Keep Me Safe

Chapter Thirteen

Like usual, the crowd of people began to disperse as soon as they realized the action was over. They quickly went on their way, and soon only Lottie, Agnes, the sheriff, and a few lingering bystanders were left.

Sheriff Williams was holding a handkerchief to his bloody nose as he staggered towards the girls. "What in the hell was that all about?"

"I don't know," Agnes grumbled, holding her head in her hands. Now that the adrenaline was wearing off, she could feel all the aches and pains in her battered body.

Lottie gingerly plucked the open pocket knife from her hand and closed it. Sliding it back into Agnes' pocket, she grasped the other girl'sarm tightly. "You are an absolute fool. Honestly, I've met horse flies with more sense."

"Did you know that man?" Williams asked, squatting down next to them. A trail of blood had escaped his tissue and was leaking down his face. "You know why he would want to take you?"

"No," Lottie said with a straight face. "No, I don't." The stoic mask she put may have appeared believable from a distance, but the slight tremble in her voice and her shaking hands said something different.

Agnes glanced at her out of the corner of her eye, but bit her tongue. "How long has he been in town?"

"I talked to him about twenty minutes ago," piped up Jackson Brandon from the pharmacy porch. "He was asking about you, Miss Lottie. He wanted to know where you were staying."

Agnes sat up in a panic. "Did you tell him?"

"Well, yeah, but now I'm thinking that I shouldn't have. I just pointed him in y'all's direction."

Lottie let out a quiet moan and slumped forward into Agnes' lap. She didn't have to see her face to know that she was crying.

"What made you think that was a good idea, Jackson?" Agnes yelled. Her raised voice caused Lottie to whimper and cry harder. Agnes gently patted the top of her head. "You're safe," she whispered.

Jackson tripped over his words a few times before he was able to get out a coherent sentence. "I don't know, Red! He was just asking! I didn't think there would be any harm in telling him." Exasperated, he put his hands on his hips and stomped his foot.

She growled at him and continued to gently stroke Lottie's hair. Being careful not to raise her voice, she said, "I will murder you if that man comes near my house."

Williams intervened by taking Jackson's shoulders and gently leading him away from Agnes. "You're fine, boy. None of this was your fault. Go on your way, and when you get home tonight, tell your mama that we missed her and her delicious pie on Wednesday."

Jackson nodded and hustled down the street, glancing over his shoulder at Agnes. She was not sad to see him go.

Agnes wanted to yell at the sheriff, but Lottie had her head in her lap and was still shaking. "How can you be thinking of pie at a time like this?" she questioned, struggling keeping her voice calm and level.

"If you ever bothered coming to church, you would know just how wonderful Mrs. Brandon's pies are."

"I don't know if you're blind or just plain stupid, but some man just lied about being Lottie's brother and then tried to take her. Not to mention he knows where we live and also broke your stupid nose."

"You're right," he mused, shoving the cloth further up his nose. "Honestly, Red, I'm at a loss for what to do. Nothing like this has ever happened before."

"How about you do your job and keep us safe? Track the guy down, arrest him, make sure he never goes near us again! Of course, that would require you to get off your lazy ass. Since we all know that's not going to happen, I guess I'm on my own."