Snakes Among Sweet Flowers (26 page)

“I’m getting them out of here,” Junior said as he scooped up the toddler and turned to put him in his car seat.

Cam nodded and looked over the car at the older kids, who were opening the back gate to climb in. Cam tried to offer a smile of reassurance but wasn’t sure he was able to pull it off. The kids all looked scared to death, and he couldn’t blame them. Cam hated that any of his shit had blown back on them.

Over Galen’s shoulder, Cam saw a movement and was immediately on guard. Harold stepped from behind a bush, reaching out to wrap his arm around Galen’s neck and pull him against his body.

“No!” Cam yelled and started to run. He sensed Junior running beside him and put on more steam. He needed to get to Harold before the other man did. Ruby surprised everyone by sideswiping Harold, bowling him over so that Galen was released as both Ruby and Harold fell to the ground.

Cam skidded to a halt and Jackson stopped beside him, but Junior ran right past them as Ruby scrambled to her knees and then grabbed Galen to pull him farther away from Harold. Behind them, all the children were screaming, and Cam could hear the thud of more feet as all the police officers made the scene. Cam scooted Ruby and Galen behind him and motioned Ruby and the kids to get in the car and lock the doors.

Junior dove for Harold, taking him on one-on-one, and Cam was unsure what to do that wouldn’t make the situation worse than it was. The two men rolled across the front yard, stirring up dust as they kicked and punched. The officers continued to step closer to the pair, and Cam and Jackson took cues from them, becoming part of the circle that was cutting off any escape for Harold.

When the fighting slowed, it was because Harold had gotten the upper hand and held Junior with an arm around the man’s throat. Harold stared straight into Cam’s eyes as he reached up and grabbed Junior by the chin and jerked the man’s head to the side; the loud, sickening crack as Junior’s neck snapped was simultaneous with the man going limp in Harold’s arms.

Without conscious thought, Cam reached over and pulled Jackson’s firearm out of his hand, then raised it and fired. The bullet stayed true, hitting Harold right between the eyes and sending his body backward until both Harold and Junior lay still, one slumped across the other on the ground.

There was silence after that. Or maybe it was just the shock setting in, since Cam could see mouths moving, and what must have been an anguished cry from Ruby as she threw herself on top of Junior. There were crowds of people moving around Cam, hands on him. And then… he didn’t know anything more.

CAM REMEMBERED
leaving the scene and being transported to the hospital. He remembered being checked out in the Emergency Room no matter how many times he said he was fine. He remembered the questions from cops in all different uniforms, and he remembered shooting Harold Livsey after the man killed Junior Watson, although all of it seemed to have happened in a deep fog with muffled sound and strange light. In fact, that one horror-filled event was now playing on repeat in his brain and Cam wondered if he’d ever get it to stop.

The doctors hadn’t admitted him, although they had discussed it. It seemed that in addition to being black and blue, Cam was suffering from shock, and the doctors were worried about allowing him to leave on his own. But with handcuffs holding him to the bed, Cam didn’t think they needed to worry much about him going anywhere but to jail.

The policeman who’d placed the handcuffs on him had said Cam was considered in police custody for the time being, and Cam knew what that meant. He would be on his way back to prison as soon as the doctors decided he was well enough. And didn’t he deserve it. He’d brought nothing but problems to this quiet little town.

Cam closed his eyes and thought about his farmhouse and garage, his big soft bed with the open window right next to it that let in the sun each morning. He thought about Tommasina and how much he’d loved scritching behind her ear when she sat in his lap, and about his kitchen where he could make food the way he liked and eat anytime he wanted. About eating a slice of Dotty’s pie and a big glass of milk as she gabbed and made him feel almost normal. He thought about eating dinner with Ida and Charles, about fixing bicycles for kids that lived in a group home. He thought about shopping at the grocery store and getting everything he wanted, about sitting on the porch with a big glass of tea, watching the kids ride their bikes, laughing with them as they painted, and Officer Jackson Rhodes climbing out of his patrol car, all broad shoulders and slender hips, his uniform pressed to perfection. He thought about taking Jackson in the house and stripping that uniform off, and about what that muscled golden body had looked like, felt like.

