Arlissa - Her Story - Day 86 -100

"Well, no, honey. She's not any worse except for she's really upset about what happened to your all's home and the animals, and all that."

"What!! How did she hear about that? It only happened yesterday evenin' and I was dreadin' to tell her about it. How did you even know about it?"

"Well, one of the deputies told his wife on the phone and I guess somebody on the phone line heard him telling it. Then I reckon Hetty McReynolds, Doc Henry's wife, heard about it and kinda phoned one of the nurses she knows real well. Maybe she told a few others, and well, somehow or other, somebody just kinda let it slip to your Granny. You know how news travels around here."

"Oh, no! I guess I better go on in and see if I can calm Granny down a little and see if between me and her, we can figure out what to do. I sure ain't lookin' forward to it, though."

Pasting a smile on her face, she went in to face the music.

"Hey, Granny! How you doin' today?" Arlissa asked cheerfully.

The therapist had given Granny a chalk board and some chalk so she could write some thoughts on it as needed. 

She had trouble holding the chalk but it was good exercise for her hand. Granny held up the chalk board for Arlissa to view.

MAD! she had written. SPIT NAILS MAD.

Her countenance certainly reflected her written words.

"Uh-oh" was what Arlissa was thinking. When Granny said she was so mad she could spit nails, that was her big-time mad.

"Now, Granny, they probably made it sound worse than what it was. I'll admit it was pretty bad, but things is gonna get better. We jist have to trust that God is gonna take care of us. You know, think about this...I wasn't there when it happened; so it coulda been worse. Let's jist be thankful I was at the O'Hanlon home at the time, havin' supper with them. You know, we can look on the bright side, can't we?"

Arlissa knew she was talking a mile a minute, but it soon had the desired effect and then Granny smiled a bit, but soon was crying when she thought about if Arlissa had been at the farm. 

Arlissa sat on the side of the bed and hugged her Granny close to her.

"Oh, Granny. Please don't cry. You'll have me a cryin', too."

She gently wiped the old woman's eyes with the corner of the bedsheet.

"Things are gonna get better, don'tcha know? We jist gotta keep on goin'. Now let's get you a little more comfortable here. Have you had yore breakfast yet?"

Granny was erasing the board and writing.

"Too mad."

Granny soon had a new tray of food, and Arlissa saw that she used her right hand as much as possible. Granny had to get back as much use of that hand and right leg as she could.

Arlissa had decided to help Granny get back on her feet and give her back a determination to be as self-sufficient as she could.  All the encouragement that she could shower on her grandmother would only help if her Grandmother was receptive to it.

After Granny had finished the breakfast, the therapist came for Granny with a wheelchair and helped Granny into it, with the old woman trying to help as much as possible.

Arlissa walked alongside the wheelchair, intent on learning as much as she could about helping Granny when they were allowed to take her home.

Elaine, the therapist, remarked on her own distress upon hearing about the farmhouse and the animals.

"Is there anyone here that hasn't heard about our place?" Arlissa asked.

"I doubt it. It's just so hard to believe that gentle Con Douglas would do such a terrible thing!" Elaine opined.

"Well, we're pretty sure that it was him that did it! He was right mad at me cause I wouldn't go out on a date with him."

"I hear they haven't caught him yet, either!"

"No, and it worries me. He was so mad at me, I don't know what he would've done to me if I hadn't gotten to the O'Hanlon's place. I don't know what we're gonna do for furniture and clothes and - oh, all that stuff he cut up and busted. I dread goin' back there."

"Yes, it must be awful to think about being afraid in your own home. All that mess to clean up, too."

Elaine's comments did not help Arlissa or her Granny to feel better about going home, that was for sure, Arlissa was thinking.

"When are they having your friend's funeral? Are they receiving friends soon?"

"Yes, tonight from seven to nine at the funeral home over where we live in Hickston."

Arlissa certainly wasn't looking forward to that either.

In the therapy room, Granny was beginning to show slow but good improvement. Arlissa had great hopes for a chance to take her home soon. 

The therapist was showing Arlissa how to do the exercises so that she could help her Granny to continue doing them. She had Arlissa do them so she could observe that she did them correctly. 

"Wonderful! Good job, both of you! You should be able to take her home in about five days. Don't forget, Marta will be coming to get you today later on for your speech therapy!"

Elaine helped Granny back into the wheel chair, and Arlissa decided to take the old lady outdoors for some sunshine, since Granny had indicated she wanted to do so.

"Okay, Granny, here we go! We'll go to your favorite spot out by the park bench under the trees, and watch the birds, soak us up some sunshine."

Granny was smiling at the prospect of going home in a week's time, and Arlissa was thinking of the things that had to be done in the meantime, wondering how it was all going take place. 

There was Rosie's visitation to attend that evening, as well. She wondered if it was going to be peaceful or if something would happen to ruin it. 

She was deep in thought and didn't see the tall woman who was walking up behind them as she pushed Granny's wheelchair.

"Pardon me, honey! Could you help me with something, please? I'm new around here and I seem to be lost." The blonde woman seemed to be in real distress. Her hair fell in beautiful waves across her face and she held a beautiful blue purse in her hands. 

Arlissa got the idea that she was bashful, perhaps because she was embarrassed by having to ask for help.

"Sure, what are you looking for?"

"Well, I was looking for the library and saw this large building and thought I had found it, only to discover this is a hospital."

"Oh, that is an easy mistake to make. Actually the library is just down the street. I'll show you from the sidewalk."

She turned to Granny and said, "Granny, I'll be back in jist a minute. This nice lady needs to find the library..."

The two of them walked toward the sidewalk, and soon were out of Granny's sight. As they approached the sidewalk and a blue automobile parked at the curb, the stranger reached into her purse. 

She removed something, and putting an arm around Arlissa as she pointed to the library down the block, injected a hypodermic needle containing Phenobarbitol into an unsuspecting Arlissa's arm.

She never felt the prick of the needle, and slumped into the woman's arms.

Soon the girl was inside the car, lying in the back seat, unconscious, and the stranger drove off, carrying her away.

Granny Hinton sat waiting for her granddaughter to return; she waited ten minutes, then fifteen more.

"Where is that girl? Don't she know I need her? Surely it couldn't be taking her that long to show that lady where something is!"

Granny began making noise...it sounded garbled but it was still noise. Nobody seemed to be around. What could she do? She looked down and saw the brake on her wheelchair and released it. 

"Maybe I can wheel myself along the sidewalk and back to the building," she told herself.

She began turning the wheel on one side with her left hand, but that made the chair turn in a circle and not the way she wanted to go. Reaching down with her right hand, she began slowly forcing the wheel to turn and soon she was making slow progress. It was slow going because she could not use the right hand very well. 

