The Saints of Swallow Hill(78)

In a calm tone, he said, “Hell, it don’t surprise me none. I had that one pegged from the start. I knew she won’t right. Goes the other way, if you know what I mean.”

Cornelia tugged on Otis’s hand, trying to pry it off of Rae Lynn’s head, but he only yanked harder, making Rae Lynn cry out. Her scalp was on fire. Cornelia collapsed by her side, and Rae Lynn put her arm around her. At that, Otis let go of Rae Lynn’s hair and tried dragging Cornelia away. To his surprise, she bit him. He yelped and then struck her in the face, but he let them alone.

Crow said, “They have no shame. You gonna stand for such?” He goaded Otis. “Your wife, damn, she’s got to learn respect.”

Rae Lynn said, “Leave her alone. It’s my fault.”

Crow said, “Now, ain’t that a twist. She admits it. Hell, I got just the thing for this situation.”

Crow walked away and Rae Lynn bowed her head, shut her eyes, while Cornelia continued to try reasoning with Otis.

“Otis. Listen to me. He ain’t the boss of you, is he? You’re your own man.”

Otis ignored her, then he chuckled and said, “Hey, now, look a there.”

Rae Lynn opened her eyes. Crow came toward them carrying a bucket where tiny puffs of smoke rose from the top. She began trembling, felt like she was going to be sick. Dread filled her, and her hand tightened on Cornelia’s.

She whispered, “Cornelia.”

Otis said, “Don’t you talk to her!”

She tried to get up, but Otis slapped his hands on her shoulders and held her down. Rae Lynn shut her eyes.

Otis yelled at Crow, “Hurry it up!” then at Cornelia, “Move away from her!”

Cornelia gripped Rae Lynn’s hand tighter. “No!”

Several things happened at once. To Rae Lynn’s left the blast of a shotgun rang and the hot spatter of tar, like black raindrops, fell, stinging the arm she’d put around Cornelia. Above them, Crow yelled, “Sonofabitch!” and Cornelia’s sudden cry of pain made Rae Lynn believe she’d been shot. Instead, half of Cornelia’s head and face were slathered in the hot tar, and it ran in slow motion over her beautiful dark hair, her cheeks, and her neck. A glob of it fell into Rae Lynn’s lap. Mouth open, soundless, Cornelia lurched to her feet, flapping both hands like a bird trying to take flight.

Rae Lynn shouted at Otis and Crow, “What has she ever done to you?”

Otis appeared filled with confusion, while Crow stared stupidly at his bleeding hand. Rae Lynn rushed to Cornelia’s side.

Otis, fury filling his voice, yelled at Crow, “Look at what you done, you idiot! Not my wife! Her!”

Beyond the chaos, and through a glaze of tears, Rae Lynn saw Del Reese running toward them, shotgun still raised to his shoulder. Too late, she thought. Too late, too late.





Chapter 27


Del


Del ran to the women huddled together on the ground and assessed the horrible deed done to them.

“I tried to get him before this happened.”

In the periphery of his thoughts came gorgeous when Rae Lynn raised her eyes to him, but that thought evaporated like mist under a hot sun when she spoke. Her voice had a hitch in it.

“Too late.”

It was true. If he’d been a second sooner, Crow would be the only one nursing an injury. Peewee, his hair dripping, his face covered with soap, came running, still in the process of pulling his suspenders over his shoulders. It was apparent he’d been washing up. His eyes grew big and round as he stared at the women and then at Crow.

Crow immediately yelled, “That sonofabitch shot me!” while Del offered nothing.

Peewee was flummoxed.

He said, “What in the hell’s going on. What happened to Cornelia?”

Crow pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and wrapped it around what amounted to nothing more than a nick.

He said, “I’m gonna tell you what’s going on, and any questions you might’ve had about a certain somebody’s gonna be answered.”

Otis was in a dither, trying to get ahold of Cornelia’s hand, only she kept batting him away.

Crow pointed at Rae Lynn. “Otis caught her kissing his wife.”

Otis exclaimed, “S’truth! I seen it with my own eyes.” Rae Lynn gave an imperceptible shake of her head, and Del was willing to bet cold, hard cash it hadn’t happened that way.

Bewildered, Peewee said, “And so you dumped hot tar on Cornelia?”

Crow pointed with his bandaged hand at Del. “If he hadn’t shot my hand it would’ve gone where it was intended!”

Otis circled them like a buzzard.

“He was gonna dump it on her!”

His flailed his arms wildly at Rae Lynn, who helped Cornelia to her feet. The women started for the house and Otis fell in behind them, blabbering and making a nuisance of himself. If the situation hadn’t been so tragic, Del would’ve laughed at how each time he got within a foot of his wife, she swatted him away. The women went inside with Otis trailing after them dejectedly.

Peewee said, “Sweeney. First thing, you’re fired. Second, you ain’t leaving before you pay for what you done here today. You know, since you’re always talking about what’s fair.”

Del sure did appreciate this side of Peewee.