Cam brushed tears from his eyes, then opened them to find Walter Rhodes walking into the room. Cam coughed and sat up a bit more. No use getting all emotional now; not like it was going to change anything.

Walter grabbed a chair and pulled it up beside the bed. “The doctors say you still seem to be out of it, son. You gonna be all right?”

Cam nodded. “Yeah. I’m good.” What good was it to tell him otherwise? Cam stared at his lap, not really feeling like having a visitor at the moment.

“We’re gonna release you from custody for the moment. We may need to ask some more questions, but right now, the shooting is being ruled as justified. You’ll need to stay in town until the entire investigation is completed, okay?”

Cam looked up to be sure Walter wasn’t kidding. “I’m free?”

Walter nodded. “Looks that way. You gotta stick around for now, though.”

Cam nodded. “Yeah, no problem.”

“Since your trouble is out of the way, you thinking of leavin’ here? After the investigation is over, I mean,” Walter asked, and Cam got the feeling it was more suggestion than curiosity.

“In a hurry to get me gone?” Cam was surprised at how much it hurt, but he was sure the whole town felt the same way.

Walter cocked his head to the side and gave a little shrug. “This town isn’t used to having someone gay around. It might be easier on everyone.”

Cam’s eyes widened. He’d expected Walter to want him gone because he was a criminal, because of what had happened with Harold, but because he was gay? That just beat everything.

“Just ’cuz you didn’t know about it, doesn’t mean this town has never had a gay person in it. I know you like to think you’re in control of everything here, and I guess you might have the power to push your son back in the closet, but ignoring something doesn’t make it not so.” Cam huffed. “And yeah, I guess once this is all over, I’ll head on down the road.”

Walter looked sad and Cam couldn’t figure out why since the man had gotten his way. Cam frowned but stayed silent as Walter got up and left the room.

JACKSON STEPPED
out of a curtained-off exam area where he had been given fluids and his wounds had been checked. After finally being released, he was anxious to see how Cam was doing. He still felt like hammered shit, but lying on that hard-as-a-rock hospital gurney sure wasn’t making him better. That torture device must be a way to gauge how bad off patients were. If they were well enough to complain about the bed, they were well enough to go home.

As he got closer to his parents, he heard his father say, “I told him, Pam, but I think—”

“Shhh. Here comes Jackson,” his mother hissed.

Jackson frowned. “What’s going on?”

“We’re just eager to get you home where you belong,” his mother assured, taking hold of Jackson’s arm and attempting to steer him toward the exit.

Jackson dug his heels in and turned to his father, who looked guilty and a little disgusted with himself. “Dad? Want to tell me what’s going on?”

“Son, listen to your mother. She only wants what’s best for you.”

“Oookay. Well, I’m going to check on Cam before I leave. I’ll be fine, Momma.” Jackson patted her hand and then pried it from his arm, already waving down a nurse to ask where they had placed Camden Sanders.

When he pushed back the curtain, Jackson wasn’t prepared for what he found. Over the past weeks, Cam had become larger than life to Jackson, a force of nature. The man never seemed to be frightened of any situation, but just jumped in, ready to do whatever needed doing. At that moment, though, Cam looked small and scared. One hand was cuffed to the bed rail, shoulders slumped, and his eyes were red like he had just been crying. The IV in his arm looked so large, and even his bright tattoos appeared pale under the fluorescent lighting.

“Hey,” Jackson said, his voice just above a whisper, afraid he might startle Cam.

“Hey,” Cam answered, sounding strangled.

Jackson pulled the chair closer and sat, taking Cam’s hand. “I thought they released you from custody.”

“They did. I’m just waiting for the officer to come collect his cuffs. Are you okay?” Cam squeezed Jackson’s hand and then pulled away.

“Good enough to go home. You?” Jackson was a little worried at how Cam was acting. Must be the shock.

“Yeah, I think they’re done with me.” Cam nodded.

“You can come home with me to my parents’ house, then. Mom said she’d take care of us for a while.”

“Nah.” Cam looked stricken. “I think I just want to go home, you know?”