But she was doing it; and beginning to feel very proud of her accomplishment; yet worried about Arlissa. 

She worked for over twenty minutes slowly inching her way to the hospital side door where they had emerged at least an hour before. The door was not automatic and she couldn't get it open, so she began banging on it, hoping to get someone's attention. 

******
Arlissa awakened slowly, in a cold, dark place. Her mouth felt like cotton, dry and needing moisture.

"Where am I, anyway? What happened? How did I get here?"

Slowly sitting up, she moved, only to feel a shackle on her ankle, and to hear the sound of a chain rattling.

"What in tarnation has happened to me?" she whispered. 

Then she began to shout...

"Hello? Is someone here?" 

"Well, hello, honey! You're finally awake, ain't cha? Oh, don't worry, you're safe here with me."

She heard the striking of a match, and the lifting of the shade of a lantern. 

Finally, someone came to the door and helped Granny Hinton come back in. 

"Ma'am, why are you outside by yourself? Can you tell me?"

Granny reached down at her side and pulled out the slate, where she wrote her name.

"You're Ms. Hinton?"

Granny nodded her head and wrote Arlissa's name and the word "gone".

"Arlissa was outside with you?"

Another nod, with a worried look on the face.

"Where did she go? Do you know?"

"Woman...help"

"Was someone sick and needing help?"

A shaking of the head in a negative manner. 

Granny was beginning to feel great frustration.

"Find library" she wrote.

"Ah, I see. She was helping a woman look for the library."

Granny leaned back in her wheelchair, glad to be understood at last.

By now several people had gathered around the two. 

One of them was Granny's doctor. 

"How long ago was this, Ms. Hinton?"

Granny stretched her left arm up above the right one to indicate a long time.

"As much as an hour ago?"

She nodded her head vigorously.

"Something's wrong, doctor! She would never have willingly left her grandmother there for very long, especially in her condition and helpless. We need to call Sheriff Bradshaw."

"Where am I? Who are you? Why have you brought me here?"

"Oh, my, little girly! You're full of questions, ain't you? Well, I'll tell you when I think you're really ready to hear the answers. Right now, let's just say you're in a safe place, where nobody's going to know where to look. Hope you're not afraid of snakes, and rats, and such. They pretty much have the run of the place." 

"Could I have some water, please? My mouth is so very dry."

Her mystery captor set a bottle of water in front of her, yet keeping to the shadows away from the light of the lantern.

Arlissa noticed that the sounds seemed to bounce off the walls of whatever place she was being held.

"You might as well lay down and get comfortable, cause you ain't goin' nowhere."

"What time is it?"

"My, my! Still demanding answers? The time don't matter, cause you don't need to know."

"Well, could I please have a blanket to cover me? It is very cold and damp where ever we are."

She could tell that she sat on the ground somewhere, or so it seemed. 

"Ah, you want all the comforts of home, I reckon." Her captor laughed a high and trilling giggle. "Now, I can't have you being too comfortable. You need to be punished, and learn what it's like to have nothing."

"Please, my Granny needs me! I need to get back to her!"

"I have to leave you now. I'll be back later."

She felt another stick in her arm as the person gave her another injection. Then the darkness overcame her.

Sheriff Bradshaw was at the hospital talking to Arlissa's grandmother. He sat in a chair next to her bed, holding her hand.

"We're looking for Arlissa, and I need some information. What can you tell me about where she might have gone? Did you see the woman who came up to her?"

Pulling her hand from his, Granny Hinton wrote on her slate, "Tall woman. Soft voice."

"Anything else?"

"Hairy legs."

"Had you ever seen that woman before?"

"No. Stranger."

"Well, thank you, Ms. Hinton. We are going to do our best to find her."

The Sheriff patted her shoulder and promised to do all he could to find the girl.

He got up from his chair and left the room. 

Granny reached with her left hand and picked up the Bible to read it, searching for comforting scripture. Flipping through the book, she came across the births and deaths pages. Looking at them, she realized the two pages had been separated. 

"I thought I had them pages kinda stuck together," she reflected. "Wonder how they got unstuck? Did Arlissa see them? Nah, she woulda sure said something." 

The old lady was reassuring herself that the secret was safe from Arlissa. 

Granny bowed her head and began to pray for Arlissa's safe return. 

*******

When Arlissa once again awakened, she was alone. As she moved her leg, she felt the shackles. 

"Hello! Hello! Is anyone there?"

Her voice seemed to bounce off the walls. An echo resounded following the sound of her voice. 

"Where am I? What am I going to do?" She began to think about how she could escape. She began to follow the chain  attached to her leg.

"Maybe I can find out how long the chain is and where it is fastened."

As she crawled around, she felt the bottle of water, and opening it, she drank some from it.

There were pebbles on the floor of her place of captivity. 

"A dirt floor?" she asked herself. "Where could I possibly be?"

All at once, her hand found a wall. It was cold and damp.

"I'm either in a basement or a cave, but I don't know which. Maybe if I crawl around some more, I can find out." 

As she crawled, she felt the chain growing taut and realized she was crawling in the wrong direction. She needed to find the beginning of it. Changing direction, she took hold of the chain and began crawling and feeling the chain, trying to find where it started.

She felt something slither over her legs, and screamed, only to realize it was the chain she was moving. It had slipped across her legs in the darkness. 

Arlissa prayed as she crawled, asking God for guidance. If she ever needed help, that was the time for it, she knew.

She was feeling for rocks or any other item she could use to aid her. There seemed to be nothing, at least as far as she could tell.

Finally, she reached a bolt and the other end of the chain. It seemed to be securely fastened, with nothing to help her get free. 

For about the umpteenth time, she felt where the chain was fastened to the shackle on her ankle. It had a lock securing it to the chain. If only she could get her hands on the key; but she knew that was well-nigh impossible. She was a prisoner at the mercy of her captor.

Getting to her knees, she decided to stand and see about walking around, now that she had found a wall. Maybe she could figure out what kind of place she was confined to. All she knew was that it was dark and cold and damp. She was cold and hungry; she was scared to boot, but getting very angry.

"How dare anyone to treat another person this way! I'm not going to give in to my fears. I've got to believe someone will find me before too long. Oh, God! Please help me!"

She didn't know if it was an answer to her prayer; but she chose to believe it was. Her hand closed around a good-sized rock, just as she heard a sound behind her.

Turning slowly, she saw a lantern lifted shoulder-high, and in its glow was a shape which she recognized, but pretended not to. 

"Please, mister! I'm so hungry! Did you bring me somethin' to eat?" She put real misery into her voice and went to her knees, wailing, and holding the rock hidden in her hand.

"Are you now, Miss High-n-Mighty? Singin' a different tune, it seems!"

