The Shining Badge (38 page)

“All right, Varek.” Briggs nodded his agreement. “It might work.”

Clay turned, pulled his gun, and checked it. Holding it in his right hand, he moved down through the trees and disappeared.

“Do you think he can do it?” Briggs asked Hooey.

“Why, that Clay Varek’s all kinds of a feller! I’d trust him with a key to the smokehouse.”

Briggs shook his head. “I don’t think it’ll work, but it’s the only game in town. All right, you men. Get ready. When we go in, we go in with a rush. I’ll take the front door. Hooey, you go cover the back. If the rats come out that way, stomp ’em!”

****

Jenny was sitting in a chair at a table staring at her hands. Wheeler was lying on one of the two cots. They had been kept without food and only with a gallon jug of water. Neither of them had slept much the previous night. Wheeler had surprised Jenny. He had been calm, and the only remark he had made had been, “It’s all my doing that you’re here, Sheriff. I deserve what’s going to happen, but you don’t.”

Jenny now looked over at Wheeler’s face and saw that his eyes were closed. His face was drawn, and his hands were folded over his chest.

Jenny watched him for a moment, then got up and walked
back and forth. There was no doubt in her mind that the gangsters were going to kill her and Wheeler. She had not told Wheeler this, for he still had hopes that they were being held for ransom. Jenny knew that no ransom would satisfy Vito Canelli. She and Wheeler were in the way, pawns to be knocked off the board without a moment’s compunction.

As Jenny walked, she realized with a start that the fear she had felt at first had, for the most part, vanished. She found herself thinking of the things she would miss in the world if she did not live through this experience. She thought of her family, of course, and how they would miss her. She herself would be with the Lord, so that part did not trouble her.

The one thought that troubled her most was the fact that she would lose out on what she had hoped for in her life. She had always, like most young women, wanted a husband and a family, and now it did not look at all likely that she would have either one. One thing became brilliantly clear. She knew she was not in love with Luke Dixon. The man that occupied her thoughts was Clay Varek. As she paced, she shook her head in wonder.
I wonder how long I’ve been in love with him. I do love him. I know that now.

She knew Clay had strong feelings for her. Perhaps he loved her too. He had been held back by personal matters, but Jenny remembered the light in his eyes whenever he looked at her, and now she thought,
If I get out of this alive, I’m not going to wait. I’m going to tell him I care for him. That’s not the way it happens in the romance books, but I don’t care.

It was in the midst of this that she suddenly heard a sound. At first she thought it was outside the door, and she steeled herself for one of the assassins coming in to put a bullet in her and end it all. Then she realized the noise she heard was not outside in the hall but outside the window. She whirled and stood watching as the faint scrambling noise continued. She glanced at Wheeler, but he was asleep. Finally she took a step forward and then halted when she saw a man there.
She was confused and could not imagine one of the criminals being outside her window—and then she saw that it was Clay.

A glad cry came to her lips, but she withheld it. She moved quickly to the window. She had tried to raise it before, hoping to escape, but though she could see no lock, the window refused to budge. She guessed an old coat of heavy paint had sealed it shut. Clay tried to lift as well, then she watched as he pulled out a pocketknife and worked it along the frame. Finally, together, they raised the window, careful to make no noise. She stepped back as Clay climbed in. His eyes were blazing, and he suddenly reached out, and she fell into his arms. She held to him tightly and murmured, “Clay, you came!”

Clay held Jenny for just a moment. When she looked up, her lips were parted. He bent forward and kissed her and said, “I have to tell you that I love you.”

“I was going to tell you if you hadn’t,” Jenny said. “I found that out.”

Suddenly Wheeler snorted, rolled out, and swung his feet over the cot. He stared at Clay Varek in confusion and then got to his feet. He opened his mouth to speak, but Clay held up his hand. “Get over in the corner, both of you. Jenny, you get over there.” He waited until they were in opposite corners and then nodded. “I’m going to give a signal, and when I do, there’s going to be some shooting.” He pulled his revolver from his holster and said, “I’ll handle anyone that comes through the door, but you stay back.” Moving to the window, he leaned out and made a fist and pulled it down three times as if he were pulling the whistle on a locomotive. He waited until he saw movement and then turned quickly and said, “They’re coming.” He quickly placed one of the chairs under the handle of the door and then moved back to one side so he would not be standing directly in front of it.

