A Little Sin

by Sionnach Wintergreen

  Avery blushed and scrubbed a hand over his face. “You’re going to have to wait for tonight.”

  Garland’s heart did a somersault. They hadn’t discussed being with each other again. He had assumed that they would, but he hadn’t thought Avery would want to be with him again so soon. He wished it was nighttime already.

  Avery hitched his horse up out front, as if he had just ridden up. Then he came in and Garland made pancakes. It was the perfect crime. While they were eating breakfast, the ice man came. Lucinda would be there before the paperboy showed up.

  As Garland was cutting ice from the big block that the ice man had just delivered to rub down the sorrel’s legs, the door opened and Lucinda came in carrying a bundle. A girl in pigtails, about ten years old, followed behind her, shutting the door. “Garland, this is my daughter, Ruby. She had to ride her pony here and lead my mule so I could carry the baby.” She looked at him imploringly. “I didn’t know what else to do. I’m sorry.”

  “It’s going to be all right,” Garland assured her. “Let’s all sit down.” He pulled out a kitchen chair for Lucinda. “Do you like pancakes?” he asked Ruby.

  Ruby nodded. Garland delegated. “Avery, would you fix her some pancakes?”

  Avery looked at him for a moment, then nodded. Garland turned to Lucinda. “What’s going on with your baby?”

  Lucinda shook her head. “She’s not my baby. Ruby and her friends found her yesterday on the train tracks.” She stroked the baby’s head. “Who would do that to a baby?”

  “Can I see her?”

  “That’s why I brought her to you. I didn’t know what to do. She seems like she’s getting weaker.”

  “I’m a veterinarian.” Garland felt a rush of inadequacy.

  “You’re her best chance right now. Rev. Hodges is looking for someone to take her in, but for now, we’re all she’s got.”

  “Let’s clear a spot and get her up on the table.” Garland took the baby from Lucinda and held her before conducting the exam. She was a tiny thing with fawn-colored skin and dark hair. “She’s a newborn.” He looked at Lucinda. “Someone just had this baby and put her out on the train tracks.”

  The anger in his voice made the baby mewl weakly. Garland cuddled her close to his face. “I’m sorry, dove. I’m so sorry.”

  Lucinda gave him a rueful smile. “I don’t know what gets into people. Maybe someone couldn’t afford another mouth to feed.”

  “Maybe she’s the product of a rape,” said Avery.

  Lucinda cut her eyes at him. Garland glanced at Ruby. “Ladies and children are present, lawman.”

  Avery’s ears turned red. “Apologies.”

  Ruby grinned, swinging her legs back and forth in her chair. “Momma, what’s—”

  “Not now,” Lucinda said firmly, employing a special ‘momma’ tone Garland hadn’t heard her use before.

  Garland laid the baby on the table. He checked her pulse, which was weaker than he would have liked. He checked her reflexes, picked her up to listen to her digestion, and then wasn’t sure of what else to do. “What have you been feeding her?”

  “Boiled milk.”

  He dipped a finger in some of Avery’s molasses and held it to the baby’s lips. She suckled the syrup from his finger. “Let’s add a little molasses to her milk. Give her some extra calories and some iron.” He shook his head. “That’s what I’d do with a kitten. I’ve never treated a baby before.”

  Lucinda sighed. “It’s better than nothing.”

  Avery stood up and put his plate away. “Ruby, where did you find this baby, exactly?”

  “On the train tracks. I don’t know exactly. A ways from Blackberry Road and Whitetail Trail. Not far from Crooked Creek.” She paused, then added, “Sir.”

  “When did you find it?”

  “Her,” said Garland.

  “Her.” Avery cleared his throat.

  “Afternoon. Maybe three or so?”

  Lucinda frowned at Avery. “Why are you asking her so many questions? Don’t you have a murderer to find?”

  “If I find whoever dumped that baby, I’m going to charge them with attempted murder. That’s plain evil.”

  Lucinda took the baby from Garland and rocked her. “Seems like there’s enough evil to go around these days.”

  Avery nodded. “That, there is.” He walked to the hat rack and grabbed his hat.

