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“It’s going home time.” The words that just might change his life. Now he would find out if Peggy had asked about him. It was silly, he was sure. He was acting like a schoolboy who kept asking his friends if the prettiest girl in school liked him Peggy must have been the prettiest girl in her school, Jim was sure. It’s amazing how quickly three miles can pass on foot when you’re in a hurry.
As he walked into the bar, he saw Nick pouring a beer.
“Hey, the lovesick puppy, isn’t it?”
“Come on. Gimme a break.”
“Relax, kid. How have you been?”
“Great, I guess. The more I learn about this town, the more amazed I am that anyone stays.”
“Hey, well put, old friend. It’s a mystery to me, too. So what did you learn today?”
“Mike gave me the history of Big Red and Mr. Bob.”
“So it’s Mike now, huh?”
“Yes, he wants me to call him Mike. I’m still not comfortable with it, but what the hay.”
“You’ll get there. Did Mike also tell you about Butch?”
“Oh, yeah, that information was the focal point of the story. The kid chaser.”
“Did he also tell you that Mr. Bob loves that dog more than life itself?”
“No, he didn’t say anything about that.”
“Well, Butch may be the meanest dog in the world to everyone else but he loves Mr. Bob with an unconditional love of a sled dog. Come to think of it, only Butch loves Mr. Bob. Not even his children really care for him.”
“In a sense, that’s a shame” — Jim said.
“Well, he earned all ten yards of it. You must love to be loved, you know. Speaking of love, Peggy asked about you.”
“She did? What did she say?” — said Jim.
“She wanted to know where her dancing partner went. I told her you left with a blonde.”
“You didn’t!”
“No, just kidding. I told her you had to leave but you would be back Saturday night.”
“What did she say?”
“Nothing.”
“Nothing?” Jim wondered.
“Just smiled and joined her friends.”
“Do you think she will be here Saturday?”
“Do bears live in the woods?”
“What?”
“Kid, you worry too much. Just be here on Saturday.”
Jim ordered another beer. While pondering the meaning of life on the bar stool, he realized for the first time in his life, for the very first time, he was comfortable talking to a friend. Nick was never judgmental and seemed to understand how he felt about things. Bartenders were like that but Nick was special, even for a bartender. I’ll miss Nick when I finish my mission, he thought. If only...
“Was Michael Barkley married?”
“Kid, I thought you knew.”
“No, the Barkleys mention him off and on but I don’t push it. I wouldn’t want to upset them.”
“Yes, he was. He and Susan Wilson married in Hawaii while Michael was on leave from the service.”
“Where is she now?”
“I’m no sure you want to know.”
“Why?
“What was it you said when you came in? The more you learn the more you wonder why people stay here?”
“What has that got to do with Susan?”
“Remember when I told you Billy Bob was a woman killer?”
“Yeah!”
“Well, the woman he killed was Susan.”
“What?”
“Shortly after she was notified of Michael’s death, Billy Bob went for a visit. As he explained it, she just went crazy and he shot her in self-defense.”
“What did the investigation say?”
“What investigation? Billy Bob just made a report and the judge conducted a closed inquest.”
Here it was, right between the eyes. Now Jim was blazing mad. This news really disturbed him to the core. He wished Nick good night and slowly walked home. He wondered why so many good people had looked the other way as a few evil people took over their community. Would they know what to do if asked to stand up for themselves?
It was another sleepless night.
The next day Mike was in an unusually talkative mood. He didn’t have anything really to say, but when ending a story laughed out loud to such an extent that people outside could hear him. His laugh was infectious, too. He now began to notice the small group of people always hanging around the post office. Mike had even put a bench out front so they could sit. He understood why, Mike was a wonderful person to be around.
The evening found him eating a couple of sandwiches in his room. When he finished the quick meal he opened the loose boards under his bed and removed Michael’s letters. Maybe the letters could answer some of the questions he had come up with over the past few days. As he looked at the small stack of letters, one envelope seemed more worn than the others. He decided to read this one first:
My dearest Michael,
I know it has been a long time since my last letter. This is the hardest thing I have ever had to do. I have something to tell you. Something happened and I just didn’t know what to do. I thought about waiting until you got home because you are so far away and I know how crazy this is going to make you. I don’t want you to do something that will get you hurt. Then I realized that not telling you would be the same as lying if I deliberately kept something from you. So here goes. Michael, know that I love you with all my heart. What I have to tell you is going to hurt you terribly and if you decide you no longer want me as your wife, I truly will understand.
Just after I got back from Hawaii I moved to Thelma and Frank’s cabin on the lake. Leaving you and knowing you were heading into harm’s way was so hard. I needed some time to myself, so Thelma suggested I move there.
Everything was great for a couple of weeks. Everyone left me alone. Then Craig stopped by to see me one night saying you’d kill him if he didn’t check on me once in a while. I thought it was real nice of him. We had coffee and talked about you, high school and just stuff.
Two nights later he came back and he was drunk. I told him he couldn’t come in like that and it enraged him. He shoved his way in and grabbed me, hitting me in the face. I tried to stop him, I really did, but he was all over me and was much too strong. He threw me on the floor and raped me. Afterwards I was fighting him and crying and trying to cover myself and he just stood there laughing at me calling me horrible names. He said I was his whore now, I stayed in for days crying, not knowing what to do or whether I should tell anyone. Who could I tell? Two weeks later he came back. I wouldn’t go to the door and it made him so mad he kicked in the back door and just went crazy. He kicked my feet out from under me and then just started kicking and hitting me all over before he raped me again. I was hysterical and he kept laughing like a crazy person. He told me that if I didn’t cooperate with him when he came, he’d tell everyone I was whoring for him. I just kept screaming at him to get out. I was hurt badly this time, Michael. The next morning I was so messed up I couldn’t let anyone see me. I decided I’d stay there until I looked good enough to go to Mom’s without her asking questions. Every night I lived in fear. I sat on the edge of the porch closest to the bushes and when I heard the gravel as he turned into the road. I would run into the woods and hide until he gave up the chase and left. I did this night after night until my face got better. As soon as I could, I packed up and left.
Michael, this is the worst part. I have some kind of infection. It’s really bad. When I called Craig to ask what he had given me he said: “You stupid tramp. You have the clap!” Then he laughed and hung up. I just don’t know what to do. I can’t tell my parents and telling Billy Bob would be lunacy. I truly have nowhere to go for help. I tried to stop him. I swear to you I did. I hope that you can find it in your heart to forgive me, but if you can’t I accept your decision. But as my best friend on this Earth, please tell me what to do.
He stopped reading and sat very still for the longest time. To think I only came here to take petty revenge on another bully and his son and now I have discovered a major travesty in justice that needs righting ? all coming together in one fell swoop, he thought. Isn’t life great!
He picked up the letter and held it tight. Michael! Susan! You will get your revenge ? he vowed. Trust me on that one, you will, I promise. After he got up the floor he walked to the kitchen to find some matches. He quickly found a small box. Down the back stairs to the garden he went. After digging a hole about two feet across and six inches deep, he placed all the letters into the hole. He knew instinctively that burning the letters was the right thing to do. These letters would kill the Barkleys. Too many good people have suffered in this town, he thought while gritting his teeth. It’s time the evil ones felt the pain.
The next morning he looked at the Barkleys in a new light of compassion, all the while thinking he was glad they were not aware of how their son and his wife had been so violated.
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