"Con, is that you? Oh, I'm so sorry for treatin' you so bad yesterday! It was only a date you wanted, wasn't it? Please, won't you forgive me?"

She heard him laugh that silly high laugh of his. 

"Well, now, I don't know. You reckon you learned your lesson yet? I may not be through teachin' it to you. I'll bet we know who's boss around here, though, don't we?"

"Please, Con, dear! Let me make it up to you!"

"Well, maybe I'll just let you give me a kiss to prove how sorry you are! Stand up here next to me, Sugar!"

He reached down to pull her up to him and when he did, she brought her right arm up as hard as she could and hit him in the temple. He dropped the lantern onto the floor.

He went down like a felled ox. She hit him again for good measure. Then she began going through his pockets, looking  for the key to the shackle on her ankle.

Her hands were shaking like a leaf, afraid he would wake up and grab her. He lay still as she searched frantically.

"Oh, please, God, it's gotta be here. Help me find it, Lord."

She set the lantern upright. Fortunately, it was still lit. 

"I hope I haven't killed him; I'd hate to have his blood on my hands."

Her shaking hands felt the key; pulling it from his back pocket, she brought it out and dropped it. 

"Oh, no! I can't lose it!" 

Lifting the lantern, she saw it on the floor, and snatched it up, fitting it into the lock on her ankle.  Then she fastened it around his ankle, and put the key into her pocket.

"There! Now, to check and see if he is still alive."

She leaned down close to the man who had held her captive. 


She saw his fingers moving slowly as she bent to check his pulse in his neck and began to slide away from him. Arlissa knew then that she had not killed him and knew she should run. 

Taking the lantern, she moved in the direction from which she had seen him approach her.

Looking back, she could no longer see him. It was blacker than pitch in her place of captivity and she had no idea which way to turn. 

She heard his howl of dismay when he discovered what she had done. 

"You little slut! I'll get you yet! You ain't outta here and I know you can't find your way out. You'll die in here without my help to get you out. That lantern'll run out of kerosene before you ever find your way. Jist mark my words!"

She held the lantern high and looked around her at the walls. She was in a cave; the hills of Kentucky were full of caves, she knew.

Her thrill of getting out of his reach began turning to worry at the thought of the truth of his prediction. Was he right? Well, she could only try.

She wished she had the bottle of water he had left for her, but that was the least of her worries. The thought of water made her think of what obstacles she might have to overcome to get out of the cave. Were there drop-offs in the cave? Was there water running in it anywhere? What time was it? Was it dark outside, if she made it out of the cave? Did he have somebody helping him? What about the woman who had kidnapped her? 

So much that she didn't know and had to worry about if he had someone outside waiting for him. That would be another hurdle to overcome.  

Her progress was slow and hindered by the fact that she was very weak from the drugs that had been injected into her body. The dehydration she was suffering added to her inability to think clearly. 

Holding the lantern high, she searched for the entrance to the cave. She was remembering the country song recorded a few years earlier about a man trapped in a cave in Georgia. The thought that she might wind up like him, urged her on. 

An hour later, she stumbled out into the open and began shouting for help. There was no one near to help her, but she did see the blue car that she figured must have brought her to the cave. 

"Thank you, God!" she wept, falling on her knees. It was almost dark and she had no idea where she was. She couldn't remember ever having been in this area before. Arlissa was shaking.

Almost crawling to the car, she wrenched the door open and saw the inner light come on. There in the ignition were the keys! 

She also saw in the front seat the clothes the woman had been wearing, along with a blonde wig. 

Of course, she told herself, Con had disguised himself as a woman. He was trickier than she had ever given him credit for.

As she sat in the car, she heard the approaching sound of another vehicle.

She didn't know what to do...was it a friend of Con Douglas? Until she could find out, she decided to hide in the car, so she lay down in the seat to remain invisible, yet almost unable to control her shaking body.

After all, she reasoned, if they were there to help Con, they would go on into the cave. If not, well, she didn't know what was going to happen. It could be that somebody saw the car and decided to investigate. 

The person driving the other vehicle might be more dangerous than Con. After all, Con hadn't really hurt her yet.

She heard the idling of an engine; the sound of feet crunching gravel as someone neared the car where she lay, brought new hope partnered with fear to the heart of the young woman.

 Arlissa waited...

She heard the footsteps stop and waited. All at once, the car door opened. 

Looking up, she saw Zeb O'Hanlon standing there, head lowered and in the doorway.

"Arlissa! We've been looking everywhere for you! How did you get way out here?" 

Not waiting for an answer, he shouted, "Hey, Odie! She's over here!"

By this time Arlissa was clambering out of the car and had flung herself into Zeb's arms.

"Oh, I thought I was a goner, for sure, Zeb! Con Douglas kidnapped me and brought me out here. I'm so glad to see someone I know!"

"Where is he? How did you get away from him?"

"I hit him with a rock and took the key to the chain he had around my ankle. While he was out, I unlocked the chain and put it on him. Then I got away and finally found my way out. He woke up about the time I left."

"Ah, Miss Arlissa! You are somethin' else!" This came from Bobby Joe Odom, spoken in admiring tones.

"I never thought I was ever gonna get outta there! I was plenty scared!"

"What are these clothes doing here in the front seat? Are they yours?"

"No, he was wearin' them, dressed like a woman and wearin' that wig, at the hospital and actin' like he was lost and lookin' for the library. I walked down to the sidewalk with him, to show him and all at once, the next thing I remember, I was wakin' up here in that cave. He had given me a shot of somethin' in my arm, cause he gave me another one later. It knocked me out."

"Well, I must say he isn't lacking for cunning. Just too bad he's not using it for something good. Well, he can just stay in there awhile. We'll let the Sheriff know where he is and he can pick him up. Give Con a taste of his own medicine. Let's get out of here right now. We have a receiving of friends to get to tonight for Rosie." 

When Zeb had finished speaking, the three of them headed for his car. 

"Miss Arlissa, you are one brave little gal! I'm right proud and honored to know you!" stated Bobby Joe. 

She smiled at him and, without warning, fainted. He quickly caught her and lifted her into the car.

"I guess her ordeal just finally caught up to her!" he said to Zeb. 

"We need to get her back to the hospital. She is dehydrated and her Granny needs to know she is safe," remarked Zeb.

Placing her in the center passenger's seat in front, they also got into the car, and Zeb took off, going as fast as he dared to drive. 

Within a few minutes, Arlissa began to stir. 

"Where am I?" she wanted to know.

"Shh! You're okay now. You're with me and Zeb. You're safe; we're taking you to your Granny so she can see for herself. She's been giving the authorities fits over finding you!" 

