When The Snow Angel Comes

Once inside, Leigh Williams, looked around the jail and glared at the sheriff, before she spoke.

            “Did they take her away,” she asked looking toward the cells.

            “Who?” Joseph, replied sourly, miffed at the old woman.

            “Now your web feet don’t fit a limb, toad, so stop squawking ‘who!’ You know I am referring to, Beth. You’re ex-wife, my niece, and the murderer.”

            “Yes, they took her away,” Joseph retorted.

            “Good! I wish you could have seen the look on Beth’s snotty face when I kept popping up after Austin told her I was dead! Priceless,” the old woman snickered.

            Previously, Joseph had been sitting behind his desk, but when he heard the old woman’s boastful words he sprang to his feet.

            “Then your husband did tell me you had died,” he stormed. “I can’t believe you had the nerve to stand out there, and make me look like a fool!”

            “Now Joseph, I understand how you might feel someone misled you. But we handled the pressing problem the best way we knew how. If you had been able you could have helped us, but you weren’t, and that’s unfortunate. Still, I think if you had been there, you would have handled the matter in a suitable fashion. Although you only stayed in my house a short time; I feel I did my part to make you a stronger man.”

            “Did you say; you taught me to be a stronger man?” Joseph sneered, his blood steaming. “You nearly caused me to go mad! That’s exactly what you did. Do you have any clue of the guilt I have been feeling, because I thought you were dead? I hated myself, Mrs. Williams, because I let Beth escape. And I hated myself even more, because I was still here, and you were dead!”

            “Oh, stop that sniveling. I’m not dead! Here, if you don’t believe me, pinch my arm.”

            “I don’t want to pinch your arm, Mrs. Williams,” Joseph replied, in a dry tone.

            “No, I said pinch it! That’s the only way you will ever know the truth.” Grabbing his hand, she placed it on her arm. “Go ahead,” she urged. “Pinch it!”

            “Really, Mrs. Williams, I know you’re not dead. Just forget it, because I’m not going to pinch your arm.”

            “You will pinch my arm, Sheriff,” she hissed. “And I can wait all-day, if necessary. Now pinch me, Sissy! Come on; show me you are a man.”

Suddenly he had no control over his raging mind, and before he knew it his hand reached over, and pinched the old woman’s arm.

            “Ouch, you silly toad, I hope you are happy now! Look what you have done. You have squeezed a chunk out of my blasted arm.”

            “But, you told me too,” Joseph said, looking at the red spot on her arm. “As I recall, you insisted!”

            Rubbing her arm, the old woman eyed him sharply.

         &nbs