From below there rose the sound of alarm, followed by a single shot. A barrage of shots then occurred, and Clay stood tensely, his gun held out in front of him. The shooting
seemed to go on for a long time amid cries, and finally they heard a crashing sound.

Footsteps coming up the stairs were plain enough, and Clay raised the gun. But then a voice cried, “Hey, don’t shoot! It’s me—Hooey!”

Clay grinned and removed the chair from the door. He opened it, and Hooey stepped in, followed by Briggs.

“It worked slicker than goose grease,” Hooey beamed. “Of course, them fellers didn’t give up. One of them gonna be pushin’ up daisies right soon. But the other one’s talkin’ right now about who hired him.”

Briggs came in and looked around. “Are you all right, Sheriff?”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

“I’m Briggs—FBI. And your name is Wheeler?”

“Yes, Mr. Briggs.”

Briggs looked at the two and said, “Well, it’s all over. One man dead, and one of our men got nicked but nothing serious. I guess you’d like to get home to your families.”

“Yes,” Wheeler said quickly. “I know Helen must be nearly crazy.”

“Come along, then,” Briggs said.

Hooey watched the two men leave and then turned to face Clay and Jenny. “I always did like a happy ending,” he said, grinning. He saw that the two were staring at each other and hadn’t heard a thing he’d said, so he left without another word.

Clay took Jenny in his arms and kissed her, and when he raised his head, she whispered, “I love you, Clay, and somehow I knew you’d come.”

“I’ve got a lot to tell you. Things have changed, Jenny. I’ve changed. Come on. I’ll tell you on the way.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

A Christmas Love

Christmas Eve brought to Georgia, and to the entire country, the usual activities—tree decorating and gift wrapping and church pageants. Kat had starred glowingly in the role of Mary and announced that she would become an actress.

Two weeks had passed since the rescue of Jenny and Millington Wheeler from the Chicago gang. The FBI and the sheriff’s department worked together and dealt what amounted to practically a death blow to the moonshine industry in the county. Vito Canelli had been implicated by his underlings, and he awaited trial in Chicago.

Millington Wheeler had been given a suspended sentence, and had confessed his wrong to the church. He had been forced to put his house up for sale, but this had been as nothing to him and his wife. “I’ve found Jesus,” he had smiled, “and what’s a house compared to that?”

As for Judge Hightower, he had mysteriously disappeared, and it was rumored that he had been knocked off by Vito’s men in retribution.

The last two weeks had brought a peace to the hearts of both Clay and Jenny. Clay had been baptized, and Jenny had stood beside him proudly afterward, her eyes glowing with joy. Luke had attended the baptism as well and now shook hands with Clay, telling him how happy he was that he had found the Lord. Then Luke turned to Jenny and held out his hand to her too. Jenny took it and held it in silent farewell. Luke smiled at her, but Jenny saw unmistakable sadness in
his eyes. It was clear Luke understood that while they might remain friends, their relationship would never be the same.

The Christmas party at the sheriff’s office that afternoon was a light affair but with a big surprise. Billy and Ruby announced that they would marry, and the news caught many people off guard. They all knew Ruby had always been hard in her estimate of men, but Billy grinned as he told everyone, “She just hasn’t had a man to love her like I plan to.”

Jenny and Clay were enthusiastic in their congratulations, and after they left the party and were on the way home Clay asked, “Do you think they’ve got a chance to make it?”

“Of course they do. They’re going to get married and live happily ever after.”

Clay laughed, put his arm around her shoulder, and drew her close. “Do you really believe in that?”

“Yes, and it’s what we’re going to do too. Get married and live happily ever after.”

“I’ll vote for that.” Clay kept his arm around her shoulders, and when they reached the Winslow home, Lewis greeted them warmly.

