Vengeance is Mine by Reavis Z Wortham Page B

that last part, at least.
    We were standing under the chinaberry tree when I noticed a lot of activity at Doc Ordway’s spooky two-story house. I shivered, recalling the ghostly footsteps on the second floor. “Looks like somebody’s moving in.”
    Pepper perked up like a bird dog pointing quail. “Let’s go see who it is.”
    â€œWe don’t know them people.”
    â€œWe didn’t know Mr. Bell, neither, until we dropped by for a visit.”
    I didn’t want to think too much about Mr. Tom, because the hurt was still there after what happened down in Mexico when him, Grandpa, and Mr. John Washington went to get Uncle Cody out of that Mexican prison. They got in a shooting war down there, but everyone except Mr. Tom made it back. Uncle Cody said it was Mr. Tom that saved them all and the last time he saw the eighty-six-year-old man he was bad-wounded but still fighting to cover their escape.
    We pushed our bikes down the road, so’s not to spill our cold drinks. A dark-complected man was lifting two boxes out of the trunk of his fancy car when we came up the long dirt driveway. He looked out of place in Center Springs, dressed in a suit and tie on a Saturday. Most of the men in our community either wore overalls, coveralls, khakis, or jeans. This feller looked like he was going to a funeral.
    He gave us a wide grin. “Hello.”
    â€œAin’t he purdy?” Pepper straightened and stood taller. “That’s the purdiest Indian I’ve ever seen. He must be Sioux or something exotic.”
    With his slicked-back hair and dimples, I realized he was almost as good looking as Uncle Cody, but I wasn’t going to admit that to anyone. “That must be his wife.”
    One of the most beautiful blond-headed women I’d ever seen came out the front door and stopped on the porch. She was even prettier than Norma Faye, and that’s going some. She smiled and waved, a pleated dress dancing around her legs.
    We stopped our bikes beside the man. “I’m Pepper and this here’s my cousin Top, and we ain’t twins like most people think. Who’re you?”
    The stranger wasn’t a bit surprised at such a pointed question from a kid. “Name’s Anth.. uh, Tony. This is my…wife, Samantha.”
    â€œLike in ‘Bewitched’?” As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I felt like a five-year-old, throwing out such a stupid question.
    The blond lady came down from the porch and walked across the sandy yard. “Yes, but I’m not a witch.”
    â€œYou put a spell on my heart.” Tony gave her a wink.
    The line would have sounded stupid coming from anyone else in Center Springs or Chisum, but from a stranger in a suit, it was perfect, despite his Yankee accent.
    â€œWhat are y’all doing here?”
    Samantha stepped closer and put her hand on Tony’s arm. She was dressed like a movie star, and wore the tallest heels I’d ever seen on a woman. I imagined Miss Becky or Aunt Ida Belle in them, instead of the thick-soled shoes they always wore, and had to choke down a grin.
    â€œWe’ve rented this house until we find one to buy.”
    â€œThis old place will fall down around your ears. You need to be careful. The floor is mush under the linoleum in the kitchen.” Pepper took a long drink of her Dr Pepper as punctuation. “They say it’s haunted.”
    I wished she’d shut up.
    Samantha didn’t seem to mind. “We’ve heard. We had someone repair the floor, so it isn’t too bad. The inside is nice, and it’s furnished, too, which is good for us, because we don’t even own a table yet.”
    â€œFurnished with everything including dust, I imagine.”
    â€œIt’s pretty clean now.” Samantha’s eyes glittered with her smile. “We had someone come in yesterday before we got here.”
    Pepper wouldn’t quit. “Hope you ain’t