Now Playing: The Witch of Cooper, Arizona
New to these parts? To start the story from the beginning, click
Episode One concluded with:
“Don’t worry, Lamar,” David spoke as he entered the small
enclosure and grabbed the bell’s rope. “We’ll find Vicky, soon. There are a lot
of good people in this town who will join the search.”
Lamar looked uncertain. “Yeah, and there are some very bad men in this town.”
David understood the point. Vicky Burke was fifteen. She had recently
transitioned from a gawky kid to a beautiful young lady. But Vicky had problems
that no one could completely understand. The more polite citizens of Cooper
called Vicky “slow.” Others referred to her as “loco”, “touched in the head”,
and there were even some who claimed she was possessed by a demon.
Everyone knew that Vicky Burke liked people and was far too trusting. And, yes,
Lamar was right. There were some very bad men in the town.
Reverend Martin pulled hard on the rope.
Episode Two
***
Judy Martin stepped out of Mary
Peterson’s dress shop and looked about anxiously. She spotted her husband and
Lamar Burke coming toward her on the boardwalk. She could tell from the
expressions on their faces that they had not found Vicki or even a clue to her
whereabouts since she had split off from them less than a half hour before.
Judy spoke as soon as the two men were in hearing range.
“Vicky was in the dress shop about
ten minutes ago. Mary tried to keep her there but couldn’t, the girl--”
Raucous laughter blared next door
from the Golden Nugget saloon. “So, you can conjure up magic spells!” A man’s
voice shouted above the clamor. “Let’s see you put the whammy on me!”
Martin and Burke hurried into the
Golden Nugget. Vicki stood away from the bar, in the center of a collection of
round tables used for drinking and playing poker. But there was no imbibing or
gambling going on at the moment. All attention was focused on the blond haired
girl with confused eyes and trembling hands
“Don’t
you make fun of me, Kyle Ryan!” Vicky’s voice was a scream. “I’ll get you for
it, I mean it!”
Kyle Ryan was an overweight, bald
headed barfly, his only virtue being that he accepted enough work to pay for
his own drinks. He leaned against the bar and shouted, “Why, I think the little
girlie is gonna put a hex on me!”
Laughter exploded again in the
saloon. David Martin took several steps toward Vicki while shooting the saloon
patrons an angry glare.
“Just hold on, preacher!” Mockery
laced Ryan’s voice. “You need to give the girlie a chance to prove she ain’t no
liar.” Kyle took a step toward Vicki. “Go ahead, put the whammy on me.”
Two other men who had been searching
for Vicki entered the saloon but said nothing. Outside the Golden Nugget, Judy
Martin peered over the bat wing doors at the drama going on inside. Her face reflected
tension and concern.
David Martin was as transfixed as
everyone else in the saloon. The expression on Vicki’s face became intense and
glowering. The young woman didn’t close her eyes and yet she seemed to be going
into some kind of trance.
Kyle Ryan laughed again but this
time his laughter conveyed nervousness and anxiety. Vicki slowly raised her
right hand. The hand became a claw which pointed directly at Ryan. Vicki let
out a loud hiss, sounding like a cat that had spotted an adversary.
Ryan screeched in pain, grabbed his
right thigh, and collapsed. Sounds of shock and fear exploded around the
saloon. People hastily stepped away from Vicki Burke, fearful that she might
cast some nightmarish spell on them.
Tomorrow: Episode Three of The Witch of Cooper, Arizona