Arlissa lay back against the seat, and leaned against Bobby's shoulder. 

Within a few minutes they were back into civilization, and then in another twenty minutes or so, they were pulling into the emergency bay of the hospital. 

Bobby Joe scooped her up into his arms and carried her into the emergency room. 

"This young woman needs some attention right away! She's dehydrated, and has been given some kind of injection to make her sleep this afternoon."

Trooper Bobby Joe Odom spoke with authority and no one questioned it.

"Okay, Officer; we'll see that she gets help. Just bring her over her and place her on a gurney. This is Miss Hinton that they've been searching for, isn't it?"

"Yes, ma'am, it is. I'll be staying with her, if you don't mind."

Zeb had parked the car and came in just as they were wheeling Arlissa into a cubicle behind some sheets. He followed them and told Bobby he would go up and let her Grandmother know she was okay.

"We need to call off the manhunt and let the Sheriff know where he can pick up Con," replied Bobby. 

"Yes, I'll do that, too, my friend, then I have to go to the funeral home with my family."

 Within minutes, Zeb was in Granny's room, who sat up expectantly when he entered the room with a big smile on his face.

"We have her! She's safe and a little dehydrated. We'll let her tell you all about it in a little while, after they get some fluids into her. Have you had your supper yet, Ms. Hinton?"

He glanced at her tray table and saw the food untouched on it. 

"I'll bet we can get them to bring you a fresh tray and bring one for Alyssa at the same time."

By this time the old lady had her face in her hands and weeping with relief. 

Then, looking up at Zeb, she spoke a garbled, "Thank you!" at least that is what she intended it to be. 

He knew from the look on her face that she was thanking him. She held out her arms to him and hugged him with a heartfelt kiss on his cheek.

"You're welcome, ma'am. I'm just glad we could bring her back to you. Now, I've got to go see to about some more supper for you and to call the Sheriff to let him know what has taken place. I'll see you later. I've got somebody I want to bring by to see you." 

With that, he left her and stopped at the nurses' station out in the hallway.

"May I use the phone for just a moment, please? Oh, and Ms. Hinton needs another tray, if you don't mind."

With the nurse's assent, he picked up the phone and asked for Sheriff Bradshaw's office.

In seconds, he was telling the dispatcher that Arlissa had been found and was safe in the hospital. 

"You'll never believe where he had her, Sheriff! Yeah, she had gotten away from him and now he is the prisoner where he had her. Turned the tables on him! It's quite a story. You're gonna have to pick him up when you're ready. You know that old cave off of county road 78? You'll see his car when you get there. You'll find him inside. I'll drop the key off to the chain he's cuffed to. Yeah, it was in her pocket and she gave it to me right after we got her."

He listened for a minute and then replied, "Yeah, Sheriff. She's got spunk, all right."

Bobby Joe looked at Arlissa lying there on the gurney and realized how much he would have missed her if Con had done away with her. He knew enough about her to know what a tough time she had growing up without a mama and a daddy. He felt a kinship with her, with his own parents being killed in a wreck when he was much younger. 

She lay there so still and pale, with that beautiful red hair framing the petite face, wearing an old-fashioned dress that had belonged to someone else. Zeb had told him the story of the break-in at her home. Her bravery simply floored him.


Bobby Joe sat by Arlissa's bed and took her hand, so small, so scraped up from dealing with Con Douglas and held it gently as he spoke to her.

"Arlissa, are you awake?"

Her eyes flew open and she jumped, startled by the sound of his voice and not quite knowing where she was. 

"What? Where am I?"

"You're in the hospital, safe from Douglas. He'll no doubt be in jail soon as the Sheriff goes out and gets him out of that cave, where you left him. You are one brave little gal, you know."

"Oh, Bobby Joe! It's you. How did I get here?"

"Don't you remember...no, I guess you don't. You passed out just after we got you out of that old blue car. Me'n Zeb brought you here."

"My Granny! Does she know I'm okay? I gotta go see her 'n let her know I'm all right!"

"No, she knows. Zeb went right to her room to tell her. You just lie here and rest till you're feeling better. She'd have my scalp if I let you up before the Doc says you're okay to go."

"Rosie's wake...they're havin' it this evenin' and I need to be there!"

"No, I don't think so! You can go to her funeral services tomorrow."

"Hold on, now! Just who made you my boss? I'll do what I want to do! I still have time to go this evenin'! Jist you get outta my way. I'm goin'!"

She sat up abruptly only to realize she wasn't in shape to go after all. 

"Oh! Well, I could go if I had a way to get there. I guess I'll jist wait till in the mornin'."

Bobby had to work to keep the smirk off his face, but he kept his face solemn; he knew she would go if it killed her if she knew he was gloating. 

"How about I get a wheelchair and take you up to see your Grandmother in a few minutes? I'll bet you could use some food, too!"

"Yes! I'd like that, please."

He had noticed that right after he had brought her in, the nurse came in and hooked her up to a bag of fluid to replace the water she had lost. She was still hooked up to it, but it would roll with the wheelchair, he knew.

Bobby Joe went out into the hall to see if he could take her to her Granny's room.







(To be continued)

Arlissa - Her Story - Day 71 -85

Supper was a strange affair, although the people attending were pleasant enough, there was an undercurrent of tension that could not be denied. 

Little Benny seemed oblivious to it, however, and chattered on about the cows and chickens, and the dog, Buster.

"Buster pwayed with me and wolled awound wif me! Miss Wissa, can we go see the twee?"

"We'll go one of these days, Benny, but we'll have to wait awhile, okay?"

"What's this business about a tree, Arlissa?" Helen Tunstall wanted to know. 

"Oh, it's just a tree that Rosie and I used to meet at and we sat under it and talked. That's all. I'm sure she just wanted Benny to see it. Part of the memories we had together."

"Hmm. I see. Perhaps you could tell me where it is and I'll show it to him."

Arlissa nodded in a noncommital manner. 

"Say, Zeb, why don't you tell us, do you and Angela have any plans for staying with us for awhile?" 

This came from his stepfather, trying to relieve the tension floating through the air.

"No, Hank. Just long enough for the services for Rosie, and then a day or so later to help settle her affairs. We both have jobs to get back to."

"What do you do, Angela?" This from Arlissa.

"I'm a medical technician at a local hospital," she replied. 

"That must really be interesting."

"Yes, I see all kinds of people in all kinds of situations. There is never a dull moment," she smiled.

Zeb reached over and hugged his bride. 

"I know she is the light of my life! I don't know how I'd go on without her." 

Arlissa looked at the two of them with open envy. Would she ever find someone who loved her like that? Right now she didn't have much hope. 

She wondered if Hank Tunstall could help her with her search for her beginning. 

