Beth's Arm
Copyright© 2014 by Bill Offutt
Chapter 19
Alexander Beall sat waiting in Thomas Brookes' library before noon the next day. The weather had turned mild again with almost no wind to shake the leafless trees. Beall admired the neat rows of leather bound books and the framed prints of knights and kings. The room smelled of furniture oil and tobacco smoke. A neglected fire guttered in the small fireplace.
The elder Mr. Brookes entered with a distinct limp, shook Beall's hand and poked at the fire. "Damn cold weather gets in my bones, Mr. Beall. How can I help you today?"
"Sir," Beall began, "your son and I have had, well he may have told you that the last time I was here, we had an argument and I struck him."
Brookes' eyebrows rose and fell twice. "My, no he did not tell me. He said that you had been rude to him, and I replied that I doubted it very much. That was all I recall. You actually struck him, with your fist?"
"Yes sir, I did. He insulted a lady friend of mine, and I'm afraid I lost my temper. It was very unfortunate."
"My, my. Yes indeed. Well, I heard nothing of it."
"Your son and I had a brief discussion of his relationship with Mr. Sparks, your former overseer, and..."
I was here when you threatened to sic the dogs on me." Beall watched James Brookes eyes and then his gun hand, neither twitched. "I told your father that some people say that you were here, in Arnold County, back in '77, and that they saw you with Sparks. It seemed to distress him somewhat." Beall tipped his hat, put his knees to his horse and rode slowly past Brookes and out the gate without looking back.
When Beall reached the tavern that had once served as a courthouse, he ordered a beer and saluted the bartender, "Ho Stud, how's things today?" Beall put on his best smile although he still churned inside.
"Oh fine, just fine, Sheriff," Stud replied, "but you better go see Annie over there. Think she's got some problems." Stud returned to polishing glasses, and Beall took his beer to the fireplace and Annie's favorite seat which looked much like an old fashioned church pew.
"How are you, Miss Ann?" he said sitting down beside her. She had her cat in her lap.
She turned her face away and said, "Fine, jes' fine. Why?"
"Oh, Stud said you had the miseries and..."
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