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The pinch between Josh’s eyes was far too deep which meant it was serious.
“What is it?” I asked anxiously.
“Mom’s about to be arrested.”
17
I pulled up to the police station the same time Ian did, and my brothers, Danny and Thomas.
“I want her arrested, Sheriff, she threatened me,” the mayor said, shaking his finger in my dad’s face as we entered the reception area.
“You know that’s not true, James,” my mom said calmly.
“It certainly is—” the mayor halted abruptly seeing all of us standing there. “You think to intimidate me with your family, Sheriff?” He didn’t wait for an answer. “Do your duty or I’ll have your job!” He shook his finger again at my dad.
My dad stood tall, his shoulders drawn back, his usual stance though he somehow appeared more intimidating at the moment.
“I am doing my job, Mayor. I am investigating the incident, and I would advise you to calm down and stop shaking your finger at me so we can get to the bottom of this.”
“What bottom? Your wife threatened me and you’re refusing to arrest her,” the mayor said, his temper spiking.
I could feel my three brothers’ anxiety as they stood watching our dad deal with the situation. I knew the three wanted to reach out and throttle the mayor. But they wisely restrained themselves. I could even feel Ian’s unrest standing beside me. He really had become part of our family.
“I never threatened you, James,” my mom said in a soft but reproaching tone. “I simply gave you sound advice just as I know your dad would have. If you do not do what is right for this town and its residents, then you will lose your job to me come election time.”
“Hear that! She threatened me,” the mayor said. “She came to town hall to purposely threatened me. Arrest her!”
My mom shook her head. “That is not true, James, and you know it. I was there to pick up the flyers from the senior center for the senior dance to distribute. I simply said hello when I saw you. You were the one to bring up the election.”
“You’re lying!” the mayor shouted.
Ian and I both hurried to step in front of my three brothers as they each went to take a step forward.
“ENOUGH!” my dad said with a shout that silenced the mayor. “Nothing happened that warrants an arrest.”
“You’re protecting family. I’ll have your job for this,” the mayor threatened.
“You do what you need to do, Mayor,” my dad said. “And I will continue to do my job as I have always done.”
“As long as the mayor is here, dear,” my mom said with a smile to my dad, “you don’t need to wait until tomorrow to talk with him.” She patted his arm. “I’ll be off now. I have flyers to distribute.”
Marsh walked in before my mom reached the door.
My mom went right to him. “I knew your mom raised you to do the right thing even if it is years later.”
“You’re right, Mrs. Madison, and I appreciate you reminding me of that,” Marsh said.
“You stop by the house tomorrow. I’ll have a fresh apple pie waiting for you.”
With a nod from my dad, Danny and Thomas followed Mom out and I heard her telling them both to go back to work, she was good to go.
“The mayor and I need to talk with you, Sheriff,” Marsh said.
The mayor’s face turned beet red. “You had your wife set this whole thing up, getting me here along with Marsh.” He turned, pointing a finger at me. “No, it was you. You got your mom to help you stick your nose where it doesn’t belong.”
I couldn’t hold my tongue. I just couldn’t. “You mean like hearing you and Marsh discuss a secret in his garage?”
The mayor lunged at me, and Ian was in front of me in a flash, his hand planted against the mayor’s chest to stop him before my dad grabbed the mayor’s arm.
“Do you want me to arrest you for assault, Mayor?” my dad asked. “You and Marsh in my office now. I have questions for you both.”
“She comes too,” the mayor said, pointing at me. “I want to know what she thinks she heard, but not that boyfriend of hers and not Josh. Two Madisons are enough to deal with.”
“Officer Randall,” my dad called out, “you’re with me.
I left Ian staring after me, worry in his blue eyes. My three older brothers never failed to defend me, and they’re teasing antics taught me how to defend myself against them. So, wise or not, I would have stood my ground with the mayor. That Ian didn’t hesitate but jumped right in to protect me did a number on my heart and was another reason he was a keeper.
“Are you all right, Pepper? Your fall did more damage than I thought,” Marsh said, his eyes wide as he stared at my bruised face as I took a seat in my dad’s office, the mayor taking the seat beside me, and Officer Randall setting up a folding chair to my other side for Marsh to sit.