"Hank, did you know my mom, Eleanor Mae Hinton? You've lived around here your whole life, haven't you?"

Helen Tunstall turned pale at the mention of Arlissa's mother's given name. 

"Did you say your mother's first name was Eleanor? Was she called Ellie?"

"Why, yes, she was. At least that's what Granny calls her. You know, she died the next day after I was born. I know it's common knowledge that she wasn't married. I don't know who my daddy was. Granny won't tell me."

At that admission from Arlissa, Helen Tunstall's expression became stony, and she looked at the girl with true repugnance.

It was evident to Hank that they were in a situation, and he tried to change the subject by asking would anyone like some more of those wonderful biscuits that Marie had made. 

Zeb picked up on the implication and replied, "I sure would. Little sis, you have become a really great cook! Mom, you surely have taught her well!"

"Excuse me, please! I need to go into the kitchen and refill the ice tea pitcher. Arlissa, would you help me please?"

Arlissa started to rise from the table, but Hank got up quickly and said, "Aw, Helen, she's a guest! I'll go help you, honey! Arlissa, you just stay where you are!" 

He smiled to soften the rebuke, and the two went into the kitchen. 

All was quiet for a few minutes, everyone trying to think of something to say. Arlissa knew the atmosphere had changed but hadn't the slightest idea why. She didn't know that this very subject had been discussed in this family.

Those seated at the table looked at one another, thinking who knew what, until Angela turned to Les, who was home from college for the funeral.

"Lester, Zeb tells me you are planning on becoming a lawyer. How did you decide you wanted to do that?"

"Well, I know there are a lot of people who need help that can't afford it; I want to help people that way. Zeb is a policeman and helps people that way. Marie is becoming a nurse."

"That is absolutely wonderful. Your mother must be so very proud of all of you."

At this time, Benny decided to call for his 'Gwan'ma'.

"Gwan'ma! Me want mash tatas, gwavy!" He banged on the table.

Helen Tunstall came hurrying back into the dining area, with obviously red eyes, and sat down next to the boy. 

"Benny! Hush! You mustn't shout like that. You needed to ask anyone here to give you some. Marie is sitting on the other side of you and could have given you some. Now, quiet down." 

Hank returned to the table, with a smile and the iced tea pitcher. 

Arlissa realized her question had not been answered and opened her mouth to ask it again, when Hank looked at her and shook his head.

She blanched, all at once realizing she had committed a gaffe. What did they know about her past that she didn't?

At long last, the awkward supper was finally over and all the younger womenfolk began clearing the dishes off the table, while the men repaired to the living room. 

Benny had wound down and after he said his "Goodnights", Helen took him to his bedroom and put him to bed.

While she was out of the room, the girls began putting the food away. It wasn't very long before Helen returned to the kitchen, where the girls had carried all the dishes and stacked them into the sink, getting ready to wash them.

"Ms. Helen, why don't you let me do the dishes and you go set and visit with everybody. I didn't get to help fix supper, and it's the least I could do. I used to help you all the time, when Rosie was here."


"Well, I tell you what, Arlissa. I'm going to take you up on part of that. I'll let you wash and I'll dry. We can talk while we work. You other girls go on in yonder and rest while we get this all redded up. You all did help a lot to get it all ready." She smiled at Marie and Angela Rae.

As soon as they left, Helen turned to Arlissa and asked, "Why this curiosity about your birth at this time in your life?"

"Well, I've always wanted to know and I found out something today that kinda threw me for a loop."

"Oh? And what was that?"

Just then, Hank Tunstall came into the kitchen and said, "The Sheriff is here, Helen. We really need to get  started with this meeting and not waste his time."

Helen's countenance showed her irritation with the interruption, but there was nothing she could do about it, so she removed her apron and hung it over the back of the chair. 

Arlissa dried her hands and followed suit. She was dreading this meeting, but, after much prayer, had already made her decision.

"Hello, Sheriff," she smiled at him. Then a thought occurred to her. He would know something of her family's history and would be a good person to ask.



However, she realized now would not be the best time to ask. So she sat down on the living room sofa next to Marie, who smiled sweetly at her, making room for her to sit comfortably.

The Sheriff took a chair over in the corner, so as to be out of the way, but still privy to all that would be going on. Putting his hat on his knee, he suggested they begin.

Hank looked around at all of them as they settled in. 

Looking at his stepson, Zeb, he suggested that Zeb begin the meeting with a prayer. 

Zeb nodded his compliance and began.

"Lord, we know that You have a plan for each of our lives. Please give us wisdom and guide us in the decisions that are made here tonight. We know this little boy has not had an easy life so far; he has seen his mama beaten, and heard her cries; please help us to know how to care for him. Help us to decide who will be raising him to manhood. We thank you for your guidance and we give you all the praise and the Glory. Amen."

"Thank you, son. Now, who wants to go first?"

Everyone looked around, waiting for the discussion to actually begin.

"Maybe I should begin," Helen stated.

"About ten days ago, Rosie showed up at our front door with a single suitcase and a big purse, and a little boy. She claimed the boy was her son, Benito, whom she called Benny. They looked like something the cat dragged in, but I was so happy to see her!

She had changed, though. Oh, she was still defiant and rebellious, but she was as jumpy as the cat. She continuously looked out the window, as though expecting someone else to come driving up. I discovered later that it was the man who was Benny's father. It seems she had taken Benny without his father's knowledge. Then, a few days later, she went to our neighbor's, the Hintons, and that is the last time we saw her alive."

Then, Arlissa picked up the story.

"Well, when she came over to the house, I had a good time playin' with Benny, showin' him the animals, milkin' the cow, feedin' the chickens. She almost seemed like her old self, but I did notice she was always a' watchin', and when the Trooper, Bobby Joe Odom, came up on his motorcycle, I thought she was goin' to have a heart attack or somethin'."

At this, Arlissa looked over at Zeb and smiled to let him know she knew they were friends. He smiled back and gestured for her to continue.

"He grabbed her arm kinda friendly like and she like to a' had a hissy fit. 'Don't you never touch me again!' she told him. I had noticed the purple and black places on her arms and she later told me that Roberto had beat on her, and even little Benny knew he had beat her. I reckon it coulda been a every day happenin'.

I also found out that Roberto had gotten her hooked on drugs. I felt so sorry for her, but they weren't nothin' I could do for her."

At these last words, Arlissa began to weep silent tears.


Wiping her eyes, Arlissa continued.

"Well, we had supper and Benny fell asleep at the table. I put him down in my bedroom on the davonette. We talked some more, then Rosie got restless and went out onto the front porch and was gone awhile. She came back in and laid down on my couch in the living room when I went in to go to bed."

