Page 88 of Small Town Hunter

I’ll protect you, darlin’, from all the bad and evil things.

“Fuck Jess,” I say. “We don’t need her, baby girl. You’re alright with me. Right? Don’t be scared.”

Ruby is fast asleep.

“I’m glad to hear you say that,” says my sister. “She’s got a pretty face but a heart of mud. Give her to me, Crash, she can’t stay in here.”

“Why not?”

“You need to talk to Herself.” Sarah Jane gestures to the door.

She puts her arms out for my daughter and I reluctantly pass the little angel to her. Sarah Jane kisses the top of her niece’s head with true affection.

“Thank you for taking care of her while I was gone, SJ.”

“She’s a good baby. It was really nothing.” My sister’s eyebrows draw together. “Now go handle your business.”

“Send her in,” I say wearily.

When the oldwoman enters I’m sitting up and flexing my muscles which are sore and weak from days in bed. The woman is older, African American, with a honey complexion and pale green eyes. Her small face and carriage remind me of Trina. She’s wearing a purple suit and a handbag of green gator skin. The watch on her wrists is identical to Trina’s. Everything about her screams money. I wonder what she’s so upset about but I reckon it’s not hard to guess.

“Hello,” the woman says in a cool voice. “Mister Walker.”

“I’d be obliged if you call me Crash, Ma’am.”

“Mister Walker, you don’t know me. We’ve never met.”

“You must be Mamie. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“You will call me Mrs. Springer,” she says, pure ice. So I guess it’s gonna be like that.

I say, “A pleasure. Where is Trina?”

“My granddaughter is safe.”

I sink back, relieved. “Last I remember that fucker– that man– was taking her away. She– she got out? He didn’t hurt her?”

“I was able to get Trina away from Mister Wilson shortly after she left the prison.”

I exhale sharply.Trina. Safe. Thank God.

“Your granddaughter spoke highly of you,” I say. “She was trying to get to you in California.”

The old witch glares at me like scum oozing from a crack in the ground. “Trina gave me the impression you helped her. Is that true?”

“Yes.”

“How did you two meet?”

“I nearly ran over her with my car. She asked me to help her leave town, and I did.”

“That was what she told me. I wondered if she was lying.”

“And why,” I say, holding onto my temper, “Would she lie about that? ”

“To protect you.” She lifts her chin. “Something didn’t curl all the way over with herstory. If you helped her leave Tippalonga then why are you here?”

“I had to turn back for something, and I got…”Attacked by an angry bird.“Incapacitated,” I finish lamely. “Trina hitchhiked her way back to help me. I would have told her not to. I would never put her in harm’s way.”

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