“You’re just in time for supper. We’re going to eat and then sing carols around the fireplace, and I may preach a sermon.”

Laughingly Jenny went to her father and hugged him. “You’ve had all the Christmas you need. I think three fine boys is enough.”

“You’re right about that,” Lewis said as he released her. He grinned a self-deprecating grin and shook his head. “What I like about having three sons all the same age is you don’t have to worry about making plans.”

“What does that mean?” Clay asked curiously.

“Well, it means I know what I’ll be doing for a long time. Changing diapers and holding babies, and then when they can walk, I’ll be chasing them down. Later on I’ll be teaching them how to fish and become good men.”

“It sounds like a winner to me, Lewis,” Clay smiled. He looked over at Jenny and winked. “Maybe we’ll have triplets.
Three more boys. Then we’d have enough for a basketball team.”

“And if Hannah comes through”—Lewis laughed—”maybe we can get a baseball team together.”

****

The meal that night was a triumph—a golden-roasted turkey with corn-bread dressing and cranberry sauce, peas, and fresh-baked rolls, and to finish it off, pecan and pumpkin pies.

Before they began eating, Lewis rapped on his glass and said, “Before I carve this bird I want us to thank God. He’s been good to us. He’s given me a fine wife and three fine sons. He’s given Hannah a good husband and a child to come. And He’s given Jenny a man strong enough to sit on her when she needs it.”

“Here, here,” Clay agreed, winking at Jenny.

“And He’s given Jamie a good mom,” Kat piped up.

“And what’s He given you, Kat?” Lewis smiled fondly at his youngest daughter.

“The best family in the whole world! And God bless us every one!”

They all echoed that sentiment and fell to eating with all their might.

Afterward they sang carols around the fire, admiring the tree Clint had cut down and they had all helped to decorate.

Finally, despite Kat’s protests, everyone went to bed. The three youngest Winslows went peaceably for once, and finally Clay and Jenny were alone. They sat on the couch in front of the fire, and for a long time they were silent. Jenny felt safe and secure with Clay’s arm around her. From time to time they would speak, but the solitude and the warmth of the crackling fire and the joy they both felt seemed to be all that was needed.

Finally Clay said, “I’m a little bit scared, Jenny.”

“You were never afraid of anything.”

“Yes, I was. Lots of times.” Clay looked at the fire and
murmured, “I want to serve God, but I really don’t know how. And I want us to marry. It’s going to be a bit of a problem, though.”

“Why?”

“Well, I never believed in a man working for his wife, and that’s what I’ll be doing.”

“No, you won’t.” Jenny reached up and put her fingers under Clay’s chin, gently turning his face toward her own. “I had a meeting with the commissioner yesterday. I told him I wanted to resign.”

Clay blinked with surprise. “You told him what?”

“Yes. And it’s what I want, Clay. I never wanted to be sheriff anyway. Maybe God put me in office for a while, but now I think it’s time for me to step down.”

“But what about the job?”

Jenny leaned forward and kissed him soundly. “We’re going to have a great new sheriff.”

“You mean Hooey?”

“No, of course not Hooey.” She took Clay’s hand and held it up against her cheek. “
You’ll
be the new sheriff. You’ll fill out my term, and then you’ll have to run for election. But you’ll make it. I think you’ll be sheriff for a long, long time. And I’ll stay home and be a wife and make you happy.”

Clay shook his head. “I’ll never be able to keep up with what’s going on inside that head of yours, Jennifer Winslow. But that’s good. I’d hate to be married to a woman with no surprises—and with you I don’t have to worry.”

He pulled her close, and her lips were soft and yielding under his own. The fire snapped and popped, and the grandfather clock ticked solemnly.

Stonewall, lying by the fire, lifted his head and watched the couple curiously, then yawned and went back to sleep.

GILBERT MORRIS spent ten years as a pastor before becoming Professor of English at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkansas and earning a Ph.D. at the University of Arkansas. A prolific writer, he has had over 25 scholarly articles and 200 poems published in various periodicals, and over the past years has had more than 180 novels published. His family includes three grown children, and he and his wife live in Gulf Shores, Alabama.