnes leaned in. "Listen up, bitch," she whispered. "Don't raise a scene or I will tell Mama and Franny about Jimmy Boyle. Now you march your ass in the direction of the house right now."

Ethyl spat a few choice words at Agnes, before grabbing a very confused Meredith and stomping off down the street.

Agnes wrapped an arm around Lottie, who was keeping her head down and shoulders hunched, and began to gently guide her down the street.

But it wasn't quick enough. They had only walked twenty feet when a voice bellowed, "Lottie Furlong!"

The entire group all looked behind them, and Agnes was terrified to see the stranger approaching them. She looked at her sisters and said in the most serious tone she could muster, "You two, go home now."

They didn't put up a fight; turning on their heels, they began running down the road.

Agnes positioned herself in front of Lottie and confronted the man. "Who the hell are you and what do you want with Lottie?"

He flashed a smug grin as he ran a hand through his greasy hair. "I'm Lottie's brother. She ran away and I'm here to bring her home." He looked over Agnes' shoulder and directed his words to the trembling Lottie. "Sis, do you know how worried Mother's been about you?"

Not taking her eyes off the man, she whispered over her shoulder, "Is he really your brother?"

"No," she whispered back. Her fingers clenched the back of Agnes' shirt, and she was so close that their bodies were pressed together. Agnes could feel her trembling like a leaf in the wind.