Now Playing: The Witch of Cooper, Arizona
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Episode Six concluded with:
A group of good Samaritans gently lifted Jethro. The crowd parted
as Annie led the entourage to the doctor’s office.
As Dehner had hoped, the incident calmed the crowd. Hector shouted
something in an attempt to again arouse passions but his words sounded hollow
and absurd.
Sheriff Buck Stephens took charge. “I want those people who were
kind enough to pick up the money to please bring it forward and place it in my
hat,” his voice was only slightly caustic. “Mr. Dehner will be keeping a
careful eye out to make sure none of the loot gets dropped by mistake into
someone’s pocket.”
Episode Seven:
***
Six people stared at the pile of
money on the sheriff’s desk and said nothing. Five of them were mesmerized and
puzzled: Buck Stephens, who stood behind the desk, David and Judy Martin, Lamar
Burke and Rance Dehner. Only Vicki Burke
looked a bit restless, as if bored by the display of filthy lucre. The girl
held tight to her magic box, occasionally giggling as if privy to some private
joke.
“One thousand dollars in ten dollar
bills,” the sheriff looked incredulous. Not knowing what else to do, Buck
reviewed details with the pastor. “You were there when I talked with Whit
Krammer at the bank. He told us he didn’t have any money missing, right?” The
moment he stopped speaking, the lawman felt ridiculous.
David Martin simply nodded his head.
Lamar
Burke appeared even more exasperated than the sheriff. He placed a hand on his niece’s shoulder and
asked a question for the third time. “Vicki, do you know how the money got into
your hat box?”
Vicki’s eyes became playful and she
began to giggle. “Magic. It all happened by magic!”
She looked at her companions with
such child- like delight that all concerned smiled politely or laughed a bit.
Nobody wanted to drag more trouble into Vicki’s life.
Buck Stephens sighed and pulled out
his pocket watch. “In about thirty minutes, I’m taking this money over to the
bank. Krammer promised to meet me there and lock up the loot. He’ll look into
it, as best he can, tomorrow morning.”
Lamar’s entire body seem to slump in
resignation. He spoke gently to his niece. “We should be leaving for home. Ruth
will miss us.”
“Mrs. Judy, will you come along?”
Vicki asked. “There’s plenty of room at the ranch. You could stay for a few
days!”
Lamar Burke now looked flustered.
“Honey, it’s not fair to ask Mrs. Judy a question like that. She has plenty to
do here in town.”
“Please?” Vicki persisted.
“Perhaps she could come out and
visit us for a few hours tomorrow,” Lamar looked to the pastor’s wife as he
spoke.
“Of course, I’d be happy to,” Judy
Martin replied.
“Great!” Vicki’s voice exploded with
delight as she spoke to Judy. “Walk with us to the wagon?”
“Of course,” Judy smiled as she
quickly glanced at her husband, and stepped out of the office with Vicki and
Lamar Burke. The moment they were on the boardwalk, Vicki challenged them to a
race and then ran for the buckboard.
Judy stood beside Lamar. They both
watched Vicki running joyfully to the wagon.
Lamar spoke in a soft, awkward
voice. “Mrs. Martin, I really appreciate you being a friend to Vicki the way
you have.”
“It’s my pleasure. Vicki is a very
sweet girl.”
“Ruth and I have done everything we
can for the kid, since my brother and his wife died. But, we really don’t know
why she is…the way she is.”
“I know it must be hard on both of
you, especially with Ruth bedridden since the accident.”
Lamar nodded his head as they both
stepped off the boardwalk and strolled toward the buckboard. “Things have
gotten a bit worse for Vicki since school started up again.”
“Oh.”
Lamar gave a deep sigh. “Vicki is
fifteen now. Kids that age can be very cruel. And, of course, she has blossomed
into a lovely young lady, which presents problems…”
“I understand.”
Lamar Burke looked down at the
ground as Vicki began to shout, “I beat both of you!” from the wagon.
“Vicki
won’t be going to school anymore.”
“Are you sure that’s the right thing
to do, Mr. Burke?”
The rancher looked up and waved at
his niece, acknowledging her victory. “No. I’m never sure about anything when
it comes to Vicki. But Ruth needs almost constant care and Vicki is good at
that. The two of them get along fine, and to be honest, Vicki can’t seem to
understand anything at school. Not much sense in making her go.”
They arrived at the buckboard and
the mood turned playful. Judy and Lamar smiled as Vicki called them
“slowpokes.” As the wagon pulled out, Vicki waved to the pastor’s wife
shouting, “See you tomorrow!”
As she waved back, Judy Martin took
a last look at the object Vicki held tightly. The girl hadn’t let go of her
magic box since causing a near riot only a short time ago.
Tomorrow: Episode Eight of The Witch of
Cooper, Arizona
