Page 447 of Hell Hath No Fury
I spun around so quickly, I lost my balance, but was steadied by Duke’s strong arms.
“Easy there. I didn’t mean to scare you. Sorry ’bout that,” he said with a broad smile. “Do you remember me from last night?”
“Of course, I do,” I said, shocked that he was standing in front of me. “How did you find me?”
“I just sorta asked around. People around here are very friendly. I started with the owner of the donut shop closest to the station and he said you’d probably be at church with it being Sunday and all. So, I went and got cleaned up at the YMCA and was coming down here to find some new clothes when I spotted the very Pearl I was looking for.”
“I told you, my name is Gr—”
“Duke and Pearl. Pearl and Duke. It’s got a ring to it. You’ve gotta admit.”
“Don’t you mean Randal?” I asked.
“How do you know my name?” he asked.
“You really don’t remember me, do you?” I asked, studying his face.
“Of course, I do. We met last night, but how—”
“We’ve known each other for a lot longer than that, Randal. Much longer.”
He cocked his scruffy head to the side while studying me, making him a dead ringer for a puppy in a pet store window.
“As a matter of fact, the last time I saw you before last night, you’d had some sort of fight with my brothers over a deer.”
I’d give just about anything for a time machine and a camera so I could capture the look on Duke’s face at that very moment.
“You’re Sheriff Early’s daughter? Sweet baby Jesus.”
“I told you my daddy is in law enforcement. My brothers too.”
“Of course, those monsters are cops,” he hissed.
“You don’t remember me, but you remember my brothers?” I asked.
“I remember your brothers because they’re assholes, and a wise man taught me to never forget an asshole.”
“I’ll confess I seem to have the opposite problem.”
“How so?”
“I remember you very clearly from when we were kids but would have never picked you out of a police lineup today.”
“You remember me?” Duke asked with a grin that made my insides melt.
“Fondly,” I replied. “I’ll admit I had a bit of a crush on you when we were kids. I’m surprised you don’t recall me following you around like some lovestruck puppy dog.” I giggled nervously.
Duke smiled, took my hands in his and in front of God and everyone, got down on one knee.
“Marry me, Pearl.”
“Get up this very instant!” I whisper shouted in hopes that not too many people had witnessed what had just happened. “What in the world do you think you’re doing?”
“Isn’t it obvious that the universe is bringing us together? I mean, what are the odds of us running into each other like this after all these years? I’m serious, Pearl. I know I don’t look like I have much to offer, but—”
“Stop talking and get inside now,” I said sternly, swinging the bookstore door open and pointing inside. Duke did as he was told, grinning through his mustache the entire time.
“Listen to me very carefully,” I whispered. “I’m only going to ask you this one time. Are you a hippie?”