She paused in her relating of the story, and looked around at her audience, gathering her courage to finish the telling. They all seemed to be bent forward, waiting.

"Well, the next thing I know, I'm wakin' up to the sound of Benny tryin' to wake up his mama. Of course, you know she was gone by then. The next step was to call the doctor and the sheriff. I reckon you all know it from there. She left a paper for me, which I didn't know she was goin' to. We didn't talk about Benny at all that I can remember. I know she really loved him, though, and didn't want his Daddy around him or her."

"I know you all are wonderin' what I'm a aimin' to do about the paper she left and takin' care of Benny. I have made a decision about it. I was thinkin' that if I followed Rosie's wishes, I'd..."

"No! You'll never have my grandson! He's my first, who knows, maybe my only, grandson! She did this to spite me! She was always her daddy's little girl! You have no right to Benny!"

Helen Tunstall jumped up and was almost on the girl before Zeb could get to her.

"Ma! Ma! You can't do that. Arlissa is a guest in our home. Please sit down. Let her finish what she was going to say, please."

Reluctantly, and still glaring at the young woman, Helen went back to her seat.

"Now, 'Lissa, why don't you please continue." Zeb suggested.

"Well, I was thinkin' that maybe with Granny so sick and all, I shouldn't take on the care of a little boy, too, even though Rosie wanted me to. But, I believe she wanted him away from here."

"Why do you say that, 'Lissa?" Lester wanted to know. Quiet little Marie just nodded her head in agreement.

"I believe she figured that if he stayed in this house, his daddy would track him here and try to get him away from here. Accordin' to what Rosie told me, he is part of a group that has a lot of contacts and eventually, he's gonna find little Benny."

The Sheriff spoke up then, and opined that she was probably right in her thinking. 

"Also, since Rosie most likely didn't have a legal paper where the father signed his parental rights over to Rosie, he could come at any time and get the boy," the Sheriff continued.

"What are we going to do, then? Such a monster shouldn't get his hands on our little grandson, Hank! I'd almost give him over to Arlissa before I'd let him have the little sweetheart!" Helen wailed. 

One could see that they were now really considering what was best for the child at the center of the problem they faced. 

"But how would we know she wouldn't take him off somewhere and we'd never see him again? No! I won't allow it! We'll keep him and protect him from harm. Hank, you've got a shotgun that we could keep him safe with!"

"Now, Helen, I'd do my best, but what kind of a life would we have, knowing we'd have to be on our guard all the time? He'd be learning fear, more than he knows already, if we were to do that. We'd be afraid to let him out of our sight!"

The occupants of the room looked around at each other. What were they going to do to protect this little boy?

Zeb turned to Angela and whispered in her ear. A smile was her returned comment, along with a nod. 

"We have a suggestion, folks. We'd like to take Benny back with us when we leave. He seems to have taken to us, and we could protect him. How do you feel about that, Ma?"

"Are you sure? When would I ever get to see him? Oh, I don't know... I already love him so much. Wouldn't it be strange for him, being in another place, so soon after coming here?"

They could all see how much Helen hated to see him go, but as they talked more about the feasibility of the solution, they knew it would be best.

"Okay, I guess so. You all need to spend as much time with him as you can, Zeb and Angela, so he can get used to being with you. I don't want him to feel strange around you."

Helen knew it was going to be difficult for all of them. Benny was a little boy who had easily captured their hearts, with his sunny disposition and charm. 

They had the funeral and burial of Rosie to contend with as well. The next few days were going to be full of activity. 

"Zeb, one more favor. Will you speak at Rosie's funeral?"

"Yes, Ma. I'll do that. She and I were close growing up and I think I understood her pretty well."

"When did you decide to have visitation, Mrs. Tunstall?" The Sheriff inquired. 

"Tomorrow from seven to nine p.m. at the Funeral Home, and the funeral is on the following day at ten a.m. with the burial at eleven a.m. at the old cemetery."

"May I ask why you are taking her all the way out there, when there is one closer to town?"

"Grandpa O'Hanlon and his family already have a family plot out there. There is plenty of space out there and we have never bought any spaces in the new cemetery. I remember how is very peaceful it was out there, when we buried him."

At this news, Arlissa perked up. Now she would be able to get more information about her past, perhaps. 

Soon they were getting ready to leave, and the Sheriff spoke to Arlissa. 

"How about I follow you home, Arlissa, just to make sure that Douglas fella is watching for you?"

"Oh, thanks, Sheriff! I had completely forgot about him. I'll be ready to go in just a minute or two."

She walked over to Helen Tunstall to say goodbye.


"Miss Helen, I really am sorry about Rosie. I loved her, too, you know. I had no idea she was goin' to do any of the things she did. She was a good friend to me, and I miss her. Thank you for the good supper and I hope we can be friends. Goodbye for now." 

Arlissa hugged Helen Tunstall and took her leave, with the Sheriff following closely behind her after saying his goodbyes. Hat in hand, he walked out the door to Arlissa's car.

"I'll be right behind you, Miss Hinton; in fact, I'll see you to your front door."

"Thank you, Sheriff. I appreciate it."

It was a quiet trip back to her home and she was tempted to wave the Sheriff on when they arrived, but she didn't.

When they pulled into the yard, he got out of his car and walked over to hers, carrying his big flashlight, since there was no moon that night, and there were no outside lights by which to see anything.

"Sheriff, really, I think I'm safe now."

"Now, Miss Arlissa, I'll just walk you to the door. It's as black as pitch out here; you could stumble and fall. Nobody'd know you were even hurt. Just humor me, okay?"

"All right, Sheriff; since you insist. Thank ye."

She slipped her arm into his and they walked companionably to her front stoop. 

Looking at the top of the stoop, as he shone the light on it, she stood amazed.

"Blinky! What are you doin' up here? Why are you sleepin' on my front stoop? You silly cat! You know you belong in the barn!"

Leaning down to pick her up, Arlissa almost dropped the cat.

"Sheriff! Looky here! She's dead! Why does she have a red ribbon around her neck? She ain't never wore a ribbon on her neck!" 

The Sheriff examined the cat lying in Arlissa's hands.

"It looks like your Blinky has a broken neck, Miss Arlissa!"

"Who would do such a thing?" She cradled the cat in her arms, crying softly.

"Con Douglas! That's who!" She realized with a fury. "He is a lowdown polecat! He used to get in trouble all the time for shootin' at squirrels and dogs and birds - anything that moved."

"Yes, I remember," replied the Sheriff. "He was reported several times for being on people's properties shooting animals. Listen, I'm going to go in with you and check to make sure he hasn't been inside your house. He could be waiting in there for you to come home. You stay right behind me."

Arlissa went in behind him, still holding Blinky in her arms.

All at once, the Sheriff turned to Arlissa.

