Pride Goeth Before A Fall

[Carlyblue]

I'm glad he's coming home today!!!

[ejagno]

Wonderful news indeed Pac. We will continue to keep both of you in our thoughts and prayers this wonderful holiday week.

Thanks for the new post. Patty needed someone to believe in her and the dusty old Leta is just the person. Will's stalker apparently does not have ill intention or he would be dead by now but someone certainly wants to know what he finds. Ev and Cheryl are everyone's dream neighbors.

[PacNorWest]

#39
Betty dried her crocodile tears, her last outburst had not gained her any leverage she could use in her predicament. Now she needed to rethink her strategy, and figure out how she could get a message outside this hick jail. It was next to impossible to move around with her leg as it was, ah yes. She needed crutches and medical attention, that's what she could do. What a splendid plan to hatch all by herself in such a stressful situation. Betty patted herself on the back. Well deserved, she thought smugly. Well deserved.

When Will came in with another one of those hideous breakfast sandwiches, Betty asked for a doctor. Emphasizing the increasing heat and discomfort she was experiencing, her terror over the increasing likelihood she had an infection.

Will wanted to kick her peaked little --- for causing such trouble at this moment. He had so much work to do to set up for tonight, he didn't have time to deal with her. But, there was no choice. Ev had gone home to sleep, Kev was still out of commission, so that left him.

Will called over to the hospital to see when Doc Phillips had time to examine Betty, and found out it wouldn't be until noon. That left a sour taste in his mouth, but swallowing was the only option. He had to take her over there now, to keep her out of the loop when the State Police rolled into town.

It wasn't easy to move the weak, almost fainting woman that moaned in such pain she could barely walk. Will was 100% certain it was all an act, but didn't have time to ferret out the truth. Nurse Donna looked like she had a lemon for lunch, when Will brought Betty in the door. The white, starched uniform was vibrating in total contempt for the phony dramatic act Betty was dripping all over the clean hospital floor.

"Put her in the far room, I want her confined, and if she yells, I'm going to use a gag, understand?" Donna snapped in anger. That woman was just what she didn't need, in such strained conditions.

Will nodded, and escorted Betty through the ER doors into the 'special' room reserved for violent or aggressive patients. Donna locked the door, listening to Betty's howls of rage.

"Oh, isn't she a special one," the sarcasm was thick and aimed well. "A real peach of a woman." Nurse Donna was a good judge of character, and she had Betty judged, hanged and buried.

Will patted Donna on the shoulder and gave her a wink. "Good luck," he said rapidly, as he scooted out the door.

"Coward," she hurled after him.


Ev drove in his driveway, stopped with a screech; and hit the porch on a run. He rushed in the door and scooped up his pretty wife and swung her around.

"Hello there beautiful, your particular pretty this fine morning," he managed a thick, but bad sounding Irish brogue."

Cheryl fell into instant character, "go on with ya, I bet you say that to all your girls," she retorted with an equally bad brogue.

Laughing comfortably together, Cheryl moved to put coffee and cinnamon rolls on the table. "Just a minute and I'll have sausage and eggs ready."

"I'm all for that. I'm so hungry for decent food I could eat a bear, hide and all." Ev took a big gulp of the strong, hot coffee and then a bite of a cinnamon roll you had to keep your hand on, or it would float off the plate." Lordy Cheryl, I don't tell you often enough how wonderful you are. You can't believe what I had to eat in town."

"Oh you poor, miserable puppy," Cheryl had to work hard to keep the laughter under control. Ev could always do that to her. He made her days and her nights. She playfully swatted at him, and then twirled out of his reach. "No, no, no fussing the cook," she warned, "that leads to burned food."

Ev wolfed down his breakfast and flopped on the bed for a quick nap. Cheryl went out to do the morning chores.


The snow insulated the Hanson household noise inside; until Inga thought her head would explode. "OK, every one is going to be quiet for one hour. There will be NO NOISE. You kids are out of control. Find something silent to do, or go outside," she had to shout above the din. The children stopped to look at her like she had horns.

