Harvest of Thorns by Paul E. Wootten

Author:Paul E. Wootten [Wootten, Paul E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: UNKNOWN
Published: 2016-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

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Schira escorted the Mannings into the Diplomat Diner, across the street from the courthouse.

“What can I get you folks?” The waitress was a plump redhead, with moles and sunspots on her face and neck.

“Amanda? Amanda Shropshire?”

The waitress glanced up from her order pad, then did a double-take.

“Do I know – oh my goodness,” a smile lit up her face. “Earl! It’s really you!”

Earl stood and offered his hand, but Amanda brushed it aside with a hug. She was several inches taller and seventy pounds heavier than Earl, and when she hugged him he almost disappeared.

“Amanda and I went through school together,” he said. “Good people, her family. Lived out on the county road between Adair and Shipley.”

“We was both outcasts back then,” Amanda smiled. “People ‘round here never had much use for folks up our way, and after Earl and his mama took up with the coloreds we was both outsiders.”

“Forgive me, Amanda.” Earl nodded to the others. “This is my wife, Vessie and my son, Chan.” Amanda offered her hand to Vestal, then took a close look at the boy.

“You all make a beautiful family,” she smiled. “But I always knew Earl would marry well.”

“I’m Jack Schira,” the attorney said, rising from his seat. “A family friend.”

“I heard about you,” Amanda said, pointing at Schira. “You’re that guy who took old Judge Airey down a couple notches.” Earl was unsure if this was a good thing or not. They didn’t have to wait long to find out.

“That one’s needed taking down a long time. Arrogant old cuss can’t be bothered to leave a nickel tip.”

“Amanda, get to work!” A grizzled man poked his head through a door behind the lunch counter.

“Shut up, Tank. These people are my friends.” Tank scowled at them for a few moments before retreating into the back.

“Good to see you, Earl. I hope you’re thinking about moving back this way.”

“That’s the plan, Amanda.”

After orders were placed, Amanda joined Tank in the kitchen, leaving the Mannings and their attorney.

“Amanda was one of the few white kids who was nice to me after Daddy got sent away,” Earl said. “We’d take up for each other when we had to. Her family was so bad off. Amanda never had much, except what others gave her.”

“Did she know Miss Cora?” Vestal had watched the interaction with considerable interest.

“Oh yes. Amanda and her brother, Butch worked for us some in the summer, same as they did for the others on the island. Never too proud to work, that’s for sure.”

Vestal turned her attention to Schira. “What exactly happened in court, Mr. Schira? What did you mean about Earl owning the house where that Petty man is living?”

Schira picked up his leather bag and pulled out a sheath of papers. “Apparently there’s some people around here who don’t like Mr. Petty any more than you do, Earl.”

Schira laid a number of documents on the table. The first was Petty’s arrest record. Stretching back to the 1930’s, Grover Petty had been convicted of more than a dozen crimes in Adair County.

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