Read Online The Trial of Dr. Kate by Michael E. Glasscock III - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Michael E. Glasscock III
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Lillian finally convinced me I had to get the situation under control once and for all. I’m going to quit.”
Shenandoah nodded. “Okay. I trust you. If there’s anything I can do to help, let me know.”
“Just keep what you know to yourself. Who’d you talk to yesterday?”
“I talked to Baxter, Coach Brown, and Brother Abernathy. And Hank Boldt—Jazz’s father.”
“And?” Kate asked, her eyebrows raised. “Hank vouched for me, didn’t he?”
“He did, although I’m not sure how useful he’d be as a witness, of course. As for Baxter—as you might expect, Baxter has it in for you and for me as well. There’s no question he’s a powerful enemy.”
“We’ve been at each other’s throats for years. What about Coach?”
“He’s in your corner. We talked about the state tournament.”
“My glory days,” Kate said, a smile crossing her lips. “I can just imagine what the preacher said.”
“Thinks you’re a sinner. He’s pretty sure you do abortions, but he has no proof. Do you?”
“Sitting in jail is probably not the place to discuss that topic.”
“Okay. I’m going to swing by Army’s garage today.”
“Go easy on Army. He’s still in shock over Lillian.”
“See you tomorrow,” Shenandoah said as she stood to leave.
Kate placed her arms around Shenandoah and gave her a hug. Then Shenandoah pushed the button, and the deputy let her out of the room.
Outside, a cloudless sky stretched as far as the eye could see, and the sun beat down with the fury of a freshly lit torch. Sweating, Shenandoah stepped between the whittlers and continued across the courthouse yard.
This drinking business is terrible, she thought. It’s got to go against her at the trial. The county is full of born-again Christians like Brother Abernathy. How is Jake going to deal with this?
Just as she reached her car, she noticed Hank Boldt coming toward her from the other side of the street. As always, Hank had a big smile on his face.
Shenandoah waved. “You thought of anyone I could talk to about Dr. Kate?”
Hank removed his straw hat and said, “Yes, ma’am, Miss Shenandoah. I think you might talk to Randall Moody over in Moodyville. I know him and his wife had some trouble with a birthing, and Dr. Kate saved his baby girl.”
“Moodyville? Out Highway 30, about five miles north of town?”
“Yes, ma’am. Take the first street after High and turn left. That’ll take you to 30, and it’s a right fine road. Jest follow it.”
“Thanks, Hank.”
* * *
Deciding to see Army later, Shenandoah left Round Rock and soon found herself on a good but narrow blacktop road. It wound through the countryside, creating a shady tunnel under large maple trees. Beams of bright sunlight filtered through the leaves, making her giddy. Soon, she drove onto a plateau, and about five miles to the northeast she could see the foothills of the Smoky Mountains that she remembered from childhood. A lone buzzard circled high on a thermal close to the road.
Until that moment she hadn’t realized how much she’d missed the mountains. The Delta country around Memphis was as flat as a pancake and devoid of character in her view. She’d had ambivalent feelings about Round Rock all her life. Now she felt even more confused, for she realized she had deep ties to the people and the land itself.
She passed a small country graveyard on her left. A rusting wrought iron fence enclosed the ancient, crumbling headstones. Several of them leaned precariously to one side, high weeds engulfing them. The land she passed had drought-browned grass, and the cows looked skinny. There were several sickly tobacco patches and some bare plowed fields.
As she moved through a curve, she noticed a Dodge pickup sitting on the side of the road. From the lines of it, she could tell it was a brand new model, though it was already covered in limestone dust from one of the unpaved county roads. Even the driver’s window was opaque. It pulled in
Shenandoah nodded. “Okay. I trust you. If there’s anything I can do to help, let me know.”
“Just keep what you know to yourself. Who’d you talk to yesterday?”
“I talked to Baxter, Coach Brown, and Brother Abernathy. And Hank Boldt—Jazz’s father.”
“And?” Kate asked, her eyebrows raised. “Hank vouched for me, didn’t he?”
“He did, although I’m not sure how useful he’d be as a witness, of course. As for Baxter—as you might expect, Baxter has it in for you and for me as well. There’s no question he’s a powerful enemy.”
“We’ve been at each other’s throats for years. What about Coach?”
“He’s in your corner. We talked about the state tournament.”
“My glory days,” Kate said, a smile crossing her lips. “I can just imagine what the preacher said.”
“Thinks you’re a sinner. He’s pretty sure you do abortions, but he has no proof. Do you?”
“Sitting in jail is probably not the place to discuss that topic.”
“Okay. I’m going to swing by Army’s garage today.”
“Go easy on Army. He’s still in shock over Lillian.”
“See you tomorrow,” Shenandoah said as she stood to leave.
Kate placed her arms around Shenandoah and gave her a hug. Then Shenandoah pushed the button, and the deputy let her out of the room.
Outside, a cloudless sky stretched as far as the eye could see, and the sun beat down with the fury of a freshly lit torch. Sweating, Shenandoah stepped between the whittlers and continued across the courthouse yard.
This drinking business is terrible, she thought. It’s got to go against her at the trial. The county is full of born-again Christians like Brother Abernathy. How is Jake going to deal with this?
Just as she reached her car, she noticed Hank Boldt coming toward her from the other side of the street. As always, Hank had a big smile on his face.
Shenandoah waved. “You thought of anyone I could talk to about Dr. Kate?”
Hank removed his straw hat and said, “Yes, ma’am, Miss Shenandoah. I think you might talk to Randall Moody over in Moodyville. I know him and his wife had some trouble with a birthing, and Dr. Kate saved his baby girl.”
“Moodyville? Out Highway 30, about five miles north of town?”
“Yes, ma’am. Take the first street after High and turn left. That’ll take you to 30, and it’s a right fine road. Jest follow it.”
“Thanks, Hank.”
* * *
Deciding to see Army later, Shenandoah left Round Rock and soon found herself on a good but narrow blacktop road. It wound through the countryside, creating a shady tunnel under large maple trees. Beams of bright sunlight filtered through the leaves, making her giddy. Soon, she drove onto a plateau, and about five miles to the northeast she could see the foothills of the Smoky Mountains that she remembered from childhood. A lone buzzard circled high on a thermal close to the road.
Until that moment she hadn’t realized how much she’d missed the mountains. The Delta country around Memphis was as flat as a pancake and devoid of character in her view. She’d had ambivalent feelings about Round Rock all her life. Now she felt even more confused, for she realized she had deep ties to the people and the land itself.
She passed a small country graveyard on her left. A rusting wrought iron fence enclosed the ancient, crumbling headstones. Several of them leaned precariously to one side, high weeds engulfing them. The land she passed had drought-browned grass, and the cows looked skinny. There were several sickly tobacco patches and some bare plowed fields.
As she moved through a curve, she noticed a Dodge pickup sitting on the side of the road. From the lines of it, she could tell it was a brand new model, though it was already covered in limestone dust from one of the unpaved county roads. Even the driver’s window was opaque. It pulled in
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