(Don't Mess With) Clear Lake Women
Page 25
The young deputy quickly grabbed his gun, too.
Duffy turned to Madison. “Hey, she drew a gun on me!”
Madison smiled and waved at the uniformed officers.
* * * *
Justin yelled, “Hey! Stop the cab! There’s cops at my house. Stop!” The Taxi driver slammed on his brakes.
* * * *
“Sir, place your hands on your head. Ma’am, please step out of the doorway.”
Duffy raised his hands high.
That’s when things went suddenly crazy. Princess, hating Duffy the way she did, ran to him and nipped wildly at his ankle and proceeded to pull on his pant leg.
“Son-of-a-bitch! Fucking mutt!” Duffy yelled, kicking at the small dog.
“Princess!” Madison screamed, terrified for her little dog’s life.
Duffy reached back and pulled out his gun, aiming it at Princess.
The dog growled, and nipped away at Duffy’s ankles as he tried to kick at her.
Madison stepped out of the doorway and lifted her Magnum.
“Leave my dog alone!”
Duffy grinned, raising his arm toward Madison.
“Sir, lay your gun on the ground!” the sheriff ordered. “You too, Ma’am!”
Duffy cocked his pistol.
* * * *
Justin was running. He was almost to the driveway when the shot rang out. “Madison!” he screamed. He halted at the cars. One young uniformed officer held a gun; his hands trembled. “Geeze, Jim.”
Duffy turned his head slowly, the firearm dropping from his hand. Justin’s eyes swept past him until they rested on Madison standing in the doorway. A second later, Duffy crumbled to the ground.
The young officer looked at his partner, his face pale. “She shot him! Crap!”
The older officer’s gun was aimed at Madison. “Ma’am, put the gun down on the ground and step away.”
Madison stood still, like she was a frozen statue.
“Ma’am! Drop...the...gun.”
“Madison!” Justin yelled.
She suddenly saw Justin. Her face broke out in a smile.
“Put the gun down, Honey; you’re alarming the officers.”
Madison laid the gun on the cement walkway. She didn’t dare drop it. The damn thing had a hair trigger anyway. She ran into Justin’s arms just as the officers were now telling Justin to stand back.
Seeing the couple embracing, the older officer sighed and shook his head. He called for an ambulance but he knew it was a lost cause. The coroner would need to arrive. The young deputy removed the gun and knelt down to check for Duffy’s pulse. He glanced at his partner and shook his head. “Dead.”
Standing up, he walked to Madison’s doorway and picked up her Magnum. He attempted to question her; however, she was not an easy person to get information from.
“Ma’am, can you tell me anything about the intruder?”
“Certainly. I can tell you anything you want to know. Can I sit down? I feel a little shaky.” She turned to Justin. “I’m so surprised you’re home.” She smiled and reached over, touching his cheek.
The young officer made a grumbling noise. “Ma’am? What did he want?”
“His wife left him. He was very abusive.” And to Justin, “I missed you so much. Never leave again.”
“I won’t! Promise. Will you marry me?”
“Sir! Ma’am! I have to complete this investigation!”
“The ring’s in my suitcase. Damn! I left it in the taxi. I’ll go call the cab company.”
“Okay, Honey.” She turned to the officer. “We’re getting married.”
The young man shook his head.
Another sheriff’s car pulled up and the ambulance right behind.
* * * *
Madison told the deputies she had reported a broken window months earlier, in the spring. She was sure it had been Duffy. She reassured them she did not know where Sunday had gone, but hoped it was far away due to her husband’s abusiveness. She was asked to go to the sheriff’s office the next day and give a written statement.
Jim, the older sheriff, warned Madison that the prosecuting attorney could have her charged and arrested. However, since he and his partner were there and saw it was in self defense, most likely she wouldn’t be charged. Still, he took her Magnum away until the investigation was closed.
* * * *
Elvira and Jacki had heard sirens after sirens. Elvira asked Jacki to call Madison to find out what was going on in town. Shocked by the news, they had wanted to come immediately. Justin, overhearing the conversation, cautioned Madison. Instead, they waited impatiently and drove down as soon as the deputies gave the okay. Jacki promised Madison she would call Roxy in the morning.
