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1
“Okay, everyone, stay calm. We’ve practiced for something like this happening plenty of times,” Canyon said, then noticed Ben. “Oh, hey, that’s right. You’re here for dinner, aren’t you? Just hang loose for a bit. Miriam, take Evelyn to our special spot, just in case.” As Miriam escorted a much meeker Evelyn out of the room, he turned to Amberlin. “You two stay here. This won’t take long.” He hoped that turned out to be true.
He strolled to the front door and paused long enough to take a couple deep breaths before opening it. "Why, Sheriff Otis, what are you doing way out here?" As he spoke, he stepped out onto the porch and closed the door behind him.
Sheriff Otis had been in charge of keeping the peace for close to thirty years. His closely cropped hair had turned gray over ten years ago, and his mustache was mostly gray as well, but despite being in his early sixties, the sheriff maintained a well-trimmed body and a deep tan that exuded good health, all of which was highlighted by a well-tailored and maintained uniform.
“Can we sit for just a minute?” Otis asked pointing to the two white rocking chairs.
“Sure, I guess,” Canyon replied.
The two of them rocked back and forth for close to a minute before Otis finally spoke up. “You know, before your pappy passed away several years ago, he made me promise to keep an eye out for his son. That’s been a pretty easy promise to keep. You’ve been a good boy...well, man now.” He stopped rocking and turned to look at Canyon. “Think of this as a social call, if anyone asks. What I’m about to tell you, well, this conversation never happened.” He paused for a moment and chewed on the edge of his mustache.
“You see, I have a new deputy, a transplant from Raleigh—a real go-getter. He's looking to make a name for himself in these parts, so he's been investigating some of the cold cases. You know where I'm going with this, right?"
Canyon shrugged but didn’t say anything. He fought to keep his face as deadpan as he could.
“I’ve heard reports from a few concerned citizens that you have someone staying with you. Is that right?”
“Yes, that’s correct,” Canyon answered. “You’ve met both of them, Amberlin and Miriam.”
“Yes, both are very nice, but they’re not who I’m referring to,” the sheriff continued. “Another woman. She threatened Charlie Thompson with a pipe the other day at the pond behind the Piggly Wiggly. I also heard she had words with Josh Jenkins a few weeks ago. Know anything about that?” Otis asked as he gave Canyon a stern look.
Canyon shrugged again.
“Look, you know my approach to law enforcement has been to let quiet, peaceful people be, but when someone starts to cause a disruption, well, it’s my duty to investigate. On top of which I now have this eager beaver deputy...” It was Otis’ turn to shrug.
“Listen, Canyon. My deputy and I will be back in a day or two with a search warrant. I’d suggest your guest not be here by then. Harboring a fugitive from justice...well, it’s a serious offense. ’Nough said for now.”
Sheriff Otis stood up, and Canyon followed suit a moment later. The sheriff held out his hand, and the two of them shook. "Thanks, Sheriff," Canyon said. "I appreciate the heads up."
As the sheriff started towards the stairs, he turned and pointed to a brightly colored VW bus sitting in the driveway with the words, “Flower Child” written on the side.
“That yours?” he asked.
Canyon shook his head. “Nope. A friend of Amberlin’s here for dinner.”
Sheriff Otis nodded. “Probably be best this friend not be around either. I can only imagine what I’d find if I checked inside that hippie-mobile.”
“I understand,” Canyon replied, feeling the hackles on the back of his neck rising for the first time.
“Beautiful place you have here,” Otis said gazing out over the fields. “Nice and quiet, just like the rest of the county. Sure would like it to stay that way.” And with that, he strolled down off the porch, climbed in his patrol car and drove away.
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2
AS CANYON ENTERED THE living room without the sheriff accompanying him, Amberlin breathed a sigh of relief until she noticed the worried look on Canyon’s normally placid face.
“Trouble?” Amberlin asked.
“Afraid so,” Canyon replied. As Miriam and Evelyn re-entered the room, he filled everyone in about the sheriff’s warning.
“Holy hell!” Evelyn exclaimed jumping up from the couch. “What the hell am I going to do? I can’t let him find me here, but where can I go?”
“Calm down,” Miriam said. She walked over to Evelyn and took one of her hands. “We’re all in this together. We’ll figure out something.”
“Yeah,” Amberlin added. “At least Sheriff Otis was kind enough to warn us.”
“I should have known better than to go out in public,” Evelyn said, the fear growing on her face. She began to hyperventilate.
“Please, sit down,” Miriam asked. “You’re getting yourself all worked up.”
“You bet I’m getting worked up. They’re coming for me which means I’m heading either back to that damn asylum or, even worse, to jail.”
“We’re not going to let that happen,” Amberlin replied, though she was growing more concerned by the minute as well. Evelyn’s panic was contagious. “Maybe we can hide you somewhere until after the sheriff and his deputy leave...”
“I don't think that's going to work," Ben spoke up for the first time. Amberlin turned to him with a surprised look on her face. She'd forgotten he was there.
“Why?”
“You stay out of this!” Evelyn shouted. “If it weren’t for your family, I wouldn’t be in this mess here.”
“Mother, please, let him talk,” Amberlin pleaded. “Please, sit down and stay calm.” Evelyn glared at her daughter but finally did as she asked.
After a moment, Ben continued. “As I told you, I came here because I’d heard a rumor that there was a healer around here, and I thought it might be you.”
“Yeah, I remember. So?”
“Well, it’s just a matter of time before my folks hear the same rumors and come to investigate. I’m sorry to have to say this, but the truth is my parents hate both of you. They believe the Gentry women are Satan’s disciples.”
Amberlin groaned, and Evelyn leaped up from her seat a second time and started pacing, muttering a long litany of profanity as she did so. Miriam frowned but didn’t say anything, letting her former patient walk off her anger and frustration.
Amberlin watched her mother pace back and forth, occasionally glancing to first Miriam and then Canyon. What were they going to do? She knew her mother was right. There was no way she could survive being imprisoned again. Her sanity was borderline even now. Being confined would undoubtedly send her over the edge.
Finally, Miriam’s calm voice brought Amberlin back to the present. “There’s a big pot of chili simmering on the stove. It’ll take me only a minute to finish preparing the bread. Amberlin, if you’ll help me, I suggest we go ahead and eat. Sometimes, the best way to solve a problem like this is to step away from it for a while.”
Evelyn stopped pacing and stared at Miriam for a long couple of seconds before finally replying, “Yeah, why not? We’ve all got to eat.” She turned and led the way to the dining room.