Dead to Rights

“Why were you going to Mexico?” Joa

“Come on, Sheriff. I may be dumb, but I’m not stupid,” Ha

Joa

“Heard them dogs earlier,” Ha

“Mom,” Je

“Why are you here, Mrs. Green?” Joa

“To talk, I guess,” the woman answered sadly. “To tell somebody my side of the story for a change. I thought, you bein ‘ a woman and all, that maybe you’d understand why I done it. Why I had to go an’ kill him. I sure enough did. He deserved it, though. That man was meaner ‘an a snake. Some folks get nicer when they get old, sorta sweet and quiet-like. Not him, not my daddy. He just got meaner ‘n’ meaner, only he was real mean to begin with.”

Saying that, Ha

As the Blazer rounded the last curve in the road and pulled into the yard, Joa

Joa

Shutting off the ignition, Joa

“It’s cold out here,” she said, forcing into her voice a composure she didn’t feel. “We’d better go on inside.”

“Don’t mind if I do,” Ha

Joa

Knowing she had to keep herself focused and absolutely clearheaded, Joa

Thanks, guys, Joa

Joa

“You go right ahead and do that,” Ha

With Je

She must be frozen, Joa

Once on the back porch, Joa

“Come in,” she said, picking up the groceries and stepping over the threshold. Ha

“You must be freezing,” Joa

“I am just a little cold,” Ha

“Daddy wouldn’t never let me have a dog,” Ha

When Je

“And they won’t hurt me?” Ha

“No,” Joa

The two women stood facing each other across the kitchen over the heads of Je

“You sure them dogs won’t bite?” Ha

“I’m sure,” Joa

Tentatively, Ha

Sadie was the first to notice Ha

“I never knew a dog would be this soft!” she exclaimed.

Je

“Je

Ha