polite and absolutely chilling.
"I've come to get my girl. That's her, hidin' behind you. I don't know what she might-a told-ja, but—she run ofl". I intend to take her back home. This ain't none-a your affair, mister. If you know what's good for ya, you'll stay outta this."
"It seems we have a problem," Julian replied.
"Yeah? What's that?"
"Apparently I don't know what's good for me."
"Lx)ok, mister—"
Clem took a step forward. Julian leveled his pistol. Clem froze.
"Take one more step," Julian said, "and I'll put a bullet through your heart—quite cheerfully."
"I think he means it. Pa," Randy observed.
"Shut your mouth! Look, mister, I been prowlin' through this swamp for hours, since before daybreak—before that, I was too weak. The girl slammed a skillet 'gainst the side-a my head.
damned near killed me. My boys wanted to get the authorities, call out the bloodhounds, but I told 'em that wouldn't be necessary. No need draggin' other people into family affairs."
"Quite sensible of you. Considering."
"Considerin'?"
"Considering that the girl is legally a minor, was under your legal protection and that you attempted to rape her. I have no idea what the mores of the swamp might be, but I am thoroughly acquainted with the laws of the state of Lx)uisiana. Assault on a female minor by an adult male is a criminal offense. A hanging offense," he added.
"I—I never—"
"The girl gave me a full account of the incident, sir. She was so shaken she could hardly speak. She has bruises on her arms. She told me you had forced yourself on her, that you planned to let your sons use her sexually as well."
"She's a goddamn liar! I—"
"She begged me to help her. I agreed to take her to the authorities and file criminal charges. As you've so conveniently turned up, perhaps you will accompany us. It'll save everyone ever so much trouble."
"He's bluffin', Pa!" Jake cried.
Clem's face had been flushed when he entered the clearing, but as Julian spoke so calmly about assault and the law and criminal charges, the color had slowly drained from my stepfather's face. Randy had plucked a twig from one of the bushes and was idly picking his teeth, his eyes full of sardonic amusement. Jake stood with fists balled, belligerent, spoiling for a fight. Julian was completely unperturbed.
"On the other hand," Julian continued, "I might just go ahead and put a bullet through your heart. That would save everyone even more trouble and is, I understand, a far more pleasant way to die than hanging."
"He's Wufiin', I tell ya!" Jake insisted. "We can take him, Pa! There 're three-a us and only one-a him. You ain't gonna— you ain't gonna back down an' let that little slut get by with what she did! We can rush him. He cain't shoot all three-a us."
"Indeed I can't," Julian agreed. "I'll be content enough merely to shoot your father.''
"He's serious. Pa," Randy said.
*' Utterly,'' Julian drawled.
He lifted the pistol a bit higher, his arm perfectly steady, his index finger curled snugly around the trigger. Clem's face was entirely bleached of color. He took a step back, then another, bumping into Jake. Jake cursed. Randy gripped his arm, pulling him back.
"She ain't worth it, Pa,'' Randy said. "She ain't worth gettin' shot for. We don't need her. Lx)ts-a other tail around. Maybe Jessie'll move in with us. That'd be real cozy."
"You cain't let—" Jake began.
"You open your mouth one more time, boy, and I'm gonna knock th' teeth outta your mouth," Clem said, his eyes never leaving Julian and the pistol. "Your brother's right. Th' gal ain't worth it."
"But-"
Clem whirled and slapped Jake across the face with such vicious force that Jake reeled backward, crashing into the bushes and falling to the ground. Julian sighed, growing impatient. Clem faced him again, trying hard to control his anger and fear. He took a deep breath, his broad chest heaving, and finally he managed to speak.
"You—you still goin' to the authorities?" he
"I've come to get my girl. That's her, hidin' behind you. I don't know what she might-a told-ja, but—she run ofl". I intend to take her back home. This ain't none-a your affair, mister. If you know what's good for ya, you'll stay outta this."
"It seems we have a problem," Julian replied.
"Yeah? What's that?"
"Apparently I don't know what's good for me."
"Lx)ok, mister—"
Clem took a step forward. Julian leveled his pistol. Clem froze.
"Take one more step," Julian said, "and I'll put a bullet through your heart—quite cheerfully."
"I think he means it. Pa," Randy observed.
"Shut your mouth! Look, mister, I been prowlin' through this swamp for hours, since before daybreak—before that, I was too weak. The girl slammed a skillet 'gainst the side-a my head.
damned near killed me. My boys wanted to get the authorities, call out the bloodhounds, but I told 'em that wouldn't be necessary. No need draggin' other people into family affairs."
"Quite sensible of you. Considering."
"Considerin'?"
"Considering that the girl is legally a minor, was under your legal protection and that you attempted to rape her. I have no idea what the mores of the swamp might be, but I am thoroughly acquainted with the laws of the state of Lx)uisiana. Assault on a female minor by an adult male is a criminal offense. A hanging offense," he added.
"I—I never—"
"The girl gave me a full account of the incident, sir. She was so shaken she could hardly speak. She has bruises on her arms. She told me you had forced yourself on her, that you planned to let your sons use her sexually as well."
"She's a goddamn liar! I—"
"She begged me to help her. I agreed to take her to the authorities and file criminal charges. As you've so conveniently turned up, perhaps you will accompany us. It'll save everyone ever so much trouble."
"He's bluffin', Pa!" Jake cried.
Clem's face had been flushed when he entered the clearing, but as Julian spoke so calmly about assault and the law and criminal charges, the color had slowly drained from my stepfather's face. Randy had plucked a twig from one of the bushes and was idly picking his teeth, his eyes full of sardonic amusement. Jake stood with fists balled, belligerent, spoiling for a fight. Julian was completely unperturbed.
"On the other hand," Julian continued, "I might just go ahead and put a bullet through your heart. That would save everyone even more trouble and is, I understand, a far more pleasant way to die than hanging."
"He's Wufiin', I tell ya!" Jake insisted. "We can take him, Pa! There 're three-a us and only one-a him. You ain't gonna— you ain't gonna back down an' let that little slut get by with what she did! We can rush him. He cain't shoot all three-a us."
"Indeed I can't," Julian agreed. "I'll be content enough merely to shoot your father.''
"He's serious. Pa," Randy said.
*' Utterly,'' Julian drawled.
He lifted the pistol a bit higher, his arm perfectly steady, his index finger curled snugly around the trigger. Clem's face was entirely bleached of color. He took a step back, then another, bumping into Jake. Jake cursed. Randy gripped his arm, pulling him back.
"She ain't worth it, Pa,'' Randy said. "She ain't worth gettin' shot for. We don't need her. Lx)ts-a other tail around. Maybe Jessie'll move in with us. That'd be real cozy."
"You cain't let—" Jake began.
"You open your mouth one more time, boy, and I'm gonna knock th' teeth outta your mouth," Clem said, his eyes never leaving Julian and the pistol. "Your brother's right. Th' gal ain't worth it."
"But-"
Clem whirled and slapped Jake across the face with such vicious force that Jake reeled backward, crashing into the bushes and falling to the ground. Julian sighed, growing impatient. Clem faced him again, trying hard to control his anger and fear. He took a deep breath, his broad chest heaving, and finally he managed to speak.
"You—you still goin' to the authorities?" he
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