"Yes Ma'am," four children chimed in together. Brett,Benny and Inky went outside to wreak havoc on the snow, barn and life in general. Clora and Sandra opted to wash their hair, and disappeared into the bathroom.

Evie shuffled in from the bedroom, looking like a woman that had the flu. She checked for hot water and went for a mug and tea.
"You would never believe how much those kids have changed," Evie said absently. "They were starved, would hardly talk, and the youngest two so sick their little bodies had almost ceased to function." she stirred a bit of sugar into the mug. "It's a joy to hear their happy play, even though it drives me batty at times."

Brett and Benny got the brilliant idea to make a snow fort in front of the barn door. They worked for hours busy as bees creating a Fort Knox-Hanson-Apperton. They sent for ammunition, supplies, weapons and their famous guard dog Inky, stood at the ready.

Excelling as a guard dog, Inky woofed when Ev's pickup fired up and headed into town. Brett and Benny showered the 'invader' with snowballs until their arms were tired of throwing. "We saved the fort," Benny petted his brave dog. "Good work men, we can go in for lunch."

[Rabbit]

This story is just plain wonderful. Thank you PNW

[sssarawolf]

Love it, thank you so much.

[Siskiyoumom]

Wow! What a great and inspiring story.
Goes to show ya that we cannot choose are relations, we need to learn to
love them regardless of their ills and be willing and able to kick them to the
curb if need be. And from experience that is not an easy thing to do.
Praying that your beloved husband is able to come home and be on the mend,
and will suffer no ills from his fall.
May you be strengthened and encouraged as you care for him at home.
May you be provided for in all your needs and be able to rest and enjoy the
wonders and miracles of the week. Amen, Sis

[PacNorWest]

#40

After lunch, Captains Brett and Benny recruited/conscripted new recruits from the ranks. Like all new recruits, Clora and Sandra were unused to taking orders and a little balky. Once threatened with dire circumstances, they straightened up and prepared the necessary ammunition like good rank and file soldiers.

The commander in chief and the Lieutenant Major, decided that a protective wing was needed and all hands on deck performed the work. They created a cover for the all important supply chain moved by the dog corps under duress. Happy children played all afternoon, until the waining sun chilled their fingers to the bone. Tromping in the house, they brushed the snow off and hung wet outer clothes around the stove.

Inga had made a big pot of chili and cornbread. It was a great combination for starving children. It didn't appeal to Evie and she made do with a small hunk of cornbread. As long as it went down, and more importantly, stayed down; she was happy.

Inga found she was happy to cook and create food for people's enjoyment. It nurtured a need that she hadn't been aware of, and it mystified her that something so mundane was so satisfying. She had created a list of possible meals containing beans and rice, heavily invested in the French flavor she was accustomed to eating. Not the haute cuisine. but rustic country flavor.

Evie thanked her daughter for the wonderful meal. Kids sat languishing in their chairs, tummy's so full they couldn't move without groaning. Evie made mint tea for everyone to help settle overfull stomach's, and the kids happily chatted about their afternoon.


The Sheriff's office rapidly filled with law enforcement agents in various stages of undercover dress. They were going to simulate roadhouse patrons, to control the level of civilian involvement in a huge drug bust. A major player was supposed to show late with a 'considerable shipment', as it was put to Will on the phone.

Ev was going to be the only non LE on the premises, but had the duty to kill the lights on signal. Safely removed from the action, he had the best knowledge of the bar, due to his considerable snooping for hidden items.

It was Will's intention to open the bar at it's usual time, in case they were being observed. The ruse worked well, the buy went down without a hitch, and the 'major player' arrested with only one shot that went wild into the ceiling.

Officers congratulated themselves on a job well done, as they relaxed with sodas and pizza's after the raid. It was Ev, coming in from the back room, that was hit on the arm by a wet splat that looked for all in the world like, blood.

Looking for the source of the liquid, he glanced at the ceiling. There around the bullet hole was a red stain, slowly slipping through the splintered wood.

Hollering for Will, he pointed up at the ceiling and brought the room of noisy chatter to a silent standstill. Blood that red and fresh, came from one source only.