  Garland felt a twinge, watching him go. “Be careful, Sheriff.”

  Avery waved without looking behind him and was out the door. The phone rang. Lucinda took off the earpiece, holding the baby with one hand. Although she seemed to be managing fine, Garland took the baby from her. He walked around the room, cooing in the baby’s face. Ruby eyed him with a wide smile. Katydid wove around Garland’s legs. Garland squatted to show the baby to the cat. Katydid licked the baby’s hair.

  Lucinda hung up the phone. “Fred Dawson wants you to check his horse today, when you go castrate his hogs. The horse has been favoring his off hind leg since yesterday evening.”

  Garland held the baby against his chest and rubbed her back. “Oh, I forgot about the hogs. I should get over there and get to work. I have to ice that sorrel’s legs first.” Poor Lucinda looked frazzled. He guessed she had probably been up all night worrying about the baby. “Lucinda, do you mind if I employ Ruby as your assistant today?”

  A small smile quivered on Lucinda’s lips. She looked at her daughter. “Would you like to work for Dr. Garland today, Ruby?”

  Ruby cocked her head at Garland shrewdly. “What do I get?”

  Garland couldn’t help grinning. “A businesswoman. I like that.” He thought for a second. “How about, your choice of any pullet in my flock?”

  Ruby glanced at her mom. “That’s a fine deal,” said Lucinda. “I’d take it.”

  “It’s a deal.” Ruby put out her hand.

  Garland shook it, then handed her the baby. Ruby took the baby very carefully, her young face suddenly a mask of seriousness. “You’d make a fine nurse,” Garland told her.

  Lucinda watched them sadly. “I just can’t get over it,” she said in a quiet voice when Garland neared. “How desperate must someone be to get rid of a baby like that?”

  “Seems like they could have left her on someone’s doorstep or at a church. She’s lucky she didn’t get hit by a train or taken by wild dogs—or fire ants.” He paused, reflecting. “What are you calling her?”

  Lucinda shook her head. “Baby. Little baby.” She shrugged. “She’s not mine. Didn’t seem right to name her.”

  “I swear that animals survive better if you give them a name. Maybe the same is true for babies.” He turned to watch Ruby with the baby. “What about Hope?”

  Lucinda nodded. “I like that. Let’s call her Hope. We need more of that around here. People are getting scared. So many people called last night. White people think the killer is locked up, but Myrtle has told everyone who’ll listen that her husband was with her all night the night before last. I believe her.”

  “I believe her, too. The woman was killed by the same man that killed the doctor—and her time of death doesn’t fit with Delton as the killer.”

  “Does Avery know that?”

  “He does. He’s going to interview Delton’s boss this morning. That should exonerate him, then he’ll let Delton go.”

  “So, he needs a white man to tell him what Myrtle and Delton already did.”

  “Avery’s not a bad man, Lucinda. I think he’s trying to be thorough.”

  Lucinda sighed. “Maybe so, but now the white folks around here think the killer’s a black man. They won’t let go of that too easy.”

  Chapter Seven

  Wakeforest County Jail

  Avery opened the door to the cell. The rest of the cells were empty, so the rattle of the door echoed amid the quiet and concrete. “You’re free to go,” Avery told Delton.

  Delton looked at him askance. “Just like that?”

  “Just like that.”


  “How are you going to protect my family?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You make everyone think I’m a killer, then you just turn me loose.”

  Avery squinted at Delton. “Because you’re not the killer.” He felt like Delton was being difficult, but he wondered what Garland would say. He leaned on the door. “I’ll make sure everyone knows you didn’t do it and explain why. I’ll deputize someone and put him in charge of watching your property. If anyone tries anything, we’ll arrest them.”

  “They have klansmen serving in the Texas congress now.”

  “I know. And those cross-burning, sheet-wearing assholes are here. I know. I’ll arrest them if they try any of their bullshit around here.” In truth, the Klan frightened him. People hiding their faces and working as a mob could do terrible things. They hated anyone different. In his heart he was as different from the heterosexual white men as Delton was. But they could see how Delton was different. Nobody looked beneath his badge. Nobody knew who he really was except for Garland.

