Chapter 26 #2
“I texted the girls. Most of them just got off work and the others will meet us as soon as they do,” Lydia told her.
“I also invited some of my friends who are teachers so you can get the inside scoop. I know teachers in just about every grade. It’s a small town and we’ve got a lot of kids, ” Lydia winked at Sue Ellen before they both said goodbye to their kids.
For once, James and Tally didn’t seem to notice Sue Ellen leaving. They were having too much fun.
Could today get any better?
“You look happy,” Rowan told her as he held open the car door for her. “It looks good on you.”
“I feel happy and hopeful.” She watched as Gator opened the door for Sue Ellen before also opening it for Lydia. Today was a good day.
The drive to downtown took less than three minutes. They had to park closer to the courthouse though because of a historical tour Skeeter and Mary were conducting. Main Street parking was full as they all got out and began to walk down the street talking.
They were standing on the street opposite the bar when Rowan shoved Nell behind him the second he heard the tires skidding on the pavement. Nell looked over his shoulder and instantly turned to reach for Sue Ellen only to find her hidden behind Gator’s massive body.
Ingram, looking totally deranged, stormed from his car. His eyes were bloodshot. His hair was messed up from running his hands through it too many times. His suit was wrinkled as if he’d slept in it for days and there were bags under his eyes.
“You fucking bitches!” Ingram yelled, his voice cracking mid-scream. “You ruined my life!” Ingram pointed at Nell then caught sight of Sue Ellen’s head poking out from behind Gator. “And you! You were a horrible wife and mother. It’s about time you learned your lesson.”
Rowan reached out and shoved Ingram away from the Nell, Gator, and Sue Ellen. “Not another step, Ingram.”
Ingram smirked as the sound of motorcycles reached their ears. “I won’t need to take another step. Lesson one, never do the dirty work yourself. You’re not the only one who can hire men.”
Nell watched as a group of motorcycles formed a half circle, cutting off the entire street. “They’re from Holland Springs. Everybody knows they’re criminals,” Nell whispered to Rowan. “I went to school with a couple of them before they dropped out.”
“You’re such a twatwaffle, Ingram,” Sue Ellen called out, using a term she’d learned from Miss Mitzi.
“You hired someone to blow me up, yet you didn’t have any trouble abusing me in private.
What, now you can’t do it in public so you hired the town’s losers to do it for you?
Hey there, Lenny, don’t think I won’t tell your grandmother about this,” Sue Ellen said to one of the boys they went to high school with before turning back to Ingram.
“Do you still have performance anxiety?” Sue Ellen stepped around from Gator, her eyes narrowed and filled with anger, but not fear.
“I’m done hiding, Ingram. You want to exact some kind of revenge on me? Well, here’s your chance.”
Sue Ellen stood her ground and waited to see what Ingram would do.
Nell saw Lydia step behind Sue Ellen and hand her something that Sue Ellen kept behind her back.
Sue Ellen didn’t waver and Nell was so proud of her.
However, they were outnumbered. Sue Ellen, Nell, Rowan, Gator, and Lydia didn’t have a chance against Ingram and at least fifteen career criminals.
“This is all your fault and you’re too stupid to realize it. I thought I could beat the stupid out of you, but I guess I needed to try harder,” Ingram snapped at Sue Ellen. Sue Ellen didn’t flinch, but Nell did.
“Shove it up your ass, Ingram. You’re a spoiled brat who never did anything on his own. Your daddy bought and paid for your career and is the only reason you’re not in jail already.” Nell had had enough, but Lenny moved forward as if he were going to grab her.
“I wouldn’t do that if you want to keep the use of your arm,” Rowan said, his voice low and deadly. Nell turned and saw him armed with a military-grade knife that must be a gift from his brother, Hunter.
Ingram scoffed. “He’s a pediatrician. Take him out.”
Lenny moved fast, but Rowan was faster. Nell didn’t even have time to gasp before blood was oozing from Lenny’s now limp arm. That’s when all hell broke loose. Lenny freaked out and yelled at others to get them. Rowan shoved Nell behind him as he and Gator moved into defensive positions.
