Alafair Tucker 01 - The Old Buzzard Had It Coming

lives now than they would have, so I’m glad of that.”
    She went into the house, leaving Alafair and Naomi on the porch, gazing at one another. Alafair didn’t know what to think. Naomi had nothing to say.
    “Do you need anything, sugar?” Alafair asked, finally.
    “No, thank you,” Naomi said, and followed her mother inside.
    ***
    John Lee had been lounging on his cot in the little jail cell when Scott walked in with Mrs. Day. He stood up when he saw her. “Ma, what are you doing here?” he asked.
    Scott unlocked the cell. “Come on out now, son. You’re free to go.”
    For a moment, John Lee stood frozen. “What’s going on, Sheriff?” he asked, wary.
    “You come on out, John Lee,” Scott urged. “I’ll explain it to you.”
    John Lee hesitantly crossed the cell and passed in front of his mother, giving her a wondering glance as he passed by. Alafair took his arm, drawing him out into the outer office before he could see his mother jailed.
    By the time the door shut behind him, he had well comprehended the situation. He turned his big dark eyes to Alafair and stood patiently, steeled for the story she would tell him while Scott was locking his mother in a jail cell.
    “Son,” Alafair began, “your ma has said that it was her who killed your pa.”
    John Lee’s expression did not change. He nodded. “Miz Tucker, you know she’s saying that just to protect me,” he said calmly. “I told you that it was me who shot Daddy, and it was.”
    “I’m afraid not, John Lee. That original story you told us don’t fit the facts. You have Phoebe as a witness, so you can’t change your story now, or she’ll come forward and we’ll all be in the soup. Your ma had the opportunity, and the reason, and most important, she says she did it. I know what’s in your mind, but you can’t sacrifice yourself to save your mama.”
    John Lee never moved, but the determined lower lip quivered briefly, and he paled. Alafair reached out, but didn’t touch him, lest she compromise the dignity he was struggling to maintain. “Remember the talk we had in the soddie?”
    He nodded. “Yes, ma’am, right well, nor will I ever forget. I told the sheriff the story of how Pa came upon me in the woods and we got to fightin’. How he struck me and I shot at him and throwed the gun down. All the truth, except I left Phoebe out of it entirely, just so you know.”
    “I expected you would,” Alafair admitted.
    “Good. So we won’t need to involve her, looks like. But right now, I can’t help but think that old man reaches out from beyond the grave to do evil.”
    Scott came back into the room and carefully closed the door behind him. He glanced at Alafair, but addressed himself to John Lee. “Has Miz Tucker told you what’s happening?”
    “Yes, Sheriff,” John Lee said.
    “Do you have anything to say to me?” Scott asked. His sharp gaze held John Lee’s ingenuous one.
    “I think she confessed to protect me,” John Lee said without hesitation. “I told you the truth about what happened, Sheriff. I shot at my father in the woods and he went back toward the barn.”
    “Your father only had one bullet wound, John Lee,” Scott told him, “right behind his ear. He didn’t stagger off nowhere after that. Your mama knew that. You didn’t mention it.”
    John Lee blinked and shook his head. “Even so, she ain’t the type. She never lifted a finger to help herself in her life, far as I know.”
    “That is as may be,” Scott replied. “But it’s now up to a judge to sort things out. Your mother is comfortable now for the night. She’s got her a warm soft bed and a good supper and breakfast coming, so y’all don’t need to worry about her right now. She wants you to go on home and carry on with the young’uns just as normal until you hear different. You reckon you’ll be all right for a day or two on your own?”
    “Yes, Sheriff,” John Lee assured him.
    Scott nodded. He had not expected it to be otherwise. “Miz Tucker will take you on home. You can pick up your mule at the livery. I’ll give you a release.”
    “Will you be taking my ma into Muskogee in the morning?”
    “Not ’til Monday. But you can’t come along.”
    John Lee pondered for a second. “Can I be there when you get there?” he asked.
    Scott tried not to smile. “Sure. It’s a free country. But if I was you, I’d wait until your mother is arraigned. That means charged and a trial date set. A couple of days,