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Gertie’s red dot zoomed around the kitchen again. It darted up and down and all around.
“And the dot reappears,” Jax said.
“It’s called a reflex sight or luminous dot,” I said without thinking.
“Very good. You remembered,” Carter quickly said, covering for me. “I’ve been teaching her as much as I can about weapons.”
Jax smirked. “Must’ve worked. Your girlfriend is packing, but let’s not knock around any tall stories. If we have too many out there, we’ll never get around them. I’ve seen her in action. She’s had some military training.”
Carter looked proud. “I was a Marine. I taught her everything I know.”
I turned so only Carter could see me and rolled my eyes. He made a quick gesture for me to move then pointed outside. “Are we sure Gertie isn’t in trouble?”
The zigzagging red dot zoomed across the room again. This time, it was indicative of someone who had lost control of their weapon.
“Hurry!” Ida Belle flung the door open. “Go find her. She’s either hanging onto the gutter or in the hedges.”
Carter put his hand on the butt of his weapon, but Ida Belle stopped him. “She’s fine, Carter, but likely in need of assistance or a ladder.” She waved him off. Jax started to follow, but she stepped in his path. “Not so fast, you. Gertie is my oldest and dearest friend.
“She does not need a criminal’s help. Since none of this gives us a complete Jax Daigle picture, I wouldn’t trust you alone with Gertie for fear we’d find you playing the aggrieved boyfriend after you send my friend to the morgue. I know who you are now. And if I have my say...”
“Ida Belle,” I said, stepping in front of Jax before she threatened a man with the ability to back up any threats he might sling in retaliation.
Ida Belle might have that same ability, but she didn’t have the heart. Jax may have had a heart, but only for his granddaughter.
Jax returned to his chair. Gomer leisurely entered the kitchen. He pointed to an apple in the fruit bowl and I nodded. “Help yourself.”
He put it in his pocket. “For the trip home.” He waited a minute then sighed. “I should probably get back to Wasteland. I have an open door policy. People know they can depend on me day or night. Been thinking about running for mayor, actually.”
“The only open door you have is for Celia’s neighbor Carlena,” Gertie said, entering the kitchen with a headful of leaves. “And you’d probably win by default since there aren’t any registered voters left over there.” She picked the debris from her hair and deposited it in the trash. “What’d I miss?”
“We’ll fill you in,” Ida Belle said, putting her hands on Gomer’s shoulders and directing him back outside.
Gertie frowned. “Why the long faces?” She shook her head. “Don’t tell me. I should’ve seen this coming. We’ve had a great record over in Wasteland. Trouble comes over to Sinful and what happens?”
“We still have an excellent record,” Ida Belle assured her.
“Oh,” Gertie said, wringing her hands. “Well of course we do.”
“Could someone tell me what time the three ring circus takes an intermission? I’m still here.” Bob Myers cleared his throat. “Is there anything else we need to discuss before we say goodnight?”
“I think you’ve covered everything,” Carter said. “But I would feel better if I could get your contact information.”
“Sure,” Bob said. “I’ll give you a call tomorrow, Deputy.”
Gertie frowned at the table. Ida Belle mouthed, “We’ll explain later.”
About that time, Doris bounded down the stairs. “You believe him?” She clenched her small hands. “I trusted you. All of you.” Her gaze darted around the room before she leveled a cold and fixated stare on me. “And you’re selling me out like that washed up marshal? Why? What’s in it for you people? Kickbacks?”
“I would be the washed-up marshal,” Bob said.
She snatched the phone from the table and screamed, “I have four daughters. You moved us here. You promised a new life. And what do we have? A neighbor who kills for sport!”
Jax rubbed his neck which seemed to be a passive aggressive action. He looked despondent, like he couldn’t care less that his actions posed a problem for this woman and her family.
I started to say something, but Ida Belle rested her hand on mine. Our eyes met and she shook her head. We needed to hear what Doris wanted us to hear.
It might be our only chance.
“You and your men killed everyone we loved, everyone!” She shook her finger in Jax’s face, but he never even blinked. “And you think you can what? Somehow make it okay for us?”
“That’s what I’d like to do,” he said with some level of sincerity.
“How? By forcing us to look at the man who ordered the hits on our family?” She scoffed. “Never! I won’t do it. I won’t stay!” She ran to the stairs and called out, “Girls! Hurry! Let’s go! Now!”
Doris’s daughters flew down the steps as if they were on fire.