  Delton looked at the floor, avoiding eye contact. Avery ground a fist into his hand. “Listen, Delton.” He couldn’t make himself apologize. That seemed too much like weakness. “I’m glad the facts proved you weren’t the murderer. You are a veteran like me, and I can appreciate that you’re trying to make the best of a bad situation. You’re a decent man. If I can help you out with something, give me a holler.” He put out his hand.

  Delton stared at him for a heartbeat, then shook hands with him.

  ***

  Wakeforest County Courthouse

  No sooner had Avery started up the steps of the County Courthouse, then Eloise Clements from the Wakeforest Daily Gazette was after him. “Sheriff O’Rourke, is it true that that there have been two violent murders committed in Timberland in as many days?”

  Avery stopped, remembering his promise to Delton, and decided to talk to the reporter. “There have been two murders. One in the early morning hours of August first, the other, later that day. Both murders seem to be related. The first victim was Dr. Hiram Watkins. We don’t yet know the identity of the second victim.”

  Eloise, a well-coiffed redhead in a straw garden hat and purple dress, licked her lips. “Can you describe the female victim to us?”

  “Of course. We hope someone reports her missing. She’s in her early twenties, about five’ four’’ with long, light brown hair and blue eyes.” He waited while she scribbled on her pad. “She was found in Crooked Creek by the Henry Ranch. We believe she was washed downstream. If anyone has any information regarding this young woman, please contact the sheriff’s office immediately.”

  He tipped his hat and started back up the steps, but Eloise shadowed him. “Just a few more questions, Sheriff!”

  He turned to her with a sigh. “Yes?”

  “You had a suspect in custody….”

  “Yes. He’s innocent. I freed him this morning.”

  “Are you sure he’s innocent?”

  “Since Dr. Watkins has passed away, I’ve been helped by Dr. Garland Sands—with the bodies. His findings showed that the murders were related, and that the time of death of the woman would have made it impossible for the suspect to have killed her.”

  Eloise frowned at her notes. “Dr. Garland Sands….” Her nose scrunched up. “You mean the veterinarian?”

  “Yes.” Avery bristled. “He knows about bodies and rigor mortis and all of that sort of thing. Same as any sawbones.”

  “You released a murder suspect on the advice of a veterinarian?”

  “He’s working as my medical examiner, and he’s doing a fine job!”

  Eloise didn’t write that down. “Sheriff, with all due respect, two people have been violently murdered in this little town. People are afraid. They’re terrified. And you’re trusting the judgment of a man who gives medicine to cows.”

  “Now, listen here. Garland went to college. He even went to some fancy French school. He knows medicine and understands science. People aren’t that much different from animals.”

  Eloise’s jaw dropped.

  “Biologically speaking. Now, if you don’t mind, I have work to do.” He tipped his hat and left her eating dust.

  ***

  Sands’ Farm

  Garland walked in carrying a big burlap sack. Ruby greeted him happily. “What’s in the sack?” she asked.

  “A surprise.”

  “For me?”

  Lucinda stood up. “Now, Ruby Anne—”

  “She’s fine. Where’s Hope?”

  “The reverend came and got her,” said Lucinda. “He found a home for her. She was acting much stronger when she left. I think that touch of molasses did the trick.”

  “I sure hope so. I’m not a pediatrician.”

  “You did great!” Lucinda used a big voice that surprised Garland. “Pat yourself on the back.”

  “What’s in the bag?” asked Ruby, undeterred.

  Garland sat on the floor cross-legged with the bag. He opened it carefully while Ruby watched. “Kittens!” she cried as soon as the three little balls of fur tumbled out of the bag.

  “Oh, my!” Lucinda bent down to look. “An orange one, a black one, and a splotchy one.”

  “They were going to be drowned. So I grabbed them!” He picked up the black one and kissed its tiny nose. Katydid came over and looked at the kittens. She rubbed against Garland’s knee.

  “Can I have one?” Ruby asked Garland.

  “Ask your mother.”

  “Can I have one? Please?” Ruby twisted her body back and forth with excitement.

  Lucinda raised a brow at Garland, then looked into her daughter’s face. “You can have a kitten or a pullet.”

