Chapter 17

A New Verse

Danny was beginning to feel at home in the jailhouse. He'd been here so much lately, he was even able to sleep on the hard bunks. Of course, he was still a bit sore from his last fight. "Danny," Sheriff Pendergrass said, "you know I don't believe you broke in the Ripley place, and I don't believe you burned the old mill either."

"Then why am I in here, Sheriff?"

"Well," the Sheriff continued, " Junior accused you of burning down the mill, and our local District Attorney has his head up Junior's butt, and for the time being, I've got no choice but to comply."

"If you think he's lying, then why don't you arrest him?"

"Well Danny, this is a lot bigger than a fire, and a fight between you and Junior. It appears that at least one of my deputies is in Junior's pocket, and I'm going to need some time to sort out this mess. If there's one bad apple in my department then their might be others, so I've got to be real careful that I don't scare any of the weasels into hiding.

"Can't you call in the State Police, or something?"

"Yes, I could do that," the sheriff continued, "but I figure that would bring so much attention to all of this, that the real criminals would slip away. Besides, ain't nobody going to beat you up in my jail as long as I'm still sheriff."

*****

"What are we going to do, Mrs. Wilson?" Regina asked. "The judge won't let Danny out on bail 'cause he says the charges are too serious, and Danny might run."

"Don't worry honey," Mrs. Wilson replied. "Sheriff Pendergrass won't let anything happen to Danny while Danny's in his jail. The sheriff's a good man, he's just up against some very bad things."

"I know," Regina said. "It just seems so awful that Danny's still in jail, and Junior is going anywhere he wants to go."

"Well, at least your Daddy is beginning to see what Junior is really like."

"Yes, but he doesn't think Danny is any better," Regina complained. "I just don't understand Daddy sometimes."

*****

"You should have set fire to that lumber yard the other night, like I told you to do," Junior said. "You can't blame it on ol' Shaggy Dog when he's in jail."

"You're right Junior," Tommy replied. "But I can blame it on little sis'."

"Nobody'd believe she did it," Simon said. "That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard."

"The dumbest thing I ever heard of was selling your market to one of her friends," Junior laughed.

"Yeah," Tommy laughed, "Wouldn't do you no good to burn it now."

"How in the hell was I supposed to know they were friends?" Simon snapped. "At least I've got the money I sold it for. That's more than I'm making off that old mill project the two of you talked me into investing in."

"You'll get your money back with interest when the insurance company pays off!" Junior shouted. "Now quit ragging me, or I'll kick your ass too! You too, Tommy!"

*****

Danny sat in his cell thinking about all that had happened since he moved back to town. The only good thing that had happened to him was meeting Regina, but even that came with lots of problems. Danny figured a woman like Regina would never stay with a guy like him. Even if she wanted to stay, there would be too many problems. People like her didn't mix with people like him. Sooner or later, Regina would get tired of all her high class friends not wanting him around. Sooner or later, it would come to an end. "Deputy," Danny called to the guard, "would it be okay if I asked for a pen, and some paper?"

"You looking to write a letter?" the deputy asked.

"Yeah, something like that."

The deputy gave Danny a pen, and a few sheets of paper saying," Don't you go stabbing yourself with that pen. The sheriff would have my ass if anything happened to you in his jail."

"Don't worry," Danny said, "I ain't gonna cause you no problems."

“You damn sure better not,” the deputy said as he walked back to his desk. Danny began to write:

"When I die, and leave this world
I vow I will return...."