Page 38 of Coty

The entire town is speculating about where Harley McLeod is. The rumors are outrageous. She hasn’t run off with a biker to another club. A few get it right, but not the details. She’s in rehab, but not in Tennessee. I’m sworn to secrecy about her location. Jack hasn’t told Lily where his sister is yet. I’m not sure if Mack has told his wife.

“She’s out of town. Is this about Harley?” Jack asks.

“No. And the rest of the family?” Nathan looks around the Den. Nobody’s moved from their spots.

“Logan and Everly are at school. My wife and mother are in the kitchen, cooking breakfast. What’s this about, Sheriff?” Mack’s getting impatient.

“Do you mind asking the ladies to step out here, please?” Nathan asks.

The cold feeling runs up my spine again. Nothing about this little visit is normal.

“Why?” Jack demands. I move closer to his side.

Mack glares at Sheriff Bowers for a long moment. Finally, he dips his chin to Jay. Without a word, Jay slips through the door behind the bar to the kitchen. He escorts his grandmother and aunt to the Den. Lil Mama follows, drying a coffee mug with a dish towel.

“What’s going on?” Nanny wraps her arms around Mack’s waist and leans against him.

Sheriff Bowers pulls a long, folded piece of paper from the inside pocket of his coat. “I wanted you all here so we can get the arguments out of the way upfront, and I don’t have each of you descending on the Sheriff’s Office all day.”

Okay. I see his point, but the Sheriff has underestimated the situation. It’s obvious a member of the McLeod family is about to be arrested. The McLeods have family issues like most families do. Still, they’re a close-knit family when it comes down to it. They fully support and defend each other. However, if the McLeod, I think, is getting arrested, there’s not enough of us here to hold back the rest of the family. The Sheriff doesn’t have enough deputies to stop them either.

“Oh, for crying out loud. What did we do?” Nana tosses her hand up. Granddad pulls his wife over to one of the bar stools.

Sheriff Bowers offers the warrant to Mack. “I don’t want to do this.” The four deputies move closer to the McLeod family. Nathan’s eyes move to Jack’s mother. “Everlyn McLeod, we have a warrant for your arrest.”

And just as I expected, the room explodes.

Jack steps in front of his parents and jabs his finger at the Sheriff. “That’s not happening.”

“What did she do?” Jay demands.

“You’re not taking my wife.” Mack moves Nanny behind him.

The prospects move closer. The deputies pull their weapons. This is getting out of hand fast.

“Look!” Sheriff Bowers takes a step forward and raises his voice. “I have a warrant for her arrest. I have to take her. If I don’t, the DA will call the FBI in. They’ll bring SWAT teams here with warrants to search the entire two hundred acres, and they’ll arrest the rest of you.”

“You’re not taking my wife,” Mack yells again.

Nanny slips past her husband and son. “They have to. I hit the preacher’s wife with that candle holder.”

Two deputies grab Nanny’s arms. The entire McLeod family moves.

“Don’t,” Sheriff Bowers orders.

“Stop them!” Nanny screams.

On her request, Worley grabs Mack and holds him back. I grab Jack. It takes all my strength to hold on to him. Three prospects grab Jay. They need help as much as I do.

“No!” Lil Mama runs forward and throws the cup she was drying. It shatters at the Sheriff’s feet. “You’re not taking my friend. Arrest that good-for-nothing preacher’s wife! She asked for it! It should have been something harder than a metal candleholder. Weak pansy if that hurt her. Might need to wrap her up in bubble wrap.”

“No, Dar. Don’t.” Nanny’s plea comes too late.

“Take her, too,” Sheriff Bowers orders the other two deputies.

They quickly handcuff Lil Mama.

Granddad has to hold Big Papa back. Nana goes to Jay and wraps her arms around his waist. One look into his grandmother’s tear-filled eyes settles Jay down.

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