"You stay behind me, you hear?" He whispered to her. "He may still be here. Don't you lock your doors?"

"Of course, I do! I locked them just before I left today!"

The Sheriff flashed the light around in the living room and could see the destruction the intruder had left behind.

Arlissa flipped on the light near the front door and let out a strangled cry.

"Don't touch anything!" Sheriff Bradshaw warned. "I'm going to check for fingerprints later on." 

Arlissa walked over to the rocking chair in the corner; apparently the only furniture that hadn't been damaged in some way. Her grandpa had made the chair with his own hands over twenty years ago for her granny. She realized she was still holding Blinky, and lay her down on the floor. 

"How is my Granny goin' to take this? How can I get it cleaned up before she comes home?"

Looking around the room, she saw the broken picture frames and glass the intruder had strewn about on the floor. It had crunched beneath her feet as she walked to the rocker. 

By now the Sheriff had moved into the bedrooms and saw bed clothing torn into shreds. The intruder (or intruders) had also invaded Arlissa's dresser and cut all her clothing into shreds and strewn it about. Urine had been put on the clothing as well. 

He progressed into the kitchen and saw the refrigerator standing open with food stuffs scattered as well,  juice poured all over the stove and table. 

Walking back into the living room, he shook his head and said, "You can't stay here, Miss Arlissa! The person who did this is too dangerous to let you be without protection. You're coming home with me, at least for tonight. My wife will be glad to have some company. You remember I told you she is bedridden. I have someone that comes in during the day, so you needn't be worried I would be having you take care of her."

"But, my animals! I can't go off and leave them! The cows and the pigs and the chickens can't be left without somebody takin' care of them!"

"Maybe we'd best be going out there to check on the animals," he suggested.

She picked up Blinky to carry him outside. 

Taking the flashlight in hand, Sheriff Bradshaw led the way out to the barn. They walked quietly, with Arlissa to the side and behind the sheriff, stepping carefully.

The barn door stood wide open, and they saw devastation there also. Blood was everywhere. Minnie and the other two cows lay with their throats cut. 

"Oh, no! Not Minnie, too! How could anyone be so cruel? How could he, Sheriff?" Arlissa looked up at Sheriff Bradshaw in horror, as she knelt beside her pet cow, still holding Blinky. She had forgotten she was holding him. Gently she placed him beside Minnie.

The Sheriff knelt down and felt the cow.

"He's not been gone for long; she still feels kinda warm."

When they checked the henhouse, the chickens were okay, but probably only because the perpetrator had not had time to kill them, too. 

"Come along, Miss Arlissa! I'll get some fellas out here tomorrow to clean all this up for you and dispose of the bodies. I'm so sorry you're having to go through this right now. I know now for sure  that it's not safe for you to be out here alone. I hate to think what could have happened if you had decided to come back here while he was still doing all this."

"You think it was Con Douglas, then?"

"The evidence is not clear yet, but circumstantially, I'd say it's a good chance it was him. He was mighty mad at you this afternoon. He strikes me as a dangerous man, with the family background he's got. I've had some dealings with them over the years; and the dealings weren't pleasant, to say the least."

"Are you goin' to arrest him?"

"Well, I don't have a very large staff to gather evidence, I may have to bring in the State Troopers on this one. I'll get fingerprints and see if they can match them up with any they've got on file. I'm going to bring in Con and question him this evening. But first, I'm going to take you to my house for safety."

"Wait a minute, Sheriff! My pigs...I gotta check on them. The pig lot is down this a' way."

They hurried down the hill away from the barn lot and saw the pigs were okay. Apparently the fella had forgotten about the pigs.

On the way to the Sheriff's car, Arlissa thought about her Granny. How was she ever going to tell Granny?  And her car, how was she going to get her car to go to see Granny?

Sheriff Bradshaw gently assisted the young woman into the cab of his truck. The drive to his home was a brief one.

"Miss Arlissa, I hardly know what to say about all this, except how sorry I am that it has all has happened. I know you don't deserve it. I'm going to do my best to bring him, or them, if it was more than one that did it, in for questioning and put him or them in jail."

"What about my car, Sheriff? How can I go see my Granny tomorrow?"

"I'll see you get it in time to drive it tomorrow. Don't worry. I am concerned for your safety, so I'm going to have one of my deputies follow you there and then follow you back to my house when you are ready to leave the hospital."

"How long am I gonna be stayin'  with you and Mizz Bradshaw, Sheriff?

"As long as it takes to get this guy. Maggie Lou is going to love having you around."

"Will your deputy go with me to feed my chickens and pigs? I can't let them go hungry."

"I'll see that he takes you and helps you. Don't you worry! In fact, I may have him just drive you to the hospital after taking you out to the farm to feed them. Here we are at my home. Come on in and I'll have my day help, Sarah, to get you one of Maggie's nightgowns to wear tonight and maybe one of her dresses to wear tomorrow."

"Sheriff, you're bein' awful good to me. I don't understand why, but I really appreciate it. I don't know what I would have done if I'd gone back home and seen all that by myself. I still don't know how Granny's goin' to take it. I don't even know if I can tell her or how I can ease into it."

She kept chattering as they walked to the house from the truck. Her nerves were stretched to a breaking point; the talking was a way to deal with everything that had taken place over the last hour.

They entered the house and Arlissa looked around, dazed now from all that had taken place. She was walking as though in a fog, trying to mentally take in everything that had taken place.

Gone were any questions about her parentage; it was no longer of immediate importance to her, although it would resurface at a later time. Right now, she had to deal with the events of the past hour or so.

Sarah came bustling out of the kitchen. 

"Sheriff, I just took Maggie Lou some juice. Would you like something before I leave for the night?"

Then she saw Arlissa sitting on the edge of the sofa, looking as though she was going to faint.

"Land's sake, Woody! What you doin' with this young lady, bringin' her in here this time of evenin'? What's wrong with you, Arlissa? You look like you've seen a ghost, 'er somethin'!"

"She needs a place to stay for the evening, Sarah, and has no place else to go right now, and I thought maybe Maggie Lou could use some company while I take care of some business. That's all I can say for right now, okay?"

"Sure, Woody. Whatever you say. Hmphh!"

"Now, can you get her one of Maggie's nightgowns, so's she'll have something to sleep in tonight? And one of Maggie's dresses, so she'll have something to wear tomorrow to see her Granny."

Sarah looked at Arlissa, and her curiosity was burning a hole in her brain, near abouts, but she held her tongue and went to do the Sheriff's bidding. 

Woody Bradshaw put his finger to his lips to caution Arlissa about saying anything of what had happened to her home. She nodded silently.

He had a purpose in his actions; he didn't want Con Douglas being warned that he was coming to pick him up for questioning that evening. 

