Cowgirl Boots: a Cinderella Story

Chapter 18

Iris's POV:  

We waited for what felt like an eternity for the defence, Alicia, to arrive in the courtroom.  When she finally did, I sent a short prayer to God, then met her cold stare boldly.  I felt Georgie squeeze my hand Selena fold her arms.  The judge called on our lawyer, Mr. Stevenson, to make the opening accusation.  He stood up and put his hand the Bible and swore to speak the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, then turned toward the jury and began.  

"I stand here to today on behalf of Selena, Iris and Georgie Thompson to accuse Alicia Thompson of arisen and attempt in murder.  Three days ago, on October 14th, around 11:30pm, Iris Thompson claims to have come home only a few minutes after Alicia Thompson, with her friend, Grace Adam, and found Alicia Thompson lighting the house on fire with gasoline."  Mr. Stevenson then turned back to the judge, "Sir, I would like to bring Grace Adam to the stand as a witness."  

"Proceed."  

Grace stood up and came to the witness stand.   

"Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?"  A man asked Grace as she put her hand onto of the Bible.  

"Yes."  Grace answered.  

My jaw tightened as she took the seat behind the witness stand, hoping she would tell what happened, nothing more and nothing less.  

"Did you drive Iris from the dance to her house?"  Mr. Stevenson asked.  

"Yes."  

"Why didn't she go with her Mother?"  

"Because Mrs. Thompson didn't know Iris was at the dance."  

"Was Iris there without permission from Mrs. Thompson?"  

"Yes."  

Mr. Stevenson glanced at me.  I nodded.  He turned back to Grace.  

"Did you see Mrs. Thompson lighting the house on fire?"  

"I saw the light of a huge fire from the far side of their field, so I called the fire department."  

"So you didn't see who lit the fire?"  

Grace glanced at me.  I held her gaze for a split second, before she turned back to Mr. Stevenson.  

"No."  

"Thank-you, Miss. Adam."  Mr. Stevenson told her, dismissing her and turning to the judge, "I call Iris Thompson to the witness stand."  

"Proceed."  

I stood up and made my way past Georgie and to the man who held the Bible.  I glanced over to Alicia.  She glared at me, sending chills down my spine.  

"Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?"  Someone asked me, causing me to jerk my gaze back to the Bible, which I played my hand on. 

"Yes."  I answered firmly.  

Jacob's POV:

I stared at the barrette I had found on the bales next to me after the girl and her friend had run off in hurry.  The whole situation was plain confusing.  No one had ever just come and silently watched the stars with me, they had always wanted me to do whatever they wanted to do.  Did she want something from me, or did she genuinely just want to watch the stars?  I took a deep breath and stood up from my bed.  

Ten minutes later, I was ready for school and out the door, running for the school bus with the barrette still in my hand.  The least I could do was return it to her.  I seemed to remember her hanging out with Selena's sister.  Selena.  If the girl and her friend running off in the middle of the dance was confusing, Selena was a whole deferent story.  I couldn't figure out what she wanted, so I just decided to be nice to her, although I can't lie, she did get slightly annoying with her fake cheeriness.  

Twenty minutes later, the bus pulled up int he school parking lot.  I got out with all the other students, who thankfully hadn't noticed that I was carrying a barrette around, and glanced around the parking lot.  Selena and her friends, who I guess could be her sisters, normally came in their truck, but I couldn't see it anywhere.  I hurried to home room as the bell rang, deciding to find them at lunch, if Selena didn't find me first.  

Iris's POV:

"About what time was it when you got home?"  Mr.  Stevenson asked me, looking me in the eye.  

I focused on him, blocking out the fact that Alicia was in the room and cleared my mind and took deep breath before answering the question. 

"Around 11:30pm."  I replied firmly.  

"Did you see Mrs. Thompson light the house on fire?"  

"Yes."  

"What did you do when you saw her committing the crime?"  

"I yelled at her to stop and she didn't listen, so I ran for the hose to try to put it out.  I had almost reached the hose when Alicia came up behind me and grabbed me so I couldn't break free from her grasp and dragged me back toward the house.  She was about to throw me into the fire when I heard sirens.  I can't remember anything else."  I answered, taking a deep breath to keep my tears at bay.  

Mr. Stevenson narrowed his eyes.  

"Thank-you."  He told me.

I returned to my seat as collectively as I could, hoping that he would believe me.  Georgie squeezed my hand as I sat down between her and Selena.  I turned to Selena.  

"How do we get him to call you to the stand?"  I whispered.  

Selena took a deep breath and unfolded her arms, pressing her hands against the small table infant of us to stand up, flipping her loose hair behind her shoulder.  

"I was there."  Selena announced, looking straight from the judge to Alicia to Mr. Stevenson, "I am a witness."  

Mr. Stevenson turned from Selena to the judge.  

"Objection!"  Alicia's lawyer called.  

"Overruled."  The judge commanded, turning to Selena, "take the oath, Miss. Thompson."  

Selena stepped out from behind the little table and placed her hand on the Bible.  

"Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?"  

"Yes."  Selena replied, meeting Alicia's gaze with full confidence.  

HEY EVERYONE!  THANKS FOR READING!  HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS CHAPTER!  IF I MADE A MISTAKE IN THE WAYS OF THE COURTROOM, PLEASE POINT IT OUT BECAUSE I AM REALLY JUST GOING OFF MOVIES I WATCHED OVER THREE MOTHS AGO, SO PLEASE POINT IT OUT.  PLEASE CONSIDER VOTING OR COMMENTING IF YOU ENJOYED THIS CHAPTER!