Someone
breaks into the girls' apartment. Fortunately, the men are able to
fight them off.
"Why
bother? He's long gone."
"Reckon
he is. I got this fella, you go call the sheriff. By damn, that
tackle hurt! I'm reckon I'm gettin' old."
"I
think I'm gonna throw up," Luke said, gagging. "What's that
smell?"
A
sweet, cloying scent came from the downed man. Both men suddenly felt
nauseous and a little sleepy.
"Chloroform,"
Will said, rising as quickly as he could. "He was gonna knock
the girls out! Get away from him afore it makes you faint."
Luke
groaned. "Help me. I think the bottle broke." He staggered
to his feet with Will's help.
His
pajamas were damp in places from the chemical. He stripped off his
clothing and Will loaned his brother his robe. Luke stumbled to the
shower with Will's help, and scrubbed as much of the chloroform from
his body as he could. Fresh clothing and an open window made him feel
better.
While
he bathed, Will used the phone in the girls' apartment to call the
sheriff's office. He was surprised when Sheriff Squires answered on
the first ring.
"Yes?"
"Sheriff,
it's Will Henry."
There
was a stunned silence on the other end.
"Hello?
You still there?"
"Yes.
I'm here."
"It
appears it was a good idea for us to stay here, Sheriff. We had us a
couple of nighttime visitors. Damn near kilt my brother. The girls
are real shook up. We got one of them fellas tied up in the hall and
the other one got away, but he's bleedin'."
"I—I'll
be right there. You sure you're all okay?"
"You
sound shook up worse than us, Ed. You all right?"
"I'm
fine, just fine. I'll be right there."
"Sounds
good. We'll be waitin'."
He
went back to the dorm room and waited with his brother and the girls.
About half an hour later, the sheriff arrived with one of his
deputies. They loaded the intruder into the car, still unconscious.
"That
settles it," Will said. "We're heading to town. I don't
like to take you from home, but it ain't safe here. The longer we
stay here, the more vulnerable we are."
"I'm
with you, Will," Luke said. "Is there room at your place in
town?"
"We'll
make room. The apartment next to me come up for rent. I know Able
will let the girls stay there. It's fully furnished."
"Let's
pack," Dollie said decisively.
The
girls went to their apartment and started packing. The men gathered
their belongings and joined them a few minutes later. Will called his
landlord, Able Reiger, waking him. When he heard what had happened,
the old man was willing to allow the girls to stay as long as they
liked, for free.
"Can't
have a couple young ladies in trouble! You bring 'em on over and tell
'em that I'll even call my boys. We'll have a whole army to protect
'em."
"Thanks,
Able. You're a prince. Sorry I had to wake you up."
"You
been a good tenant," Able said. "I got no problem being
woke up for this."
"We'll
see you soon."
"I'll
be waitin'."
They
took Will's truck as well as Dollie's car. She wasn't confident
driving at night, so Luke took the wheel. Patty rode with Will. Luke
followed his brother down the narrow mountain road to Harlan. Lights
were on in the apartment next door to Will's. Able was waiting for
them, armed and ready for anything. He intended to sit on the porch
outside the apartment, but Luke talked him out of it.
"Ain't
nobody but us knows they're here," he said calmly. "So long
as we don't make a big issue of it, all's well."
"Yes,
yes, you're right," Able agreed. "All right, but I'm right
upstairs. You need me, you holler," he told the girls.
"Yes,
sir," they chorused, kissing him on either cheek.
Blushing
and grinning, he wandered back upstairs.
"I
hope that's all the excitement for one night," Patty said. "I
declare, I'm more tired now than I've ever been in my life."
"We
need to sleep," Will agreed. He gave her a sweet kiss. "I
love you, Patty-Cake."
"And
I love you Will-Billy."
"I
just love you so much, Lukey-Wooky," Dollie said, teasing him.
"I
love you too, Dollie-Wolly," Luke replied, rubbing noses with
her.
They
burst out laughing, pointing and giggling at their siblings.
"You
go ahead and laugh. When you have real pet names for each other, I'm
gonna laugh my ass off," Will griped.
©
2019 Dellani Oakes
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