The problem, there were no stairs leading upstairs. No hint of an upstairs if they could find a way up there. The room full of sharp puzzle solvers, swarmed over the roadhouse. Eventually, the State police Sargent dressed like a expensive bar girl, stood up on her 4" stiletto's and lost her balance against the bar.

The counter balanced, polished mahogany bar moved slightly, giving the officer's the clue they needed to find the hidden set of stairs. Will drew his weapon and carefully started up the stairs, moving silently and carefully poked his head into the room.

It was the control room for the bar. Two way mirrors, remote TV's and the ability to monitor every patron below; plus one very dead looking woman slumped in a chair, the source of the blood.

The angle of the drug king pin's shot had capped the woman in the forehead. She was real dead. Suddenly the source of the last two keys made themselves known. Two huge safe's stood in the corner. All Will could think was more; what a jolt out of the blue.

The woman was an unknown. No ID on the body, no info anywhere around. The safe's were like falling into Blackbeard's treasure trove. What a yummy situation. One safe full of drugs, the other full of copious amounts of money. Obviously Claude had been a player in a major pipeline distribution.

Hooping and hollering, the excitement of the men and women present was palatable. This was more than a major bust, it was over the top dream of most of the team. They had taken down a major, major supply route.

It took until late into the night to inventory the millions of dollars packed into the safe. The drugs were carefully packed away, with an elaborate guard setup to prevent slip up's along the way. With the total amount of cash and stash, Will was thankful the responsibility was out of his hands. He shipped it with the state boys and saluted when the cars drove off.

"Holy Crap," Ev poured himself and Will a shot from an expensive cut glass decanter. "Can you believe what was up there. There must have been a million in cash." He took a healthy swallow, sputtering just a little as the drink hit his gut like a kick to his backside.

"Closer to two," Will replied as he tossed back his measure of ultra smooth sippin whiskey. Hot fire flamed in the Sheriff's stomach. Damm, that was gonna bother what he suspected was a beginning ulcer. That was enough of that, besides, he was in uniform.

Closing up the roadhouse, Will walked out into the snowy night, breathing the fresh, cool air. It was cleansing to leave behind the stale cigarette smoke stink and grab a lungful of invigorating oxygen. Out of habit he scanned the area, checking the ground and finding it empty of tracks. He had hand measured the size of the woman's foot, and was pretty well satisfied that she had been the peeping lady at the window.

One thing about Claude, he had taken more questions to the grave, than he answered.

Back at the office, his answering machine was full. At first Nurse Donna was polite in requesting Will come to the hospital, by the 10th call, she was very explicit in how he needed his caboose over there sooner than later. It was no surprise, nobody wanted to deal with Betty. She had purposely made herself into a person, others avoided at all costs. It bought her a lot of slack when she applied it correctly, and she tried it in every situation she encountered. Betty was a player, toying with people while she attempted to annoy them into acquiescing to her demands.

Aside from all his ability to read Betty, Will hated to spend the energy dealing with her. Donna was dripping in sweat and practically crying when he showed up, slipping in the door with a cheerful smile on his face, he sauntered over .

"Hello there Baby, what's a nice gal like you, doing in a place like this?" Will said in a low sotto voice.

"Thank God your here," Donna tried to regain her composure. Rubbing her forehead like she had a raging headache, she worked to uncross her eyes and pay attention to her business. "Get her out of here. She has howled like a woman possessed all afternoon. Every thing was fine until we wouldn't let her use the phone, then she went berserk."

"She's got a pretty good act down pat," Will explained. "She uses it to wear people down, chew them up and spit them out."

"I can believe that," Donna replied spiritedly. "But Doc thinks she has a couple of screws loose. There's just something that's phony or obscured in layers, or slightly off kilter about that woman. Thus the crazy diagnoses. You can see the crafty intelligence in her eyes. Then she's off the wall about some small item." Donna Pingree just wanted to be free of the responsibility of Betty.

"Well, since you won't go home with me, I guess I'll just have to take her," Will teased. Everyone knew Donna had eyes for Doc Phillips only, so he wasn't worried about her accepting. Betty was a frothed up winded nag, and went meekly back to jail.

[CGTech]

ha! a mystery solved! love it!