I attempted to stop them, but the words I wanted to say, whatever they might have been, just wouldn’t come. I couldn’t imagine life in her shoes, especially with minor children. She’d uprooted their lives because of fear.
That’s when it hit me. She married a man who was a made man. Had it been a trade for her? Had she been okay with it as long as the danger didn’t land on her door?
As if Ida Belle read my thoughts, she mouthed, “Her choices.”
“I’d like to help,” Gertie said. “We all would, dear.”
Doris scoffed. “If you want to help? Keep him here until morning and don’t let him call anyone.” She opened the front door to leave. “Give us that.”
“You can run, but you can’t outrun my son,” Jax told her. “I’m here to make things right.”
“You’re here for you. That’s all your guys ever talked about was Jax Daigle, the one-man killing machine.” She spit as true contempt shook her to her core. “I don’t fear your son. I fear you. We all fear you. It’s always been you!”
The four young girls looked terrified as they followed their mother to the porch.
“I’ll escort them back,” Carter said, squeezing my hand in passing.
I wanted to apologize, but what could I say? She seemed convinced that her hatred was correctly aimed.
“That went well,” Jax said, reaching for a napkin and wiping his face. He then reached for his phone.
Ida Belle grabbed an umbrella from the blue and white porcelain stand next to the door. “Not happening.”
“I’m calling my men and telling them to let her pass,” Jax said.
“She’ll be fine with Carter,” I said.
“And he doesn’t need their permission,” Ida Belle added.
Gomer returned. “I’m sorry, but I really need to go. Gloria will be wondering where I am.”
“Walter can give you a ride back,” said Ida Belle, volunteering Walter as soon as he returned to the kitchen.
“Woman, did it ever occur to you that I might be ready to call it a night?”
“And yet you jumped,” I teased.
He winked. “I’ll always jump, just not as high. That happens when you get to be our age.”
“Speak for yourself,” Ida Belle said.
Walter grinned. “Come on, Gomer. Ida Belle will never forgive me if I make you walk.”
“Wait, Gomer,” I said, staring at Jax. “Do you own the Steakhouse in Wasteland or not?”
“Yes,” he replied. “Why?”
“The steakhouse has been in Gomer’s family for a long time,” I said. “He had meant to reopen it someday.”
Ida Belle smiled at Gertie and she nodded. I had reinforcements for sure.
“We’ll keep your secret and stay out of your way,” I said, crossing my fingers behind my back. “Provided that you sign over the steakhouse. Gomer Hollowman should be the sole owner of his family’s restaurant.”
Gomer looked lovestruck in that instant and I hoped I could somehow help remedy that with my next words. “Gomer is a friend and confidant. He’s been a friend to many. And you put his life and the life of his daughter in danger.”
“Well, I was never in any real....”
“Hush up, Gomer,” Ida Belle said.
“You were in extraordinary danger,” Gertie said, turning to Jax. “And you owe me too. You made me feel like a hussy. You asked Celia to marry you while telling me that I could be your mistress.”
Ida Belle scoffed. “As if that’s some sort of honor right there.”
I said, “We’ll deal with that later, but for Gomer’s troubles, I vote that Jax sells the steakhouse to Gomer for one quarter.”
“Agreed,” Ida Belle and Gertie chimed in.
“Shucks, girls,” Gomer said, stuffing his hands in his pockets.
“That’s a valuable piece of property,” Jax said, frowning.
“And Gomer’s life is priceless,” I said. “But you didn’t care. All you cared about was making good on whatever deal you have with the Feds. This way, you can do whatever you need to do. No one will bother you. Gomer and his daughter will have financial security and you can do whatever you need to do without our involvement.”
Gertie leaned sideways and whispered, “I’m not sure if that’s what I want yet.”
“Sure it is, Hebert,” Ida Belle snapped. “You’re the mistress, remember. You’ll be otherwise engaged basking in the sun while Jax and his new wife are honeymooning in the Caribbean.”
“You’re really going to marry her?” Gomer asked.
Jax studied Gertie for a long while. “Tell them or I will.”
“What?” she asked, fidgeting.
He arched a brow. “Who did I ask first?”
She clucked and ran her fingers through her hair. “We’d only known one another a couple of days.”
“But you were my first choice,” he said sheepishly. “You said you’d rather be a Sinful Lady so I took that to mean that you didn’t want marriage.”
We all laughed.
Ida Belle looped her arm through mine. “Now you see why it’s so easy for our group to stay single. We get to have all the fun and none of the obligation.”
I certainly couldn’t fault the Sinful Ladies for that.