Sidecar Crush

I got up and grabbed my handbag while they dragged Kelvin outside. Scarlett paused next to my table.

“They aren’t going to actually hurt him, are they?” I was frustrated and annoyed at Kelvin for having the gall to show up here, but I didn’t want anyone to get hurt.

“Nah,” Scarlett said. “He just needs to be taught a lesson. My brothers are good at this sort of thing. Best to just let it happen.”

Scarlett and I followed them outside. Kelvin struggled, but Jameson and Gibson held his upper body while Jonah and Bowie each took a leg. Together, the four Bodine men handled him like he weighed nothing.

I glanced around, expecting to see people with their cell phones out, taking pictures or video. But it was early enough, no one was around. I breathed out a sigh of relief at that.

“What the hell are you doing?” Kelvin asked, his voice bordering on panic.

The Bodines didn’t answer—just hauled him around the side of the building while Kelvin struggled in vain.

A car pulled up, Bootleg Springs Sheriff in large letters across the side. The Bodines all paused as the window slowly lowered.

“Mornin’, boys,” Sheriff Tucker said.

“Sheriff,” Jameson said.

“Oh, thank god,” Kelvin said. “Sheriff, make these psychos put me down.”

Sheriff Tucker just raised his eyebrows.

“Public assholery,” Jameson said. “Clarabell and Scarlett can vouch.”

“Dumpster?” Sheriff Tucker asked.

“Yep,” Jameson said.

Sheriff Tucker tipped his hat. “Carry on, then.”

“What?” Kelvin screeched. “Are you serious?”

“Well, there is a town ordinance against public assholery,” Sheriff Tucker said. “Just mind his head, Bodines.”

“Will do, Sheriff.”

The Bodines started moving again, hauling him through the parking lot. Sheriff Tucker drove on.

“What kind of backwoods shithole is this?” Kelvin asked, still trying to struggle out of their grip.

I stopped and tried to keep myself from laughing. They were heading toward the huge dumpster. “Are they really going to put him in there?”

Scarlett stood next to me, her arms crossed. “Of course. It’s the appropriate response to public assholery. Like Sheriff said, it’s a town ordinance, and he was clearly in violation.”

“On three,” Jameson said.

They swung Kelvin on one and two, and when they got to three, they hurled him over the edge of the dumpster. There was a wet thud and Kelvin started in on a string of curses that could have made a sailor blush.

Jameson brushed his hands together and walked toward me.

“Oh my god!” Kelvin’s muffled voice came from inside the dumpster. “What is that… oh god, it’s wet. And sticky. Get me the fuck out of here!”

“Are you just going to leave him in there?” I asked.

Jameson shrugged. “Garbage pickup is tomorrow, so it’s mostly full. He shouldn’t have any trouble gettin’ out. And if he does, Hamish’ll give him a hand.”

“Who’s Hamish?” I asked.

“Garbage man.”

“Do you fuckers know how much these pants cost?” Kelvin shouted, struggling to get over the side of the dumpster.

Scarlett left with Jonah and Bowie, and Gibson stalked off. He glared at Jameson as he walked by, but neither of them said anything.

Jameson tucked my hair behind my ear. “I didn’t mean to overstep. But no one speaks to you that way when I’m around.”

“It’s okay,” I said.

He put his arm around me and we walked back around the corner. It sounded like Kelvin was getting out, but I wasn’t worried about him anymore. And I was pretty sure I’d heard the last of him, thanks to some good old-fashioned Bootleg justice.

“Thanks for backing me up, but letting me say what I needed to say.”

“Course, darlin’,” Jameson said. “I don’t know about you, but I could use some waffles. Can I buy you breakfast?”

“Waffles sound great to me.”

26

LEAH MAE

M y skin still tingled from the facial I’d gotten earlier today, and my muscles felt loose. Scarlett had invited me to come to the spa with her, along with Cassidy and June Tucker. We’d been scrubbed, steamed, and rubbed until our faces glowed and we were relaxed as could be. I was convinced Lula, the spa owner, had magical hands. I felt amazing.