Bull---I’m sitting at my desk when my deputies bring in a man wrapped in a blanket. I know him! He is an attorney who works for the oldest law firm in town.

“What’s going on?”

“We caught this pervert running around naked in front of a bunch of 10 year old little girls having a birthday party at Mrs. Harrison’s house. Old man Harrison had him trapped behind a wood pile and was threatening him with a double bladed ax!”

“This is all a mistake! I can explain. Please!”

“Get him into a jumpsuit then bring him into my office.”

How the hell did a lawyer end up naked at a kid’s birthday party? This should be good!

He is brought back in wearing an orange jump suit and he sits. A deputy stands inside my office by the door. You can never be too careful when dealing with a person with a sick mind.

“So tell me. How did you end up naked at a birthday party for little girls?”

“This is embarrassing but I am going to tell you the truth but it has to stay between us. I do not want my wife finding out about this.”

“It may be too late for that, but tell me and I’ll see what I can do.”

He sighs then starts his tale.

“For the last couple of months I’ve been having an affair. Today her husband was supposed to be out of town but he came home early and caught us in bed together. I thought he was going to kill me so I ran. I jumped over that wood fence and right into a birthday party. I was only trying to get away, Bubba would kill me if he had caught me! You have to believe me!”

“Stop. Are you saying Bubba Thompson caught you in bed with his wife?”

“Yes. He had this crazed look on his face and roared like a lion! I jumped up and he chased me out of the bedroom and across the yard. Believe me, please! I had to get away!”

I ordered the deputy to put him back in a holding cell and I told another to follow me to Bubba Thompson’s house.

Bubba Thompson, 6’ 7”, 260lb. former local high school football standout who went to a university out of state. He played defensive end on a national champion team his junior year. I believe he still holds the record for quarterback sacks in the Sugar Bowl.

Bubba was not known as a gentle giant. Just the opposite he was said to be quick tempered and mean as a snake. His pro career never happened due to a knee injury he suffered his senior year when one of his own players rolled up behind his knee. He still walks with a slight limp today. He married a cheerleader who works as a court reporter. I can only imagine the rage he was in when he found her in bed with a lawyer!

The deputy is behind me as I knock on his door.

“Sheriff Bull, how can I help you?”

“Hello Bubba. Can we come in?”

“Sure, have a seat. What’s this about?”

“Bubba I have Jim Batty in custody for running naked thru the neighborhood. So I know his side of the story, care to tell me yours?”

He sits on the couch and looks at me. I can see the hurt in his eyes.

“Have a seat and I tell you.”

I sit in a chair and wait for him to gather his thoughts.

“You should know that I loved Cindy from the first time I saw her. And I thought she loved me. Now, I know life did not turn out as we planned. I understand that. This knee...”

He reaches down and picks up a bag of ice and puts it on his knee.

“Funny how things work out. This knee changed my life but today it probably saved me.”

“How’s that?”

“You see I came home early. My truck needed servicing so I did not take another trip like I had planned. A friend from the shop drove me home. That’s when I saw my wife’s car and that Mustang parked in the driveway. I never use the front door so I went thru the gate and locked it behind me. In the house I heard them in the bedroom. My wife screaming for him to fuck her harder and some guy grunting. I became enraged! We trusted each other! She works all over three counties doing her court reporting thing while I drive over the road! I never and I mean never not one time...!”

Tears were forming in the big man’s eyes.

He shouted, “How could she?! I trusted her!”

He composed himself for a minute then continued.

“Okay, I’ll admit I wanted to kill that skinny little turd. He jumped up and was shooting his jism all over everything. Cindy was screaming. I chased that fucker out the bedroom door, onto the back deck and down the steps. I almost caught him in the back yard but my knee gave out and I had to stop. He went over that fence like a squirrel up a nut tree! I limped back to the house.

Cindy was dressed in her jeans and started with an explanation. I told her no explanation was needed. It was over between us. I am on the road days at a time and I was not going to be wondering what she was doing or who she was doing it with while I was gone. Our bond of trust was broken and it could never be repaired. This house belongs to my parents and they let us live here rent free. Her court reporting jobs pay about the same as I make driving a truck so we decided she would go live with her parents in Ripley. I am going to get an attorney and file for divorce.”

“Bubba I needed to talk to Cindy. Not that I don’t believe you...”

“I understand. Here is her cell phone number.” He dials the number on his phone and hands it to me. It rings twice and she answers.

“Bubba I am so sorry I promise...”

“Cindy this is Sheriff Bull. I’m just checking to make sure you are all right.”

“All right?! No I am not all right. I just lost the man that I love. The man I wanted to have my kids with and...”

She is crying so hard she cannot finish.

“Hello, I am Cindy’s mother. She is too upset to talk right now. Can I help you?”

“This is Sheriff Bull. I was just checking to make sure she is not hurt in any way. Did Bubba get violent with her?”

“No of course not. That man loved her with all his heart. He would never do anything like that. She is fine physically. Don’t worry about that. I have to go. She is very upset. Thanks for calling to check on her.”