Cowboy Take Me Away (Rough Riders 16)

Good luck with that.

“Edie Shultz and her daughter Margo. Carolyn—”

“McKay, yeah, we’ve met. Can we get on with it?” Edie demanded.

The priest cleared his throat. “The allegations are that Keely has been harassing Margo since the first day of camp. The counselors have broken up shouting matches and near altercations several times. However, Margo says Keely attacked her this morning after chapel. When Amanda Peterson tried to step in, Miss McKay turned on her too.”

That’s when Carolyn craned her head and saw Tammy Peterson sitting in the second row. Tammy and Edie’s daughters were thick as thieves? No surprise since those witches were in the same coven.

Tammy glared at her.

Carolyn had the oddest compulsion to wink and offer a finger wave because this whole thing was a farce.

“Keely has a different version of events,” Father Bartholomew continued. “Keely claims Margo and Amanda have been saying inappropriate things to her and her cousins since the camp began. And she was only defending her family.”

“Father Bartholomew,” Edie began in a simpering tone, “the McKays and the Wests have reputations for being loudmouths and brawlers. Part of me feels sorry for Keely. Obviously being raised in a household of boys she wasn’t taught the normal social graces and boundaries. Or how to act like a lady.”

“Really, Edie? You going there?” Carolyn said. “Make sure you’ve grown thick enough skin to take it if you’re gonna dish it out.”

Edie seemed taken aback.

Good.

Carolyn patted Keely’s shoulder. “Why don’t you tell me what happened, sweetheart?”

Edie opened her mouth to object but the priest shushed her.

“This is the first year my cousin Chassie West has been at camp. Chassie’s mom was Native American and since the first day Margo and Amanda have been makin’ fun of her, callin’ her squaw, Injun and chief. They’ve been tellin’ everyone she’s here as a charity case and too poor to even live on the rez. Today after chapel I heard Margo and Amanda brag they were gonna slice off a chunk of Chassie’s hair to see how she liked bein’ scalped like her ancestors did to the pioneers.”

Margo leapt up. “That’s a lie!”

Amanda leapt up too. “They’re liars, and skanks, and they make fun of us for having solid morals!”

A snort echoed from the back of the room. “Oh please. You and Margo have been sneaking into the boys’ dorms since last year and have the morals of an alley cat in heat.”

Carolyn turned and looked at her niece Ramona, sitting next to Chassie.

“No one asked you,” Margo snapped.

“Yeah, and you’ve got no way to prove it, either,” Amanda shot back.

Ramona lifted a brow. “The guys you’ve been giving hand jobs to won’t rat you out, but the guys who you sneer at and call losers who aren’t getting the benefit of your slippery fists? They’re more than ready to tell all. In fact, they’ve jotted down the dates and times you snuck in, and exactly what you received for your pole-polishing expertise—”

“Miss West! That is enough!” Sister Grace said.

“What? It’s the truth.”

“Keely was standing up for me,” Chassie said softly. “She shouldn’t be punished for doin’ the right thing and callin’ Margo and Amanda out on their very un-Christian-like behavior. I’ve turned the other cheek, as instructed in the Bible, when they’ve called me names. But when me’n Keely and Ramona all heard those girls talkin’ about cutting me? I got scared.”

“You have no way to prove we said anything like that,” Margo said. “Keely will make up any kind of lie to justify using her fists because she likes hitting people. I heard her say that and so did a lot of others.”

A beat of silence passed.

Edie spoke. “The fact of the matter is Keely caused physical harm to our daughters. She took matters into her own hands rather than discussing her concerns with the camp counselors. We want her removed from camp because of the threat she poses not only to our daughters, but to other campers.”

“I did try to talk to my assigned camp counselor,” Keely protested. “But it’s the same one Margo has and she’s on her knees before him all the time, but she sure as shootin’ ain’t prayin’.”

“Miss McKay! That is completely inappropriate!” Sister Grace said.

“But it’s entirely true,” Ramona chimed in.

Edie leapt to her feet. “I cannot believe that you’re not kicking these girls out right now for vulgar language! Not to mention the lies they’re telling about lewd behavior that can’t possibly be linked to my daughter.”

“Why not? You know all about lewd behavior,” Carolyn said. “And the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

“I do not have to listen to this.”

“I have to wonder how much of the nastiness directed at my daughter, from your daughter, has to do with our history, which I’m sure you wouldn’t like me to detail in front of Sister Grace and Father Bartholomew. Then again, since you’ve been divorced twice and married three times, you are not exactly the best person to talk about moral behavior.”

“Ladies. This has gotten completely out of hand. While the allegations of inappropriate physical contact are disturbing, they don’t change the facts.” He looked at Keely. “Remember where you are, child, when I ask you this question. Did you use physical violence against Margo and Amanda?”

“Yes, Father, I did.”

“Then I’m afraid you have broken the rules. Even when defending a family member, violence isn’t the answer.”

“I disagree. Sometimes the only way you can get your point across is with a hard right cross. Followed by a left hook.” Carolyn locked her gaze on Edie’s. “Christ bled for us for our sins. I’m not opposed to making someone else bleed for lies and sins against my family. I’ve done it before, Edie, and you know I’ll happily do it again. Am I making myself clear?”

Keely gaped at her, her jaw nearly hanging to the floor.

Edie crossed her arms over her chest. “I see you’re still the dowdy housewife defending the violent and deplorable actions of the McKays and the Wests.”

“I see you’re still jealous about that.”

Before Edie retorted, Carolyn walked to where Father Bartholomew sat. “I understand your reasons for Keely’s expulsion. I disagree with them, but we will abide by camp rules. She’ll be coming home with me. As will my nieces Ramona and Chassie West. Thank you for your time today. Don’t bother sending camp registration next year because they won’t be back.”