Page 24 of Barry

“Chester!” Edna spoke sharply from her booth.

The old man turned on her. “What, you old clucking hen? All the crime in this here place is a direct result of that man coming to town. He’s the one who did all the damage, and he’s the one who killed that drifter.”

Kathy realized Barry was pushing her out of the booth, and she struggled to try to keep him seated. It didn’t work. She was on her feet, and Barry was standing behind her. She turned and put her hands on his chest. “No, Barry, he’s just a bitter old man with nothing better to do than make up stories.”

Tegan was out of the booth and stood in front of Barry. “She’s right. Let it go.”

Barry’s chest heaved, hard and heavy under her hands. “I haven’t done anything wrong,” he snarled from a clenched jaw. His hands formed fists, and he leaned forward.

Tegan moved her out of the way and braced himself against Barry, saying “Listen to me. Everyone around here knows that. This guy is trying to provoke you.”

The old man snorted. “Now, look at that. He has you all snookered. Even polluting the local women with his poison. Kathy will never have a life now. She’s damaged goods.”

Barry lurched forward, but Tegan stopped him … somehow. She could feel the emotion coming off Barry, and it wasn’t the type she’d experienced the previous night. The rage contained in his body was palpable. Barry pointed at Chester. “You take that back, you son of a bitch. You can slander me, but don’t you ever speak a bad word about Kathy again. Do you hear me?” Barry strained against Tegan’s bracing hold.

Ken started moving Chester out of the diner. The old man ripped his arm out of Ken’s reach. “Or what? Are you going to kill me, too?”

A loud clap turned every head. Corrie had two sheet trays in her hands. “Chester Hansen, this diner holds the right to refuse to serve anyone. We refuse the right to serve you. You are not welcome here. Don’t come back.”

“You don’t own this place!” the man yelled at her. “I’ll call Senior; he’ll set all of you straight.” The man turned and marched out of the diner.

Ken turned toward them. “Jesus, I’m sorry, Barry. Chester has been getting worse and worse, but I never thought that old coot would do anything like this. The guy has been getting meaner and meaner.”

Kathy watched as Tegan cautiously lessened his hold on Barry. Edna spoke up. “Barry, everyone in this town knows what’s happening isn’t on you. Ken might not be revealing all the details, but we know itisn’tyou. You’re welcome here. That old fool isn’t right in the head, and everyone knows it.”

Belinda Pratt, one of Edna’s friends, stood up. “Mr. Barry, I don’t speak much, but I’ve known Chester most of my life. He’s changed these last years. He’s become horribly mean and vicious. It just happens he’s zeroed in on you and Miss Kathy. Please don’t let him take anything away from your happiness. He doesn’t deserve the time of day you’ve already given him. And, Miss Kathy, we’re really happy for you and Mr. Barry. We think you two make a real cute couple.”

Edna crossed her arms over her chest and nodded. Ken walked over to where Tegan was still standing in front of Barry. Kathy put her hand on his arm, and he looked down at her. She stared at him and said clearly. “I know what he said was evil, but you’ve worked so hard. That man doesn’t know either of us. Don’t let him ruin our day or all the work you’ve done.”

“I’ll hit up the judge today and see what I can do to get a handle on the guy. He’s been mean for a while, but this iscrossing the line. You can take him to civil court for slander. We have proof it wasn’t you, and everyone in this town knows that.”

Barry put his arm around her, and she wrapped her arm around his waist. He shook his head. “No. It wouldn’t do any good.” Barry sighed heavily and looked at Tegan. “Thank you.”

“I got your back, man. If he said anything like that about Kate, I’d have tried to deck him, too,” Tegan replied.

Barry looked at Ken. “He needs to keep his mouth shut when it comes to Kathy. I won’t stand for it.”

“Understood. As I said, I’m going to see what I can do legally, and then, as a citizen, I’m going to talk to him. What he did here today was unacceptable on every level.”

“It was,” Miss Belinda said from where she still stood, and Edna nodded. Doc Macy dropped a hand on Barry’s shoulder. “Man, getting sprayed by a wild skunk is one thing. Getting blasted by a fellow human when we all know he’s wrong, well, that guy stinks more than the skunk.”

Kathy shook her head. “At least there’s a way to get the skunk smell out of your nose.”

Barry glanced down at her. “Are you ready to go?”

“I am.” She nodded, and Barry turned to his mom. “Thank you for getting him out of here, but you didn’t need to do that for my sake.”

Corrie lifted her shoulders and deflated a little. “I wish I could say it was just for you, but I did it for my sake, too. As everyone’s been saying, he’s gotten mean to the point ofbeing scary. I don’t want to deal with him anymore, and Gen has already told Ciera and me that if he gets ugly, show him the door and tell him not to come back.”

Barry opened his other arm, and Corrie walked over for a hug. “If he comes in here again, let me know.” He held his mom at the same time as he held her, and Kathy had never felt so proud.

“No, you’ll call me or the deputy on call.” Ken shook his head and planted his hands on his hips above his utility belt and duty weapon. “Something has got to be done about him.”

“You could call his son,” Belinda said. “He’s in the service, or that’s where he was going when he left here. His daughter is married and has a passel of kids on the eastern side of the state. I have her number.”

“If you could get that for me, I’d appreciate it, Miss Belinda.” Ken took another deep breath. “I may have Sam make that call. My wife has a better way with words than I do.”

“To the son?” Belinda asked.

---