  “Both.”

  “One.”

  “Kitten!”

  Garland laughed. “I would have taken the kitten, too. Nothing’s better than a cat.”

  “We’ll see.” But Lucinda crouched down to pet the kittens.

  “I want the orange one,” said Ruby.

  “That one’s a little boy,” Garland told her. “And I think he’s going to be a big cat someday.”

  “I’m going to name him Moses.”

  “Ruby Anne!”

  “Moses is a fine name!”

  Lucinda hissed at him. “Garland if-I-knew-your-middle-name-I’d-use-it Sands!”

  Garland couldn’t help himself and giggled like a child. “Lafayette. Now you can curse me properly.”

  Ruby butted in, her face earnest. “But Momma, we saved him from the water.”

  Lucinda shook her head. “I’ve never heard of a cat with a Christian name.”

  “Butterscotch is also a nice name,” Garland told Ruby.

  Ruby dropped an ear over the kitten’s head. “He says his name’s Moses.”

  Lucinda sighed. “Well, I guess if he knows his name…. What can we do, but call him by it?” Ruby cheered. Lucinda picked up the gray and white spotted kitten and looked into its eyes. “I just wonder what the reverend’s face will look like when he comes over for dinner and hears us talking to Moses. ‘Moses, get out of the shoo-fly pie! Moses, go catch some rats!’”

  “You’re lucky I didn’t come home with a sack of piglets.”

  Lucinda set the kitten on the floor next to Garland and stood up with her hands on her hips. He put the black kitten down with its sister. They immediately started wrestling. Garland watched the kittens play and wondered how everything inside his home could be so happy and light when evil crept around outside. A chill went up his spine. He looked up at Lucinda, standing in his kitchen so proud and sure.

  “I’m taking you and Ruby home tonight.”

  “You don’t need to—”

  “I’m not taking ‘no’ for an answer. I want to make sure you get home safe.” He wanted to tell her there was a monster loose, but he didn’t dare with Ruby there.

  Lucinda nodded. “These are dark days, aren’t they?”

  Garland stroked the fuzzy back of the black
kitten. “They are.” He knew, all too well, how the world could change in an instant. One minute they were playing with kittens; the next, their tongues were cut out.

  “Garland?”

  He gazed up and found Lucinda staring at him. “Yes?”

  She smiled gently. “You slipped away for a minute.” She knelt down on the floor beside him and said quietly. “Are you all right?”

  He drew a long breath and fastened a smile on his face. “I am.” He forced himself to mean it. “I have a houseful of kittens and friends. I couldn’t be better.”

  ***

  Wakeforest County Sheriff’s Office

  When Avery finally made it to his office, he found notes all over his floor. Avery picked up all of his notes and spilled them onto his desk. He started going through them. Most were from people wanting him to check on their property. Eloise was right. People were scared. He wasn’t sure if Clyde Henry or his wife was responsible, but somebody had gossiped about the grisly discovery in Crooked Creek. People knew too much about what was going on.

  One note was a request to sit on the jury to convict Delton Johnson. The author of the note, one Archibald Grimes, obviously had no knowledge of how their justice system actually worked. He rubbed his short beard. He had no use for ignorant people. If he caught this fella out somewhere, he’d set him straight.

  He opened the last note with jaded eyes. But reading it set the hairs on the back of his neck on end. “I don’t know if this matters, but Hiram liked to gamble. He had acquired some debt. He said they’d threatened him.”

  Avery slammed on his hat and was out the door faster than a duck on a junebug.

  ***

  Stubb’s Farm

  Garland massaged bag balm on the Holstein cow’s hot udder. Sometimes a cow would kick up and clip him with her cloven hoof. This, happily, was a well-mannered cow who seemed to appreciate the attention. He leaned his head against the cow’s side and rubbed her with his cheek. “Daisy’s a good girl. Aren’t you a good girl, Daisy? Good old girl.”

  “She’s not a good nothing at all.”

  Garland turned around and found the owner, Melford Stubbs, glowering at him. “She’s not kicking me in the head. I’d say she’s a damn fine cow.”