It was hours before she and Justin were alone. The reality of what happened and what could have happened was catching up to her. She began to tremble; her anxiety kicked in. Justin put her to bed, wrapping her fuzzy bathrobe around her along with an extra blanket on her lap. Princess lay beside her.
* * * *
The taxi had brought back Justin’s suitcase. He found the ring and placed it on her finger. She “ohhed” and “awwed,” while still shaking.
“We’re buying a house, too!” Justin exclaimed.
Madison frowned. “I want my house.”
Justin grinned. “I know. That’s what I’m buying...we’re buying. I worked it out with your dad before I left. Remember when we had the barbeque? I’ve got the down payment for it.” He grinned wider. “He’s cutting us a good deal, ’cause he’s kinda sweet on you!”
Madison wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tight. “I’m so happy!”
Justin returned the hug. After a good squeeze, he pulled away and began to get undressed. Taking off his shirt, he noticed a small flannel baby blanket on top of the dresser. He picked it up and turned to Madison.
“Who’s having the baby?”
Madison laughed and Princess jumped on her lap. “We are!”
Epilogue
Justin helped Madison out of the car, before he ran around and pulled his tiny daughter out of her car seat. Just three months old now. Elvira met them at the door. They were celebrating today. The house was finished. Oh, there would always be something or the other to repair. There always was with older houses. But for now, it was done. Justin sat in the living room with baby Jolee while Madison followed Elvira upstairs.
Madison looked around the spacious room. “It’s beautiful!”
Elvira pointed out the window to the picturesque view of Mount Baker. “This will be the sitting room. Relax, read, enjoy a cup of tea.” She walked to the end of the hallway and opened the bedroom door. “This is the guest room. We have two actually, but this one will be used for abused women. Jacki and I will start our training next week. We’re going to be a Safe House.”
“Oh, Elvira! I think that’s wonderful.”
“Jacki and I talked a lot after Duffy was shot. It could have been you. It could have been Sunday. We wanted to do something to help women.”
A squeal downstairs caused the women to jump. Madison broke out into laughter. “It’s April. She always screams when she sees the baby.”
Thumping up the stairs brought them face to face with Roxy. “Hi, gals! I just saw Jacki at Parker’s. She’s picking up more milk.”
Elvira took Roxy’s left hand. “Nice ring!”
Roxy blushed. “Yes. Isn’t it! Bud wants to get married in the late summer. I’d rather do it on Halloween. Everyone could dress up!”
The front door banged. “I guess my Honey is home,” Elvira noted.
Making it down the stairs, Madison laughed. “Looks like Jacki brought a couple more people.”
Sunday was holding Jolee, cooing away. Tuesday sat in a rocking chair, rolling her eyes. “You’d think she’d never seen the baby, the way she goes on.”
Sunday laughed. Tuesday stood up and walked toward Madison, took her arm and wheeled her off to a far corner of the house.
“So, Sunday was
telling me these lesbians are going to start taking in women who have been abused. Besides that, are they going to try to start a commune here or something? Maybe a commune of lesbians? What if their husbands find out where they’re living at?”
Without missing a beat, Madison offered, “I guess I better give them shooting lessons.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I live in a small town in Washington State near the Cascade Mountains. I have worked in the Human Services field for thirty years, mainly in chemical addiction. My writing genre has taken me to different arenas: suspense and now (Don’t Mess With) Clear Lake Women.
Writing has always been a great passion of mine and seeing my books published in the last few years has certainly made my dreams come true.
A big thank you for continual support from: my wonderful husband, Bryon, I love you! My children, Donn and his significant other, Susan; Dale and his wife Heather; Brandy and her significant other, Sylvester; and Jacob. Grandchildren: Donnie, Melinda, Hallie and her daughter Jade; Daylen, the twins: Holten and Dalton, Anthony and soon-baby girl.
I hope that you, the reader, will share your thoughts about this book with me. Please drop me a line at: ljhadaway@hotmail.com
I make my own book trailers, which you can view at: www.lindahadaway.com
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WHISKEY CREEK PRESS
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