Big Business
Copyright© 2008 by Old 1 Eye
Chapter 4
After the sheriff left, things calmed down, I thought. Janie needed to be rebandaged right before bedtime. I took care of it and Amy helped. After Janie was safely in bed, Amy and I cleaned up the kitchen form our sandwich meal.
As we were finishing the dishes, I noticed Amy had tears on her cheeks. "What's wrong, Sweetie?" I asked.
"I hate it that I had to shoot Daddy," she tearfully answered.
I hugged her and said, "The main thing he did for you was to give you some nice looking DNA. He has been using you children and your mama to support his bad habits for years. I know it is hard to shoot anyone, but you did the right thing. You saved Janie from a worse beating, and all of y'all from going back to a bad home situation." Janie tickled me when she sniffed and asked, "Do you really think I'm nice looking?" I chuckled and said, "Amy, I think you are a beautiful young lady. You are smart, and will make some lucky young man a good wife and Mama one day." She smiled and said, "Thanks, I am feeling better now." I kissed her cheek and said, "Good, I'm glad." She went on to bed. I went into the office /parlor and looked at the time table for planting and cutting the sod.
By the end of February, we had the sod equipment ready to go and had the bean field ready to plant. About that time Janie and Amy both got subpoenaed to appear at Tex's trial.
He was charged with the assault of Janie and domestic violence against his children. They both asked me to go with them because they had never done anything like this before.
I advised them to simply tell what happened and not to give any other information unless the lawyer asked them directly.
The trial only lasted one day, and was very straight forward, for a change. Janie and Amy both had to testify. Both of them were nervous, and looked at me every time a question was asked, I just smiled encouragement and tried hard not to look like I as coaching them.
Tex was found guilty on both counts, and was sentenced to one year in the county jail, and five years probation. I figured he would be sentenced to a harsher punishment, but I think the judge took pity on him because he was on crutches with both legs in casts.