“Time to pay for embarrassing me.” Ingram went to grab Sue Ellen. Nell lunged toward him, but Sue Ellen didn’t need the rescue. She lashed out with a small dagger, slicing Ingram's face from ear to nose. A thin red line formed and then blood began to trickle down.
“No, Ingram. You won’t touch me again.” Sue Ellen was shaking, but now with Nell and Lydia by her side, she wasn’t facing Ingram alone.
“Did you start the celebration without us? That’s not nice,” Maggie called out, pulling out a handgun and firing off shots in rapid succession, taking out the tires of every motorcycle that had surrounded them and causing several of the men to freeze in surprise that the blonde bombshell in a pink paisley dress and pearls had just shot a very nice handgun with complete accuracy.
“Oh, Bubba will be excited for fresh meat.” Kenzie let out a sharp whistle and pulled a bag of jerky from her purse before shaking it. “Bubba!”
Jordana grabbed one of the three men attacking Rowan and flipped him over her shoulder. She cracked her neck and then smiled at the others. “Let’s go, babacas.”
“You need to drive faster, we almost missed the celebration,” Miss Winnie told Miss Ruby as they pulled out weapons not from this century from the back of the car they’d just pulled up in.
“What a great idea for a celebration,” Harper said with her husband, Dare, next to her.
Dare stabbed one of the men with a knitting needle. “Sorry,” Dare said to Sue Ellen. “Is this a girls-only party?”
“If Rowan gets to celebrate, we should too,” Forrest said, yanking another man off Rowan so Rowan could now fight one-on-one. “Besides, my wife is so hot when she kicks men’s asses.”
Nell had to agree. Jordana was hot. So was Rowan. Rowan took down the man attacking him, leaving Nell feeling rather helpless. Gator grabbed two men and slammed their heads together, dropping them to the ground.
“What the hell is going on?” Damon roared the second his motorcycle skidded to a stop. “Why wasn’t I invited to the party?”
“I wouldn’t think of not inviting you, Damon,” Sue Ellen called out, still holding Ingram at bay with her knife.
Damon, Forrest, and Rowan formed a group and then it was over. They flung a man to the side and Jordana kicked his ribs so hard an audible cracking sounded. Another man was flung to the side and Miss Ruby and Miss Winne took care of him.
“I’m feeling rather left out,” Maggie said on a sigh.
“Where is that Bubba?” Kenzie asked, letting out a loud whistle and shaking her bag of jerky again.
Nell decided her best course of action was to stay by Sue Ellen.
“You started the party without me?” Olivia cried out as she and Granger joined the crowd. Olivia took off one of her stilettos and jammed it in a man’s chest, right below his clavicle.
“You stabbed me!” the criminal yelled with surprise as he stared at the shoe sticking out of his chest.
“Why do you think I only buy heels with red soles? They hide the blood.” Olivia grabbed hold of the shoe after Granger put him in cuffs.
Ingram looked ready to explode. His face was turning a deeper shade of red as he realized the fear he intended to instill wasn’t happening. He’d wanted Nell and Sue Ellen to feel alone and surrounded. Oh, they were surrounded alright, but by friends and allies.
“What’s the matter, Ingram? Not going the way you planned?
” Nell taunted. “Sue Ellen isn’t alone anymore.
Her new friends aren’t bought and paid for by you.
Here we have real friends who stand side by side with us.
If I have to spend every penny I have to my name to make sure you never see Sue Ellen or the kids again, I will. ”
“Don’t you worry about that,” Kenzie called out. “If Ingram doesn’t bury himself, we’ll make sure he’s never found.” A hiss filled the air and Kenzie turned around. “Finally! Bubba, where’ve you been? Don’t tell me you’ve been off with Bertha when we needed you here.”
The alligator sauntered up toward the group. Kenzie took a piece of jerky and tossed it right at the few remaining men who were thinking about attacking the Townsends. Bubba charged. The men fled.