They saw them coming down the road like something out of an old-time movie. A heavyset man named Bly headed up the posse. Carried a rifle in one hand and a lantern in the other. Each man the same. The flames and the shadows from the flames danced on each face. Their eyes were hidden under their hats. Wicked talk spread among them like grassfire. Turning down the rutted road their flashlights caught the metal paneling of the cruiser. The lawmen in their rain slickers standing with austere looks, expecting this the whole time. Fielding and Ness shined their flashlights at the men.
What’d I tell yeh boys about this, Fielding said.
They were quiet for a moment, shifting on their feet in the mud. The rain hissed against the hot glass of the lanterns.
Go on home, Fielding said. This ain’t worth yeh all goin to jail over. Let us do our jobs. Yeh all get on home.
Sheriff, Bly finally said. We ain’t goin to allow this in our town.
That ain’t up to you, Bly, Fielding said. Yeh all are about to put me in a uncomfortable spot.
He raped that gal in that car! someone called out.
Yeh don’t know that, Fielding said. We don’t even know if she was in the car.
Well he kilt em! Slit that man’s throat!
Yeh don’t know that either.
Kilt Billy too!
Bly said, Ain’t yeh goin to let us at least jes go on down there and see if he’s home?
No I ain’t, Fielding said.
He’s trying to protect you, Ness said.
Fielding looked at Ness with a great amount of gratitude and then looked away again before any of the men could tell that it was so.
A fat man named Chester stepped forward from the mob and began to spit accusations. You stay out a this yeh sumbitch. Ever since yeh come round yeh been in the sheriff’s back pocket workin him like a puppet. If yeh spent a little more time policin and a lot less drinkin, we wouldn’t even be here.
You settle down, Chester! Fielding said. Don’t go sayin somethin yeh can’t take back.
I ain’t sayin it to you, Chester said, I’m sayin it to him. He’s a drunk! It’s cloudin his judgment! He’s either drinkin or diddle fuckin that Heather gal from the hotel.
Goddamnit, Chester, Fielding said, keep yer mouth shut.
Chester pointed his finger at Ness. Yeh git yer ass out a this town, he said. And you stay gone.
A murmur of agreement rippled through the men.
Chester, Fielding said impatiently. I swear it, you make another remark like that and I’ll arrest yeh for threatenin a officer. Goes for all yeh. Now if you don’t disperse I’ll have Clinton here place yeh all under arrest for unlawful assembly. Go on home. All of yeh!
They stood there in the muddy road, regarding one another, the rain burning on the steaming lanterns.
So what’re yeh goin to do about all this? Bly asked.
Goin to stay here till he comes back, Fielding said. Then we’ll go down and have a talk.
So he ain’t home, someone said.
I never said that.
Then where is he?
Just go on home. I don’t want to have to tell it again.
When none of them moved, Fielding said, All right. Deputy, place these men under arrest.
Clinton started toward them and Bly raised his hands.
Fine, he said. Jest know we was tryin to help is all, Sheriff. That’s all we was tryin to do.
Noted, Fielding said. Now go home.
Like some reduced peasant revolt they sloshed about gazing dumbly through the rain and finally turned and marched out the way they had come, their lampfires and flashlights winking out one at a time as the road bent into the forest until there was nothing but darkness and rain.
Thanks for that back there, Fielding said to Ness.
I guess the place is starting to grow on me, Ness said.