“What?” he sighed.
“It makes me sick to even think it, but Evans was the only one conscious when we arrived on the scene. His wound was bloody, but it wasn’t life threatening. Everyone else
was beat to hell or unconscious.”
CHAPTER 20
Lauren stoppedher eyes from rolling at 180 degrees versus 360 when she saw her mother. Ma Mable sat in the seat like it was hers.
Shifting her bag, Lauren moved toward the back of the car but was stopped as she reached for the door handle.
“You may have the sheriff wrapped around your little black talon, but you haven’t won, you bitch.”
Lauren sighed, she should’ve known she wasn’t going to be able to get away from court without some kind of confrontation with the Archers.
Ma Mable flung the passenger door of Lina’s car open and looked at Veronica Archer as if she’d just shit on her new dress.
Lauren froze, eyes wide.
It was a childhood response. It signaled that her mother’s veil of respectability was about to be ripped off, and somebody was going to get their ass beat.
“I don’t know how they do things up here in the Ozarks?—”
Ma Mable knew exactly what part of the country they were in. She taught history and sociology, plus a number of other classes over her teaching career. The Appalachians, the Melungeon culture, Ma Mable’s pro blackness always had her exploringplaces black folks settled and thrived well before the end of slavery.
“But where I’m from, not even a dementia-rotted brain will save you from getting your ass whooped when you spout out racist shit.”
“The alcohol abuse probably makes the condition worse,” Lauren said. “Mrs. Archer has a reputation for taking a nip or five. She was just convicted for drunk driving and a host of other crimes.”
Lina rounded the hood of the car, standing at Ma Mable’s side.
“She’s the one I was telling you about,” Lina said to Ma Mable.
“Her husband was the old mayor? Her son is the new mayor?”
Lina nodded and pointed. “That’s Anderson Archer right there, the two of them pretending like everybody don’t recognize her for what she is just because she drinks from a beveled crystal tumbler. My Santi wasn’t going to let the law ignore your family’s deceit and abuses of privilege forever, Veronica Archer.”
Older women are scary, Lauren thought, not for the first time. One minute they could be the most nurturing beings, then the next they turned their lifetime of wisdom and experience against you, and you woke up disoriented, afraid, or destroyed. Andtheyobviously didn’t prescribe to the adage about not hitting a person when they were down.
“This is my child,” Ma Mable informed the mayor and his mother. Then she looked at Lauren. “And I will fight a mayorandhis convict of a mother to protect her from you if necessary.”
Tears welled in Lauren’s eyes.
Ma Mable’s words stretched the scars on Lauren’s heart and soul that began healing in Shrouded Lake, only to provide a salve that helped them continue on that journey.
Why hadn’t she had this same energy; expressed the same sentiment, when it came to Lahn and Derrick?
But that was Ma Mable, Lauren’s biggest critic had been her staunchest supporter.
Until it came time for Ma Mable to support Lauren over Lahn. Lahn was always the one person Ma Mable never had too much heat for, that she always held softness with.
“I clearly see where Ms. Green gets her charm. Bad genetics will always show through,” Veronica smiled.
“And who were the alcoholics genetically poisoning your family tree?” Ma Mable asked.
“Please everyone, lets maintain a modicum of decorum,” Anderson Archer said, sanctimoniously. Like he wasn’t a whole thief and liar…and maybe worse.
A cop cruiser pulled to a stop in front of Lina’s car and Sonny stepped out, frowning curiously at them all before walking over.
