Chapter 31 - Rage and Redemption
Mama’s face turned to stone.
Her eyes—two black diamonds, firing lightning.
Everyone froze.
Stood at attention.
Moved aside.
She and her shotgun stomped to the bus door.
Five-foot-one.
But she crushed everything in her path with her eyes alone.
“Move aside.”
Her only words.
She exited the bus.
Shotgun ready.
An unworthy creature had threatened her family—
and she set out in deliberate steps to put it down.
I watched her.
In awe.
And shaking with fear for her.
My own face felt pale.
Ice and burning fury locked in battle inside my chest
I should’ve kicked him harder.
Made him fall the full hundred feet.
Mama wouldn’t be out there now.
Endangering herself.
I glanced at Bobby.
His eyes met mine.
Same regret.
Same rage.
We’d dropped the ball.
Should’ve ended the crook when we had the chance.
I looked away.
Ashamed.
He dropped his eyes too.
The closeness we’d built over the last few days—
chilled.
We didn’t look at each other again.
I felt the loss immediately.
A tear slid down my cheek.
Harry and Brother Johnson jumped from the bus behind Mama.
“Wait, Ellen, wait!”
Harry’s voice rasped.
Frantic.
“You can’t go alone. Not in the dark.
Come back. Let’s think things out.
He can’t get far.
He’s wrapped tighter than a spider’s bug.”
She paused.
But her shoulders told the story.
She intended to kill that man.
“Listen to me, Ellen.”
Harry’s voice softened.
“You don’t want your kids to see you do
what your soul’s begging you to do.
You don’t want that memory burned into their lives.”
She finally met his eyes.
“Harry, that thing tried to kill my kids.
Tried to kill Bobby.
Not just once.
He chased them through deadly weather,
across a flooding waterfall,
and forced Lizzy up to the overhang
with a blasted rope tied around her waist.”
I flashed back—
to the rope cutting into my ribs.
To the sound of the waterfall roaring beneath me.
“I know, Ellen,” Harry said.
“But give yourself a minute.
If you kill him, he wins.
He’ll hurt those kids one last time—
by making you mad enough to do it.”
Harry had always been able to reason with Mama.
As far back as I could remember,
he could get her to see past her rock-solid opinions
and firestorm anger.
But one thing he never got past—
her silence.
She used it now.
Stared into his eyes
like he needed shooting too.
Harry stared back.
Held his ground.
Held his silence.
I think that saved his life.
She held no truck for foolishness.
But this time—
Harry wasn’t foolish.
Tears ran from his eyes.
“For God’s sake, Ellen.
Just look at Billy and Lizzy’s faces.”
She flashed her diamond-black eyes toward mine.
Then Billy’s.
Lowered her shotgun.
Lowered her shoulders.
Heaved a giant, trembling sigh.
“I wish Alton would hurry up and get here.
I hope he brings Oralee.
She’ll find that hideous man.
Even in the dark.”
Harry stood dumbfounded.
Rocking on one foot, then the other.
Watching her melt.
“You’re not a murderer, Ellen.”
He reached for her.
Pulled her in.
Held her as she shook.
Adrenaline draining from her body.
It didn’t last long.
She had little use for Harry’s comfort.
She pushed him back.
“What time did Alton say he’d be here?”
Harry blinked.
We all blinked.
None of us had ever seen Mama
so vulnerable—
or so murderously angry.
I whispered,
“That crook should thank his lucky stars Harry talked her down.”
But honestly?
I think everyone on that bus wanted that guy dead.
As for me?
I wouldn’t have held it against Mama if she shot him.
Pretty sure she’d have aimed for his good leg.
Keep him from running.
Keep him from hurting anyone else.
I’d seen her do it to coyotes
when they chased her chickens.