Read Online Bring Your Own Poison by Jimmie Ruth Evans - Free Book Online Page B

and the bitter sound of it tore at Wanda Nell’s heart.
    â€œThat don’t mean it’s right,” Wanda Nell said. “He shouldn’t get away with talking like that.”
    Tuck smiled. “You certainly called him on it tonight.” His smile faded. “Seriously, though, be careful around him. He’s got a pretty tough reputation, and you don’t want to be on his bad side.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?” Wanda Nell said. Tuck’s words and his demeanor made her uneasy.
    â€œWe’ll talk about it later,” Tuck said. “Right now, I’d better get on down to the jail.” He nodded in the direction of Gerald Blakeley. “They’re taking him down there now, and I want to be on hand.”
    â€œI feel sorry for him. He needs a good lawyer.” Especially with Bill Warren acting like such a jackass , she added to herself.
    Tuck gave her arm another squeeze before he walked away. Wanda Nell walked behind the counter and approached Melvin and Ruby at the cash register.
    Ruby’s big green eyes were wide with admiration. “Wanda Nell, you were so brave to stand up to that man like that. I was afraid he was going to arrest you.”
    â€œYou’re lucky he didn’t,” Melvin said in a sour tone. “That temper of yours is gonna get you in big trouble one of these days if you don’t watch out.”
    â€œI know, I know,” Wanda Nell said, holding her hands up in a gesture of conciliation. “But he made me so mad, I reacted before I had time to think about it.” She paused. “I would have done the same thing, probably, even if I had thought about it first. If you don’t call people on things like that, you might as well say it yourself.”
    â€œGood point,” Melvin said, smiling a little. “But my point is, you didn’t necessarily have to knock his head off to get your point across.”
    Wanda Nell shrugged. Suddenly she was exhausted. With the adrenaline gone, she could feel the weariness creeping in. She just wanted to go home and climb into bed and try to forget about this night, at least until tomorrow.
    â€œWhen do you think they’ll let us go home?” Ruby asked, echoing Wanda Nell’s thoughts.
    â€œSoon, I think,” Melvin said. “If they don’t have any questions for you girls, y’all can go on home, and I’ll close up.”
    â€œYou sure?” Wanda Nell asked. “I don’t mind staying if you want me to.”
    Melvin shook his head. “No, I think you need to get home and get some rest. Both of you. Wait here, and I’ll go ask.” He strode around the counter and approached Elmer Lee and Bill Warren, who were once again conferring.
    As Wanda Nell watched Melvin talk to the two lawmen, Elmer Lee glanced at her and Ruby a couple of times. Bill Warren never looked their way, and that was fine with Wanda Nell. The less she had to do with him, the better. Until this case was solved, though, she knew she would probably have to talk to him again. She would face up to it when she had to. In the meantime she would do her best to block him and his hateful attitude from her mind.
    â€œDo you think people will stop coming here?” Ruby asked, frowning. “What if this ruins business?”
    Wanda Nell sighed. “As long as the cops don’t shut us down for too long, I’ll bet you anything we’ll be so busy we won’t know what hit us.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œPeople will be curious,” Wanda Nell said. “It’s like how people always slow down and look at a car wreck on the highway. They just can’t help themselves.”
    â€œI guess you’re right,” Ruby said, “but that sure is pretty morbid. I’m just glad I wasn’t back there to see it.”
    Wanda Nell put an arm around the younger woman’s shoulders. “I’m glad you weren’t either, honey. It was