"Arlissa, do you mind if I let Sarah go ahead on home and you stay here with Maggie? She'll take Maggie to the bathroom and do all that before she goes home."

"No, Sheriff, I don't mind at all. I'll be happy to set with her. It'll give me somethin' to do, instead a' settin' here thinkin' about what all is a goin' on in my life right now."

Ordinarily, he would have gone ahead and picked up a suspect, without coming home ahead of time to ask Sarah to stay. Since Arlissa was going to be here, she could give Maggie the company she needed.

"Can I go in and speak with her right now?" Arlissa wanted to know. 

"Sure, come on in."

"Maggie, honey, I brought somebody to see you; she's gonna stay with you while I take care of some Sheriffin' business."

The old lady sitting in the bed looked at Arlissa and gave her a tender smile.

"Savannah? Is that you? Savannah O'Hanlon?"

Arlissa looked at Maggie Bradshaw in confusion, then at the Sheriff. 

"She gets things mixed up these days. She had already started getting confused before the cancer. The cancer has taken its toll on her, besides. Don't pay any attention to what she says. Doc Henry says she ain't long for this world, so I just try to see that she's comfortable," the Sheriff whispered to Arlissa.

"Honey, this is Eleanor Hinton's daughter from over the way. She wanted to come and visit with you for awhile. Okay, Baby?"

She looked up with soft brown eyes at her husband of forty years. 

"Where's my Woody? Is he out workin' somewheres?"

He looked down at his wife, smiling. 

"Yes, he'll be back afterwhile. This little gal wants to see you."

"Oh. Hello," she spoke softly, yet confusedly. "Do I know you? Would you read to me?"

"Of course, I'll read to you. What would you like me to read?"

The Sheriff handed Arlissa the old Bible on the table beside the bed. 

"There's a marker in it here in Psalms. She likes to hear them. You can read to her until Sarah comes in to tuck her in for the night, then a little longer till she drifts off to sleep. Sarah will show you where you can sleep and she'll lay out the nightgown and dress for you on the bed where you'll be sleeping."

He leaned down and kissed Maggie Lou's brow. She had already closed her eyes. He smoothed her hair gently away from her face and left.

Sarah came in after Arlissa had been reading to the old lady for about twenty minutes. She found the girl had drifted off to sleep as well in the easy chair near the bed. Just reading the Psalms had quieted her soul, too. 

Sarah gently wakened Arlissa. Woody had told Sarah all about what had happened to Arlissa and her heart went out to the girl. He knew he could trust Sarah to keep her own counsel on the matter.

Arlissa was almost walking in her sleep to the back bedroom where she was to spend the night. 

After making use of the facilities, she changed into the nightgown and went to bed. 

Sarah decided to stay the night to keep people from getting the wrong idea about Arlissa spending the night, so she slept on the couch in Arlissa's bedroom. People would find out about the girl staying there; she knew it for sure. 

There were few secrets in this little town. 

Upon waking the next morning, Arlissa stretched and yawned, then sitting up in bed, remembered she was not at home. She looked out the window to see the sun streaming through the trees outside. 

"Oh, my goodness! I'm late gettin' up. They'll think I'm a regular sleepyhead, a sleepin' in like this!"

Every bone in her body seemed to be aching; she felt a depression she had never before experienced. What was she going to do? How would she ever tell Granny what had taken place? 

"Well," she told herself, "I'm jist goin' to have to leave it up to God to help me tell Granny. Surely, He'll give me the words I need to say to her."

She got up and used the bathroom, taking a quick shower and got dressed in the dress belonging to Maggie Lou Bradshaw. 

Looking at herself in the mirror, she thought it looked okay on her, a little old-fashioned maybe, but it fit her good. The sheriff's wife was a short, slender person as well as Arlissa. 

"Hmm. Wonder what Sheriff Bradshaw found out last night when he went to pick up Con Douglas?" 

Arlissa followed the aroma of bacon coming from the kitchen and went in to see Sarah bustling about making breakfast.

"Well, good morning, Miss Sleepy Girl!" Sarah greeted her with a smile. "I'm so glad you got you some good sleep! I heard you snoring a little last night!"

"You did? How? Could you hear me all the way to your house?" 

"No, you silly! I slept on the couch in your room. I didn't want to leave you here to have to get up and maybe get something for Maggie! I quite often stay here when the Sheriff is out on an all night job. To be quite honest, I didn't want no talk a goin' on about you being here with the Sheriff and all! You know how people are always happy to gossip about such things!"

Just as Arlissa sat down at the table, the Sheriff came into the kitchen and sat down as well. 

"Good morning, Miss Arlissa! Did you sleep well?"

"Yes, Sheriff, I did. I hate to be botherin' you with questions already this mornin', but did you arrest Con Douglas last night?"

"Well, I would have taken him in if I could have found him. He's still on the loose somewhere. My men and I are going to start looking for him again this morning, right after breakfast. We went to his Ma's house, where he lives and she said he wasn't there; she even let us look everywhere in the house and out-buildings. He wasn't anywhere to be found. We'll get him, though." 

After they had breakfast, one of the deputies came by to take Arlissa to the hospital to see her grandmother. 

"Now, when you're ready to come back home, you call my office or the house here, and we'll see you get back here. You can't go back to that farm till we got him in custody. You hear?" the Sheriff instructed her.

"Yes, sir. I sure ain't wantin' to get hurt by that Con Douglas!"

When the deputy came to the door, Arlissa went out with him to his car, and she realized she knew him. 

"Billy Newman! I didn't know you was a deputy! How long have you been doin' that?"

He blushed and told her he had been deputy for a little more than a year. She knew him from high school, but not very well. He was one of the town kids and didn't mix in with the others too well. His family had money. His daddy was a county judge and was highly respected. 

Billy had even gone away to college and everything. He was an educated young man and she didn't think the job of deputy would take him very far, and doubted it paid anywhere like he was used to having for spending. What she didn't know was that he and his daddy had come to a parting of the ways over his laying around doing nothing after college.

She didn't know what else to say and since Billy was not much of a conversationalist either, the inside of the car was silent, except for the sound of the engine as it turned.

About twenty-five minutes later, he parked the car and walked her to the hospital doors. 

"Sheriff said to be sure I got you inside safe and sound."

"Okay, Billy. Thanks. See you this afternoon." She smiled at him; he nodded, gave a half-smile in return and left.

Arlissa noticed the nurses stopped talking at the desk when they saw her coming. One bustled over to her as she got ready to enter Granny's room.

"Oh! You poor thing! What are you going to do?"

"Has Granny took a turn for the worse?" Arlissa wanted to know. "Why didn't you call me?"


To be continued)