Outlaw Mountain

“Don’t think this is the last you’re going to hear from me,” Voland warned as he turned his key in the ignition. The Bronco’s engine roared to life.

“No,” Joa

“I’m not drunk,” he insisted. “Besides, who’s going to stop me? You? I don’t think so.”

Voland rammed the Bronco into reverse and then stepped on the gas. Joa

Fleeing into the house, it was all she could do to press her door key into the lock. She dropped the letter on the dryer and then ran weeping through the house. She threw herself across the bed and buried her face in the covers. Joa

Eventually the combination of tears and exhaustion caught up with her. Joa

Looking down, Joa

In front of them a smilingly oblivious Maria

Behind them, at the far end of the aisle, the church door slammed open. Joa

“I object,” Voland said. “I saw her first and that makes her mine. If anybody here disagrees with that, I’ll be happy to meet him outside and settle this man to man.”

That was all it took. Butch Dixon turned and strode down the aisle, leaving Joa

Joa

Turning over, Joa

“Mrs. Brady?” a voice asked.

That was strange. Joa

“Enid Sutton,” was the reply. “I’m the principal at Lowell School.”

Enid Sutton was new to Bisbee, but Joa

“I’m afraid you’re going to have to come pick up your daughter,” Mrs. Sutton continued.

“What’s wrong? Is Je

“She’s not hurt, but I am putting her on a three-day suspension.”

“Suspension!” Joa

“For fighting, Mrs. Brady. I’ve tried to get to the bottom of it. She claims that some of the boys were teasing her at lunch. Apparently it was something about your upcoming marriage. I can certainly understand how a child might feel upset and threatened at having to deal with that sort of thing, but I’m sure you can see my position. We have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to violence on the school grounds. Je

Drowning in Enid Sutton’s words, Joa

How could I have done such a thing? she wondered. All it would have taken was a few minutes on her part-a few minutes and a few meager words of explanation to Je

How could I have been so cowardly and neglectful? Joa

“I’ll be right over to get her,” a repentant Joa

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

“I’m sorry, Mom,” Je

“I’m the one who should be sorry,” Joa

“You mean it is true then?” Je

Joa

“You and Butch really are getting married?”

“Yes. But Marliss had no business putting it in the paper before we were ready to make an official a

“Why did you tell Marliss before you told me?” Je

“I didn’t tell her, and neither did Butch.”

“How did she find out then?”

Je