“Yeah, I get it. I’ll go there with you, then. We can watch one of those movies you got and we have plenty of food in the freezer, right? Plus Tommasina is probably anxious to see you. And I like listening to the evening sounds. It’s peaceful.”

Cam frowned. “You want to come over?”

“Yeah. And I need to talk about stuff. I figure you do too.” Jackson really did need to talk about how he was going to handle everyone knowing he was gay. Cam seemed like the best choice to talk to. Plus, he liked hanging out with him, and Cam gave the impression he might need watching right then. Jackson didn’t think he could leave Cam alone at the moment. It felt too wrong.

“I don’t think your dad is going to like it if you come over.”

“My dad? Did he say something to you?” Jackson turned and frowned at the curtain, as if he could see his parents through it.

About that time, the curtain was pulled back enough for a uniformed officer to step through. “Gonna remove those cuffs, Mr. Sanders, and then I think the nurse said she is ready to release you.” The man gave a cursory smile to Jackson and then unlocked the cuffs and took them with him as he left.

Jackson helped Cam to get his pants on, and after a nurse removed his IV, Cam pulled the stained T-shirt over his head. Cam still looked fragile, like the last twenty-four hours had crushed his soul, at least a little bit. While Cam tied the laces on his boots, Jackson stepped out into the hall to talk to his parents.

Jackson’s parents were still standing together against a wall and turned as Jackson appeared. “Are you ready to go home, honey?” his mother asked.

“I’m not going home with y’all. I’m heading to Cam’s house.”

“What? Jackson, you need to be with your family right now,” his mother argued, but the look on his father’s face told Jackson a lot.

“I don’t know what was said to Cam, but it hurt him… bad. He needs someone right now.” Jackson looked between the two of them. “Tell me what you said to him.”

Jackson’s mother pursed her lips and cut her eyes over at Walter, but Walter sighed. “Son, I asked him if he was leaving now that no one was after him.”

“And well he should,” Jackson’s mother added. “Look at the trouble he’s brought here.”

Jackson ground his teeth and looked back at his father, who nodded and continued. “I suggested it might be best if he did.”

Jackson shrugged off his mother’s touch when she reached for his arm. “Neither of us have a car.”

“I’ll give you a ride,” Jackson’s father offered and reached in his pocket for his keys.

“Walter…,” Pamela started, but both men turned away.

THE RIDE
was awkward. Cam sat in the back where he figured a criminal should be anyway. Mostly there were a lot of quick glances that darted away when someone else caught them looking.

Walter stopped by Jackson’s house so he could run in and get his meds. The police officers had finished collecting data from the scene, but until it was cleaned, Jackson would have to make other arrangements. While Jackson was inside, Cam and Walter had a competition to see who could be the quietest. Since Walter cleared his throat once, Cam was pretty sure he’d won but didn’t rub it in.

Jackson came back to the car with a duffel bag, which surprised and pleased Cam. He hadn’t been sure how long Jackson planned to stay with him instead of going to his parents. Walter didn’t seem to notice the bag as Jackson piled back into the front seat. But instead of putting his police vehicle in gear, Walter sat for a moment, then huffed and turned in the seat so that he could see both Cam and Jackson.

“Listen, here’s the truth of it.” Walter scrubbed his face with his hand. In that moment, he looked far older than his age.

Jackson appeared ready to interrupt his father, but Walter was not to be stopped.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked you to leave to save my son this misery.”

“Wait. You asked him to leave because of me? Because he’s gay?” Sometimes Jackson was a little slow on the uptake.

“Yeah, and I’m sorry for it. In the last days, your momma has been treated like a pariah by her women’s group because of the rumor going around.” Walter held up his hand when Jackson and Cam both opened their mouths. “She came to me crying. Not for herself, but because she couldn’t let you make a decision that would cause this kind of treatment for yourself for the rest of your life. People are acting like you got some disease or something.” Walter sniffed and scrubbed his face again. “I don’t want that either, son.”

Walter turned farther around in the seat and stared at Cam. “Is that what it’s like? Every day?”

Cam was confused. “I don’t know—”

Walter talked right over him. “Are you treated like you’re a leper just because you’re gay?”