Page 99 of Magnolia Summer

“Can I run over to your office and get you something? Some medicine?”

“Later I’ll need to change my bandage. You can go get some things for me then.”

She brightened. “Of course.”

After they’d been there for an hour or so, Sheriff Suggs came back in. He thrust out his chest and wore a satisfied smirk.

“It looks like there’s going to be a hanging after all.”

Celia sat up straighter. Truett waited for the sheriff to say more.

“I’ll be hanging the Hartleys before sunset.”

Celia gasped and covered her mouth with her hand.

“It seems they thought they could hide out in an old shack in the woods, but I found ‘em. Got ‘em tied up outside.”

Celia sprang to her feet and looked out the window. “Oh, you’re horrible! Those men don’t deserve to die just because they opened a store. And it’s against the law for you to hang them without a trial. What kind of beast are you?”

“You look a-here, missy. I’ve had enough of your mouth.” He shook his finger in Celia’s face.

Truett wished he could break that finger. He stood to his feet and walked to the other side of his cell.

“She’s right, Suggs. You won’t get away with it this time. The authorities—”

“Shut up!”

Truett shrugged, feigning indifference. “All right. But the hooded horseman will probably stop you again.”

“You’re the hooded horseman!” Suggs roared, stalking toward him.

Suggs grabbed the bars and Truett stepped back, not wanting to encounter his foul breath.

“You’re the hooded horseman, and you’ll hang for it. Nothing can save you. You assaulted a sheriff and his deputy. You shot at a lawman, and you’ll hang. Not even your daddy or his judge friend can save you.”

Truett regretted the sheriff had said those words in front of Celia. She turned white as cotton. He hoped she didn’t faint on this stone floor. He couldn’t catch her and she might hit her head.

“Celia, go sit down.”

She didn’t obey, but the color came back in her cheeks as she glared at the sheriff. “You’re an evil man. If you hurt those men or Truett . . .” She appeared to be trying to think of something, clenching and unclenching her hands by her sides. Finally, she blurted, “God’s going to punish you!”

“So I’m going to hell?” Suggs laughed an ugly belly laugh. He continued laughing as he sauntered out the door.

Celia approached him, her eyes locked on his. He went to her, his heart twisting as she reached through the bars and put her hands around him. He drew her as close as he could. She rested her forehead against his chest, her cheek pressed against a bar.

“I’m so sorry about this,” he whispered in her ear. “I behaved foolishly. I should have written Judge Richardson a long time ago.”

“It’s not your fault. You were just trying to do the right thing. Who knows if the judge will even respond to our letters?”

A hitch in her voice told him she was crying. He pulled out his handkerchief and wiped her eyes.

“Hey, now, don’t cry. Of course the judge will respond. The sheriff is probably bluffing. The townspeople will finally stand up to him and keep him—”. . . from hanging Sam and Isaac.He stopped himself from finishing the sentence. He didn’t want to remind her. Besides, it was almost too painful to say out loud. After all, if Truett hadn’t interfered, the men would have lost their store in the fire, yes, but they’d at least be alive tonight, instead of possibly. . .

“Let’s pray, Celia. Pray for a miracle.”

Celia nodded and closed her eyes. Truett whispered a plea for God to save Sam and Isaac from getting hanged by Suggs. “God, we need a miracle.”

Celia was still crying. He dabbed at her cheeks until she took the handkerchief away from him and wiped her nose.